Gluten Free Diet & Dealing With Hidden Food Allergies
When someone has a prominent, severe food allergy, they are normally diagnosed at a very young age. Often allergies like these, such as an allergy to peanuts or gluten, presents itself in the toddler years when a child is being introduced to new foods besides breast milk or formula. When detected it is best to try a specialty diet to see how it will react with your body. If the suggestion comes up for a gluten free diet, you will start seeing so many options available that you did not see before. You will being reading more of the labels and you will be more aware of what is available and what you can have to help with your gluten free diet.
As the previous section explained, these food allergies are very detectable. Normally the symptoms present themselves within minutes or hours of eating the offending allergen. People with severe food allergies are aware of their allergies and often carry lifesaving medication with them in case they come into contact with their allergen.
However, hidden food allergies are much harder to detect. Many times allergic reactions to foods that are eaten can have a delayed response in the body. This leads to a series of mysterious symptoms that, until the food allergies are discovered, seem to make no sense to the sufferer or the doctor. People fail to make the connection between their symptoms and the foods that they eat. As a result, these symptoms go on unrecognized and untreated for years.
Hidden food allergies can cause a myriad of problems including: Acne, Anxiety, Bags under the eyes, Canker sores, Chronic coughing, Compulsive Eating, Constipation, Depression, Diarrhea, Fatigue, Hair loss, Headaches, Irregular heart beat, Irritability, Poor memory, Poor physical coordination, Rashes, Short attention span, Shortness of breath, Sinus problems and Sore throat.
If you've had these problems for a long time, hidden food allergies may be to blame.
The symptoms that are caused by hidden allergies seem to appear out of nowhere. For example, someone can suffer chronic headaches for years and not realize that they are experiencing pain because they continue to eat dairy. Instead, they believe that they have a tendency toward migraines and take prescription medication for the rest of their lives.
These types of allergies are becoming more prevalent in our society. When humanity ate whole foods that came with natural enzymes and minerals, hidden allergies were not common at all. However, over the last 50 to 75 years the average diet relies on processed food made with chemical additives. Our body chemistry doesn't know what to do with these foreign chemicals. The result is allergies and sensitivities.
Another benefit with using a gluten free diet is a weight loss regiment. Whether your goal is to lose weight or at least maintain where you are at, using a weight management program with your gluten free diet can really help you and your body to feeling better sooner.
It is important to understand where you are and where you want to be, especially when it comes to losing weight and following the gluten free diet. To learn more about what you can start doing today, visit Diana Walker's Blog post on Five Reasons To Eat A Gluten Free Diet.
Gluten Free Diet & Determining What Are Common Food Allergies?
Sticking with your gluten free diet may be challenging but it will be well-worth it in the end. Along with managing your gluten diet, you will want to be aware of the common food allergies. This might be part of the reason that you are not feeling the best. Let's discuss the four most common allergenic foods which are corn, dairy, MSG and wheat.
Dairy
Most people over the age of 4 are partially unable to digest dairy products. It is estimated that up to 25% of children and adults have strong dairy allergies. Human milk, not cow milk, is biologically the only milk that humans can drink. Humans only need breast milk until they triple their birth weight, which is sometime around the age of one. Once a mother's milk dries up, her child's milk digesting enzymes will as well. These enzymes, called lactase, will decrease in a child's body and then disappear completely by the age of 4. In the absence of lactase, milk of any kind is very difficult for humans to digest. The reactions to dairy can include sinus problems, stomach and intestinal cramps, diarrhea, nausea and acne. There are many suitable substitutions for dairy products that do not have allergic effects.
Corn
Fresh corn does not normally cause an allergic reaction. However, when corn is refined into products like corn syrup it can cause problems. Allergic reactions to corn can include migraine headaches, shortness of breath, tongue and face swelling, rashes and hives, lethargy, stomach discomfort and joint pain. Corn syrup sweeteners are used in just about all processed foods. Corn is present in the common sweeteners fructose and dextrose. There are several sweeteners that can be used in replacement of corn syrup, such as barley malt and rice syrup. Avoiding processed foods that contain corn derivatives will improve your health and life.
MSG
MSG is a food additive that tricks your tongue into thinking that the food you are eating is high in protein. It is most commonly associated with Chinese food, but it is actually present in many American processed foods. It is used as a flavor-enhancer in fried chicken, potato chips, canned soup and canned tuna. Allergic reactions can include burning sensations or numbness in the neck, forearms and chest, facial pressure, chest pain, headache, nausea and rapid heartbeat. Avoiding MSG in foods means reading labels very carefully. When you eat out, ask if your meal can be made without MSG.
Some of the other most common allergenic foods are: Alcohol, Artificial Additives (including artificial sweeteners), Beef, Caffeine (Coffee), Chocolate, Citrus, Dried Fruits, Eggs, Fish, Preservatives, Shellfish, Sodas, Soy, Refined Sugar and Yeast.
Many, if not all, of these foods are part of most people's daily diet. Is it any wonder that we all feel more tired, run down and sick than our predecessors? Now you can see what may be some food allergies for you and your body and start to feel better with the right diet, and just maybe the gluten free diet is the answer for you.
It is important to understand where you are and where you want to be, especially when it comes to losing weight and following the gluten free diet. To learn more about what you can start doing today, visit Diana Walker's Blog post on Five Reasons To Eat A Gluten Free Diet.
Categories
- Allergy
- Anemia
- Cancer
- Dental
- Diet
- Guest Post
- Medicine
- Sexual & Reproductive Health
- Smoking & Smoking Cessation
- Surgery
- Uncategorized
- Uterine Fibroids & Heavy Periods
Archives
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009