YOU MAY HAVE FOOD ALLERGIES & NOT KNOW IT!

Most people think of food allergies as being the most severe kind, involving anaphylaxis, which usually is a reaction of the entire body to a particular allergen. Did you know, however, that excess congestion, runny nose, headaches and joint pain can all be attributed to food allergies?

When the immune system gets run down, and in particular during times of stress, our digestive tracts slow down and digestion gets sluggish. This often means our bodies are not producing enough digestive enzymes to break down our food into its proper constituents (i.e., carbohydrates --> sugars; protein --> amino acids; fats --> triglycerides), leading to poorly digested food.

The undigested food enters our intestinal tract, where low-grade inflammation may result. This low-grade inflammation may go on for years, producing symptoms that are hardly associated with food allergy. This may mean joint pain, mood swings, fatigue, irritable bowel, headaches or migraines, etc. The trickiest part is that we often don’t associate these symptoms with the food that may be causing it, despite how often we eat it (ex: wheat, dairy, corn, etc.).

If you can imagine our intestinal lining to be similar to a nylon stocking in terms of permeability, any inflammation can lead to a “stretching”, or swelling, of the tissue. This becomes truly problematic when undigested protein particles pass through this lining and into the bloodstream. VOILA - you now have a serious immune system reacting to a ‘foreign’ substance.

In order to identify food allergies, you have to work with a nutritionist to eliminate potential trigger foods (for at least 3 weeks) and then re-introduce them and watch for any reaction. In the meantime, you must improve the health of your immune system, while managing stress levels. A HEALTHY IMMUNE SYSTEM WILL NOT REACT FOOD. Here is a manageable way to overcome food allergies or intolerances:

1) eliminate allergic foods for at least 3 weeks
2) strengthen the immune system with plenty of rest and a healthy, whole foods diet
3) heal the G.I. tract with soothing herbs, such as slippery elm or marshmallow root (no, not the puffy kind full of sugar that you roast on a fire)
4) slowly reintroduce the allergic food in small quantity and watch for a reaction (*please note: if you are anaphylactic, you must be working with an MD while doing this)

It is possible to “train” the immune system to no longer react to once-allergic foods. Many people have moved beyond their food allergies to enjoy them on a regular basis. It requires dedication and the patience to allow it to happen. You can consult with a nutritionist to see whether you may have food allergies and begin the road to recovery!