Are Food Sensitivies De-Railing Your Health?

Hidden food intolerances can be the root cause of a whole range of unwanted symptoms including: constipation, bloating, heartburn, nausea, weight gain, headaches, brain fog, joint pain, fatigue and more.

Another word for food intolerance is food sensitivity. Having a food intolerance isn’t the same as having a food allergy. Food allergies cause an immune system response that can be life-threatening.

After eating an offending food day after day, over the years, food intolerances can take their toll on the immune system and cause the lining in our gut to become inflamed. Known as leaky gut syndrome, these tiny openings in the gut allow bacteria and partially digested food molecules to slip into the blood stream where they are considered foreign invaders putting the immune system on full throttle.

Without diagnosis or awareness, the damage is repeated over and over, and eventually, inflammation spreads throughout the body, creating the perfect conditions for weight gain and chronic disease.

What are some of the main causes of food intolerances?

Enzyme deficiency
Sensitivity to food additives (MSG, artificial sweeteners, artificial dyes)
Chronic Stress
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn’s Colitis)
Celiac Disease

Most Common Food Intolerances:

Lactose (Dairy)
Gluten (wheat, rye and barley)
Histamine (naturally occurring chemicals in foods like cheese, pineapples, bananas, avocados and chocolate)

Because food sensitivities can affect you up to 72 hours after eating, or even take a few days, they can be difficult to spot.

Sadly, most conventional doctors, especially allergists (!!), don’t take food sensitives seriously, despite the fact that there is an ever growing body of medical literature proving the intimate relationship between the gut, food, and illness.

The good news is YOU can step into the driver seat by doing the following things to determine if food intolerances or allergies are undermining your health.

1) Let go of gluten and diary for six weeks. If you are struggling with weight, this can be a very effective strategy because both these substances are inked to insulin resistance and, therefore, weight gain. Eliminating them for a short period of time allows an inflamed gut to heal.

2) Get tested for IGg food allergens. These tests can be a helpful guide to identify hidden food allergies. However, it is important to work with a nutritionist or doctor with experience with food intolerances so the results can be interpreted in context worth your overall health picture.

3) If there’s no noticeable difference after taking out gluten and dairy, do a wider range and let go of the top food allergens: corn, eggs, soy, nuts, yeast and vinegar containing foods for six weeks. Re-introduce and observe your body’s reactions.

Food is designed to be your greatest ally in health. The key components that optimize this fact are our curiosity and self awareness.

For further guidance and inspiration listen to this week’s podcast Interview: “What If Your Food Is the Root CAUSE of Your Suffering? – Interview With The Allergy Chef