The Importance of Identifying Food Allergies and Sensitivites

By Dawn Poirier, MS, RDN

So you get an upset stomach with some foods or drink, a little headache with others, or sometimes a small rash that seems to come and go. Or maybe your eczema flares up periodically, or seasonal allergies hit hard every Spring and you get annual sinus infections. That’s all just normal minor nuisances, right? Not necessarily. Did you know that 70% of our immune system lies in the gut? This means that everything we ingest, purposefully or not, passes right by the immune system’s “guards” (dendritic cells) as the body attempts to process and absorb it.

The most comprehensive way to test for food allergies and sensitivities is by doing an elimination diet, supervised by a registered dietitian. The longer you go without eating the offending food/drink, the better you feel and healthier you become. Chronic diseases are often lifestyle related, which means you have the power to make yourself healthier. Cheers to that!

Most (but not all) food allergies and sensitivities are related to eight foods: dairy, soy, egg, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish. They also exist on a spectrum of severity with allergies at one end, sensitivities at the other, and intolerances somewhere in between. Allergies and some intolerances can be identified by clinical tests, but low-grade sensitivities (which are much more common) are hard to spot. Consequently, the offending foods are eaten several times a day. This means that every time that food enters the body, the immune system whips itself into a frenzy. But because symptoms are delayed up to 72 hours after eating, the reason for chronic discomfort is hard to pin down. Without diagnosis or awareness, the damage is repeated over and over, meal after meal. Eventually, inflammation seeps throughout the body, establishing an environment ripe for weight gain and chronic disease, such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.

More About Dawn Poirier, MS, RDN:

Dawn started her life in New York as a professional modern dancer after earning a BFA and MFA in dance. Since 2004, she has also become a Certified Personal Trainer and returned to school for her MS in Nutrition, and is now also a Registered Dietitian. After twenty years of incorporating training and nutrition for all kinds of athletes, from weekend warriors to expedition travelers, she created her company, Training for Adventures, to help people prepare for life’s adventures, planned and unplanned.

Learn more from Dawn at www.trainingforadventures.com