First off, it is important to differenciate between food allergies and food intolerances. In both of these, your body is unable to process a food thus causing noticeable symptoms in the body. In a food allergy, these can be as severe as anaphylaxis. Food intolerances (IgG) are less severe, but they cause plenty of discomfort that can make daily life a struggle. There are two types of food allergy reactions. The first is when your body mistakes the food for an invader and attacks it; systems other than the food often get caught in the crossfire which results in inflammation which causes signs and symptoms of food allergies. The second type is when pieces of the food break away and enter the bloodstream, spreading to other areas of the body and irritating them.
More common food allergies (IgE) include shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, eggs, wheat, and milk. It is also possible to be allergic or intolerant of things you might not expect, like berries, meats, poultry or vegetables. One out of every three Americans will say they have a food allergy, or that they avoid a certain food because a family member is highly allergic. 3%-8% of children are documented having food allergies, and 3% of adults. Meanwhile, 95% of the population is said to have basic signs or symptoms of a food intolerance. Again, while less severe in presentation than allergies, these intolerances can cause daily discomfort that makes life more difficult than it needs to be. Allergies are influenced by genetics, other allergies, or a lack of enzymes among other things. In rare cases, it is even possible to develop a food allergy psychologically: if you undergo a traumatic experience while eating a certain food (especially as a child) your body can assosiate the two and react negatively to said food.
The most common basic food allergy signs and symptoms are as follows:
Tingling or itching in the mouth
Hives, itching, or eczema
Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting
Abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting
Wheezing, nasal congestion or trouble breathing
Food intolernace symptoms:
headaches, stomach aches, joint pain, fatigue, acne, skin eruptions, hair loss, trouble sleeping, weight gain, inability to lose weight, brain fog, hyperactivity, inflammation, frequent sicknesses, asthma and breathing challenges, sinus congestion, earaches and frequent ear infections
There are a few ways to look for a food allergy if you think you have one, all of which should be done under care of a professional. One method is keeping a food journal, where you record all of your meals and also record any symptoms at various times of the day. Another method is an elimination diet, where foods will be removed and replaced and symptoms will be monitored to figure out which food is the culprit. Lastly, you can test your blood directly for food allergies and food intolerances. Essentially, these food allergy tests commonly go one of two ways. The first is by exposing blood to various foods and seeing whether or not it reacts. Alcat s the most popular lab that test immune cell reaction. The second is by looking for antibodies in the blood that fight against specific foods. Immuno Labs and Alletest are two labs we use at our clinic that test antibody levels for IgE and IgG levels. We run both of these types of food allergy / intolernace tests at our clinic. For young children not able to do a blood draw, there are easy to do stool test kits for identifying food reactions.
If you are having basic signs and symptoms of food allergies and you are local to the Atlanta Ga area call our Nutritionally Yours office to schedule an in office appointment. If you are not local to the Atlanta Ga area and would like assistance we can schedule a phone appointment for you. If you simply want to order a food test from us you can.
Go to our online store and place your order.
We mail you a test kit right away with the name and address of a lab to perform the blood
draw.
Full color results and rotation diet are mailed to you in about 3 weeks.
Start only eating foods your body wants and elimiante foods causing symptoms.
678-372-2913 / Toll Free: 866-307-2495
Email: alanepnd@gmail.com
Website: Nutritionallyours.net
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Medical disclaimer: Testing cannot be used to diagnose, treat or cure any disease. All test results are to be used as educational materials and as a guide to help support your overall health and wellness. Always discuss concerns with your medical doctor.
References
Robinson, Jennifer. “Food Allergy And Food Intolerance — Allergic Reactions, Symptoms, Treatments”.WebMD. N.p., 2016. Web. 8 Feb. 2016.
Staff,. “Food Allergy – Mayo Clinic”.Mayoclinic.org. N.p., 2016. Web. 8 Feb. 2016.
by Alane Palmer, Naturopath, CNC
www.NutritionallyYours.net
