Food Sensitivity
If you are battling with food sensitivities (also called intolerances), rest assured you are not alone. In fact, increasingly more Australians are facing food sensitivities.
That being said, several people actually do not realise that they are sensitive to a specific food as their physiological response might not appear immediately or is often hidden by another symptom. This means that many can actually continue to experience minor or serious symptoms for a long time without ever identifying the cause. To make it even more challenging, individuals can respond to a food sensitivity in several manners which means that there is a wide range of symptoms that they can experience.
The following are some of the symptoms that are linked to food intolerance and sensitivities:
- Reflux
- Indigestion
- Bloating
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Constipation
- Diarrhoea
- Intestinal gas
- Nausea
- Fluid retention
- Abdominal pain
- Crohn’s disease
- Headaches
- Migraines
- Asthma
- Shortness of breath
- Issues with concentration
- Skin conditions like acne, eczema, blemishes and psoriasis
- Extreme tiredness
- Nasal congestion
- Hay fever
- Irritability
- Abrupt changes of mood
- Depression
- Memory loss
- Weight gain
- ADHD and other behavioural issues in kids
What can cause food sensitivities?
Usually a food sensitivity is caused by bad lifestyle choices which can impair the functioning of the enzymes that need to digest food. Leaky gut syndrome can also lead to food sensitivity. In short, leaky gut syndrome is a common condition where gaps in the key gastrointestinal are created which can make it easier for toxins, undigested food and toxins to enter the bloodstream. When this happens, our bodies often create an immune reaction to food.
Which conditions can be aggravated by a food sensitivity?
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), bloating, fluid retention, migraines, inflammatory bowel disease, asthma, skin issues, depression, abrupt changes of mood and behavioural issues in kids are examples of conditions where a food sensitivity might play a huge role.
How can you test for a food sensitivity?
Today there is a wide range of diagnostic food allergy test methods that you can use. The team at Brisbane Naturopath uses various methods that include elimination, IgG Food Sensitivity Panel (a type of blood test) and kinesiology. The blood test includes many of the most common types of food, like egg, nuts, beans and cow’s milk, that are linked to food sensitivity.
Rest assured, the process is simple. We will collect a small sample of your blood and send it to a lab where your blood will be tested against these food types. When your medical practitioner has received the results, he/she will inform you about the food that you are sensitive to and will recommend that you remove the food from your diet for a while. The good news is that many people find that their health has improved dramatically after they have removed these foods. In some instances, the symptoms might even have disappeared altogether.
How can the team at Brisbane Naturopath help you?
Our team of experienced naturopaths look at food sensitivities holistically. After we have identified the food that you are intolerant to and we have removed it from your diet for a period, we will help you to rebuild and heal your gastrointestinal system. With the help of a prescription of herbs and nutrients, it is possible to repair your gut wall. As a matter of fact, some patients are even able to tolerate the food that they are sensitive to after some time!
It is crucial that you treat a food sensitivity before it damages your gastrointestinal system and lead to other diseases! So, be proactive and reach out to Brisbane Naturopath right away.