Everyone has heard of food ‘allergies’ but not many people have heard of, or understand the significance of, food ‘sensitivities’. While this may sound less serious, food sensitivities can cause severe damage if not addressed. Simply put, a food ‘sensitivity’ is a delayed response by the immune system which causes the cells of body to become inflamed. Over time, the inflammation becomes significantly more severe, impacting tissues and organs and causing chronic conditions.
Do you know anyone experiencing these symptoms?
- Stomach cramps
- Headaches
- Brain fog
- Acid Reflux
- Bloating or gas (or IBS)
- Eczema
- Muscle cramps
- Joint pain
- Fatigue
- Anxiety or
- Auto-immune issues
Newsflash…these symptoms are probably telling you that you have a sensitivity to one or more foods. But you eat healthy? Maybe, but even if you eat a considerably healthy diet, you could still experience these symptoms. Your body is the final judge of what is good and healthy. Here are a few things that could be causing issues:
Certain foods are typical suspects and some others are less likely suspects. The foods that you’ve possibly heard about that can affect your gut health include gluten, grains, dairy, and soy. Other, less common foods that could also affect you include nuts, shellfish, eggs and corn.
Too much of a good thing – Do you have a go-to food? My husband loves cashews. Nearly every day he would eat a handful to satisfy his food cravings. Unfortunately, he discovered recently that he has a rather strong reaction to them…and had no idea!
Maybe you have an “apple a day” or some other favorite? Having the same foods over and over can irritate the lining of your stomach and could contribute to ‘leaky gut’ (more on that in a future blog, but it’s not a good thing.)
None of this is instantaneous, but will affect you over time. After months or even years, the bacteria in your stomach (yet another blog) and the lining of your gut are affected, and you begin experiencing issues. Stop for a moment and think about how you feel today. Is there something a little off, something that just isn’t like it used to be? There’s a good chance food caused this.
What can you do? First, stay away from the “Usual Suspects” for 30 days. (Be careful because it’s harder than you think). Most processed foods are likely to contain one or more of these items.
After 30 days you can try to slowly reintroduce one of these food every 3 days. Pay attention to any reaction. A ‘reaction’ is one of the symptoms above or an overall uncomfortable feeling in your stomach. Symptoms may be very subtle, so be cautious. If you have any reaction, stay away from this food for an additional three months.
There’s another option. A more scientific option called a food sensitivity test. This test will give you a bigger picture of the foods that could be affecting your health. Chances are, if this has been going on for a while, your immune system is getting a bit more sensitive and is reacting to more foods than the “original” suspect! The test will also help determine how long you need to stay away from specific foods to heal your gut. After the recommended amount of time you can reintroduce these foods, again, one at a time, to see if your body will tolerate them again.
If you’re ready to feel better, consider one of these 2 options. If you’re looking for help, or would like additional information, feel free to contact me.
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