Everybody seems to have a food sensitivity now, have you noticed that?
It seems like every person you meet is on a restricted diet – from gluten, to dairy, to nuts, to eggs, or any number of things. You may find yourself wondering how on earth all these people even know they have a problem in the first place, right?
Well, if a certain food doesn’t make you feel good, then chances are you’ve got a food sensitivity. The problem is that most people don’t know whether they have an intolerance or allergy – or even the difference.
This makes it very hard to fix the issue, let alone heal the body!
It’s important for you to understand the difference between a food intolerance and allergy, how to recognize the warning signs of a food sensitivity, and if your symptoms warrant getting tested – which is an underused diagnostic tool, in my opinion.
So, how about we break this down a little bit …
SENSITIVITY, INTOLERANCE OR ALLERGY
It’s good to start with a basic understanding of the difference between a food sensitivity, food intolerance, and food allergy. These terms are thrown around so much these days it’s hard to differentiate between them. In fact, most people who fall into one of these categories can’t get it right either – which makes it difficult for them to manage it appropriately.
Basically, a food sensitivity is an overarching term for both food intolerance and food allergy.
A food intolerance refers to when the body has difficulty breaking down a food – this has to do with digestion.
A food allergy is when your body’s immune system sees a food as foreign and attacks it, creating an inflammatory response – which eventually leads to chronic inflammation if not dealt with.
Both affect the health of your immune system and your gut.
Read this article for a more in depth explanation of these terms.
EXPLAINING IgG AND IgE TESTING
Leaving a food sensitivity undiagnosed can lead to many health problems – from a low functioning immune system, to gut issues, like leaky gut, or even diseases due to chronic inflammation.
It’s important to talk to a professional to find out if you should get tested and which test is appropriate for you. But both of these tests are important tools in allowing you to heal your gut and retrain your immune system.
Here’s a brief breakdown of the two most common food sensitivity tests:
IgG TESTING
An IgG test is checking for an inflammatory reaction to food – rated as high, moderate, or low. It’s a simple prick test, and can give good insight into any food intolerance you might have. It’s a great way to simplify and personalize an elimination diet, food challenge protocol, and overall lifestyle and nutrition plan.
This is a valuable test on what foods to avoid while you begin the gut healing process – at which point, many foods can be re-introduced back into the diet.
IgE TESTING
An IgE test is used for food allergies. This test is checking for blood levels of the antibody immunoglobulin E (IgE), which is produced by the immune system in order to fight off bad stuff in your body (antigens) – like bacteria, parasites, viruses, fungi, etc. These can enter the body through food or inhalation (environmental).
Being able to heal the gut is critical to prevent this immune reaction and reduce inflammation, potentially reversing the allergy and bringing the food back into the diet.
8 SIGNS YOU HAVE A FOOD SENSITIVITY
It’s important to recognize the different warning signs that let you know there’s a potential food sensitivity lingering about. Knowing there’s a problem allows you to search for the root cause and begin the process of healing.
Here are some common warning signs you should watch out for:
FOOD INTOLERANCE
These signs can be subtle and hard to recognize as a sign of a food intolerance – but they commonly are! Any number of these could show up within 72 hours of eating food.
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Hyperactivity
- Bloating or gas
- Nausea or dizziness
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Dark circles under the eyes
- Mood changes, anxiety, or depression
FOOD ALLERGY
These warning signs are more obvious, and show up pretty quickly when eating certain foods.
- Congestion
- Tight throat
- Blotchy skin
- Hives or rashes
- Itchy eyes or nose
- Troubles breathing
- Inflammation or swelling
- Runny nose or sneezing
If you suspect you have a food sensitivity of some sort, book in a consultation with me right away so we can figure out which test is best for you and get you started on a personalized elimination protocol to begin healing your gut.
Regardless, it’s important to know the difference between a food sensitivity, intolerance, and allergy, as well as to understand your options for testing.
More importantly – I want you to know that by healing the gut, reducing inflammation, and re-training your immune system you can see changes and begin eating the foods you love again.
If you deal with some gut issues or a food sensitivity – try this Power Bowl with Honey Pear Vinaigrette recipe. It’s free of the most common sensitivities, and easy to adapt for your particular sensitivity. Plus, it’s so good and easy!
