Have you ever considered that seemingly unrelated health issues like joint pain, mental fog, low energy, skin problems, irritability, or chronic digestive symptoms may all derive from a single source? Recent research indicates that all these ailments might root from food sensitivities, which can trigger and exacerbate various chronic health symptoms.
Food Allergies vs. Food Sensitivities
Food sensitivities can have different meanings for different people, so it is essential to understand the difference between a true food allergy and food sensitivity. A true food allergy causes an immediate and sometimes life-threatening reaction, such as peanut, fish, or shellfish allergies. Most people know if they have such allergies by the time they reach adulthood and whether they will have to avoid specific trigger foods for life.
On the other hand, food sensitivities cause reactions that develop over time and are not considered life-threatening. They create an inflammatory response that begins in the small intestine and can become systemic throughout the body, leading to issues in the joints, skin, and brain. Common symptoms associated with food sensitivities include skin rashes, gas, bloating, diarrhea, or constipation. More severe reactions can include muscle and joint aches, a racing pulse, exhaustion, asthma, and sinusitis. Cognitive and emotional symptoms such as foggy thinking, a “spaced-out” feeling, depression, and irritability can also arise.
The Connection to Leaky Gut Syndrome
When your body encounters a food sensitivity, immune cells in your small intestine react as though they came under attack. Your body mistaken reacts to specific food proteins as harmful, similar to an invading bacteria or virus. This reaction can cause the small intestine to become inflamed, leading to a condition called leaky gut syndrome.
Research is yet to determine why some people have sensitivities to certain foods and others do not. Factors during infancy and even before birth can contribute to this development. Furthermore, scientists have linked vitamin D deficiency to the development of food sensitivities. Studies have also shown that probiotics can help reduce sensitivity by improving digestive function.
Common Trigger Foods
There are six food categories that tend to provoke “delayed hypersensitivity” reactions the most:
- Dairy (especially cow’s milk).
- Gluten-containing grains such as wheat, rye, and barley.
- Soy.
- Egg.
- Corn.
- Nuts.
Other possible trigger foods might cause sensitivities, although less commonly. These foods, such as beef and chicken, can be included in formal food-sensitivity testing panels that a healthcare provider can order.
Testing for Food Sensitivities
There are various tests available to determine food sensitivities, including blood, saliva, stool, and skin tests. Undergoing multiple tests can give more accurate results due to the comprehensive nature of the testing process. Before lab tests for food sensitivities were developed, an “elimination-challenge diet” was advised, and it remains a useful tool to identify a significant portion of your food sensitivities. The idea behind this diet is to remove the most common offending foods from your system and then reintroduce each item one at a time while carefully monitoring your symptoms. Here is an example of how you can do an elimination diet.
While on the elimination diet, it is also helpful to do a gentle cleanse and detoxification program, which will assist the process of removing inflammatory toxins, food particles, and more. A recent study suggested that food allergies and sensitivities might be triggered, in part, by toxins from tap water, among other sources. A gentle cleanse can also improve digestive function.
This simple, do-it-yourself approach requires determination, but it could lead to the resolution of many chronic issues and a heightened sense of energy when you successfully narrow down your dietary needs. The trade-off for the effort put in can be well worth the reward.
