Food Sensitivities
Food Sensitivities
DEFINITION
Food allergies and sensitivities are on the rise in America. The health impact of food allergies or sensitivities can range from immediate hypersensitivity such as 2hives and shortness of breath to delayed inflammatory response which can be seen as IBS, digestion pains, bowel irregularity, migraines, fatigue, mood disorders, ADHD, and other inflammatory conditions.
At Naturally Nourished, we focus on identifying your food irritant through a Mediator Release Test (MRT) food sensitivity panel and reviewing a 3-5 day food diary with symptoms to determine foods that trigger episodes. Based on the blood work results, we will customize a meal plan to eliminate trigger foods and methodically add them back in while monitoring for symptoms. During this time, we will also focus on repairing your gut. Once the gut is healed and in an antiinflammatory state, most people are able to reintroduce foods that once caused irritation with no symptoms. During the elimination process, we will work with specific foods to re-establish healthy bacteria balance, ensure adequate digestive enzymes, and provide anti-inflammatory support.
LABORATORY ASSESSMENT
Mediator Release Test (MRT) to identify reactivity to foods irritating the gut leading to irritable bowel and “leaky gut”
Micronutrient Panel to assess vitalmin, mineral and antioxidant deficiency and identify malabsorbtion
TREATMENT PLAN
- Individualized Consultation
- Medical Assessment with Comprehensive Lifestyle Intake
- Coordination of care with specialists, primary care physician, and medical team
- Food-as-medicine education about:
- Mechanisms of allergies vs. sensitivities
- Foods that lead to increased risk for reactions
- Foods that help to heal the gut and improve symptoms
- How reactions can seemingly come on “overnight” and why the body starts to attack
- Lifestyle changes to support wellness outcomes
- Customized Meal Plan emphasizing foods that improve digestive health, remove and replace irritants, and prevent the root cause of allergies or sensitivities
- Nutritional supplement recommendations: assess those currently taking, prescribe pharmaceutical-grade options to help balance system to promote wellness and decrease medications
Preparing a bone broth is an ideal way to repair the gut lining which prevents future food sensitivities or allergies and promotes tolerance. The glutamine in bone broth acts as both a nutrient source and a building block for the cells along the gut lining. The gelatin or collagen produced from a bone broth not only prevents protein sparing and promotes healthy digestion; it also is known to line the GI tract reducing breakdown of the gut lining.
Check out our Quick Rotisserie Bone Broth Here
” When our immune system is triggered by a food, it responds with inflammation, which can be seen as gas, bloating, pain, irregular bowels, migraines, fatigue, and mood disorders. At Naturally Nourished we will use a personalized elimination diet focusing on repairing your gut and resetting your immune system, allowing for reintroduction of foods that were once reactive…ultimately leading to food freedom! ”
DID YOU KNOW?
When treating a food allergy or sensitivity it is important to distinguish between the two. Food allergies are diagnosed through the presence of an immune system cell called an Immunoglobulin. These immunoglobulins (IgE, IgG, IgA, etc.) function as alarm systems in the body reacting to a protein (antigen) from food, environment, or chemicals. Food sensitivities do not have an immunoglobulin response, instead they will cause digestive dysfunction or be diagnosed through inflammatory reactions in the body.
IgE immediate hypersensitivities react to an antigen (foreign particle) with immunoglobulins (antibodies). This antibody/antigen relationship is immediate, occurring within seconds to an hour of consumption. Symptoms of an IgE reaction include: shortness of breath or wheezing, hives, itching of mouth/throat or eyes, puffy tongue/lips, swelling of eyelids or face, difficulty swallowing, runny or congested nose, hoarse voice, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain/cramps, fainting, and anaphylactic shock.
IgG or other mediator delayed sensitivities food intolerances arise when certain incompletely digested food particles enter your bloodstream and are treated as foreign substances. This results in your immune system producing tailor-made antibodies (IgG), which attack the food in question. Some researchers believe this inflammatory response in the body can increase certain symptoms. Food intolerance has been associated with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), bloating, fatigue, constipation, diarrhea, cramping, eczema, headaches and migraines, and ADHD.
To identify your reactivity, we use Mediator Release Test (MRT), learn more here.
Greater than 80% of our immune system is regulated by our gut. We are beginning to realize the significance of the positive acting bacteria, probiotics, living in our gut and their ability to break down food, inhibit cancer growth, aid in absorption of nutrients, and work to maintain a healthy gut lining.
The intestinal lining is very important as this is the area where our food is absorbed through the gut-blood barrier. If our intestines are damaged through medications, tap water, gluten, exposure to toxins/food irritants, etc. we will be leaking large food proteins into the blood stream. This “leaky gut” can allow too large of food particles to pass, sending off alarms (inflammatory compounds) in our immune system in reaction to these proteins. Once the inflammatory response from a specific food allergen is detected, the body will continue to flag it as an invader. The rise in the use of antibacterial products and vaccines have decreased our exposure to bacteria and viruses which weakens our immune system and can kill off the probiotic colonies. Also, the way food is produced with hybrid and GMO crops, processed ingredients, and synthetic additives, leads to a burden on our body which can stress the digestive tract causing irritation and eventually reactivity.
