Food Intolerances
Food Intolerances… not to be confused with food allergies- do you know the difference?
Some of the most common food intolerances include:
Wheat (Gluten)
Cow’s Milk
Soy
Corn
Egg Whites
The truth is, you can actually be intolerant to any food. When I was struggling with digestive issues I was intolerant to foods like romaine lettuce, tomatoes, apples, you name it! The good news is, it is possible to overcome food intolerances (I can attest to that from my own experience) it just requires addressing your digestive system.
So let’s look at what a food intolerance is (and how it differs from an allergy), what to look out for, and how to test for them.
Allergy
When we say say food allergy we essentially mean an immune system response to an allergen. An allergen triggers the production of IgE antibodies, which can cause a variety of symptoms. Allergic reactions can include (but not limited to) nasal congestion, coughing, wheezing, itching, rash, shortness of breath, headache, fatigue, hives or anaphylaxis.
Food Intolerance
A food intolerance however, is when foods are recognized as antigens by the immune system and IgG antibodies are formed against them. When the small intestine is damaged, partially digested foods can get into the blood stream (basically where they should not be). The IgG antibodies will bind to the food proteins to form immune complexes which leads to an inflammatory reaction.
There are a number of possible causes of damage to the small intestine including:
Stress
Dysbiosis in the gut
Inflammatory diseases
Candidiasis & parasites
Medications
Lack of hydrochloric acid or digestive enzymes
The more common symptoms of a food intolerance can include:
Chronic gastro-intestinal problems such as irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea, bloating
Skin issues including rashes, itching and psoriasis
Runny nose
Phlegm in the throat
Depression and anxiety
Hypertension
Headaches and migraines
Weight issues
Chronic fatigue
Fibromyalgia
Attention deficit disorder (ADD)
Arthritis
Do any of these apply to you?
The tricky part about identifying food intolerances is symptoms may not appear for hours or days after the food is consumed so food intolerance testing can be very helpful.
Testing
First and foremost, its always best to see your Doctor to determine whether you have any allergies. From there you can dig a little deeper and check for food intolerances.
Typically, food intolerance testing is done through a Naturopathic Doctor or via the Elimination Diet.
Elimination Diet
This option means stripping the diet down, eliminating different food categories for a set number of days and slowly reintroducing those foods back into the diet to see if symptoms reappear. Although this is the least expensive option, it is the most time consuming method and not the most precise option.
Finger Prick Test
Another option is purchase a food intolerance test through a Naturopathic Doctor. Essentially this is a finger prick test to detect the presence of IgG food-specific antibodies to over 200 commonly eaten foods. It’s a great option, with accurate results it’s just a little on the pricey side with tests typically ranging in price from $300-$450 (CAD). Results are typically identified in a mild, moderate, severe format to help you determine which foods to eliminate from your diet right away.
Blood Draw Test
A naturopathic doctor may also do a blood draw test to look at both IgG and IgE reactions.
When working with a Holistic Nutritionist it can be very helpful to know the identified list of foods you may be intolerant to in order to create a protocol and meal plan that is custom to your needs. It gives the ability to remove those foods from the diet for a period of time to help decrease inflammation.
Have you ever been tested for food intolerances? Comment below and let me know your experience.