Uncovering Hidden Food Sensitivities

Chances are you know if you have a food allergy. Your throat might get itchy or tingly, you might start to swell up or get hives, and in severe cases, you might get anaphylaxis, a life-threatening condition that can result in coma or death. 

However, did you know that along with food allergies, there are also intolerances and sensitivities, all of which can have an impact on your health?

Food Allergies

As mentioned, food allergies we know to be immediate responses that the body has to a food that has just been consumed. Common allergies are from peanuts, shellfish, nuts, and fish. 

Allergies trigger an immunoglobulin E reaction (IgE), meaning the body’s immune system mounts an immediate response to a specific food or substance that has been consumed. The antibody that is released to neutralize the substance is the immunoglobulin E, hence an IgE reaction. 

Food Intolerances

An intolerance is when the body is unable to fully digest a certain food, which can be due to a lack of digestive enzymes needed to break down certain proteins, as in the case of lactose intolerance, or due to a sensitivity to chemicals found in the foods themselves. 

Usually when someone has an intolerance, they may be able to eat a small amount of the food without issue, and the reactions may depend solely on how much of the food was consumed. 

Food Sensitivities

Food sensitivities are similar to food allergies in that they do create an immune response within the body, however, the response is not immediate, and is not as dangerous as an IgE reaction. 

An IgG reaction, immunoglobulin G, is a reaction to food proteins. The IgG reactions are delayed, meaning they will not show up immediately, but rather can take up to 72 hours for the body to mount the IgG immune response. 

While there are many who say that because the IgG response is natural because it is reacting to food proteins, there is still an immune response and it would follow that foods that show high reactivity are also going to cause higher levels of inflammation. 

An IgG Food Sensitivity Test can be helpful for anyone who is dealing with chronic conditions, as this can be a way to reduce foods that cause high reactions, and also help reduce inflammation. 

Clinical evidence shows that when people remove foods that cause high IgG reactions, there was a great improvement in symptoms, including chronic fatigue, headaches, gas, bloating, diarrhea, and others. 

A Personal Case Study

When I first completed a food sensitivity test, I knew that three things would show up high:

Dairy, gluten, and eggs. 

Even though I had stayed away from cow’s milk dairy, I was still showing a moderate reaction. 

Inherently, I believe that we know what works for us and what doesn’t, but many of us have lost sight of this awareness. 

There were a few other foods that showed moderate to high markers as well: 

• garbanzos

• peas

• lentils

• green tea

While I didn’t eat peas and lentils frequently, garbanzos were a daily staple of mine. I would eat them in some way, shape, or form on a daily basis, if not two times a day. 

To say I ate them frequently was an understatement.

What Now?
After the test, I eliminated the main offenders, and found that I did have less digestive discomfort, and more importantly, the little, lingering headaches I would get pretty much disappeared. 

Eliminating the foods that cause reactivity does not mean that you will never be able to eat these foods again, from an IgG perspective. Rather, eliminating them for a certain time frame gives the body the ability to reduce inflammation and gives you the opportunity to heal the gut as well. 

Once you have eliminated the main offenders for a period of 6 weeks to 6 months, you can reintroduce them one at a time to check for reactions. 

If you find that you continue to suffer symptoms, that particular food may just not work for you. 

We are all different, and what works for one person may not work for another. 

Being able to test and see what foods cause high reactions is a great way to personalize your nutrition to fit your specific needs. 

If you are ready to see what foods are causing your symptoms, book a discovery session now and let’s get you feeling great!