FOOD ALLERGY AND INTOLERANCE
It is important to differentiate between food allergy and food intolerance.
An allergy is a blood response to a foreign body. Should a ‘non-self ‘substance enter the bloodstream the body’s white blood cells will produce defence chemicals known as immunoglobulins (Ig). Ig, more commonly known as antibodies, attach to foreign matter and make that particle more recognizable by other white cells that ingest such invaders.
An intolerance is less well defined by the orthodox world but holistically would be considered to be a substance to which the body responds badly. The symptoms may be as broad as nausea and vomiting, skin rash, diarrhoea, frequent urination or other eliminative process and may be the cause of headaches, tiredness and poor concentration and mood swings such as irritability, anger and depression.
It is probable that intolerance is a physical response caused by cells releasing protective chemicals like histamine but it may also have an energetic component. All cells in the body resonate at a particular frequency and any foreign molecule whose electrons resonate in such a way as to inhibit or block the body’s natural resonance is possibly contributing to intolerance.
An intolerance might simply be defined as a lack of capacity to endure or oversensitivity to a compound. This is generally created by a direct chemical reaction between a foodstuff and chemicals or cells in the body; this is mediated by a chemical release from the tissues that are intolerant. This is quite a separate concept from an allergy, which is an acquired condition initiated by exposure to a compound (known as an allergen) that creates a blood cell response to produce immunoglobulins (antibodies).
It is quite possible to be intolerant without being allergic, and have allergies without intolerance. An example is somebody who drinks coffee and eats wheat and creates an acidic indigestion or an irritated skin. There may be no changes in the bloodstream or white blood cells of the tissue and the person is therefore intolerant but not allergic. Alternatively, the immune system may produce antibodies against a compound with no symptoms being exhibited whatsoever.
The differentiation between intolerance and allergy is only relevant if allergy testing is undertaken because many people are surprised when allergy tests come back as negative despite frank reactions occurring.
In my opinion, food allergy and intolerance is far more prevalent than even holistic practitioners consider. Symptoms of food allergy/intolerance may be mild, serious, even fatal (anaphylaxis) and are theorized as being able to trigger serious disorders such as diabetes and even cancer.
The orthodox world divides allergy into many types and is extremely complicated. One division put simply talks about divisions based on chemical reaction not time – Type I being immediate and Type IV being delayed-allergy response which can cause symptoms 72 hours after exposure. All can be mild or severe. This makes isolating allergens difficult of course
Many foods are becoming less tolerated such as dairy and wheat but nut allergy is becoming an ever increasing problem because of severity and theories abound as to why. There is much more peanut used as filler in many more foods and these may be passing across the placenta or we are becoming more sensitive to specific proteins as our bodies deal with more and more pollution. Avoidance is recommended here in the UK through pregnancy and perhaps until the age of 2 but the suggestion is somewhat confounded by studies in Israel where the sensitivity to peanuts is negligible and yet both pregnant women and babies routinely eat peanuts as a common and staple part of the diet.
The development of allergies/intolerance
The bloodstream should have only compounds that are made and derived by the body or those that are absorbed through the lungs and bowel (and to some extent the skin). These organs should filter out unwanted particles and, in the case of the digestive system, break down foods into the smallest of components, such as amino acids and peptides (small chains of amino acids), basic nutrients, small chains of carbohydrates and fatty acids. When these reach the bloodstream they are not considered to be viruses or bacteria and the immune system leaves them alone. If the function of these organs is compromised and absorption is inhibited or fails, the larger molecules get into the blood stream if the body cannot differentiate between them and invading organisms the white blood cells set up an allergic response.
Any action or reaction that inhibits the protective or digestive mechanism can lead to a prolonged, possibly lifelong allergy or intolerance. Most commonly, bowel infections or the use of antibiotics that inhibit the body’s natural flora and damage the delicate bowel membranes can lead to larger molecules being absorbed through the intestinal wall in a process that is now termed the ‘Leaky Gut Syndrome’. The bowel wall integrity is broken and loses its selectivity, allowing larger molecules to be absorbed. Pollutants and inhalants such as cigarette smoke cause inflammation in the lungs and allow larger molecules to enter the bloodstream and commonly inhaled components such as pollen and pet hair will follow and potentially set up an allergic response. The skin is subjected to more cosmetics and chemicals than it used to be, creating more inflammatory responses such as eczema, which in turn allows compounds into the bloodstream to trigger allergic or intolerance responses.
It is, therefore, important to understand that allergies and intolerances are not only about the causative agent but are predominantly a reflection of our lifestyle, habits and environmental pollutants.
Thos e with allergies may benefit from establishing an idea of those foods, air and water pollutants that may be creating problems. To do this requires some form of investigation or testing.
Testing for allergy/intolerance.
Food Diary
The most reliable method of testing is food exclusion and avoidance of air-bourn pollutants but this can be difficult and takes a long time (2 weeks to 3 months depending on the expert) My experience suggests some health benefits should be apparent in under 2 weeks but full benefit may take longer).
Leaky Gut Test
A Leaky Gut Test is a simple urine test and should be performed before any more expensive blood tests or skin tests are done. If you have a leaky gut then molecules of anything you eat may enter your blood stream and the more you eat of it the more likely it is you will react. So if you do tests and find you are allergic to, say, wheat you might substitute rye for your wheat. If you eat a lot of rye it won’t take long before you might become allergic to the that as well as the wheat you have been avoiding. It is this principle that leads to multiple, variable and ongoing food allergy
The Leaky Gut Test investigation involves drinking a small amount of molecules of variable size that are inert – cannot be used nor broken down by the body. These inert molecules should not pass into the blood stream. If they do enter they get cleared into the urine and can be measured. If found then a leaky gut is evident.
Allergy Tests
Of the many blood tests around that The Diagnostic Clinic has reviewed the Food Allergy Cellular Test (FACT) is the possibly most accurate and is competitive in price. The pin prick home kits testing for IgE’s are not very useful in my opinion as they tend to only show aggressive reaction that an individual probably is aware of from symptoms…
Skin prick testing, and there are different types depending n the depth of the needle scratch, is useful but is time consuming and not feasible in children.
Applied kinesiology (muscle testing) and all bio resonance computers and techniques are testing for intolerance and the term allergy should not be used as no blood is tested
Hair samples, often tested in the alternative world by the unproven techniques of the pendulum or radionics, only show levels of compounds that have been eliminated and therefore suggest an intolerance within the system.
Food Allergy and Intolerance Treatment
Treatment for allergy rather depends upon what has been illustrated through questioning, food chart results or specific test results.
Treatment of the leaky gut demands a fairly specific diet, consideration of improvement of the bowel flora and removal of bad bacteria, yeasts or parasites. Certain natural compounds can be used to reduce inflammation and to help heal a damaged bowel wall.
Certain plant extracts known as glyconutrients can influence the white blood cells and reduce allergic response and certain minerals and vitamins are known to have a beneficial effect in reducing symptom responses. B Complex, Vitamin C, vitamins A and E as well as zinc and magnesium may all benefit those with allergy.
If skin prick testing has illustrated specific allergens then desensitisation can be performed through NHS and private allergy specialists.
The Diagnostic Clinic has a resident expert in a technique known as Enzyme Potentiated Desensitisation (EPD). EPD was first presented as an anti-allergy injectable treatment in the 1960s and has gone through many studies although not all have shown it was to be useful for all people. This one-off (occasionally needing to be repeated) injection combines allergens with a compound, beta glucuronidase that tells the body’s white blood cells not to attack the allergen to which it is attached.
An as yet unexplained phenomenon occurs known as neutralization. For some reason when one dilutes down a known allergen there comes a point where the body does not react. This sounds logical until you understand that if you continue to dilute down the causative allergy agent the body starts to react again. This point at which the body stops reacting is known as the neutral or neutralization point and by injecting yourself with a solution of that particular dilution you can tolerate the food which was causing problems. The technique of neutralization is practised by a few specialised doctors with an interest in allergy.
Copyright Dr R Sharma 2010
All tests mentioned are available from The Diagnostic Clinic by booking or having the kit sent for home collection or GP practice to take the sample.
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