There are so many people suffering from food allergies who do not even realize this fact.
Food allergies or intolerances are not the first thing we think about when we are under the weather or start showing different symptoms.
Unfortunately, this is also not the first thing our doctors think about either unless you are seeing a Functional Medicine Doctor.
So many possible reactions
Allergies present themselves in so many ways. Often we think of the person who swells up after eating fish in a comedy, or the person who falls on his face after he stops breathing. Yes, those are the drastic effects of food allergies. Something we don’t ever want our loved ones to experience.
There are so many reactions to food allergies/intolerances that it can be difficult to separate them from other diseases and conditions of the body.
delayed reactions cause confusion
Some food intolerances don’t present the effects until the NEXT day! Talk about confusing! The bottom line is that you should eat and feel great, not feel like crap all the time. Many people do not realize this.
Yes, everyone has gas, and some bloating from time to time. But, this should not be an everyday (exaggerated or debilitating) experience. Understand that these are not the only symptoms of allergies.
Besides the stomach issues (gas, bloating, pain, diarrhea, or constipation) we mainly think of with food allergies, there are multiple reactions a person can have – joint pain, neuropathy (numbing of the feet or hands), rashes, ear-aches, acne, heart palpitations, behavior issues, tiredness, breathing issues, swelling of body parts, brain fogginess, depression . . . just to name a few!
watch for signs
Did you know that if your baby has recurring ear infections, it could be related to dairy? And, your teenager with all the acne issues, can also be related to dairy! Of course, Celiac Disease causes harm to the body by destroying the villi in our small intestines.
Yes! It really is important to know if you do have a food allergy or intolerance.
So, what do you do?
How do you know if you actually
have a food allergy?
First: Keep a food journal. Keep track of all you eat and drink, along with the times and how you feel. Follow this for at least a week – you may start to see a pattern.
Step 2: As you are practicing being mindful of what you are eating, you will start to become more aware of how you feel after you eat certain foods. For example, you may be gassy, bloated, sleepy/ tired, or having headaches.
Start to pay special attention when eating foods that cause these reactions. For example, if you drink orange juice and immediately have terrible gas, or you eat wheat pasta and have a terrible headache, these are things to note. By being mindful, you will start to know what is causing you problems or issues.
Step 3: Once you realize which foods are really bothering you, take them out of your diet for a few days (at least 3-5) and see if you feel better. Then, reintroduce the food and see if you have a reaction. You may need to take out the food for a longer period of time, and then reintroduce it again. If so, you will need to work with someone to set you on the right path of following an elimination diet, making sure you still get the nutrition your body needs.
***If you feel it is gluten that is bothering you, remember that you need to be tested for Celiac Disease BEFORE you start an elimination diet. Once you cut out gluten, your testing will not come back correctly. And, if you are feeling great without gluten, you are really NOT going to want to have to keep it in your diet until you have the testing done! If you at all suspect, do the testing first!
Eat. Feel great. Be healthy!
You CAN lead a healthy, happy life
with food allergies!
Everyone should wake up and feel good.
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that WORKS for YOU
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