Food Elimination & Reintroduction Challenge for Detecting Food Sensitivities

A food sensitivity is a immune response to a particular food. It is different than a food allergy in that it is a different antibody that responds to the food. In a food allergy the antibodies are extremely aggressive making the reactions often quicker and more severe. The antibodies in a food sensitivity are less so and the reaction can take a few days to present which makes food sensitivities difficult to detect. Symptoms include gastrointestinal distress, acne, hives, itching, eczema, rashes , runny nose, dizziness, joint pain, brain fog, blurry vision, increased heart rate, tight chest, headache, drowsiness, irritability.

Sensitivities to various foods can be difficult to detect because the great range of symptoms and possible delayed onset of reaction. There is a blood test that can be done to detect food sensitivities, but unless you go to a naturopathic doctor, you will likely be met with an eye-roll if you ask your doctor or allergist for the test. The test is helpful because it gives you a better idea what you should eliminate to see if symptoms clear. In the absence of the test, the foods that most commonly cause reaction are eliminated. The top 8 foods that cause reaction: cow’s milk, eggs, gluten, soy, almonds, bananas, pineapple & cranberries.