Hives, severe gas, wheezing…oh my! Do you suffer from any of these reactions after eating certain foods? If so, you might be suffering, along with an estimated 12 million Americans with food sensitivity. Let’s read up on the Top 5 Food Sensitivities!
[box type=”tick”]TIP: Read the ingredient label carefully. The federal government requires packaged food to be properly labeled as to containing common food allergens. [/box]
Top 5 Food Sensitivities
Gluten – and wheat intolerance deals specifically with the wheat grain, while Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder which affects the body’s ability to process gluten proteins within the grain. It’s best to avoid baked goods, bread crumbs, cereals, beer, breaded food, sausage, sauces, ice cream, salad dressings and soups.
Dairy – typical symptoms include respiratory (asthma, wheezing, constriction of throat), gastrointestinal (severe gas, diarrhea, vomiting), and dermatological (hives, rashes). Alternatives to dairy: lactose-free products, goat milk products, rice milk and almond milk.
Soy – surprisingly can be found in margarine, salad dressing, mayonnaise, gravy, Worcestershire sauce, candy, desserts, peanut butter and hot cocoa mixes. Symptoms of soy sensitivity can be delayed up to three days making it difficult to determine if soy is the problem.
Corn – includes corn chips, corn tortillas, on the cob plus found in: dextrose, xanthan gum, ascorbic acid (certain forms of vitamin C), caramel color, citric acid and natural flavor. Instead try organic and Non-GMO corn.
Egg – sensitivity reaction is found to be from the protein in the white part of the egg. Foods to avoid include recipes with eggs like meatloaf and meatballs, baked goods, mayonnaise, salad dressings, frostings and puddings.
Think you might be reacting to the Top 5 Food Sensitivities?
First, knowledge is the best way to learn about the food sensitivity and how best to work with or around it. Search for a website or find a book about food sensitivities. See the List of Resources below for a few of my suggestions.
Second, avoidance of the food or foods keeps the symptoms away. It’s best to eliminate ALL 5 of these foods for 3 weeks minimum.
Third, if interested in adding the top 5 back to your diet; start with one food at a time for a period of three days to identify which one is causing the sensitivity. Once a food is identified eliminate it for 90 days and try to reintroduce again or drop it from your diet.
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List of resources, all worth checking out.
The Immune System Recovery Plan with 40 Recipes; using food as medicine by Susan Blum, MD, MPH with Michele Bender on BlumCenterforHealth.com
What’s the difference between a food intolerance and food allergy? written by James T C Li, MD, PhD on MayoClinic.com
How Hidden Food Sensitivities Make You Fat written by Mark Hyman, MD on Huffingtonpost.com
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America on aafa.org
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Cheers to a Healthy Day!