Food Allergies: How do you know if you have one?

Why you may have a delayed food allergy response and don’t know it.

bread milk food allergies

 

Before we go into signs that you may have an allergy you first need to know a little bit about the allergic response.

An allergy is when a molecule (the antigen) recognized by the immune system induces an immune response. This antigen is usually a protein such as gluten, soy or dairy.  This antigen is recognized as “not self”. 

An allergy and sensitivity is not the same thing. An allergy is when the body produces an immune response to an antigen (the food that you are allergic to).  Food sensitivity is a metabolic response that does not produce an antibody response but can still cause symptoms. 

IgE: this antibody provides an immediate response such as with a peanut allergy.  Most people know when they have an IgE allergy.

IgA, IgG:

 These are also food allergy antibodies but the response is delayed.  The response to the antigen can happen 24-72 hours after ingesting the food. This is why it can be so difficult to narrow down these food allergies.

How to know if you have an IgA or IgG food allergy.

 The only way to know for sure is through testing.  But to save money an elimination diet, removing the suspected food for 21-30 days and then following a protocol to add it back in can be effective. However if you notice symptoms improve when removing this food from your diet, you still will not know if you have an allergy or a food sensitivity. For some it does not matter as long as their symptoms have improved.  For others ( especially teens who do not want to give up their favorite foods) seeing test results can be beneficial. 

The scratch test is good for IgE allergies, not for delayed allergies. The ELISA or ALCAT or the MRT are good choices for delayed allergy testing however these tests can be expensive and may not be covered by your insurance.  I also like Enterolab for IgA stool testing and it may be a more affordable option than some other tests.  If you cannot afford testing, then the elimination diet and keeping a log of your symptoms is the best alternative. 

Common delayed food allergens

Soy, dairy, gluten, corn and eggs

Note: Peanuts, shellfish and eggs tend to be more common IgE food allergies.

Signs that you may have a delayed food Allergy

(This is not an exhaustive list but these are many of the more common signs/symptoms of food allergies. However having these symptoms on this list does not mean you have a food allergy as there can be other root causes but it is worth looking into)

  • eczema, acne and other skin conditions
  • asthma
  • note: asthma and eczema are the most common conditions associated with delayed food allergies
  • anxiety, depression, ADHD, ADD
  • rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, other autoimmune conditions
  • fatigue, lethargy
  • brain fog
  • craving the foods you are allergic too
  • thyroid condition
  • headaches, migraines
  • digestive issues, GERD, heartburn, acid reflux
  • diarrhea/constipation
  • joint pain

 

Consequences of delayed food allergy not being addressed

  • This can lead to other health issues such as leaky gut, gut and bowel disorders and your body’s inability to absorb and digest needed nutrients. This can place stress on the body and can contribute to adrenal fatigue and possibly autoimmune disorders down the road

 

What to do if you suspect a food allergy

  • if you cannot afford testing then do an elimination test by taking out common food allergens such as processed soy (fermented okay), GMO processed corn (whole corn on cob okay), gluten and casein (whey is usually okay) for 21 days.
  • Follow the elimination diet protocol, adding back in only one food group at a time (if you eliminated more than one) to observe for symptoms for 72 hours before adding in another food group.
  • Or try the paleo diet for 21 days as this removes common allergens and also removes all grains which can be an issue for some but not necessarily a food allergy.

 

The bottom line is you are trying to find the best diet for your body and one that addresses your health issues.

 

Source

Bauman, E. & Friedlander, J. (2014) Therapeutic Nutrition. Pengrove, CA: Bauman College.

 

Karen Brennan, MSW, NC, owner of Tru Foods Nutrition Services, LLC, is a holistic nutrition professional that specializes in addressing root causes, not symptom management, with dietary changes and targeted supplement and herbal support. 

For available services, see her website at trufoodsnutrition.com