Licking Food Allergies
Do you find yourself commonly affected by any of the following after eating:
- Abdominal bloating
- Diarrhoea / Constipation
- Gas
- Sneezing / Runny nose
- Itchy eyes and face
- Congestion
- Skin irritation, eczema and psoriasis
Chances are you are experiencing one of the many reactions common to those suffering from some form of food allergy or intolerance. One recent medical publication stated that "one out of three people either say that they have a food allergy or that they modify the family diet because a family member is suspected of having a food allergy".
So why are so many people affected by food allergies and intolerances?
There's a number of reasons why food allergies or intolerances are becoming more common in our diet.
Firstly, much of our food has been bred for specific characteristics, resulting in strains that are far different from what our parents and grand parents ate. Wheat for example, is bred to be resistant to bugs, pests and moulds as well as to yield maximum crop sizes in dry condition. Then there's genetic modification to provide specific traits that weren't present in the original species. Soy and canola for example are frequently genetically modified to provide resistance to certain pesticides. This allows farmers to spray more frequently, preventing competition from weeds and increasing crop sizes.
Secondly, our increasing use of processed foods leads to increased consumption of the three major allergens (wheat, dairy, soy) in a partial form. For example; soy protein isolate is increasingly being found in everything from breakfast cereals to baby foods to frozen burgers.
The first part of combatting the symptoms of food allergies and intolerances is to discontinue use of all allergens that could be causing reactions. The big three include wheat, dairy and soy, however other foods known to be allergenic include shellfish, chillies / capsicums, tomatoes and eggplants. Naturally canola containing products and canola oils should be discontinued due to the high risk of genetic modification.
By discontinuing the use of these foods we give the stomach and intestinal lining time to repair and rebuild. While we recommend completely removing wheat and dairy from the diet, we have found that once people have allowed the gut time to repair, they have been able to re-introduce these foods to the diet.
Food allergies and intolerances are also regularly linked to both low stomach hydrochloric acid and insufficient production of digestive enzymes. To maximise the production of both of these ensure you eat three meals spaced at least five hours apart and avoid overeating at any meal. It is possible to increase the acidity of the stomach by taking a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar just before meals, there are also a number of digestive enzyme supplements that will increase specific enzymes for digestion. We have had significant success with the Lifestyle Enzymes Gluteneze, a product specifically formulated for those with gluten allergies or intolerance.
After removing the general problem foods it's time for repair. Most allergens irritate the stomach lining leading to inflammation that in turn gives the typical "gut" symptoms of food allergies:
- Abdominal bloating
- Diarrhoea / Constipation
- Gas
Others, can actually perforate the stomach lining allowing food particles, particularly proteins, to escape into the circulatory system. This in turn gives rise to the "non-gut" symptoms, which are in reality an immune response to foreign particles in the blood.
- Sneezing / Runny nose
- Itchy eyes and face
- Congestion
- Skin irritation, eczema and psoriasis
A formula we regularly use in our clinic to assist in the soothing and repairing of the mucous membranes of the digestive system is the GIT shake. This shake is best taken in the mornings at least 30 minutes before food. This shake contains the following that are all beneficial to the GI tract.
- Water
- 1 Tbsp Slippery Elm - good for patching the holes caused by food allergens;
- 1 Tbsp Coconut oil - soothes the inflammation of the mucous membranes;
- 1 heaped tsp L-Glutamine - an amino acid important for both energy of cells in the mucous membrane and their integrity;
- 1 heaped tsp Ultraprobioplex - a probiotic, important for re-establishing the good bacteria;
We have also found use of herbal supplements such as golden seal, cayenne pepper and marshmallow root along with essential oils such as german chamomile and lemongrass, to be valuable in repairing the lining of the gastro intestinal tract and improving digestion.
Food allergies and food intolerances can be a significant hindrance to the gustatory experience. Fortunately, by taking the time to repair the digestive system, practicing some good dietary principles and the age old law of moderation, many people have been able to make them a thing of the past.
Passion4Health is a wellness clinic located in Browns Plains, Brisbane. At Passion4Health we focus on management and maintenance of optimum health through an integrated lifestyle approach.
Passion4Health provide diet and nutritional advice, massage, lymphatic drainage, iridology and live blood analysis.
Find out how you can reduce chronic disease and maintain optimum health by calling us now on 0437 060 385.