Could You Benefit From Food Sensitivity Testing?
It was food sensitivity testing that first peaked my interest in Naturopathic Medicine.
When I was in high school I started getting daily stomach aches with bloating. It wasn’t until I went to a Naturopathic Doctor that I finally received some answers to what was going on. As it turned out, I had multiple food sensitivities and was asked to eliminate those foods from my diet. Doing this helped my symptoms significantly. I was then able to re-introduce most of those foods and remain symptom free.
Recently, I have developed some food sensitivities once again, however this time, it is the result of getting a parasite during travel and this has now taken me through another healing journey.
The difference between food allergies and food sensitivities:
A true food allergy is mediated by a pathway in our immune system, termed an IgE reaction. A true allergic reaction is experienced immediately after exposure to the allergen and results in hives, lip swelling, breathing difficulties, and is considered a medical emergency.
A food sensitivity reaction travels down a different pathway in our immune system called and IgG reaction. What is unique about this inflammatory pathway is that we may see slightly different allergy signs and symptoms and this is often a delay in the development of these symptoms.
Food Sensitivity Signs and Symptoms I most often encounter with my patients are:
↠ Stomachaches after eating
↠ Bloating and gas
↠ Alternating bowel movements, constipation or diarrhea
↠ Heartburn or reflux
↠ Skin rashes or eczema
↠ Dark circles under the eyes
↠ Acne (especially when around the nose and on the cheeks)
↠ Swelling around the eyes, or hands and feet
↠ Difficulty concentrating
↠ Fatigue
↠ Migraines
↠ Weight gain
↠ IBS
↠ Behavioral problems in children or difficulty concentrating
↠ Asthma, Sinus Problems, Runny nose
The food sensitivity testing is a simple blood test and get the results within a week.
Follow the link in my bio to schedule an appointment and discover how this testing may benefit you.
Photo by Food Photographer | Jennifer Pallian on Unsplash