Description
Allergies are immune responses to particular foods and/or
other offending substances, such as fragrances, medications,
etc. Immune system
cells in the body called antibodies bind to and identify the
foods/substances as invaders,
and, with the help of other immune system cells, direct an
attack against them.
This process, in turn, leads to inflammation and symptoms
such as sneezing, runny nose, itchy/watery eyes, skin rashes, dark
circles under the eyes, etc.
Reactions can be either immediate or delayed. IgE antibodies are involved
in immediate allergic reactions, which can be life-threatening
(e.g., cause airway constriction), while IgM and IgG antibodies are
involved in the initial and longer-term reactions seen in delayed
responses. Only about
10-15% of allergic responses are
IgE.
Food sensitivities is a more general term that may
include food allergies, but also includes reactions that do not
involve an immune response (sometimes called food intolerances),
such as those that involve enzyme deficiencies, damage to the GI
tract (e.g., leaky gut syndrome that allows partially digested food
molecules to enter the blood stream), and toxin
exposure.
Many conditions may be affected by food
allergies/sensitivities, including:
- ADD/ADHD
- Arthritis
- Autism
- Eczema
- Inflammatory bowel
disease
- Irritable bowel
syndrome
- Recurrent ear
infections
- and more...
Asthma is a condition in which bronchial spasms,
inflammation, and excessive mucous production lead to constriction
of the airway passage and breathing difficulty. Reducing allergan exposure
is a primary and effective treatment
option.
Causes
Food allergies and intolerances may have many potential
contributing factors, including:
- Genetic immune system
tendencies
- Repeated exposure to a particular
food
- Damage to the lining and function of the gut
wall
- Gut flora imbalance
(dysbiosis)
- Food additives - e.g., preservatives,
MSG
- Low gastric acid secretion
(hypochlorhydria)
- Enzyme deficiencies
- Nutrient
deficiencies
- Medication use - e.g.,
antibiotics
- Environmental toxin exposure - e.g., heavy
metals
- Psychological
stress
My Treatment
Approach
- Identify food and additive intolerances / allergies
with testing and/or an elimination
diet.
- Avoid foods and additives identified as potential
intolerances or allergans.
- Include supplementation to help support digestive, immune,
and adrenal function, e.g.:
-
Vitamins
-
Minerals
-
Essential fatty acids
-
Amino acids
-
Herbals
-
HCl
-
Enzymes
-
Probiotics
- Avoid future toxin exposure, and safely / properly reduce existing toxin
levels in the body.
- Seek professional help for existing
psychological factors (e.g.,
stress).
