Food Sensitivities You Don't Even Recognize...
/Most of us know the common food sensitivity symptoms: gas, bloating, nausea, runny nose, brain fog, fatigue, etc.
Of course, the most common culprits (sugar, fried foods, etc) are rather easy to detect. The tricky part is identifying culprits amongst known superfoods.
It never ceases to amaze me that the food that heals one, harms another. What's going on here?
Well, part of the battle is recognizing three distinct classification differences:
- Food Allergies: These are severe and very serious. Allergic reactions include rashes, swelling, and even anaphylactic shock which can be fatal.
- Food Intolerances: These responses do not involve the immune system, but are rather the result of enzyme deficiencies which do not allow your body to break down certain foods (like dairy).
- Food Sensitivities: These are tough to spot. The symptoms are typically mild and resemble intolerances. They may involve a delayed reaction and the person with a sensitivity may usually tolerate a small amount of the inflaming food.
Here are the top food allergens:
- Gluten
- Nightshades (like potatoes, eggplants and peppers)
- Legumes
- Eggs
- FODmaps (Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides, and Polyols, or more commonly known as fermentable sugars).
- Dairy
- Nuts & Seeds
How can you discover a food sensitivity? The best way is to follow an elimination diet. By temporarily removing inflaming foods, you give your body time to heal before reintroducing them again. Then, your body's signals will be clear as to what it loves and what it would prefer to do without!
