Food allergies are on the rise.
You likely know someone (if not yourself) with an allergy that prevents them from eating certain foods. Common examples include peanuts, tree nuts, soy, shellfish, eggs, wheat/gluten, corn…the list goes on and on.
While most people don’t have a serious allergy, many are sensitive to foods.
In fact, you’ve probably noticed that grocery stores and restaurants now carry “gluten-free”, “dairy-free”, “egg-free” products to accommodate those with sensitivities.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN ALLERGY AND A SENSITIVITY?
Both allergies and sensitivities are inappropriate responses from the immune system. They send out warning signals to your body, saying that something “foreign” is not safe. Your body responds by putting up a fight to destroy the invader, causing symptoms such as itchiness, skin rashes, swelling (often of the eyes and throat), or even digestive troubles.
Allergic reactions are immediate. They can take anywhere from seconds to several minutes to appear.
Sensitivities, on the other hand, tend to be delayed. They may start 20 minutes after eating something, but can take up to 3 days! This makes it INCREDIBLY difficult to identify triggers for delayed reactions.
Allergies and sensitivities add a burden to your body, because it is always on high-alert. When we reduce the burden, people generally feel much better!
Signs of food sensitivities include:
- Fatigue
- Headaches or Migraines
- Constipation
- Loose stool
- Skin rashes
- Stomach aches
- Gas and bloating most days
- Joint pain
- Brain fog
- ADHD
- Weight gain
To determine if you have a food sensitivity, your Naturopathic Doctor can order a specific blood test or you try a strict elimination diet for 4-6 weeks, followed by a gradual reintroduction of each food to identify triggers.
The food sensitivity testing measures delayed sensitivity reactions that you may have to various foods, including dairy and eggs, meat, nuts, fruit and vegetables, and even certain spices. The results highlight which foods you react to and how reactive you may be to each through a colour-coded graph. Your Naturopathic Doctor will explain the results and help guide you through making the appropriate dietary changes. We even offer meal planning services at Health Over All to make this process easier for you!
You deserve to feel energetic and healthy every day! When your body isn’t working at its best, it can drain you, your immune system, and leave you feeling pretty awful.
Click HERE to book and appointment and get to the bottom of your health concerns!