We are here to debunk a common misconception about food allergies.
Many people believe that in order to be diagnosed with a food allergy, a person must experience an allergic reaction that often involves swelling, coughing, itchiness, dizziness, nausea, diarrhea, or other gastrointestinal issues.
These symptoms are the result of one kind of food allergy known as a fixed food allergy. However, there is actually another lesser-known type of food allergy that can create a multitude of health problems if not properly addressed.
Food allergies vs. food sensitivities
"The word “allergy” is confusing because many people use it as a fully encompassing generic term for true allergic reactions and nonallergic adverse reactions, also called sensitivities or intolerances." These food sensitivities do not always generate the same symptoms as a full-blown food allergy.
The symptoms of food sensitivities are typically not as easily noticeable as those that occur with a fixed food allergy. In fact, many food sensitivities do not cause any outward reactions but, instead, cause inflammation and other negative reactions inside the body. However, that does not mean they are not just as important to your overall health.
Some of the most common indicators of a possible food sensitivity include:
Skin irritations (such as eczema)
Chronic ear infections
Recurring bladder infections
Constant bloating
Upset stomach, diarrhea, or irregular bowel movements
Trouble sleeping
Frequent headaches
Weight retention (trouble losing weight)
Muscle or abdominal cramps
Joint pain
How do I know if I am sensitive to any foods?
Detecting a food sensitivity can be difficult to do on your own because of the timeframe in which the symptoms occur. Unlike a fixed food allergy that causes an immediate allergic reaction, the effects of a food sensitivity may not become noticeable for up to 72 hours. This can make it extremely difficult to determine exactly which food(s) caused the discomfort.
The best approach to identifying potential food allergies is to visit your local health or wellness clinic for comprehensive food sensitivity testing services.
How does a food allergy test work?
In traditional food allergy testing, a patient is injected with small amounts of allergens to see if a reaction occurs. However, there is a newer, much less invasive (and much more accurate) method of detecting food allergies.
Today, a small blood sample is all that is required to analyze over 100 different foods to give you an incredibly accurate representation of your body's unique food sensitivities.
What do I do with my test results?
Once you learn what food(s) affect your body, you can start to adjust your diet and nutrition plans to accommodate your test results. Neglecting your food allergies can be extremely detrimental to your overall health and can even contribute to a variety of long-term health problems such as arthritis, chronic infections, behavioral disorders, and more. On the other hand, dedication to your individual diet specifications can open up a world of opportunity in terms of your total body wellness.
Learn more about food allergy testing here.
Source:
Food allergies and sensitivities. (2019). Alletess Medical Laboratory. Retrieved from https://foodallergy.com/allergy-immunology/food-allergies/
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