Food Allergies, Intolerances and Sensitivities

Food allergies, intolerances and sensitivities are often terms used interchangeably, yet have very different meanings and symptoms.  Today, I’d like to clear up the confusion by explaining what they each are and how these conditions might affect you or your loved ones.

Let’s start with the simplest one:  intolerances.  Food intolerances are generally conditions that cause some digestive symptoms but do not involve the immune system.  Essentially symptoms from food intolerances result from the consumed food fermenting inside the gut.  A good example of this is lactose intolerance.  Lactose intolerance occurs due to the lack of/or insufficient amount of the digestive enzyme called lactase.  This enzyme is designed to break down lactose (commonly known as milk sugar) into its absorbable nutrients.  Without it, you may suffer from gas, bloating and diarrhea.

Unlike food intolerances, food allergies and sensitivities both involve the immune system.  Food allergies are less common, affecting about 1-2% of the population, and accounts for a very small percentage of all adverse food reactions.  In addition, allergies are generally limited to a few foods. These may include wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, milk, eggs and foods with sulfites.  Reactions to food allergies are easily identified as symptoms occur every time and shortly after (immediately to 15 minutes) the food is consumed.  Most persons with food allergies can usually identify what foods they are allergic to without the need for testing, although confirmation testing is advised.  A food allergy reaction can be quite severe and people with known food allergies must avoid the food to prevent a reaction.

Food sensitivities are the hardest to identify.  This is because reactions manifest in many different ways, can affect any organ system in the body and can take 45 minutes to 72 hours for symptoms to become apparent.  In addition, food sensitivities can be dose dependent. An example of this is that one egg may be tolerated without issue, but an omelet can cause symptoms.

It is estimated that millions of Americans currently suffer from food sensitivities. Conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, acid reflux, migraines, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue and weight imbalances may be directly related to specific reactions to the food we eat.  Even so called healthy foods such as spinach, salmon and apples can provoke symptoms in people with food sensitivities.

My favorite food sensitivity test is called MRT (Mediator Release Test). I offer this test to my clients and invite you to find out more details on my website: www.ccdnwc.com, on the Food Sensitivity page. Isn’t it time to find out for yourself if your stubborn health problems might be related to the food you eat?

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Patty Walker RD LD CDE CLT

Patty is proud to serve her community’s nutritional needs for over 35 years.  WIth deep knowledge in nutrition for diabetes as well as passion for plant-based diets, Patty supplies nutritional keys to unlock health by getting to the root of disease and helping others set a course for optimizing health. In addition to coaching individual clients and teaching classes, Patty provides education seminars to local businesses, writes monthly nutrition articles, is a key educator for the Lions Club’s Diabetes-Reduction Initiative and hosts “Nutritional Wisdom” cable show on WCTV. The goal is to reach as many people in my community that I possibly can with the truth about the power of nutrition and healthy living.

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