Digestive Wellness: Strengthen the Immune System and Prevent Disease Through Healthy Digestion, Fourth Edition (63 page)

It is estimated that 10 to 20 percent of us have food sensitivities. Food sensitivity reactions, also called delayed hypersensitivity reactions and in the past called “serum sickness,” occur when IgA, IgG, and IgM antibodies are triggered in response to foods, chemicals, and bacterial toxins. The most common antibody reactions are IgG to mold and foods; exposure to molds and foods is quite high compared to pollens. These IgA, IgM, and IgG responses are called “delayed” sensitivity reactions because the symptoms they cause can take from several hours to several days to appear, which makes it very difficult to track down the offending food or substance.

When antibodies bind to antigens, as in delayed food sensitivity reactions, they form “immune complexes,” which are clumps of molecules that the immune system disposes of. Large ones are eaten up by macrophages, the Pacman of the immune system. Smaller immune complexes, however, can bind to tissues, causing problems. Use of protein-digesting enzymes (also called protease enzymes or proteolytic enzymes) can help to clear the bloodstream of circulating immune complexes.

It is estimated that 95 percent of all food allergy is of this delayed type. IgM antibodies circulate temporarily, about three months, until IgG antibodies are mobilized to take over the fight. IgG antibodies are longer lasting, and we keep producing them as long as we eat the offending foods or are exposed to chemicals, bacterial toxins, or other foreign substances (antigens) that are challenging the immune system.

Although almost any food can cause a food sensitivity reaction, beef, citrus, dairy products, egg, corn, pork, and wheat provoke 80 percent of them.

Food sensitivities can underlie a huge variety of symptoms (see box). It’s important to discover which foods you are reacting to and also to see what the underlying cause may be, such as parasites, candidiasis, bacterial or viral infection, pancreatic insufficiency, enzyme deficiency, medications, or poor lifestyle habits.

SENSITIVITY SYMPTOMS

Professional evaluation is necessary to determine whether the following symptoms, which can be caused by many health conditions, are due to food and/or environmental sensitivities:

Head:
Chronic headaches, migraines, difficulty sleeping, dizziness

Mouth and throat:
Coughing, sore throat, hoarseness, swelling or pain, gagging, frequently clearing throat, sores on gums, lips, and tongue

Eyes, ears, nose:
Runny or stuffy nose, post-nasal drip, ringing in the ears, blurred vision, sinus problems, watery and itchy eyes, ear infections, hearing loss, sneezing attacks, hay fever, excessive mucus, dark circles under eyes, swollen, red, or sticky eyelids

Heart and lungs:
Irregular heartbeat (palpitations, arrhythmia), asthma, rapid heartbeat, chest pain and congestion, bronchitis, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing

Gastrointestinal tract:
Nausea and vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, indigestion, bloating, passing gas, stomach pain, cramping, heartburn, GERD, ulcers

Skin:
Hives, skin rashes, psoriasis, eczema, dry skin, excessive sweating, acne, hair loss, irritation around eyes

Muscles and joints:
General weakness, muscle and joint aches and pains, arthritis, swelling, stiffness

Energy and activity:
Fatigue, mental dullness and memory lapses, difficulty getting your work done, apathy, hyper-activity, restlessness

Emotions and mind:
Mood swings, anxiety and tension, fear, nervousness, anger, irritability, aggressive behavior, binge eating or drinking, food cravings, depression, confusion, poor comprehension, poor concentration, difficulty learning

Other:
Overweight, underweight, fluid retention, insomnia, genital itch, frequent urination, bed-wetting