Food allergies occur when the body has an adverse or abnormal response to a food. An allergic reaction can be immediate and life threatening, such as with peanuts. Or it can be delayed, taking three to five days to show up, causing hay fever-like symptoms, digestive distress, eczema or other skin irritation, or changes in behavior and mental focus. This delayed reaction is called “food sensitivity” and is usually not life threatening.
- A true food allergy can be permanent – whenever you eat or are exposed to that food it will provoke an immune reaction that will exist over your lifetime.
- A food sensitivity happens gradually. Triggers include: stress, infection, poor eating habits (e.g., over-consumption of foods with additives, preservatives), or foods exposed to toxins such as pesticides and pollutants. Food sensitivity can lead to chronic health problems, including ADHD, digestive disorders, and persistent infection.
Testing for Food Allergies
There are several Ig types that have different yet synergistic roles in the immune system.
IgE antibodies cause the body to react, at times violently and immediately, to things such as pollen, fungus, insect stings, medications, milk and other foods. IgE levels are often highest in people with allergies, including food allergy. An IgE test covers the major food allergens that produce immediate reactions in the body, such as nut, egg, cow’s milk, shellfish, and soy.
IgG antibodies fight bacterial and viral infection. Found in all body fluids, this antibody is typically associated with food sensitivity.
IgA antibodies protect body surfaces exposed to outside foreign substances. It’s abundant in mucus found throughout the body, including the gut; a deficiency in IgA could be tied to adverse responses to food.
The IgE test can be combined with IgA and IgG tests for a more comprehensive test of nearly 200 allergens including meat, dairy, starches and grains, mold and other environmental substances.
There are many ways your health practitioner can approach testing and help you make dietary modifications based on test results, current health concerns, and lifestyle factors. It’s not just about eliminating a food. It’s about looking at the whole picture of your health and the role food plays as both nourishment and medicine for you and your family members.
If you have unexplained symptoms and suspect you may have a food allergy or sensitivity then finding out for sure could be life-changing. If you want to learn more call us at (360) 570-0401 to set up a free 15 minute consultation with one of our physicians.
References
- Hosdson, W., “Food Allergies.”as cited in Pizzorno, J. E. & Murray, M.T. Textbook of Natural Medicine: 4th Ed. (2013) Chapter 15, p. 131-139.
- ThernoFisher Scientific. “Introduction to Immunoglobulins.” Accessed 13 April 2017: https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/life-science/antibodies/antibodies-learning-center/antibodies-resource-library/antibody-methods/introduction-immunoglobulins.html
- FoodsMatter.com “Food Allergy and IgA Deficiency.” Accessed 13 April 2017: http://www.foodsmatter.com/allergy_intolerance/miscellaneous/articles/iga_deficiency_food_allergy.html
- Alletess Medical Labs Patient Information on Food Allergy Testing. (2016)
- Vojdani, Aristo. “Detection of IgE, IgG, IgA and IgM Antibodies against Raw and Processed Food Antigens.” Nutrition & Metabolism 6 (2009): 22. PMC. Web. 13 Apr. 2017. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2685801/