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paula
May 19-23 is National Allergy Week, so we are
going to be looking at the subject of allergy and
intolerance in this issue and hopefully we'll help
you to make some sense of a complex issue.
So what do we mean by allergy exactly and how does
this differ from intolerance as these terms are often used
interchangibly?
Allergies are immediate reactions to foods which are
relatively rare (less than 2 per cent of the population are
affected). These are caused by the body's immune
system producing a type of antibody (called an IgE antibody) to
a specific type of
food or environmental allergen (such as tree pollen
or cat dander). Allergies tend to be relatively easy to
identify because of their immediate nature (for example if your
throat swells up every time you eat peanuts then it is quite easy to
establish that peanuts are the problem). Intolerances on the
other hand can have a more delayed reaction (effects can emerge
up to 3 days after eating the offending food) making them more
difficult to detect. Intolerances can cause a more
diverse range of symptoms than allergies - anything from
bloating, stomach pain, constipation and diarrhoea through to
fatigue, headaches, weight gain, anxiety, sinusitis,
dizziness, skin problems and joint or muscle pains
So why do we suddenly develop
intolerances to foods and what can we do about it? One of the most
common reasons why food intolerances develop is because the lining
of our guts becomes more permeable - a condition known as 'leaky gut
syndrome'. When this happens undigested food proteins escape
into our blood streams where they are not recognised by our immune
systems because they are bigger than usual. Leaky gut syndrome can
be caused by a number of factors including chronic stress,
candida overgrowth, parasites, medications such as non steroidal
anti- inflammatory drugs and alcohol consumption. Ironically food
intolerances themselves can make the gut more 'leaky' creating a
vicious circle!
What can we do about all of this then? Well firstly
it's important to find out what factors are causing your problems
with food intolerance. Stool testing can be very useful to identify
any nasty bugs such as candida and parasites and a finger prick food
intolerance test can help to identify what the intolerances are. If
you'd like more details about these tests then do give us a call on
01727 764 832 or visit us at www.thenutritionlink.co.uk
Once the key underlying factors have
been established we can then develop a tailored programme to
address your specific issues and healing nutrients can be
recommended to heal the gut lining.
Key Questions and
Answers about Food Intolerance and Allergy
Q1. Will I have to avoid foods that I am
intolerant to for ever?
A1. Not usually. The immune system forgets
after a while about food intolerances enabling most foods to be
reintroduced into the diet after about 4 to 6
months
Q2.What are the most common intolerances to
foods?
A2.The most common food intolerances are
dairy, eggs, yeast, wheat, soya and nuts
Q3. Is it common to have more than one
intolerance?
A3 Yes it is quite common to have 2 or 3
problemmatic foods?
Q4 Can food intolerances be detected without
doing a food intolerance test?
A4 Yes an elmination diet can help identify
intolerances, but to do this properly would involve eliminating most
commonly consumed foods and reintroducing them one at a time to
watching for any symptoms.
 Is nutrition the missing link to your
health? www.thenutritionlink.co.uk
Tel:
01727 764 832
If you know someone who would be interested in
this information please feel free to forward this newsletter to
them
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