Food Sensitivity
Some Foods may be making you feel worse! One HUGE way to decrease inflammation is to avoid foods you are eating that you are sensitive to. There is a difference between a sensitivity and an allergy. Sensitivities and allergies use a different part of your immune system. An allergic reaction is usually immediate and occurs within six hours. A sensitivity may cause symptoms immediately, but usually takes several hours and can take up to two days to manifest. The most common food sensitivities are: *
- Brewer’s and Baker’s Yeast
- Wheat
- Dairy and Cheese
- Egg
- Corn
- Peanuts
- Soy
- Tomato
- Kidney Bean
- Goat's Milk
- Pinto Beans
- Mushroom
Food Elimination Diet
A food elimination diet may help you discover foods you may be sensitive to. There are a lot of different versions for food elimination diets out there, but these two options are the ones I like.*
- Avoid all of these most common food allergens for three weeks and then introduce them one at a time, eating them pretty heavy for a day and watching over a 3 day period for symptoms (Rash, fatigue, cramping, diarrhea, bloating, constipation, irritability.) This is very difficult, but possible.*
- From the most common food sensitivities, choose one food at a time and avoid that food for three weeks and then introduce that food pretty heavy for a day. Watch over the next 3 days for possible reactions (Rash, headache, fatigue, cramping, diarrhea, bloating, constipation, irritability, etc.)*
Food Sensitivity Tests
There are also food sensitivity tests that can help you find the foods you are sensitive to without all the work. They test 150-200 foods. The one I prefer is called the ALCAT food sensitivity test. If you would like to know more about this test, please contact me.*
Fatigue and G.I. Issues: One of my patients was exhausted and having severe gastrointestinal symptoms. We discussed different options for determining food sensitivities. She could not afford to do the ALCAT food sensitivity testing and opted for a food elimination diet. We originally planned to remove the foods from her diet one at a time. At the last minute, she decided to remove the big 8 foods from her diet (the top 8 in the list above). I have only had two patients do this, as it is very difficult. She found 3 of those 8 were big offenders for her. Her fatigue is now a thing of the past.* (This is the results from one person, a testimonial. Results may vary)
THIS WILL REQUIRE SOME SERIOUS FOOD LABEL READING.