(also referred to as...) Food Intolerances
Description Allergies vs. Intolerances Food allergies are different from food intolerances. A food intolerance refers to the inability to digest and process food correctly, usually due to a lack of one or more enzymes. A food allergy, on the other hand, occurs when your immune system generates an antibody to the ingested food. A food intolerance may lead to a food allergy if particles of undigested food manage to enter the bloodstream and cause a reaction, as occurs in leaky gut syndrome. Consequently, promoting and maintaining the integrity of the digestive tract is essential in combating and preventing food intolerances.
Symptoms and Signs: Signs of food allergies in children include asthma, behavioural problems, chronic illness, chronic (noncyclic) fluid retention, chronically swollen glands, colic, constipation, diarrhea, ear infections, fatigue, headaches, learning problems, skin rashes and eczema, sleep disturbances, spitting up, and puffiness and dark circles under the eyes ("allergic shiners"). Many of the above mentioned symptoms and signs may occur in adults as well. In addition, the following symptoms may be observed: an irritating cough or tickle in the throat, tight or closing throat, difficulty swallowing or breathing, coughing, wheezing, itching, hives, red, watery eyes, runny nose, colour change, stomach cramps, vomiting, swelling or itching lips, tongue and mouth, voice change, dizziness, fainting, aches and pains in the joints or abdomen, and nasal congestion.
Causes: A food allergy occurs when there is an adverse reaction from eating a food. The reaction may be caused by a protein, starch, or other food component, or by a contaminant found in the food (colourings, preservatives, flavour enhancers, et cetera). Some of the most common allergenic foods include: chocolate, dairy products, eggs, shellfish, tree nuts (almonds, pecans, walnuts), strawberries, and wheat. It is not known why some people are allergic to certain substances; however, allergies tend to run in families. In addition, a number of theories hold that babies who are not breastfed are most likely to develop allergies. Emotional causes, such as stress and anger, are frequently contributing factors, especially if your immune system is not functioning properly.
What to Expect: Food allergies and sensitivities can lead to anxiety and panic attacks. If this is a concern, track ingested foods and anxiety attacks to determine a correlation.
Remedies
Special Considerations If you have food allergies, there is an increased likelihood that your baby will have food allergies as well. Studies show that breastfeeding can delay the development of food allergies.
Amino Acids Cysteine is helpful for stress and allergic disorders and can be found in broccoli, Brussels sprouts, egg yolks, garlic, oats, onions, poultry, red peppers, wheat germ, and yogurt. L-cysteine is the most absorbable form when supplementing. Take 500mg three times daily. This dosage can go as high as 1,000mg three times daily for one month at a time. NOTE: High levels of L-cysteine supplementation should be for acute situations only and you must be under the supervision of a naturopath or other health practitioner. Glutamine is necessary for the maintenance of a healthy digestive tract. This amino acid is found in plant and animal foods but is easily destroyed by cooking. Spinach and parsley are good sources, if eaten raw. L-glutamine is also available in supplement form. Take 500 to 1,000mg daily. Tyrosine may be used in the same manner as L-Cysteine, above. Good sources of tyrosine include almonds, avocados, bananas, dairy products, lima beans, pumpkin seeds, and sesame seeds. Depending on the country in which you live, L-tyrosine may also be available as an isolated supplement in capsule or tablet form. You may require a prescription. If supplementing, take 500mg in the morning and mid-afternoon on an empty stomach with fruit juice. Alternatively, supplement at night with a high carbohydrate meal so it does not have to compete with other amino acids for absorption.
Antioxidants Flavonoids are effective for all allergic and inflammatory conditions and immune processes and are best taken with vitamin C. A good formula will contain a combination of at least three of the following: mixed non-citrus bioflavonoids, quercitin (rutin), rose hips, catechin, pycnogenol (pine bark extract), proanthrocyanidins. Take as directed.
Bach Flower Remedies Before you use Bach flower remedies, please read Bach Flower Remedies, Introduction -- Preparing a Treatment for general dosage information. Beech should be used as a basic essence for treating all allergies and conditions related to intolerance. It may be used alone or in combination with other Bach Flower remedies. Crab Apple is considered a cleansing remedy to purify the blood. Chronic infections play a role in many allergies. They can poison the body and make it overly sensitive. Crab apple is the most important detoxifying essence. Holly has strong immune reaction. Use, for example, in severe fits of sneezing, clear cases of irritation, or allergic shock. Olive is indicated when one of the symptoms are fatigue and tiredness. Rescue Remedy can help restore balance and is most helpful when allergies are aggravated by stress
Foods Drink at least eight large glasses of water daily to keep yourself hydrated and promote the flushing of toxins from the body. If you are not accustomed to drinking this quantity of water, start with four or five glasses and work your way up. Consume a diet that consists of primarily whole, unprocessed foods (whole grains, legumes, vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds). Many processed foods aggravate allergy conditions.
Food Supplements Increase omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid intake by eating cold-pressed, unrefined, preferably organic vegetable oil, nut oil, and seed oil, wild salmon, herring, mackerel, sardines, walnuts, flaxseed oil, evening primrose oil, and black currant oil (if these are tolerated). Flaxseed oil, in particular, proves useful when dealing with any type of allergy. Take 1 to 2 tablespoons daily.
Herbs The bitter principles of Oregon grape help strengthen digestion. Take 10 to 40 drops of tincture two to four times daily. Cayenne is high in flavonoids and also acts as a digestive stimulant. Add to food. To prepare an infusion, add 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon dried herb to one cup hot water. Yellow Gentian also has bitter qualities. This herb is best used in small doses combined with other herbs. To prepare a decoction, pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1/2 teaspoon of root and infuse for 15 minutes. Drink 1cup before each meal. If using in tincture form, take 15 to 20 drops, 3 times daily before meals. Rose hips tea has anti-inflammatory properties, is high in hypoallergenic vitamin C, and is healing to the digestive tract. Drink 3 to 4 cups daily, or one-half cup 3 to 4 times per day for children. Stinging nettle is also appropriate for allergic reactions. To prepare an infusion, add 1 to 3 teaspoons dried herb to 1 cup hot water. Drink three times daily. If using in tincture form, take 20 to 60 drops three times daily. Marshmallow root tea may soothe and promote healing of gastrointestinal inflammation. Soak 1 heaping tablespoon of marshmallow root in 1 litre of cold water overnight. Strain and drink throughout the day. Dandelion, milk thistle, celandine, and chicory all stimulate liver function. To enhance digestion and reduce pain or spasm in the gut, choose three or more of the following herbs to make a tea to sip before meals: catnip, chamomile, meadowsweet, fennel, passionflower, or peppermint.
Homeopathy Certain remedies can be used in acute situations if your symptoms fit the symptom picture of the remedy. For dosages, see the dedicated section on Homeopathy. Consult your homeopath or naturopath to determine your constitutional remedy: the remedy that best fits you as a whole person. Your homeopath or naturopath will take a complete case history considering all of your mental and physical ailments and match these symptoms with the symptom picture of the remedy. Apium graveolens: Reactions from celery. Argentum nitricum: Allergic disease with an affinity for the skin, mucous membranes and lungs. Ferrum metallicum: Reaction to eggs. Folliculinum: History of the birth control pill and/or estrogen replacement therapy, especially with a bad reaction. Fragaria vesca: Reaction to strawberries that produces hives. Breathing sometimes difficult, as if there is a weight on the chest. Lac Humanum: Issues of nourishment and addiction. History of a mother-child relationship. Lycopodium: Reaction to oysters, carrots, cabbage, onions Natrum Muriaticum: Reaction to eggs, starches, milk, honey, ragweed, onions, wheat, animal food, and salt. Psorinum: Reaction to wheat that causes eczema. Pulsatilla: Reaction to cod-liver oil, fats, orange juice, butter, milk, fish, pork, sour foods, fruits, onions, and bread. May get bilious from fats or oils. May experience fatigue after eating an aggravating food item. Saccarum officionale: Reaction to sugar and sugar cane. Thuja occidentalis: Reaction to onions and tea. Tuberculinum and Sulphur: Main remedies for reactions from milk, milk products, eggs, sardines, and cooked animal food. Urtica urens: Reaction from milk that causes urticaria.
Lifestyle Avoid foods known to be common allergens. This includes wheat, eggs, soy, dairy, corn, citrus, and shellfish. Use an elimination diet (see under Therapies, Healing Aids, and More, below) then introduce each of these foods five days apart to see if there is a reaction. Avoid rancid oils, fried foods, coffee and caffeine, soft drinks, chocolate, alcohol, sugar and sweets, processed foods, monosodium glutamate (MSG), saccharin, high levels of salt, and spicy foods. These foods cause an excess strain on the digestive, immune, and lymphatic systems and should generally not be consumed.
Minerals Selenium is important for healthy immune system function. It is best taken with vitamin E. Eat Brazil nuts or supplement with 200mcg daily. Zinc is necessary for proper immune function. Take 50mg daily.
Miscellaneous Bromelain decreases inflammation associated with allergic reactions. Take 100 to 250mg daily between meals. Take 350 to 700mg Pancreatin (8-10X) 5 minutes before meals.
Therapies, Healing Aids, and More The Elimination Diet An elimination or oligoantigenic diet can determine if a food allergy is playing a major role in a health condition. The standard elimination diet consists of lamb, chicken, rice, bananas, apples, and a vegetable from the cabbage family. Foods are then systematically reintroduced. It is necessary to keep a daily, detailed journal of the dates when foods were reintroduced and any adverse responses in your body. Every third day a food may be reintroduced to the diet. The underlying theory is that if you consume a food you are sensitive to, you will have an adverse response to it (often more strongly than before). The three day interval between reintroduction of new foods allows enough time for delayed type hypersensitivity reactions. NOTE: Do not perform a challenge (reintroduction) with a food if there is a history of anaphylactic shock. Aerobic exercise may help control allergic reactions since regular exercise appears to enhance immune system function. Therapeutic massage may reduce the effects of stress. Food allergy testing can be used to determine food allergies, while Vega and electrodermal testing will help determine food intolerances.
Vitamins Vitamin A is necessary for proper immune function. Take 10,000 to 25,000 IU daily. Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) is an anti-stress vitamin. Take 50mg daily. Vitamin C with bioflavonoids protects the body from allergens and moderates the inflammatory response. Take 500 to 1000mg daily. Vitamin E is necessary for proper immune function. Take 400 to 800 IU daily. Actions and Remedy Listings
| Aerobic Exercise | Apium Graveolens | Argentum Nitricum | | Avoid Alcohol | Avoid Chocolate, Sugar, and Sweets | Avoid High Levels of Salt | | Avoid Known Allergens: Wheat, Eggs, Soy, Dairy, Corn, Citrus, Shellfish | Avoid Processed Foods | Avoid Processed Foods, MSG, Saccharin | | Avoid Rancid Oils and Fried Foods | Avoid Soft Drinks, Coffee, and Caffeine | Avoid Spicy Foods, | | Beech | Breastfeed Your Child (Possible Preventative) | Bromelain | | Catnip | Cayenne | Celandine | | Chamomile | Chicory | Crab Apple | | Cysteine | Dandelion | Elimination/Oligoantigenic Diet | | Fennel | Ferrum Metallicum | Flavonoids | | Folliculinum | Food Allergy Testing | Fragaria Vesca | | Glutamine | Holly | Lac Humanum | | Lycopodium | Marshmallow Root | Massage | | Meadowsweet | Milk Thistle | Natrum Muriaticum | | Olive | Omega-3 Fatty Acids | Omega-6 Fatty Acids | | Oregon Grape | Pancreatin (8-10X) | Passionflower | | Peppermint | Psorinum | Pulsatilla | | Rescue Remedy | Rose Hips | Saccarum Officionale | | Selenium | Stinging Nettle | Sulphur | | Thuja Occidentalis | Tuberculinum | Tyrosine | | Urtica Urens | Vitamin A | Vitamin B5 | | Vitamin C | Vitamin E | Water | | Whole, Unprocessed Foods | Yellow Gentian | Zinc | For More Information ... Allergy Asthma Information Association
30 Eglinton Avenue West, suite 750
Mississauga, Ontario
L5R 3E7 Tel.: 905.712.2242
Fax: 905.712.2245 Web: cgi.cadvision.com/~allergy/aaia.html
Email: aaia.national@sympatico.ca
Anaphylaxis Network of Canada Web: www.anaphylaxis.org
The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network
10400 Eaton Place, Suite 107
Fairfax, Virginia
22030-2208 Tel.:1.800.929.4040
Fax: 703.691.2713 Web: www.foodallergy.org
Email: faan@foodallergy.org
See also Allergies, Anxiety Disorder, Lactose Intolerance, Seasonal Allergies, Weakened Immune System, and Wheat and Gluten Allergies
"MY BEST REMEDIES" -- TERMS OF USE
All information contained on this website is for reference purposes only and all content should be treated as a resource. It is highly recommended that you consult with your naturopath or other health practitioner when undertaking self-treatment. For serious conditions, always seek the advice of your naturopath or other health practitioner. People taking medication should
consult with their naturopath or other health practitioner before undertaking additional regime for their ailment.
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and consistency of the information contained on this website. However, errors in copy may occur. You are advised to consult with your naturopath or other health practitioner
when applying the information contained on this website.
The MBR Team is not responsible or liable for any personal injury or related effects from applying the information contained on this website.
By browsing / printing any and all My Best Remedies articles / pages, you agree to the statements above.
 To create link towards this article on your website,
copy and paste the text below in your page.Preview :
|
