What Exactly is a Food Sensitivity?
A food sensitivity is an immune system response that is triggered by a particular food we consume resulting in the formation of proteins called IgG antibodies (mainly). When we have an excess of these antibodies in our system it can cause inflammation in our body, resulting in a variety of symptoms such as digestive upset, joint pain, skin concerns, migraine headaches, weight gain, anxiety, and more.
- Food Sensitivities are NOT the same as a Food Allergy.
- Food allergies are IgE mediated reactions and cause bodily responses such as hives, shortness of breath or anaphylaxis.
- Food sensitivities are usually caused by foods that are eaten regularly
- Food sensitivities can produce an overwhelmingly large number of immune complexes which result in an inflammatory response systematically or locally in our body
- You can sometimes have a delayed onset of symptoms that could be felt hours to days after the food has been consumed.
How Many Food Sensitivities Could I have?
Food sensitivities (whether it be cows milk, strawberries or oysters) are all individual, as is the number of foods that will show up positive on your test. However when we have a lot of food sensitivities it can indicate a leaky gut. A leaky gut is when there is intestinal inflammation that causes the tight junctions in your gut to widen allowing bacteria to pass through. Some common symptoms of leaky gut are digestive upset, brain fog, headaches, fatigue and more.
How Can I Get a Food Sensitivity Test?
Through your Naturopathic Doctor of course 🙂 Your ND can provide you with a requisition to take to your nearest Life Labs, and the results return within a few weeks. The report will divide your foods into ELEVATED, BORDERLINE or NORMAL foods. Elevated foods demonstrate that the particular foods listed cause higher inflammatory reactions in your body, borderline foods show a moderate response, while normal indicate there was no significant reaction.
It is important to work with a Naturopathic Doctor to guide you in eliminating foods (if necessary) while making sure you are getting the necessary daily nutrients for your body, address any potentially connected health concerns, as well as working to heal what caused these food sensitivities to develop in the first place.
