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Health food stores attempt to avoid food allergens
In health food news today, consumers who believe they have food allergies have become more common. Why do so many people, especially health food fanatics, believe they have food allergies?
Food allergies occur when the immune system overreacts to a protein molecule in the offending food. This can happen even with those who are picky health food shoppers. The body is unable to break down that particular protein molecule, so it reacts by trying to “get rid of it”. It produces a chemical called 'histamine' and symptoms appear in the form of rashes, hives, itching, wheezing, breathing problems, and lots of mucus being expelled through the mouth, nose, ears, lungs, or sexual organs. More serious reactions from food allergies are: vomiting, diarrhea, loss of consciousness, drop in blood pressure, or even death.
Intolerance to certain foods is different from true food allergies, and this is a more common complaint from health food consumers. With food intolerances like lactose intolerance, where a person has difficulty breaking down the sugar in the milk, the symptoms are much milder. One may have some bloating, excess gas, cramping or diarrhea. While food intolerance is unpleasant, it is not life threatening like food allergies can be in severe cases.
The question the health food consumer ought to ask is not, “What am I allergic to?” But rather, “Why is my immune system reacting to what should be health food?”
When determining specific food allergies, factors to consider are:
1. What is the trigger food?
2. When is the trigger food being consumed?
3. Are fruits and vegetables, or grains, or meat and dairy being imporperly combined?
Most food allergy experts tell patients to keep a diary of everything consumed, and when the trigger food is found to just avoid eating it. Well, that sounds simple, but if the subject reacts to many things, including those that should be health food, it’s not so simple? Of course, it makes sense to eliminate the most common triggers to food allergies like: corn, wheat, eggs, dairy, and peanuts, but if that doesn’t work, then what? The best way to address food allergies is to strengthen the immune system and balance all the systems of the body with system specific health foods. With access to so much good health food and plenty of options for avoiding food allergies, it’s a shame to limit choices unnecessarily.
For more info:
‘Food, Your Miracle Medicine’ by Jean Carper (copyright 1995)
‘You, The Owner’s Manual’ by Michael F. Roizen, M.D., and Mehmet C. Oz, M.D. (copyright 2005)
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