FOOD ALLERGIES

Hidden Cause of Many Health Problems

Food allergies are inappropriate physical reactions to food. These may range from life-threatening anaphylactic reactions to subtle sensitivities that chronically challenge the immune system. Symptoms may include dark circles and puffiness under the eyes, diarrhea or irritable bowels, chronic infections, inflammation, and any of the diseases or symptoms listed below. These negative reactions to food are also called "food intolerance," "food sensitivities," or "toxic food reactions."

Even some foods that are considered "good foods" may be a source of symptoms or disease if one has a personal allergy to same. The expression "One man's meat is another man's poison" accurately describes this phenomenon.

Diseases associated with food allergies include:
acne, anxiety, arthritis, arrhythmia, asthma, autoimmune diseases, bedwetting, chronic and recurrent bladder infections, chronic bronchitis, canker sores, celiac disease, colitis, chronic diarrhea, depression, chronic ear infections (especially in children), eczema, edema, fatigue, gallbladder disease, gastritis, glaucoma, hay fever, headaches, hives, childhood hyperactivity, hypoglycemia, irritable bowel syndrome, irritability, insomnia, itching, kidney disease, malabsorption, mental confusion, migraines, mood disorder, overweight, personality changes, seizures, sinusitis, skin rash, chronic nasal congestion, chronic sinusitis, chronic infections in general, and others.

Symptoms associated with food allergies include:

Body Weight
ü  Fluctuations in body weight
ü  Weight loss (unintended)
ü  weight gain (unintended)
ü  Food cravings

Gastro-Intestinal
ü Abdominal pain
ü Bloating
ü Bowel disorders
ü Colitis
ü Constipation
ü Diarrhea
ü Flatulence (Gas)
ü Gallbladder disease 
ü Hemorrhoids
ü Indigestion
ü Irritable Bowel Syndrome
ü Nausea
ü Stomach cramping

Immune system
ü Chronic and/or recurrent infections
ü Yeast infection
ü Mouth ulcers
ü Mouth/lip swelling
ü Tissue swelling (edema)

Mental /emotional
ü Anxiety, panic attacks
ü Autism
ü Behavioral problems
ü Concentration difficulty
ü Depression
ü Hyperactivity
ü Irritability
ü Learning disability
ü Lethargy
ü Mental confusion

Musculo-skeletal
ü Arthritis
ü Bone density loss (osteoporosis)
ü Joint pain/swelling
ü Muscular aches
ü Neck pain
ü Rheumatic pain

Nervous system
ü Blurred vision
ü Dizziness, poor co-ordination
ü Headache
ü Migraine
ü Poor memory
ü Sleeplessness

Nutritional deficiencies
ü Anemia
ü Failure to thrive (in children)
ü Iron deficiency
ü Mineral deficiency

Respiratory Tract
ü Asthma
ü Breathlessness
ü Bronchitis (chronic)
ü Cough (persistent)
ü Ear infections
ü Itchy nose
ü Nasal congestion
ü Post-nasal drip
ü Rhinitis
ü Runny nose
ü Sensitivity to chemicals
ü Sinusitis
ü Sneezing
ü Sore throat
ü Throat infections
ü Watering eyes
ü Wheezing

Reproductive Tract
ü Infertility
ü Menstrual disorders
ü Miscarriage
ü Vaginal itching, discharge
ü Thrush
ü Vaginal infection

Skin
ü Acne 
ü Athlete’s Foot
ü Dermatitis Herpetiformis 
ü Eczema
ü Fungal nail infection
ü Fungal skin infection
ü Hives (Urticaria)
ü Itchy flaking skin
ü Itchy watery blisters
ü Jock itch
ü Psoriasis
ü Rashes
ü Tinea

Urinary Tract
ü Urinary tract infection (chronic or recurrent)

If you suffer from any of the above-listed diseases or symptoms and have not yet found a cure for your complaint, food allergy testing will certainly be worth your while.

The immune system has many different mechanisms that can cause a reaction to  food. Food allergy symptoms may come on immediately OR up to four days after eating an offending food, so allergies are difficult to pinpoint by merely "observing" food reactions. A food allergy blood test can determine food allergies,
sensitivities and "intolerances" and recommend a rotation diet to prevent these reactions.

DIET AND LIFESTYLE RECOMMENDATIONS

An "elimination/challenge diet" can help determine food allergies, but such an avoidance diet is difficult for most people to do AND many offending foods can be "missed" through this method.

Food allergy testing using blood (a finger-stick which you can collect yourself) is accurate and can quickly pinpoint difficult-to-detect food allergies.

PRIMARY SUPPORT