Food Allergies & Oral Intolerance
What’s the difference between a food allergy and oral intolerance?
A food allergy is a reaction caused by the immune system’s reaction to a food, causing distressing and often severe symptoms. The immune system usually makes specific IgE antibodies to ‘fight off’ the allergens found in these foods. This results in the release of histamine in the body, which cause inflammation.
Oral intolerance is not so clear-cut and the cause can take some time to diagnose. Although not life threatening, it can and often does, make the sufferer feel extremely unwell and can have a major impact on their life. Ongoing symptoms can also affect the person psychologically, as they feel they will never get better.
Reactions are usually delayed, occurring several hours and sometimes up to several days after eating the offending food. The symptoms caused by these reactions are usually gut symptoms, such as bloating, diarrhea, constipation, skin problems such as eczema and often joint pain.
Food intolerance is the result of the immune system’s reaction to certain foods. Many factors can result in an immune reaction to food, including an inability to break down food properly, an unhealthy microbial environment, and a weakened GI mucous membrane. These reactions can be caused by stress factors, environmental triggers, and more. The key areas to support food tolerance include the following:
1. A Dietary Plan: Use a food plan to support mucosal health and food tolerance. Identify and remove reactive foods.
2. Digestive Enzymes: Support the body’s ability to help break down proteins, fats, and carbohydrates.
3. Healthy Microbial Environment: Support a healthy and diverse intestinal bacterial environment.
4. Mucosal Support: Support the intestines’ ability to help support a healthy mucosal layer.
5. Proper Hepatic Clearing: Support healthy phase I, II, & III detoxification.
6. Immune Support: Support healthy immune regulatory function and immune tolerance.
Cara
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