Food Allergies
Find a Nutritionist in Seattle to assure that you are meeting your nutrition needs on a restricted diet and learn how to eat for digestive healing
Food allergies are complex and often poorly understood.
They may be a result of genetics or infant feeding practice, though why people end up reacting to what they eat is multifactorial and often tied into whole body health and well-being. Healthy digestion is the cornerstone of a healthy immune system. Incomplete digestion can lead to incomplete breakdown of proteins and a compromised gut barrier can "leak" proteins into circulation where they react with immune cells and cause reactions. This is known as "leaky gut" and is often the primary culprit behind food sensitivities and reactions.
Symptoms of food allergies are vast:
They can be: fatigue, headaches, hyperactivity, emotional outbursts, mood swings, irritability, anxiety, depression, muscle aches or weakness, foggy thinking, stomach pain, diarrhea or constipation, nausea, dark circles under eyes, vaginitis or yeast infections, runny nose, sinus congestion or postnasal drip, canker sores, earaches, tinnitis, ear infections, cough, sore throat, itching, hives, eczema, rashes, heart palpitations, edema, heartburn, weight gain, obesity, weight swings, binge eating, overeating, cravings, joint pain, swelling in hands or feet, rheumatiod arthritis, Hashimotos thyroiditis and other autoimmune disease, addictions, asthma, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, IBS, and other bowel disorders
Poor digestion and chronic stress are the primary culprits behind food intoleranceDigestion is compromised by a "perfect storm" of factors including stress, a poor diet, environmental toxins, and the overgrowth of unfriendly bacteria or fungus (known as "dysbiosis" or a compromised gut ecology). Food reactions can be minimized by supporting digestion- chewing well, taking time to eat slowly, eating smaller portions, using supplemental enzymes, bitters or other "digestifs", and eliminating unfriendly microorganisms while rebuilding friendly bacteria. Other helpful strategies include supporting adrenal and thyroid function and detoxing.
Standard treatment for food allergies, dysbiosis, and leaky gut involves the "4 Rs":
- Remove: pathogens and potentially problematic foods
- Replace: digestive factors and nutrients
- Repair: the lining of the gut and healthy digestive function
- Reinoculate: healthy gut bacteria with probiotics and cultured/fermented foods
Nutrition counseling for food allergies
Nutritional counseling with a dietitian specializing in food intolerance can help to clarify which foods are potentially reactive, provide alternatives and menu suggestions, assure that you are meeting vitamin and mineral requirements, provide ideas for foods that are easily digestible and support the health of the digestive and immune systems, and guide you toward true whole body health and well-being.
If you suspect that something in your diet is making you sick, visit your local dietitian to help guide you towards healthy eating, repairing your gut, and healing your body.