By Kaley Burns EBS COLUMNIST
When most of us think of food allergies, we may picture common childhood allergies such as peanuts and shellfish. But did you know, as adults, we can develop food reactions?
In today’s society we can develop a food reaction, at any age, to any food, despite having eaten that food without any prior symptoms. Studies have found that almost half of those living with food reactions developed it after the age of 18.
Let’s first delineate an intolerance from a sensitivity. Generally, an intolerance means that the individual doesn’t have what their body needs to digest or break down a certain food. For example, lactose intolerance means that an individual may experience gas, diarrhea, bloating, or cramping due to a lack of an essential enzyme, called lactase, whenever they eat dairy products.
A food sensitivity may take a bit longer to discover because the symptoms can vary and the time it takes to experience those symptoms varies. Sensitivities provoke an immune reaction which can cause anything from brain fog, bloating, joint and muscle pain, to headaches, skin problems, psychological concerns, and any number of other issues.
If you think food sensitivity is a concern for you, lab tests can help determine both the root cause and specific sensitivity. This helps in determining an effective treatment.
Why do we develop these reactions later in life? Our immune system is constantly evolving and fighting off new exposures or increased exposures. Most of our immune system is housed in our GI tract. As we are bombarded with toxins or pathogens, our GI barrier can become compromised. Therefore, a large factor in developing sensitivity is related to how permeable the barriers in our gastrointestinal tract become and the subsequent inflammatory response.
As we go through life, most of us have also been exposed to antibiotics, NSAIDs, and other items that interfere with our protective barrier. What can we do about it?
First and foremost—amp up your gut healing. If you don’t work on healing your GI system, it doesn’t matter how many elimination diets you do, you’ll be left fighting the same symptoms over and over.
Once you have discovered the foods that need to be eliminated or reduced, you can begin to incorporate healers such as bone broth, probiotics, cooking foods, chewing thoroughly, and reducing inflammation.
Reducing inflammation is necessary for sustaining long-term GI healing. This can entail reducing stress levels, eating anti-inflammatory foods while avoiding inflammatory foods, or adding in supplements like curcumin and glutamine.
Dr. Kaley Burns is a licensed Naturopathic Physician providing a wide range of services for her clients, including: Naturopathic Medicine, IV Nutrient Therapy, Regenerative Injections, Rejuvenation Therapies, Vitamin Shots, and Nutrition Counseling. She embraces a natural approach to health and aims to similarly inspire and guide others on their health journey.
