Immediate response food allergies occur within 30 minutes of consuming the allergen and the symptoms are often severe and even life threatening. Only 5% of people with food allergies have this type. Scratch testing is how these allergies are detected.
Delayed response food allergies occur usually in longer than 30 minutes and up to 4 days! The symptoms can be anything from headaches and digestive issues to eczema and chronic colds. 95% of people with food allergies have this type. Delayed onset allergies can only be detected through a blood test called an ELISA Food Allergy Test. The top food allergy symptoms are as follows:
- Eczema- A recent study showed that 100% of people suffering with itchy and bothersome eczema have some type of allergy. Identifying and eliminating the underlying allergy resolves most eczema cases completely!
- Headaches- Many people with chronic headaches suffer from them for years with no permanent relief. Whether or not you have migraine headaches, tension headaches, sinus headaches, or an undetermined form of headache, it is very possible that you are suffering from food allergy-induced inflammation. Recent research on migraines indicates that food allergies mediated by IgG-type antibodies are specifically to blame.
- Weight Gain- Antibody-allergen complexes which occur in food allergies cause inflammation, which then leads to fluid retention and weight gain. To fight the inflammation, the body releases a chemical called ghrelin, which also happens to be an APPETITE STIMULANT. Thus, IgG food reactions can cause weight gain in two ways: fluid retention and increased appetite!
- Mood disorders- Researchers have discovered that the deposition of antibody-allergen complexes in nervous system tissues may contribute to hyperactivity, depression, anxiety, inability to concentrate and other mood disorders. There is also compounding evidence that eliminating IgG food allergens improves attentiveness in children.
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome- Conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) have been linked to IgG food allergies. Certain foods produce inflammation and irritation in the digestive system. This inflammation results in symptoms like gas, bloating, cramping, diarrhea and/or constipation. Studies have shown that elimination of foods producing an IgG reaction can alleviate IBS symptoms
- Joint Pain- When the immune system overreacts to certain foods, the increased histamine in joint tissue causes inflammation and irritation. The inflammation of the joint tissue causes swelling, which places excess pressure and stress on the joints, leading to pain and arthritis symptoms! Eliminating the allergenic foods dramatically decreases the pain!
- Acne- Food allergies are the number one cause of acne, and the worse the acne, the more likely food allergies are involved. Eating a food to which the body is allergic leads to a continuous toxic reaction. In such a case, the immune system fights the food as if it were an invading organism. This can cause inflammation in the skin resulting in acne.
- Ear Infections- Food allergies are common especially in the first three years of life. As many as 79% of children with recurrent ear infections get them because of allergies. The most common foods that children may be allergic to are:
- Dairy
- Soy
- Eggs
- Wheat/Gluten
- Fish
- Peanuts
The allergic reaction can cause the tube connecting the ear to the throat to swell. When this happens, fluids that normally contain bacteria in the throat get trapped in the ear. The warm, dark tube in the ear is a perfect place for bacteria to grow. This can cause an ear infection.
- Bed Wetting– In childhood bed wetting, spasms chronically constrict the bladder muscles, which actually leads to smaller bladder volume and less ability to hold urine, especially overnight. One researcher measured bladder volume in bed wetting children by threading a balloon into the bladder and inflating it to measure the volume. After the offending food allergies were eliminated, not only did the bed wetting disappear, but when he measured the bladder volume again, he found that it had increased by as much as 50 percent (and even more in some cases).
- Sinus Conditions– Chronic sinus congestion, infections and pain are a common result of food allergies. Ingesting allergenic foods causes the sinus passages to inflame and produce mucous. Elimination of the offending allergenic food leads to clear passages and easy breathing!
Be Well,
Dr. Cobi