If you haven’t listened to episode 237, please start there!.
In episode 237 I talk about the link between the foods you eat & your immune system.
I think it’s fairly likely that you’re consuming something to which you’re sensitive. It’s very possible that your fatigue, your trouble with weight loss, your acne, joint pain or constipation are related to something you’re eating.
Can we think about this from the common sense perspective for a second? The only fuel your body receives in order to operate comes from what you food, drink and breathe. Your diet is not a supplement. It is the ONLY thing that powers your body. So if something is not working properly, I think it’s safe to say that it might have something to do with what you’re providing to your body in the form of fuel.
Today I’ll be talking about the difference between food allergies & food intolerances as well as the most common foods to which people are intolerant, why they create problems and how you can identify if they are creating problems for you!
Listen Now
Food Intolerances: Are You Eating Things You Shouldn’t?
Let’s start by establishing the difference between a food allergy & a food intolerance.
If you’re allergic to something, you know about it. If you have an intolerance or sensitivity, you might not.
Allergic reactions often happen quite quickly after consumption and their impact is moderate-severe.
This is because allergies represent a response from IgE antibodies. Food sensitivities and intolerances represent a response from IgG antibodies.
The response triggered by IgE antibodies (in the case of food allergies) is likely to be swift, severe and not as long lasting as the response from IgG antibodies which tends to have a slower onset, the symptoms may be mild-moderate and the reaction can linger for weeks or even months!
The most common foods to which people are sensitive include:
- Gluten (and gluten-like grains & grain products)
- Eggs
- Dairy
- Alcohol
- Caffeine
- Nightshades
- Nuts & seeds
In today’s episode I go through why these foods trigger an immune response and what you can do about it. Don’t miss it!
I found that I am highly sensitive to garlic & tilapia and moderately sensitive to whey, yeast, avocado and peanuts. Here’s a peak at my results & here’s a link to the test I took.
Resources
The Autoimmune Solution by Dr. Amy Myers
What Are GMOs & Should I Avoid Them?
What You Need To Know About Gluten
Understanding The Link Between What You Eat & Your Immune System
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Thank you for these great episodes on food intolerance! I had horrible eating habits up until 5 years ago. My diet consisted of A LOT of processed foods, breads, pastas, etc… I also had horrible adult acne, severe seasonal allergies and occasional trouble with eczema and psoriasis. I made the gradual change to “clean” eating (i.e.: whole/natural foods, per my definition) and all of those annoying troubles disappeared! Having suffered skin problems and seasonal allergies most of my life, like quite a few other family members, I just thought it was hereditary.
For the past few weeks, I’ve been making poor food choices and guess what showed up? A bad case of eczema on my hands! I’m going to cut out the sweets I’ve been indulging in and go back to my “clean” eating routine. I’m pretty confident that will do the trick, but if it doesn’t clear up in a few weeks, I’ll try removing the common culprits like you suggested.
Thanks again for the great job you do on all of your episodes!!
You’re so welcome! I agree with you – food choices have a MASSIVE impact on skin health! Prioritize those changes and stay consistent. Glad you enjoyed the episode! Have a great day!
Hi Elizabeth,
I am trying to access the show notes for this episode however when I click on the “show notes” tab, it seems to bring me back to the blog post. I was interested in learning what lab you used for this food sensitivity testing.
I’m not sure what you mean…this is the show notes page that you are commenting on. Right above the image of my results is a hyperlink to the test I took. You can email me if you have any other questions.
I know this is an older post, but I hope you still check back! 🙂 I love re-listening to episodes to incorporate them into my life when I am ready. So, I am planning to do this blood test to see what foods I am sensitive to. I really want to find out which way of eating is best for my body. I have tried so many different approaches (vegetarian, low fat, high fat, low carb, etc), and I am still unsure! I hope the info I get from this test can guide me. My question for you is about your results….you are not sensitive to many foods, but you still choose to avoid them(ex: wheat, corn) …is this for nutritional reasons or insulin response reasons? Also, do foods we are not “sensitive” to still cause inflammatory response? Side note, I recall reading that meat is inflammatory ??? #information overload 🙂 Hopefully you can clarify or point me in a good direction. Love love love what you do. Thank you x100
Hi Veronica,
I avoid the foods I do because of the feedback my body gives me. Journaling has shown me that my energy is best, my workouts are best and my fat loss is best when I’m eating primarily non-starchy veggies and clean fats & proteins. Plus, it’s simple. It’s real food. I’m avoiding most toxins and chemicals and sugars. I’m all about simple. Allergy tests won’t tell me what my body can about energy, cravings, mood and fat loss. Yes, some foods are pro-inflammatory by nature – omega 6 fatty acids, for example. As for meat – this is why clean proteins and moderation matter. Make it a great day!