Do you suspect you have a food intolerance? Perhaps you suffer from the following:
gas and bloating
distended belly
congestion, especially after eating
migraine headaches
lack of focus
low energy
mood swings
joint pain
weight loss resistance
Rosacea or Eczema, rash, hives
asthma
A food intolerance is the inability to properly digest a food. It stems from leaky gut. Symptoms are unpleasant, but rarely life-threatening. When you have leaky gut, you have increased intestinal permeability allowing undigested foods to escape into the bloodstream where the immune system targets them as invaders and launches an attack, often causing the above symptoms. Leaky gut is generally caused by gut dysbiosis, an imbalance of good and bad bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract. This occurs from poor nutrition, a direct result of the Standard American Diet comprised of proteins in unsprouted grains, high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), excess sugars and sugar alcohols, artificial sweeteners, additives, preservatives, artificial dyes, trans or hydrogenated fats, genetically modified foods (GMOs), dairy products, packaged gluten-free or dairy-free foods with added sugars and fillers, all processed foods, junk foods, and fast foods. These foods are toxic to our delicate gut microbiome and can unleash a host of symptoms that, when not addressed, can lead to autoimmune issues.
Maybe it's a food allergy? Perhaps these are your symptoms:
low blood pressure, dizziness, fainting
swelling of lips, tongue, throat
nauseous and bloated
diarrhea and/or vomiting
dry, itchy throat and tongue
coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath
runny and/or blocked nose
itchy skin or rash/hives
red, itchy eyes
flushing of face, neck, chest
A food allergy is caused by the immune system's reaction to a particular food with often immediate (sometimes up to 2 hours) reaction and symptoms that can sometimes be so severe they trigger anaphylaxis - a life threatening allergic response involving 2 or more body systems and requiring the immediate use of an EpiPen or auto-injected adrenaline and medical assistance. Food allergies can develop anytime. The 9 most common food allergens are soybeans, peanuts, dairy, corn, wheat & gluten, eggs, fish (bass, flounder, cod), shellfish (crab, crayfish, lobster, shrimp), tree nuts (almonds, walnuts, pecans).
Health Coach, how do I know for sure if it's a food intolerance or an allergy?
JOURNAL with the FOOD/MOOD/POOP Tracking System!
Using a tracking system, track your Food/Mood/Poop. Track all the food you eat and drink, all of your body's moods: how you feel inside your body (ex. bloating, gas, shortness of breath, migraine), outside your body (ex. hives, flushing, itching), in your mind (ex. brain fog, anxious, mood swings) and your poop. Yes, I said it! TRACK. YOUR. POOP! You need to know how often you are going and what your poop looks like. You can use the Bristol Stool Chart on your own with the FOOD/MOOD/POOP tracking system, or you can reach out to me for help!
What about Functional Lab Testing?
It's always good to test, not guess!
Functional Testing for Allergies and Intolerances
Full IgE PANEL run to rule out food allergies and environmental substances
Serum IgE and IgG (non-specific)
IgG food sensitivity testing (specific)
C-Reactive Protein - measures levels of internal inflammation
Intestinal Permeability and body's relationship with gluten using Vibrant Wellness' Wheat Zoomer - ask your friendly Health Coach about ordering!
A word of caution... If you are suffering from intestinal permeability, leaky gut, you will likely show many food sensitivities. This is why it's important to test for leaky gut first, address any issues (heal the gut lining, rebalance the gut microbiome) and then test for food sensitivities.
Hey Health Coach! This is overwhelming. Can you guide me through this?
It would be my pleasure!
I have a long history of food allergies and food sensitivities. I have been where you are. I understand. A lot of what I went through led me to my career today. With Functional Nutrition and proper testing, I discovered and healed my leaky gut, reversed many of my own food sensitivities with the Total Gut Restoration protocol, and I feel better now in my 50s than I did for decades!
Now is as good a time as any to get your health and wellness issues under control and start living the life you deserve! Let's chat on a 30 minute complimentary Discovery Call to find out if Health and Wellness Coaching is right for you and how your insurance plan may cover my services. booking link: https://p.bttr.to/37nWlJ3