Food Allergies and Sensitivities

Understanding Food Allergies and Sensitivities: One Man’s Medicine is Another Man’s Poison

When it comes to food, our bodies react in unique and varied ways. Nowhere is this more evident than in our responses to food allergies and sensitivities. Unfortunately, the medical field is often divided and controversial on this subject, which can prevent doctors from effectively helping the millions of people suffering from allergic, inflammatory, immune, or toxic reactions to everyday foods.

Immediate vs. Delayed Allergic Reactions

• Immediate Allergies (IgE Hypersensitivity):

  • Commonly recognized by severe reactions, such as swollen tongues, hives, or difficulty breathing.
    
    
  • These aggressive histamine responses are serious but rare.
    
    
  • Example: Peanut allergies leading to emergency situations.
    
    

• Delayed Allergies (IgG Delayed Hypersensitivity):

  • Far more common and less dramatic.
    
    
  • These reactions can occur hours to days after consuming the food and are often overlooked by conventional medicine.
    
    
  • Impact: IgG reactions play a significant role in many chronic illnesses and weight problems.
    
    

Symptoms of Delayed Allergic Reactions

Delayed allergic reactions can lead to a wide range of symptoms, including:

• Physical Symptoms:

  • Weight gain and retention
  • Acid reflux
  • Fluid retention
  • Fatigue
  • Headaches
  • Sinus and nasal congestion
  • Joint pains
  • Acne, eczema, and other skin issues
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Arthritis
    
    

• Mental and Emotional Symptoms:

  • Brain fog
  • Mood problems
  • Sleeping issues
  • Heart palpitations
    
    

These symptoms stem from inflammation caused by the immune system mistakenly identifying proteins in healthy foods as foreign invaders.

The Rise of Food Sensitivities

Both IgE allergies and IgG sensitivities are increasing in our culture for several reasons:

• Overconsumption: Regularly eating the same foods can lead to sensitivities, putting the body in a constant state of alert.
  
  
• Gut Barrier Breakdown: Many modern habits compromise the gut’s protective barrier, allowing food particles to breach and trigger immune responses.
  
  
  • Result: Inflammation throughout the body.
    
    

Factors Contributing to a Weakened Gut Barrier

Your gut barrier can be compromised by:

• Diet: High sugar, white flour, and low fiber diets.
  
  
• Nutritional Deficiencies: Lack of zinc and omega-3 fats.
  
  
• Medications: Overuse of antibiotics, medications, and hormones.
  
  
• Environmental Toxins: Exposure to harmful substances.
  
  
• Stress: High levels of mental and emotional stress.
  
  

When the gut barrier weakens, external substances leak into the body, leading to allergies and systemic immune problems, commonly known as “leaky gut.”

Common Trigger Foods

While everyone’s sensitivities are unique, some foods are more likely to irritate the immune system:

• Gluten: Found in grains like wheat, barley, rye, spelt, triticale, and kamut.
• Dairy: Milk, cheese, butter, yogurt.
• Corn
• Eggs
• Soy
• Nuts
• Citrus Fruits
• Nightshade Vegetables: Tomatoes, bell peppers, potatoes, eggplant.
• Yeast: Baker’s yeast, brewer’s yeast, wine, vinegar, fermented products.
  
  

Identifying Food Sensitivities

• Testing: Blood tests can help identify IgG sensitivities.
  
  
• Elimination Diet: The gold-standard for identifying problematic foods:
  
  
  • Elimination Phase: Fully eliminate suspected foods from your diet for about 4 weeks.
    
    
  • Reintroduction Phase: Reintroduce the food in quantity (two regular servings per day for three days in a row) and observe any reactions.
    
    

Pay careful attention to changes in your body, thoughts, and feelings. Common symptoms of food sensitivity include:

• Headaches
• Lethargy
• Stomach upset
• Achy joints and muscles
• Trouble sleeping
• Depression or anxiety
• Skin breakouts

Remember, each of our bodies is unique, and understanding your sensitivities is key to improving your health.