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Anyone else have food intolerances? How can you identify unknown intolerances?

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Posted 2/9/2016 4:17 PM (GMT 0)
What are some common food intolerances that people have? I have cut out dairy and gluten due to stomach and digestive issues. I do not have a candida issue (I don't think), but I limit sugar intake to a few natural sources. However, I think I may have another intolerance. I find that my brain fog gets worse and I become tired after eating certain meals. Today I snacked on almonds, and about an hour later my brain fog is bad- they're often listed as a safe food, so I'm not really sure. It's so hard to know if it's a food intolerance, or just the lyme going haywire in my brain after eating food. Any tricks to identify food intolerances at home? I hate cutting out almonds and almond milk, too! It feels like I can't eat anything!

Help!
Posted 2/9/2016 4:31 PM (GMT 0)
Food intolerances can vary a lot from person to person. The only way to know for sure is to do an elimination diet or to have your blood tested for food antibodies. When my son had food antibody testing done, we learned that he was intolerant to all kinds of things we wouldn't have guessed - basil, pineapple, green beans, asparagus, and mustard, in addition to more "normal" intolerances like eggs, wheat, soy, nuts, peanuts. After removing all of those things from his diet, we've tried re-introducing some, one at a time, but within the next day or two, he will have symptoms, such as a rash or moodiness.
Posted 2/9/2016 4:33 PM (GMT 0)
Mine was corn, tomatoes and strawberries.

Corn is in everything!! It is called corn syrup. I finally was desensitized to all 3 by my acupuncturist.
Posted 2/9/2016 4:34 PM (GMT 0)
So sorry to hear that!

I know a lot of people have food intolerances with these illnesses. Have you tried an elimination diet? I worked with a doctor who has a bit of a controversial idea, but it is based on if you have protozoa that you cut out fats. Even healthy fats like nuts and olive oil. It helped me. But as with all our cases, it can be very different from person to person. A lot of it is trial and error. But I think the elimination diet, while a pain the butt, could be a good method for figuring out what foods might be causing issues for you.

I'm not sure on the exact methodology of the elimination diet, but maybe some other members will know or have other suggestions.

Good luck!!!
Posted 2/9/2016 4:40 PM (GMT 0)
Common allergy-causing foods include milk, eggs, nuts, wheat, and soy. Nuts on are the common allergy list. So very sorry.

My acupuncturist says that what we crave we are usually allergic to.
Posted 2/9/2016 4:43 PM (GMT 0)
I have multiple chemical sensitivity due to methylation issues, and I'm sure it wouldn't be crazy of me to think that my poor gut function contributes as well (a certain degree of dysbiosis, leaky gut, and suspected parasite infestation).

I react to nearly everything I put in my mouth. There are certain chemicals in foods.

There are urine test strips for certain chemicals, though I am not sure how accurate they are. I've just been relying on "elimination" diets, because I cannot afford to try them.

But, the problem is, for some of us, we react to such a broad number of things that true elimination diets are to impossible. I already struggle not to starve.

Also, like you said, many of us have so many things going on that it can be so hard to pinpoint what it is that is causing certain symptoms - if it's one thing, two, a combination.

But, yeah, as others have said, I'd try an elimination diet, cut out the things you react to, and try some other stuff for a few days, then reintroduce the others one by one in a small amount to see if you can target the problem food(s). Hopefully it is just the nuts and dairy. It is kind of "normal" to have issues with those, so it seems.

Whatever testing that's been recommended here that you can access/afford, I guess.

Other than that, I imagine you're taking some good probiotics, glutamine for the gut lining - bare minimum, and other general supplements to prevent vitamin and mineral deficiencies and stuff. Gut health is super important, as I'm sure you have heard.

♡

edit: you might benefit from some digestive enzymes as well, if you think your system is having a tough time chewing through food in general.

Post Edited (NotQuiteAntonio) : 2/9/2016 9:47:43 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 2/9/2016 7:00 PM (GMT 0)
i had a sensitivity to almonds and didn't know it. there is a food sensitivity test you can have done by Pacific bio labs. but the food elimination diet is the best way to go. I switched from almond milk to coconut milk and am good with it!
Posted 2/9/2016 7:11 PM (GMT 0)
I had to do an extreme elimination diet to find out that I'm very allergic to soy (even soy oil) and slightly intolerant (I can get too much easily, but can tolerate some) MSG. I've known for years that I'm not tolerant to any sweeteners except pure stevia.

I like the way they worded this elimination diet, but it could leave a lot of questions for some:
www.mindbodygreen.com/0-12540/the-simple-elimination-diet-that-could-change-your-life-forever.html

When it was time to reintroduce foods, my doc had me eat that specific food 3 times a day for 3 days. So if it was eggs- I was supposed to eat egg whites 3 times a day for 3 days - then do egg yolks 3 times a day for 3 days. As long as I didn't react, I was supposed to move on to the next thing on my list.
Posted 2/9/2016 7:26 PM (GMT 0)
There are a few labs that do food sensitivity tests. The problem is that even though they give you a long list of items, they can only tell you if you are sensitive to foods your are each routinely.

In other words, if your test comes back negative for say broccoli it doesn't mean it is a safe food unless you eat broccoli on a daily basis. They recommend that you eat as many of the foods on the list as possible for at least a week before running the test.

Egg whites are used in just about everything. It can also be something as common place as pepper. When we go out to dinner, at some restaurants I can't even order a steak without making sure they don't use pepper to season it. Otherwise I end up sick.

So the real elimination diet is to pick a few foods that you think are safe. My doctor suggested chicken, white rice and salt only. No oils, no spices. For two weeks. That is how long it takes for your body to start cleaning things out. After that, he had me add one food (or really one ingredient) every four days. You have to wait to see if you react (or in my case felt sicker) thus the every four days, but if you do react you may have to wait longer than the four days for your body to get back to equilibrium.

By one food or one ingredient, he meant I could add olive oil or lettuce or pepper. One thing only.

First, white rice is very processed so it probably isn't a good idea. The idea is to start with things you are least likely to react to. I never successfully completed it because I was starving, but I was able to get it down to a small number of foods that I thought were safe. I now pay attention to how i feel after I eat.

Besides the other items others mentioned you can add tree nuts (almonds, etc) and legumes. Legumes are actually the food category that should be added in last.

Unfortunately we tend to have multiple sensitivities and taking out one food at a time doesn't work.

Kim
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