In recent years, interest surrounding food sensitivities and their role in day-to-day well-being has increased. From gluten and dairy to soy and nuts, all one has to do is read the back of food labels or the finer details on the restaurant’s menus to see a wide range of potential food sensitivities. What seems most difficult for individuals suffering from suspected sensitivities is the identification of the attributing food, as reactions are often delayed and inconsistent.
Part of the reason for the increase in food sensitivities may be contributed to the larger number of processed foods people consume today. In addition, many types of processed foods lack the nutrients the body needs for energy production and what little the body does get, is often used by the immune system to repair the damage and heal. As such, the body is not able to digest processed foods as effectively and efficiently. This can lead to a loss of energy, as well as other gastrointestinal problems.
Symptoms of Food Sensitivities
There are several signs you might have a food sensitivity including:
• Feeling Lethargic
• Problems Concentrating on Tasks
• Aches and Pains in the Muscles and Joints
• Headaches
• Unexplained Rashes, Dermatitis, or Acne
• Stomach and Intestinal Cramping and Pain
• Excessive Gas
• A Bloated Feeling
Unlike food allergies, which present themselves almost immediately, food sensitivities can take much longer before exhibiting symptoms. In some cases, symptoms may not appear until a few days later, making it harder to narrow down the actual cause of the sensitivity, considering the amount of food a person consumes in a 48-hour period.
Triggers for Food Sensitivities
There are several common foods and food ingredients that have been associated with food sensitivities. These “trigger” foods can and do vary from one person to the next, but generally speaking, these foods are all inflammatory in nature, compromising the integrity of the gut lining and its ability to decipher between foods, chemicals, pathogens, and so on.
• Preservatives Added to Processed Foods (Nitrates, MSG, Artificial Colours, Sulfites)
• Certain Nuts
• Gluten
• Eggs
• Soy
• Dairy
• Corn
Identifying and Treating Food Sensitivities
One of the more effective methods used to help identify food sensitivities is making changes to your diet. This begins by keeping a journal of the foods you are eating, energy levels, and other symptoms you experience afterwards. During this time, the more common food “triggers” are typically eliminated from the diet. After about a month, the common foods are reintroduced, one at a time over a short period of time.
If a noticeable change in energy levels or other symptoms reemerge, then the food is most likely the cause. While the process can seem time-consuming, the primary benefit of taking this approach is to help people restore their energy and eliminate related symptoms.
An alternative to this approach is food sensitivity testing. The results identify levels of inflammation in each individual food, helping to eliminate the guesswork in which foods may be provoking inflammation, and ultimately, your symptoms. It's important to recognize that while food sensitivity testing is very accurate, it is simply assessing inflammation resulting from individual foods, and results must be put into clinical context to evaluate if they are in fact attributing to your reported symptoms.
It is also important to stress that there could be other factors at work beyond food sensitivities, so it is vital to ensure a qualified Naturopathic Doctor performs a full workup to rule out other potential causes.
If you believe you have sensitivities to certain foods, book an appointment for a full health assessment with Dr. Courtney Holmberg, ND at her naturopathic clinic in Toronto by calling 647.351.7282 today!