Immune reactions can result from food allergies or food sensitivity.

Most people have a good understanding of the idea of food allergies. This is when you have an immediate reaction to something, causing an acute respiratory response – weasy, runny nose, itchy eyes, difficulty in breathing. The food to which you are allergic will almost always provoke an immune reaction when ingested. In immediate reactions, the body over produces Immunoglobulin E antibodies, (IgE). IgE binds to allergens and triggers an allergic response to any substance it sees as foreign.

Often, the reaction isn’t severe the first time., It is the second time of exposure that the acute reaction can occur. In the worse case this can result in what is known as an anaphylactic shock, requiring immediate medical care.

Food sensitivities

A food  sensitivity, as opposed to a food allergy, happens gradually and isn’t life threatening. Symptoms of a delayed food allergy can take up to 72 hours to appear. This type of immune response is mediated by IgG antibodies, the largest circulating antibodies in our immune system and can cross the placenta from mother to child. IgG antibodies are the most common form of immunologic mediated food responses. It can be difficult to identify the offending food, since we eat so many foods that go through different processes and have many ingredients. It is estimated that 20% of the population have an adverse reaction to a certain food.

Food sensitivities may be caused by many factors such as stress, infections, overeating, artificial preservatives, additives, moulds, pesticides, antibiotics, and environmental pollutants. Unidentified food sensitivities can then contribute to many chronic health conditions. These include Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Rheumatoid arthritis, headaches, migraines, autism, ADD/ADHD, eczema, chronic ear infections, gut malabsorption, insomnia and many others.

Elimination diets and functional tests

Many times, the foods we eat frequently and seem healthy, are contributing to our health problems. Elimination of the offending foods can improve many health problems and lead to a better quality of life. Fortunately, it is possible via a simple finger prick test to test for IgG food sensitivity to identify those foods that you might be reacting too. Eliminating those few foods may have a dramatic impact on the symptoms that one suffers from.

The Nordic Food Panel tests for IgG antibodies towards a variety of common foods in a blood spot finger test, that can be carried out by the patient, at home, without the need of a phlebotomist. To find out more, click here.

Stool analysis – our poo can reveal a lot about us.

One of the things that sometimes causes our patients to raise their eyebrows is our mention of stool testing. Stool analysis is a powerful tool for understanding what might be going on in our gastro-intestinal tracts.

To gain the benefits from consumed food, nutrients must be appropriately digested and efficiently absorbed into bodily circulation. Poor digestion and malabsorption of vital nutrients can contribute to degenerative diseases, compromised immune status, and nutritional deficiencies. Impairment of the highly specific nutrient uptake processes, or compromised GI barrier function (or  “leaky gut syndrome”) can result from: low gastric acid production; chronic maldigestion; food allergen impact on intestinal absorptive surfaces; bacterial overgrowth or imbalances (dysbiosis); pathogenic bacteria; yeast or parasites and related toxic irritants; and the use of NSAID’s (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, such as aspirin and ibuprofen) and antibiotics.

A Comprehensive Stool Analysis with Parasitology (CSAP) test is a non-invasive diagnostic assessment that allows practitioners to objectively evaluate the status of intestinal bacteria. It tests for the intestinal ecology of microflora, including the presence of intestinal parasites and pathogens. It can be a a valuable tool in gaining insight into what is happening within the gastro-intestinal tract and tailoring interventions to the patient that might include the elimination of pathogens and exposure to irritants; supplementation of hydrochloric acid; pancreatic enzymes and pre- and probiotics; and repair of the mucosal barrier.

To find out more about the CSAP test, click here.