What exactly ARE Food Sensitivities?

Day 41.

Today was such a great day! I got so much accomplished: Baristas, Farmer's Market, HIIT Running, Weights, Cleaned our House, Fiona Haircut, Bill Pay and "Office Stuff!" Whew!

I felt great today, overall, except for my cold that's still here mildly. I only felt a little sick right away when I woke up. After that, no more stomach problems all day. My mouth was about a level 4/5 all day.Interesting.

Today I was searching around on the World's Healthiest Foods website, when I came across an article they have on Food Sensitivities. For the whole article, click here.

I wanted to point out a few items of interest:

• "There is increasing evidence that food sensitivities are more common and have a wider and more varied impact on our health than previously realized. Although often equated with food allergies, food sensitivities also include food intolerances which, unlike allergies, are toxic reactions to foods that do not involve the immune system and are often more difficult to diagnose."

I think I have mentioned it before, but I have food intolerances not food allergies. The test was a food allergy, but in reality it was for intolerances. I will not die from any food I have. It has taken me years for this diagnosis. Doctors just kept telling me, "Eat more Fiber. You have IBS. Drink more Water. Etc. Etc."

• "In general, food sensitivities are the result of toxic responses to food and are divided into two categories: allergic responses; and food intolerances."

I have food intolerances. Many of my "healthy foods" are, indeed, toxic to me.

• "Reports of food intolerance reactions to food preservatives and additives have been widely published. Food preservatives such as benzoates (including sodium benzoate, an additive found in literally thousands of different processed foods), sulfites, and hydroxytoluene including butylated hydroxytoluene, or BHT, a preservative commonly used in procssed foods, flavoring agents like salicylates, and dyes like yellow dye No. 5 (tartrazine) are known to cause hives. Since 1986, the FDA has required that sulfites added to foods be listed on the label and has banned the use of sulfites on fruits and vegetables intended to be eaten raw. Benzoate preservatives (including sodium benzoate), many different food dyes, and BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) have been found to produce intolerance reactions in aspirin-intolerant individuals."

I was not tested for food intolerances to preservatives or additives. It was not in that specific test. However, I am a firm believer that I need to stay away from them as much as possible. They are so terrible for us to consume. How can anyone expect that something they cannot pronounce is good to put into the body?

• "Delayed Reactions to Food: Many of the same foods that are known to cause immediate hypersensitivities in a small number of people, have been implicated as a cause of delayed or "masked" food allergies in much larger numbers of individuals. Delayed food hypersensitivity reactions are believed to affect millions of people; some physicians have suggested that as many as 60% of all Americans suffer from masked food allergies. These reactions may be responsible for a variety of symptoms including dark circles or puffiness under the eyes, fluid retention, dermatitis, sinus congestion, fatigue, abdominal pain or discomfort, joint inflammation, mood swings, indigestion, headaches, chronic ear infections, asthma, poor memory, anxiety and depression. As the name suggests, delayed hypersensitivities do not appear immediately after consuming a particular food. In fact, in most cases the immune response is so delayed that it is difficult to determine which food is causing the symptoms, and many people are unaware that they are sensitive to certain foods. Only through careful dietary manipulation, such as an Elimination Diet or Rotation Diet, is it usually possible to identify these hidden food allergies. The foods most often associated with delayed hypersensitivities include dairy products, eggs, wheat, soy products, peanuts, shellfish, and refined sugar"

You will see a link in the article for The Allergy Avoidance Diet. If you cannot afford to get blood tests done and/or see a nutritionist, I highly recommend trying this. Be consistent. Stick with it. And whatever you do, don't cheat! You will find amazing insights to your health.

• ""Leaky gut" is the term commonly used to describe the condition when your small intestinal wall is broken down allowing large food particles to pass through. Leaky gut can be caused by intestinal inflammations from parasite or microbial infections as well as a food allergy response and can result in the development of multiple food allergies. Inflammation of the intestinal wall caused by allergic reactions to one food left untreated can facilitate allergic responses to others foods because the inflamed wall of the intestine allows toxic food molecules into the body that normally would be prevented from entering. Increasing number of food allergy responses taxes the ability of the macrophages to eliminate damaging food molecules. The immune system gets overwhelmed and increasing numbers of toxic food molecules are allowed into the body. Leaky gut can often prevent the absorption of nutrients vital to your health. Nutrients are normally absorbed through the cells at the tip of the intestinal villi, however, when the intestine is damaged from inflammation, the villi are no longer healthy and in tact and are unable to properly absorb the available nutrients. Cow's milk, eggs, soy, and wheat are common allergens that are associated with intestinal inflammation and leaky gut. Research has shown that stress can also cause leaky gut. This may help explain a type of food allergy called "exercise-induced" food allergy which occurs after an individual has eaten shortly after exercising which is a form of physical stress. Individuals with this condition should avoid eating for at least one hour after exercising.""

I have "Leaky Gut." Since I am intolerant to so many foods, Leah said that I have "Leaky Gut." This is also why I am on so many nutitional supplements. We are healing me, one day at a time. I am intolerant to most categories that are common with Leaky Gut (Milk, Eggs, and Soy). I am learning how stress plays such a large part in this all. I'm learning it the hard way, unfortunately.

The article is absolutely amazing and I highly encourage everyone out there to read it. Perhaps you are sitting in the same place I was not so long ago. You were going to doctor after doctor who had no "real" answer for you. And all along, you felt miserable everyday (healthwise). Food heals. Believe it!

Here was my day:

Breakfast

• Steel Cut Oats
  
• Nutribiotic Vanilla Rice Protein Powder with Coconut Milk Light, Flax, and Stevia
• Small Coffee with Honey/Stevia
  

Pre-Workout

• Dried Banana
  
• Dried White Peaches
• Organic, Raw Walnuts
  

Lunch

• Organic Spinach
• Fish Oil + Spirulina + Sea Salt
• Chile Lime Chicken Burger
• Orange
  

Snack

• Fruit Fusion (Dried Apple + Dried Cranberry Only)
  
• Organic, Raw Carrots
  

Dinner

• 5-Lettuce Mix
  
• Olive Oil + ACV + Cinnamon
  
• Salmon Burger
• Ancient Harvest Quinoa Pasta
  
• 1 Glass Red Wine
• Applesauce

How exciting that tomorrow is Sunday, but that we still have another day off after it this week! Have a Healthy Sunday!