Midway Center for Integrative Medicine Inaugural Post
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FOOD ALLERGIES - THE UNRECOGNIZED EPIDEMIC!
Severe daily debilitating headaches had plagued him for years, which began after receiving big doses of antibiotic. Repeated referrals to top specialists yielded no answers. At our office, food allergy testing revealed a strong reaction to cheese. A day after stopping cheese, the headaches disappeared.
Unfortunately, food allergies appear to afflict 90% of our patient population. Three quarters are sensitive to milk products, about 70% to eggs, and perhaps 40% to gluten (mainly wheat). A third are sensitive to pineapple, almonds, and Navy or kidney beans.
They can present in many ways, and are usually present in those with chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia. Symptoms include recurring sinus congestion, ‘brain fog’, urinary symptoms, irritable bowel symptoms, headaches, asthma, joint aches, ADHD, ear infections, and mouth sores. Rashes include eczema, psoriasis, hives, urticaria, rosacea, and seborrheic dermatitis. It can be important in autism, seizures, gallstones, and autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis. The problems we see at our office are not the quick, severe kind such as seen with peanuts. Rather, symptoms are delayed by hours, or even days, after exposure.
Why is this epidemic? Antibiotics, particularly when not followed with probiotic (the good bacteria such as Lactobacillus acidophilus), may be like a tsunami to the intestinal tract that takes one or two years of recovery. Without these bacteria, there is insufficient stimulation of dependent receptors on the intestinal lining, leading to weakening of the intestinal wall. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, or aspirin, can lead to increased intestinal permeability. This allows larger protein food particles to cross into the bloodstream, activating the immune system. Non-organic and processed foods contain chemicals and toxins that can cause intestinal injury. Acidic foods (meat, milk products, processed foods) and coffee, soft drinks, and alcohol can be damaging. Genetically modified food proteins that enter the blood might be particularly allergenic (avoid food labels beginning with an 8). Cortisone asthma or allergy inhalers may lead to pathological organisms in the intestinal tract.
Two approaches to suspected food allergies are 1) new highly sensitive food allergy testing or 2) exclusion of all dairy and flour products, and preferably other highrisk foods. While food elimination is the gold standard, whenever possible get tested. The company we use we think is the best in the business. With state-of-the-art ELISA methodology, they assess for IgE and IgG4 antibodies to 190 different foods. These tests are very sensitive and accurate in our experience, identifying problems missed with other testing. It is transforming our patient care!
If you have persistently not felt well, chances are food allergies are a contributing factor. As allergies trigger inflammation, they increase risk of disease across-the-board from cancer to heart disease to Alzheimer’s disease to arthritis. Along with avoidance of offending foods, we focus on strengthening the intestinal tract with high-quality, diverse probiotics, nutrients such as quercetin that support intestinal health, elimination of unwelcome pathogenic organisms, while quieting the immune system. In time, this may lead to resolution of food allergies.
Please alert friends who have irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, autoimmune disease, allergies, or anyone with unexplained symptoms to get this very sensitive food allergy testing. Research is needed to understand why this is so prevalent. The Midway Foundation for Integrative Medicine supports awareness of issues like this - support can be sent to P.O. Box 277, Midway, KY 40347.
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