In the last blog I explained food allergies occur because of a reaction from the immune system to foods that are eaten and processed by the digestive system.
There are several different immune responses and I discussed the anaphylactic response. In this installment I will discuss another type called the hypersensitivity delayed reaction. As a review from the last article this is what is happening in the body there are proteins on our foods that act as a marker to tell our body what we are eating. These proteins are called antigens. When our immune system comes in contact with our foods it identifies the food and our body then registers whether we it is something that it is allergic to or not. If our immune system has a reaction to the food then it produces a substance called an antibody which then attaches itself to the marker or antigen on the food. This antigen-antibody complex alerts the immune system to come and get rid of the substance that is causing the reaction.
In hypersensitivity delayed reactions the food allergies symptoms did not happen immediately or as forcefully as in the anaphylactic response. Instead the immune system may respond up to 72 hours after the initial exposure to the food that has been ingested. Food allergy symptoms can range from puffiness in the eyes, sinus problems (either short term or long term), canker sores, constipation or diarrhea, upset stomach including heartburn or indigestion, rashes, itching, eczema, hives, gas, bloating, inability to lose weight, abdominal cramping or arthritic type symptoms including swelling of the joints.
Most people do not realize that emotional or mental health related symptoms can also occur including depression, emotional upset, irritability, difficulty concentrating, difficulty sleeping, or migraine headaches.
The most common food allergies are milk and dairy, egg, peanut, tree nut (walnut, cashew, etc.), fish, shellfish, soy, corn, and wheat. In the naturopathic and medical community there are several different ways to diagnose food allergies and unfortunately there is no one gold standard to identify these allergies. Blood testing is a starting point and an immune response testing for IgE will identify anaphylactic response. If you are looking for the hypersensitivity delayed response blood testing (RAST) for IgG or IgM is where I start. Once the food allergy has been identified then the process of changing the diet to remove the allergen and improve the symptoms can begin.
In the next blog I will talk about some of my treatment plans for my patients to help them navigate the dietary changes required to eliminate their food allergies. Until then…..
Live Vibrantly,
Dr. Dae
Dr. Dae's website: www.healthydaes.org
Dr. Dae's book: Daelicious! Recipes for Vibrant Living can be purchased @ www.amazon.com or www.healthydaes.org
Dr. Dae's Bio:
Daemon "Dr. Dae" (pronounced Dr. Day) Jones is a Naturopathic Physician who completed her training at the University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine. She is certified as a General Practitioner by the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners (NABNE). Dr. Dae provides tailored treatment to meet the unique needs of every individual she sees in her practice. She also provides specialized support for persons challenged by nutritional deficiencies, weight problems, hormonal and reproductive system disorders, attention deficit disorder and those experiencing chronic diseases. Dr. Dae is an adjunct faculty member for Smith Farm Center for Healing and the Arts. She is the author of Daelicious! Recipes for Vibrant Living, The Healthydaes Newsletter, and is a regularly featured writer for the Elite GoogleNews Website empowher.com where she shares her personal and professional vision for living whole and living well. To learn more about Dr. Dae, her products and services, please visit her on the Web at www.Healthydaes.org