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Food Allergy or Intolerance?
Hey everyone, welcome back. Today we are going to talk about the difference between food allergies and food intolerances.
This is a topic that I am very intimate with and consequently, for better or for worse know inside and out!
According to many doctors, food allergies and intolerances are becoming more and more common these days.
According to the National Institute of Health, at least 30 million Americans (10%) suffer from some sort of food intolerance.
According to the Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network, 8 foods account for 90% of all food allergies: Cow’s milk, eggs, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, fish and shellfish.
One in three Americans alters their diet with the belief that they or someone close to them has a food allergy.
What many of them don’t understand, is that what a large number of people think of as food allergies are actually food intolerances.
The difference?
A food allergy occurs when the immune system produces an antibody in response to the protein in a specific food or foods.
Even a small amount can produce symptoms. Sometimes immediate and sometimes delayed. These symptoms can range from hives, eczema, stomach upset, sinus problems to more serious and even life threatening ones such as swelling of the tongue and closing of the throat.
Ways to diagnose food allergies include: Food elimination diets, skin testing, blood and other lab tests.
Personally, my food allergies were found quickly with a blood test but the more troubling and problematic food sensitivities were finally uncovered when I went on an elimination diet.
A food intolerance occurs when there is a negative physiological response following the consumption of certain foods. In this case, the immune system does not respond like it does with allergic foods.
The tricky thing with food intolerances is that it may take up to three to four days for the symptoms to take effect. This makes food intolerances very hard to diagnose.
Elimination diets and other less known, specialty tests are the most common means of diagnosis.
Symptoms of food intolerance can include headaches, insomnia, muscle aches, chronic fatigue, irritability, gastrointestinal problems and the list goes on and on.
For example, when I eat corn I can get very agitated…but it takes effect about 24 hours later and lasts for about two days…fading in intensity until it clears out of my system.
Knowing this, I understand that it is just inflammation in my brain and body and don’t let it change my behavior. It does require an extra degree of mindfulness and use of energy so it is an inconvenience.
Before I figured out that I had Celiac disease, food allergies and food intolerances, I blamed the symptoms on any number of things…all of them inaccurate.
Of course, my doctors had many diagnoses (I now call them diagnonsense) ranging from seizure disorder to depression to ADD to cancer to temporal lobe epilepsy and a few others.
It was not a pleasant ride to say the least. There was much suffering, confusion and embarrassment, and of course much money spent trying to make sense of it all. I knew I wasn’t crazy but I also couldn’t figure out what was causing these strange physical, emotional and mental symptoms and reactions.
Eventually, I figured it out after doing a fast in conjunction with some meditative work I was doing. After four days of not eating, I started to feel much better. Once I started eating again, my symptoms returned.
From there, I started removing various foods from my diet and then reintroducing them. Eventually, I pinpointed several foods and eliminated them from my diet. I felt much better but their was still something else….
Armed with this knowledge, I went to my doctor who ordered a blood test which confirmed my results and actually revealed a few more foods which eventually revealed Celiac disease but that wasn’t for a few more years! That is a whole other story!
Here is a more detailed list of symptoms. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms on a regular basis it may be an indication of a food reaction:
Mood and behavior
Emotional ups and downs
Depression
Sleep problems
Fatigue
.
Respitory
Wheezing
Shortness of breath
Sinus problems
Throat closing
Excessive mucus (not specifically associated with Celiac disease)
Stomach
Diarrhea
Constipation
Gas
Cramps
Bloating
Vomiting
Reflux
Skin
Eczema
Dry skin
Hives/rashes
Itchiness
Flushed color
Welts
Aches
Joint pain
Muscle aches
Loss of strength
Migraines
Malnutrition
Anemia
Dizziness
Fainting
Weight change
Osteoporosis
Dental problems
Delayed growth in kids
Irregular periods
Infertility
Fatigue
If you have any of these symptoms, consult with your health care provider. If you suspect that you have Celiac disease or a gluten intolerance, it is important that you get tested before you change your diet. The reason being, is that the test will likely come up as negative following the implementation of a gluten-free diet.
Well, I think I’ve covered enough for this post. I welcome any questions anyone has and will answer them promptly. Just remember, that I am not a doctor nor can I give medical advice!
Until next time…
Kind Regards,
Anthony
14 Responses to “Food Allergy or Intolerance?”
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Anthony,
Great stuff to know. I know how frustrating it is when people are working to get better, but can’t get results. Many are not aware of the options or information.
You’re providing a great service here.
Lynn Lane
Success Strategies For Life
Anthony,
Food allergies is petty tough on one’s life. My son has got many such allergies.
Due to food labelling is NOT 100% comprehensive, what are supposed to be the SAME food from different brands might or might not trigger food allergies!
Diet elimination takes a L-O-N-G time to sort them out.
John Ho
Numerology Expert Helps Understanding Personality for Better Influence & Persuasion
Lynn,
It is frustrating to work at anything and get little or no results. I knew it was getting out of hand when I agreed to go on seizure medication and an anti-depressant. I did that for four insane and embarrassing months and it was much worse than being sick without them! Much worse! That is when I got pissed and took matters into my own hands.
You are correct, many people just don’t have the proper information nor are they aware of their options. Too many of them just hand their problems over to others before they do any solid research which is to me rolling the dice.
Thanks for weighing in bro!
John,
Saying that food allergies are tough on one’s life is an understatement!
My life was ravaged by them.
You are one hundred percent correct on labeling and inconsistency with in manufacturing. Brand X and of one food can knock you down for days while brand Y of the same food does little or nothing negative.
You are also correct in saying that it can take a “L-O-N-G” time to sort them out! I am still fine tuning my diet. After a while you really get in tune with your body which enables you to adjust quickly.
I am certain my meditation practice enabled me to work through that process in a much more efficient and accurate fashion.
That is why I recommend some sort meditative practice that involves watching the body and mind to all my clients and everyone else for that matter.
Thanks for stopping by!
Anthony, it is definitely interesting to see how the root of some things in the body are caused, as opposed to the western medical definitions that most americans are proned to hear. A lot of times people will just listen to the doctor and go get the medication that doctor prescribes, because “he’s A Doctor right” well, i feel that I would rather find the root of my sympton of what is wrong with my body. Thanks, Anthony
Anthony,
great post. Thanks!
How I do long for a world where we all eat clean food, and food that is right for each individual person in their own way. Conscious eating would do SO much to improve all relationships on every scale! I have watched so many people struggle and struggle and struggle through all aspects of their lives because of food allergies. There is no part of your world that it leaves untouched. How (relatively) easy to heal this.
My eldest son, now 9, cannot eat corn. It took me years to figure out, and true dedication and persistence and the ability to ignore doctors and the words they had to say. I trusted my son and my intuition. I don’t know whether to call it a “sensitivity” or “intolerance” or “allergy” but honestly, I don’t care what its true term is. What I do know is that my son cannot eat corn or corn products without it causing aggression, frustration, eye circles, rashes, eczema, various other skin issues, and changing the shape and set of his eyes. I know that when I keep his diet clean, he is so light and energized in a peaceful way and healthy and has no skin issues, no focus or aggression issues. I see how much easier it is for him to be the wonderful wonderful person he is.
Unfortunately, even though I did the elimination diet as specifically outlined by Doris Rapp, MD in her great book about children’s food allergies, and found all his intolerances and tolerances, his father “does not believe” in food allergies. Despite a court order to feed him a specific way, my son’s diet and body are not respected. It is hard for me to watch this beautiful body get filled with things that are toxic to it, but then we get to see over and over how the food changes his life on every level. At some point, as he grows older, I am hopeful that my son can take this experiential learning and use it to make informed choices for him and his family.
May I say, too, that I have personally healed myself of many health issues through changes in diet, and have seen many others do the same. Some doctors can hear this information, but many cannot. It is important to persist in your own knowing of self to be healthy.
much love,
Laura
http://www.LaughingDivas.com
Anthony,
This was an informative post, especially since more and more foods seem to bother me as I grow older. I think our body chemistry changes as we age. I love Ice Cream, but I rarely eat it now days because it wrecks havoc on my body. It’s the same with wheat products.
This stuff sucks.
Steve Chambers
Business to Business Sales Training Expert
Steve,
Our chemistry definitely changes as we age. One of the big ones is the weakening our digestive system. I suggest you start taking a good digestive enzyme and probiotic. You would be amazed at the difference they can make in your overall health and feeling of well-being.
Those 8 foods that account for 90% of food allergies are some of my favorites. I don’t think I have any allergies, but I don’t know for sure. I should pay more attention to what I’m eating when I get any of the symptoms you’ve listed.
Lisa McLellan
Babysitting Services – Babysitters and Nannies
This was awesomely informative.
I’ve been feeling loads better since we last spoke about diet.
Hey, Anthony, great post. This is information that many people could benefit from. Also, it’s admirable how you took the initiative to diagnose your condition. I think it’s important that people realize that we should take primary responsibility for our health, and use doctors to support our efforts.
Health, Fitness for Working People — Darryl Pace
Yep, yep, yep! On point. Some food allergies really can be deadly. Have you noticed the increase of severity and quantity of food allergies in the overall population?
It seems like more kids have more problems than ever before. Is it just me being an adult or has something changed?
Expanding spheres of influence, Kate
You are right on Anthony!
I was just writing about detoxes for the sake of regaining energy and healthfulness (as well as looking good) when I came across this post. I’ll be quoting you tomorrow. Excellent work!
Cleanse from the inside out, Katie
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