There are two main types of allergies. IgE allergies are immediate on-set allergies that involve immunoglobulin-E antibodies that release histamine and cause a dramatic reaction like face and throat swelling requiring immediate administration of an EpiPen (epinephrine injection). Most people with this kind of a reaction develop it early on during childhood.
The more common allergy or food sensitivity involves IgG antibodies. These attach to an allergen in the blood, like food, and create immune complexes which must be cleared by phagocytes, cells of the immune system. Immune complexes often cannot be cleared by phagocytes fast enough, usually because the offending food is eaten multiple times each day. Immune complexes accumulate slowly in the body, settling in weakened areas of the body like joints or along the intestinal tract. These delayed-onset food sensitivities often go undetected by the offending person because they develop symptoms so slowly. Food sensitivity symptoms include:
Headaches
IBD
GERD
Acne
Agitation and Irritability
Food Cravings
Constipation
Sinus Problems
ADD/ADHD
Anxiety
Food sensitivities develop through an excessively permeable gut, called leaky gut. Leaky gut occurs when factors irritate the gut lining making tight junctions that occur between intestinal cells to become boggy. Things that irritate the intestinal lining are inflammatory foods like gluten and dairy, stress, alcohol, NSAIDs, excessive antibiotic use, antacid use, nutrient deficiencies, and poor digestion. These boggy cells lose their integrity and their ability to be discriminatory towards digested food. If digestion is poor and food is not broken down into amino acids, whole foods will enter the blood stream through these leaky and boggy intestinal cells creating an IgG immune response. This immune response causes inflammation and a continued immune response every time the offending food is eaten. This inflammatory response can go on for years with the accumulation of immune complexes settling along the intestinal wall or in joints causing the poor person to feel worse year after year.
What can you do about it?
Conquering annoying and persistent symptoms is best achieved by identifying the root cause and eliminating it. Working with a nutritionist to implement an elimination diet can help uncover food sensitivities. Once these foods are identified, it is easy to exclude them from diet. Merely by excluding a few foods from your diet, you can be on a path to recovery leaving you symptom free.
Resources:
Hidden Food Allergies. James Braly and Patrick Holdford. 2006
*These recommendations are for educational purposes only. They are not intended as treatment or prescription for any disease, or as a substitute for regular medical care.
Real Food, Real Health 