Food intolerances are very common and can contribute to a variety of health concerns. It is first important to distinguish between food intolerances and food sensitivities.

Food allergies come from a reaction in the IgE portion of the immune system and cause a release of histamine. Allergic responses occur soon after being exposed to specific food and symptoms can include hives, swollen tissues (throat, tongue, hands, feet), difficulty breathing, wheezing, shortness of breath, loss of consciousness or even death. These include anaphylactic reactions and usually require emergency medical care and the use of epinephrine or an Epipen. Allergic reactions to food can be life threatening. The foods most commonly responsible for food allergies are shellfish, seafoods, tree nuts, soy, peanuts, wheat, eggs and milk and these food allergies are tested by allergists with skin prick testing.

Food sensitivities or intolerances are typically less severe and the symptoms can be experienced differently by different people. These reactions are thought to involve the IgG and IgA portions of the immune system and originate in the digestive system. They cause the release of inflammatory markers called cytokines that circulate throughout the body contributing to a variety of symptoms related to chronic inflammation. This inflammation can be present long term and can contribute to chronic health conditions. These reactions are typically slower and symptoms can occur 24-72 hours after exposure. Symptoms can include:

·        Fatigue

·        Brain fog

·        Joint or muscle pain

·        Low mood or irritability

·        Digestive dysfunction

·        Skin conditions (acne, psoriasis, rosacea, eczema, etc)

·        Asthma

·        Low immune function

·        Headaches

How do I find out which foods I’m reacting to?

One option is The Elimination Diet. The elimination diet is a short-term look into your health. The purpose is to identify and remove possible food intolerances that might be causing or contributing to your symptoms. You start by eliminating foods that are generally known to cause inflammation for a specific period of time. Then you reintroduce each food one at a time to see how you react. This way you know which foods cause what symptoms and how severe those symptoms will be if you are exposed to them. Ideally, you eliminate the foods you react to as much as possible to decrease the inflammation in your body and the symptoms that are related. 

Another option is Food Sensitivity Testing. Food sensitivity testing involves a blood sample being taken at a local lab facility. The immune cells in this blood sample are tested against a variety of food proteins and the level of reaction is determined. The foods will be ranked based on their level of reactivity. Foods with minimal inflammatory reaction can be consumed regularly, foods with moderate inflammatory reaction can be consumed minimally and foods with high inflammatory reaction should not be consumed.

What happens after I know my food intolerances?

Once you know which foods are contributing to your symptoms, you must try to avoid them as much as possible. Your Naturopathic Doctor can help you find alternatives that work for your lifestyle since these are likely changes that will need to take place long term. Change is never easy (especially when it comes to eliminating foods you might love!), but this is where the support of your ND comes in to help you make lifelong changes for your health!