Eating food is meant to bring your body fuel and enormous fun when shared around a table with family and friends. To be able to pursue all the wonderful colors and flavors infused in our meals can be a wonderful experience. For those who suffer from food allergies or sensitivities this can be a source of daily frustration, disappointment, and a cause for ill health. In this article I want to discuss some of the nuances involved with food allergies, the hidden dangers of food sensitivities, and helpful available options.
Your body can have an immune system reaction to any chemical or substance whether it is on the skin, breathed in, or ingested. An “allergy” is the body’s abnormal response to an otherwise harmless substance. When it comes to food, the reactions can be immediately after exposure or delayed.
Food allergies are an “adaptive” immune system response. After the body initially spots a “foreign substance” it develops a specific immunological memory aimed to remove it whenever spotted in the future. When the body recognizes what it believes to be a harmful substance (called an antigen) the immune system kicks into gear producing specific antibodies to help battle against the harmful substance.
Food reactions that occur immediately after exposure (within minutes to a couple of hours) are referred to as an immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody food reaction. Traditionally a “scratch test” is administered to identify IgE triggers. IgE food reactions can result in mild to severe symptoms.
Common symptoms associated with IgE food reactions are itching, hives, swelling, and reddening (flushing). An IgE allergy response can also have severe reactions resulting in edema, asthma, gastrointestinal symptoms, atopic dermatitis, and at its worst, life threatening anaphylaxis reaction. IgE reactions can also result in the release of histamine and other specialized cells.
Another type of immune system response is called an immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody food reaction. To differentiate these versus IgE responses, IgG mediated responses are typically referred to as “sensitivities.” These types of reactions are the most difficult to uncover because they have a delayed occurrence after exposure (generally from a few hours up to seven days later). A blood test is the only true way to determine IgG triggers.
Unfortunately, some doctors believe the IgG blood tests to be unreliable and therefore do not test for them. When using the correct lab to analyze the results the false positives are near 0%. Since there are actually four subclasses of IgG antibodies the laboratory utilized to analyze the test is crucial.
The symptoms from IgG mediated food responses are also different than IgE. Symptoms from an IgG mediated response may include: bloating, sluggishness after eating, sleep disorders, gastrointestinal symptoms (which in time can result into Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Colitis, “leaky gut”, and other chronic GI complaints), dark circles under the eyes, chronic post nasal drip, chronic sinus congestion, and chronic skin conditions (psoriasis, eczema). IgG reactions may also lead to disorders like AD(H)D, autism, and chronic inflammatory states like Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Most statistics for food allergies only involve IgE reactions although IgG reactions are much more common.
Most of the time the healthcare approach is to only identify IgE triggers and not IgG. If IgE triggers are found, food avoidance is recommended and medication dispersed when exposed.
So, what are other ways we can help those with allergies? What we know is that symptoms of allergies are typically chronic and reoccurring as long as the aggravating substance touches or enters the body. My goal is to never treat the symptom or disease but instead always treat the body. I do this because I know the symptom is always just the end result of the body having some type of dysfunction. Remember, a food allergy is the body’s abnormal response to an otherwise harmless substance.
We have found the best approach to improving one’s heath is to take note of the symptom but not to focus directly on “treating the symptom.” Let’s take the example of someone with a chronic reoccurring skin rash. Some doctors may treat this with some kind of prescription cream such as a hydrocortisone – steroidal cream. But aren’t you in fact just treating the symptom (the rash)? That’s okay in the short term but the better approach is to look instead at what system of the body could be producing the rash and why? If food is thought to be the offending substance, then the appropriate testing should be performed.
Too many people suffer with IBS, GI complaints, skin conditions, inflammatory conditions, etc. and merely treat the symptoms. This is only covering up the problem. We need to be asking, “Why is this happening?”
As a nation that spends more money on healthcare than any other country, that has the best trained doctors, and has the best technology, we are one of the sickest countries of the developed world. I wholeheartedly believe it is because we (the people) mistreat and abuse our bodies through lack of conditioning, exercise, and improper diet while we chase symptoms through our healthcare system. We must take responsibility for our health, work to maintain it, and continually ask, “Why is my body responding this way?” if we are having a health challenge.
The first obvious and best approach in both IgE and IgG allergies is elimination of the harmful substance. This is much more difficult in IgG reactions due to the delayed onset. That’s where proper testing helps.
If you’re like my family, you may have a loved one who has zero IgE food reactions but many IgG reactive foods. In this case you will want to work with your doctor in creating a rotation diet. This is typically where you would reintroduce only mild IgG offending foods in small portions every four days while completely eliminating the moderate and severe IgG foods for two-three months. This often gives the individual more food options while also giving the body time to heal.
Although only medical doctors by law can treat your condition of allergies, there are many other health professions that have been able to provide care for the body that results in relief or elimination of symptoms commonly associated with allergies. Some of which are: acupuncture, chiropractic care, homeopathy, therapies (SAAT, NAET, NSRT, AAE), and Low Level Light Laser Therapy are just a few.
Always remember, our bodies were designed to heal. Just ask that broken bone or that cut on the knee! I promise it is not the cast or the band-aid doing the healing! If you have a chronic, reoccurring problem then you just haven’t found the right solution yet! Keep searching and don’t give up!
-by Dr. Brandon Crouch
About the Author: Dr. Brandon Crouch is a Chiropractor with Crouch Family Chiropractic. He is an advocate for being proactive when it comes to your health and encourages people to make healthy informed decisions. For more information you can go online at: www.crouchfamilychiro.com.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease or condition including food allergies. You should consult your doctor before changing your diet or starting any new treatment program.
