,

Reaction to food Symptoms

Reaction to food Symptoms

Reaction to food symptoms, are often referred to as intolerance or hypersensitivity. This pattern of Reactivity goes beyond the classic allergy pattern, and includes a range of adverse reactions that may not involve the immune system.

Symptoms of Reactivity may include digestive issues, skin irritation, headaches, and more, and appear hours or even days after exposure.

Headche can be a symptom of Reactivity to a certain food

This range of symptoms, inconsistent patterns, and different triggers make reactivity a complex phenomenon to diagnose and manage.
In this blog post, we explore the nuances of reactivity, its symptoms, distinctions from allergies, and effective strategies for diagnosis and treatment.

Reactivity vs. Allergy: Highlighting the Differences

Non-Immune Response:

Reactivity involves adverse reactions without necessarily engaging the immune system. Unlike allergies, there are no specific immune indicators, making diagnosis challenging. As mentioned before, symptoms of Reactivity may include digestive issues, skin irritation, headaches, and more, and appear hours or even days after exposure.

Inconsistency:

Reactivity is  less predictable because it may not occur every time. Factors like the amount of exposure, individual sensitivity, and environmental conditions contribute to its unpredictability.

Diagnosis:

Diagnosing reactivity requires a process of elimination, symptom diaries, and being overseen by healthcare providers. It lacks the clear markers associated with allergies.

Timing:

Symptoms may not occur at the time of exposure, adding to the complexity of diagnosis.

Treatment:

Managing reactivity involves identifying and avoiding triggers. Treatment varies and is based on symptoms and underlying causes.

Understanding Reactivity:  Let’s take A Closer Look

Example: Food Intolerance

Reactivity, sometimes referred to as a food intolerance, can result from the absence of enzymes needed for food digestion, like lactose intolerance. Here the enzyme lactase may be deficient. Symptoms may include chronic headaches, sinus congestion, digestive issues, and more.

Inconsistency:

Reactivity varies among individuals and can show up differently over time. Factors such as exposure levels contribute to its variability.

Treatment:

Identifying triggers and guarding against factors causing the issue is key.
Addressing gut health plays a vital role, as alterations in gut microbes and damage to the gut lining can contribute to reactions in various body systems.

Factors Influencing Reactivity

Inconsistency:

Exposure amount matters; a little may not trigger reactions, but higher amounts can. The concept of a threshold of tolerance highlights dose-dependent reactions.

Treatment:

Managing reactivity involves repairing the gut lining and allowing the immune system to rest. This allows the immune system to reset and helps address underlying factors contributing to the over reactivity.

Symptoms of Reactivity

Symptoms:

Reactivity symptoms range from eczema and sinus issues to digestive discomfort and mood changes. Symptoms vary among individuals, making diagnosis challenging.

Goals of a Reactivity Reduction Program

Symptom Relief:

Avoiding triggers, repairing the gut lining, and allowing the immune system to rest contribute to symptom relief.

Addressing Contributing Factors:

Optimizing digestive function,

gut health

Optimise digestive function and Gut health

supporting an appropriate immune response, and improving detoxification mechanisms help reset the immune system for improved tolerance.

Reducing Reactivity:

Increasing tolerance thresholds leads to broader benefits, allowing individuals to enjoy a wider variety of foods and activities without triggering symptoms.

Customised Treatment Plans: Rest and Re-Set vs. Rest and Test

Rest and Re-Set:

Suitable for mild symptoms or obvious triggers. Resting from sensitive foods, combined with herbs and nutrients, promotes gut repair and immune system balance.

Rest and Test:

Ideal for those suspecting specific triggers.
This means that strategically reintroducing foods provides detailed information on tolerance levels and helps identify specific triggers.

Common Food Groups related to Reactivity: A Clinical Overview

Observations:

Certain food groups, such as gluten, dairy, eggs, and nuts, are commonly associated with reactivity. Clinical patterns help identify potential triggers.

Additional Considerations:

FODMAP foods, histamine-rich foods, and factors like digestion, microbiome balance, and immune system stimulation contribute to reactivity.

Conclusion:

Understanding reactivity is crucial for effective diagnosis and management. By exploring the distinctions from allergies, recognising contributing factors, and implementing personalised treatment plans, individuals can gain control over their reactivity and enhance their overall well-being..

Many who are not sure of why they react to foods can come in for a consultation to help identify their reactivities to foods and how to cope.

Do ring : o3 9879 9596, or book on line.

 

At Your Wellness Centre we are here to help, do contact us with any questions you might have or
you can make a booking on line for an appointment either online or for an in-clinic consultation.

We have structured programs available that will help you not only come to grips with your reactivity, but stay healthy at the same time!

 

If you want to Read more about Allergies and so see how reactivy is different you can go to:

How to reduce the effect of allergies by clicking here

 

or Learn about Allergy and Reactivity treatment program by clicking here

 

 

/by
, ,

How to Reduce the effect of Allergies

If you live with an allergic condition such as food allergies, eczema, hay fever, or asthma,and would like a natural treatment, then this is something worth using.

Our specially designed Allergy and Reactivity reduction program is professionally supported and incorporates carefully selected herbs and nutrients combined with tailored diet and lifestyle recommendations.

This will help repair your gut, improve your ability to tolerate allergens, and reduce your reactive symptoms.

Also beneficial if you are not sure if it is an allergy but you get a stomach ache after eating cheese, or bloat and become headachy with certain other foods and so won’t have a bar of say wheat or onions or garlic.

On the other hand, if food isn’t your issue, but pollens and certain grasses leave your skin desperately itchy or a cat sends you into a sneezing frenzy, then this will be good for you too.

Pretty unusual reactions to common substances:

So why does your body react this way?
It is because your body believes that these otherwise harmless substances (animal hair, foods, and grasses) are threatening.

And so, when it comes into contact with these substances, (in this case they are known as allergens,) your immune system releases large amounts of the chemical histamine.

Histamine is like a burly bouncer outside a club: its job is to muscle an allergen out of your body by any means necessary.

Some of the ways histamine does this job is by producing redness and inflammation, a running nose, itchy eyes, constricted airways, bloating, and diarrhoea. All these are signs of allergic disease.

Current approaches to allergy management involve avoiding the allergen and reducing histamine (e.g. antihistamine medication).

 

But why does your body think these substances are harmful and mount this response against them in the first place?

There are several contributing factors that lead your body’s immune system to respond this way.

They include:

1) Inflammation within your digestive tract (where the majority of your immune system is found).

2) Damage to the lining of your digestive tract commonly known as ‘leaky gut, allows small particles (undigested food, bacteria, and/or toxins) to pass through to the bloodstream causing inflammation in other areas of the body).

3) Low levels of good bacteria and/or an overgrowth of bad bacteria within your intestine that interferes with your body’s immune response.

Address the roots of your reactivity

Truly holistic allergy management encompasses symptomatic relief while also retraining the body’s immune system to tolerate ‘threatening’ allergens.

Using our Allergy and Reactivity Reduction Program while being guided by your Naturopath does just that! 

So ring 9879 9596 for an appointment to see how we can help you

Ingredients that reduce reactivity

A number of herbs and nutrients can help you manage your symptoms of allergy and reactivity; by helping to restore balance to your immune system.

Tailored Diet and Lifestyle Recommendations

Following a prescribed diet in conjunction with specialised supplementation greatly assists in reducing symptoms and building tolerance to allergens.

Your Naturopath will recommend a specific dietary plan depending on your symptom presentation and health history.

While following the Allergy and Reactivity Reduction Program you will ‘rest’ from foods that may be creating inflammation and damage within your gut, giving your immune system an opportunity to ‘reset’ and become more tolerant.

Your Naturopath may also work with you to strategically re-test the foods you have been ‘resting’ from to find the right amount for you in the future.

This means you can remain symptom-free, while still enjoying the foods and activities you love.

Time to Eat and Do what you Love

Now is a time you can address those irritating allergic symptoms by tackling the underlying causes.

Completing this program can help you gain control of your reactivity and increase your tolerance levels, leading to a reduction in symptoms.

Imagine indulging in the foods and activities you enjoy; patting your dog without sneezing, eating the foods you love without bloating, or having a picnic in the grass without itching – now that would be life-changing!

/0 Comments/by