Article: Food Allergies - A Missing Piece? Strategies to Combat Food Allergies
- Thread starter Phoenix Rising Team
- Start date
Anybody have any suggested Rotational meal plans avoiding these food allergies?
Good timing. I'm working on this right now. Food allergies can add a load to your adrenals and cause them not to heal. Therefore you should check for food allergies (or at least eliminate the biggies as mentioned above) if you have adrenal fatigue, which many of us do.
I did a blood test through my naturopath called Allatess. All of the biggies showed up except for corn. I did find corn to be a problem with an elimination diet - it was disturbing my sleep. The test also showed I have problems with eggs, several beans, several vegetables and a fruit or two.
My naturopath offers some kind of drops that are supposed to eliminate the food allergies. I haven't checked on price yet, but it sounds like it would be cheaper than energy based allergy elimination techniques like NAET or Bioallergenix (or whatever the new name for that is).
A few years ago I also did IGG Powder for several months to stop new allergies from developing. I have no idea if this actually worked or not, since I don't have before and after testing.
The Allatess results give you a personalized food plan for a 4 day rotation diet, but with my budget and energy level, it looks like a pretty much impossible task, so I won't be doing that. I'm glad to hear that a 2 or 3 day rotation might be ok as well - that sounds much more attainable.
I've decided at the same time to go on the Paleo diet, which eliminates grains, beans, and dairy. So basically, I'm doing that and then avoiding eggs and the vegetables I'm allergic to. It makes it a lot easier to think of when you're out there buying food.
I did a blood test through my naturopath called Allatess. All of the biggies showed up except for corn. I did find corn to be a problem with an elimination diet - it was disturbing my sleep. The test also showed I have problems with eggs, several beans, several vegetables and a fruit or two.
My naturopath offers some kind of drops that are supposed to eliminate the food allergies. I haven't checked on price yet, but it sounds like it would be cheaper than energy based allergy elimination techniques like NAET or Bioallergenix (or whatever the new name for that is).
A few years ago I also did IGG Powder for several months to stop new allergies from developing. I have no idea if this actually worked or not, since I don't have before and after testing.
The Allatess results give you a personalized food plan for a 4 day rotation diet, but with my budget and energy level, it looks like a pretty much impossible task, so I won't be doing that. I'm glad to hear that a 2 or 3 day rotation might be ok as well - that sounds much more attainable.
I've decided at the same time to go on the Paleo diet, which eliminates grains, beans, and dairy. So basically, I'm doing that and then avoiding eggs and the vegetables I'm allergic to. It makes it a lot easier to think of when you're out there buying food.
That's how I think of this....not the complete answer but part of it...I definitely have less energy, feel more irritable and spacey and have more pain when I eat the wrong foods. ( I was really having trouble with my knees at one point - and they are fine now..Ditto with the night sweats - hardly any night sweats any more. Just think how much energy it takes your body to pump out all that liquid!
Finding a good rotational diet on the internet is something of a challenge...I did post one.
Very timely for me as well.
I have had ME/CFS for years but only got diagnosed with it last summer by Dr. Bested, an ME/CFS specialist in Toronto. I didn't think I had any food allergies but have recently found out I have all sorts of allergies and food intolerances. I'm sure I didn't have these years ago so I guess it is all part of the disease.
The problem I am having now, however, is that I have had food allergy/ intolerance testing done by three different practitioners and each one doesn't believe the testing methodology of the other two. Some of the testing for food allergies (or possibly even all the testing methods?) aren't scientifically proven and/or approved by medical doctors.
The first test I had done, by a Naturopathic doctor, was a blood test, by finger prick, for IgG allergies to food. The only thing that came up positive was for whey.
The second test I had done , a few months later, was by an allergist (MD). He did the scratch testing on my skin. Even though I have never had hay-fever symptoms or any other allergic reactions, I tested positive for many things including, trees, grass, ragweed, mold, corn, oats, barley, tomatoes and nuts! I didn't test positive for whey and he didn't agree with the IgG test done by the naturopath.
The third test, done by another naturopath ( a previous Pharmacist), was a faecal test for anti gliadin IgA. It was positive, showing I had an intolerance to glutin. This doctor also didn't agree with the IgG testing done by the first naturopath and he also wasn't too convinced about the skin scratch tests done by the allergy specialist.
Needless to say, I have no idea what to eat now. When you see three different "experts" and they all believe something different it is very confusing and discouraging. I've been having a lot of GI problems lately and feel that almost ANYTHING I eat causes some symptom or another. I guess I'll have to go the traditional route and do a strict food elimination diet.
I have had ME/CFS for years but only got diagnosed with it last summer by Dr. Bested, an ME/CFS specialist in Toronto. I didn't think I had any food allergies but have recently found out I have all sorts of allergies and food intolerances. I'm sure I didn't have these years ago so I guess it is all part of the disease.
The problem I am having now, however, is that I have had food allergy/ intolerance testing done by three different practitioners and each one doesn't believe the testing methodology of the other two. Some of the testing for food allergies (or possibly even all the testing methods?) aren't scientifically proven and/or approved by medical doctors.
The first test I had done, by a Naturopathic doctor, was a blood test, by finger prick, for IgG allergies to food. The only thing that came up positive was for whey.
The second test I had done , a few months later, was by an allergist (MD). He did the scratch testing on my skin. Even though I have never had hay-fever symptoms or any other allergic reactions, I tested positive for many things including, trees, grass, ragweed, mold, corn, oats, barley, tomatoes and nuts! I didn't test positive for whey and he didn't agree with the IgG test done by the naturopath.
The third test, done by another naturopath ( a previous Pharmacist), was a faecal test for anti gliadin IgA. It was positive, showing I had an intolerance to glutin. This doctor also didn't agree with the IgG testing done by the first naturopath and he also wasn't too convinced about the skin scratch tests done by the allergy specialist.
Needless to say, I have no idea what to eat now. When you see three different "experts" and they all believe something different it is very confusing and discouraging. I've been having a lot of GI problems lately and feel that almost ANYTHING I eat causes some symptom or another. I guess I'll have to go the traditional route and do a strict food elimination diet.
Great topic, Cort.
The big "systems biology" question is: how do chronic infection and immune activiation disrupt digestive/metabolic processes (i.e., creating leaky gut and/or depleting key enzymes?) resulting in toxins that cause pain, neurological, hormonal, gastorintestional and additional immune system problems?
Dr. Cheney's early illness models tried to tie it all together and there's a bit of HIV-related research. We need an ME/CFS clinical guideline and treatment. For example, if chronic infections and immune dysregulation are successfully treated will the food, chemical and environmental intolerances resolve themselves over time without intervention?
I think elimination diet is the only way to go. Dr. Dantinii believes that the other food allergy tests don't work and his does, as well
- so there doesn't appear to be any consensus. Maybe your post will save some others from spending money they could have saved.
No kidding. A guideline many would agree on would really be something. I think food allergies have been left in the lurch somewhat. My guess is that a percentage of people with CFS, autism, RA - are effected by food allergies. The problem is identifying who they are....
As Dantini said - very little research is being done on food allergies in the US unfortunately.
Many "omit" food allergies from the ME/CFS symptoms list considering it a separate illness which I don't. Agree with you it mostlikely occurs in autism, RA and other conditions and feel it should be studied as an integral part of each illness. This should happen in Translational and Personalized Medicine, hopefully!
By any chance did you hear Ian Lipkin address autism food allergies 3/29 in New York having discovered them and their cause in autistic patients he was testing for infectious agents? Be interesting to post his comments here if you can find them.
I had no idea he did that....I'm kind of shocked actually...It would be great to get those comments...
I consider it essential that anyone with ME gets tested for lactose and fructose malabsorption using the hydrogen breath test. I've tried various elimination diets over the past few years with no useful results - but I tested highly positive for fructose malabsorption, something I would never have figured out on my own. The person testing me said that around 70% of people with ME test positive for this.
I also suggest that people get tested for celiac disease, which is more common than people think, and many people have it but are asymptomatic.
People may also like to read the following thread which suggests we need to get far more serious about diet and testing if we're going to make any progress at all in getting well:
http://phoenixrising.me/forums/showthread.php?1346-what-you-need-to-do-and-why
I also suggest that people get tested for celiac disease, which is more common than people think, and many people have it but are asymptomatic.
People may also like to read the following thread which suggests we need to get far more serious about diet and testing if we're going to make any progress at all in getting well:
http://phoenixrising.me/forums/showthread.php?1346-what-you-need-to-do-and-why
The New York Academy of Sciences indicated it will post the video...
He commented Andrew Wakefield steered autism research in the direction of pathogens then described how sometimes you can be searching for one thing, in this case a causal pathogen for autism, and "unexpectedly" discover something else. Looking at pathogens in the stomach they uncovered a cause of food allergies in autisitc patients even though they didn't find the causal agent they were originally looking for.
Hopefully we can get the transcript...and perhaps tell him about ME/CFS food allergies?
This is interesting ... Does he think he found anything different than what the DAN (Defeat Autism NOW ) community or Autism Research group has been saying for decades now ? Books like "Healing the 4A's" is a good reference is you're not up on what DAN has been doing. DAN practitioners have several books out though ... You can even google DAN autism doctor in your area and find one. An integrative doctor should know how to treat leaky gut too though.
The cornerstone of DAN is to treat the patient for leaky gut regardless of how the patient got it. First they put these kids on a GFCF diet because these proteins tend to act like opiods in autistic kids. My integrative doctor did the same for me and I have CFS. They also run tests to determine food intolerances, dysbiosis, heavy metals and nutritional deficiencies ...
I get the feeling this isn't new info, just the same old stuff being revisited ... tc ... x
I have a friend who teaches autistic children and am familiar with the dietary guidelines you mention.
Ian Lipkin said they "unexpectedly" found a pathogen in the stomachs of autistic patients that disrupts the normal digestive process producing toxins and symptoms. He may have even named the pathogen. Need to listen to the video again for details and hopefully Cort will be able to incorporate Lipkin's comments in this article.
I am NOT eating soy milk or tofu, shrimp, milk, cheese, any products that use dairy, for instance milk chocolate, no nuts, wheat, alcohol, no processed foods unless i've checked online for instance I google "hunt's tomato ketchup gluten free diet" this includes having to look for what type of oil your tuna or sardines are packed in particularly to weather the vegetable oil was derived from gluten containing grain like wheat, or a casein containg oil like one derived from soy. For this google "gluten free diet starkist tuna" Do this enough times and you will find sites with list's of foods you should be suspicious of, foods that are safe and recopies for homemade bread, cake, casseroles, and the likes.
Rotate the foods makes a lot of sense to me. I even mix small amounts of a variety of foods into one meal reasoning being if I am reacting to one it won't be as severe.
I AM eating buckwheat products, buckwheat pancakes, eggs, rice, beans, quinola, teff, amaranth, millet, buckwheat hot cereal, buckwheat crackers, granola. (look all these up on amazon they are probably 20% cheaper than buying local if you buy bulk)
Other non specialty foods include rice, sweet potatoes, regular potatoes, vegetables, fruits, any type of meat, bacon, ham, beef, chicken I assume I can eat fish but don't very often so don't know yet.
I am new to this, I am on my third month, the first three days where like I was cured than the symptoms started creeping back in again. I have been like a heroin addict trying to get that first elusive high ever since.
I've been sick for 14 years and up until three months ago attributed it all to mold exposure. Not that it doesn't make me sick it does but a lot of the hallmark symptoms I have been having brain fog, fatigue stomach bloat, etc. were being caused by food allergies I misstook for mold allergies. So I suspect it's possible that there are plenty of people out there following this diet and not getting good results because of the opposite they are in a less than optimal environment.
I am NOT eating soy milk or tofu, shrimp, milk, cheese, any products that use dairy, for instance milk chocolate, no nuts, wheat, alcohol, no processed foods unless i've checked online for instance I google "hunt's tomato ketchup gluten free diet" this includes having to look for what type of oil your tuna or sardines are packed in particularly to weather the vegetable oil was derived from gluten containing grain like wheat, or a casein containg oil like one derived from soy. For this google "gluten free diet starkist tuna" Do this enough times and you will find sites with list's of foods you should be suspicious of, foods that are safe and recopies for homemade bread, cake, casseroles, and the likes.
Rotate the foods makes a lot of sense to me. I even mix small amounts of a variety of foods into one meal reasoning being if I am reacting to one it won't be as severe.
I AM eating buckwheat products, buckwheat pancakes, eggs, rice, beans, quinola, teff, amaranth, millet, buckwheat hot cereal, buckwheat crackers, granola. (look all these up on amazon they are probably 20% cheaper than buying local if you buy bulk)
Other non specialty foods include rice, sweet potatoes, regular potatoes, vegetables, fruits, any type of meat, bacon, ham, beef, chicken I assume I can eat fish but don't very often so don't know yet.
I am new to this, I am on my third month, the first three days where like I was cured than the symptoms started creeping back in again. I have been like a heroin addict trying to get that first elusive high ever since.
I've been sick for 14 years and up until three months ago attributed it all to mold exposure. Not that it doesn't make me sick it does but a lot of the hallmark symptoms I have been having brain fog, fatigue stomach bloat, etc. were being caused by food allergies I misstook for mold allergies. So I suspect it's possible that there are plenty of people out there following this diet and not getting good results because of the opposite they are in a less than optimal environment.
I think the role of allergies generally in illness/disease - has been neglected.
I went to a presentation a couple of years ago, in which a patient had been diagnosed with Lupus. She was so severely affected that she was house/bed bound and unemployed. She found help at Breakspear Group in the UK, who identified her allegies and developed personalised antigens. The result was, that she returned to full health after a couple of years on the antigents. Her physican who was treating her for lupus was astounded because all her lupus tests returned negative results. She was cured from lupus as a result of addressing her allergies using the personalised antigens!
The antigens, as I understood it - turn off the bodies reactionary response and assists the immune system by addressing inflammation issues. This takes a load off an immune system already under stress.
I also know a person severely affected with MCS and food allergies - to such an extent that she could not live in a normal house/work in an office, wear normal clothes etc and could not travel very far. She could only eat 5 foods without a reaction and had even become allergic to water. Anaphylactic shock was a constant issue. Her skin was a weaping mess. She also sought this treatment at Breakspear in the UK and the turn around in her life and health has to be seen to be believed.
I note that this diagnostic/personalised antigen treatment is now available in Australia - for any Aussies who are interested.
I hope to be able to access this treatment when my health improves a little - to undergo the testing.
I understand that the testing is far more accurate than aything else that is currently available. They can apparently test you for 100 of the most common allergens and make up a personalised antigen for you that will address all of those. They also do personalised allergy testing for substances outside that range.
They can also make up antigens for anything that triggers a reaction. So if your having side effects from a medication, they can make up an antigen that will apparently, address those. I think that sounds great for people on medications for long periods or life. Removing side effects, would definitely improve the quality of life for such people.
See here: http://allergyintolerancetreatment.com/
I went to a presentation a couple of years ago, in which a patient had been diagnosed with Lupus. She was so severely affected that she was house/bed bound and unemployed. She found help at Breakspear Group in the UK, who identified her allegies and developed personalised antigens. The result was, that she returned to full health after a couple of years on the antigents. Her physican who was treating her for lupus was astounded because all her lupus tests returned negative results. She was cured from lupus as a result of addressing her allergies using the personalised antigens!
The antigens, as I understood it - turn off the bodies reactionary response and assists the immune system by addressing inflammation issues. This takes a load off an immune system already under stress.
I also know a person severely affected with MCS and food allergies - to such an extent that she could not live in a normal house/work in an office, wear normal clothes etc and could not travel very far. She could only eat 5 foods without a reaction and had even become allergic to water. Anaphylactic shock was a constant issue. Her skin was a weaping mess. She also sought this treatment at Breakspear in the UK and the turn around in her life and health has to be seen to be believed.
I note that this diagnostic/personalised antigen treatment is now available in Australia - for any Aussies who are interested.
I hope to be able to access this treatment when my health improves a little - to undergo the testing.
I understand that the testing is far more accurate than aything else that is currently available. They can apparently test you for 100 of the most common allergens and make up a personalised antigen for you that will address all of those. They also do personalised allergy testing for substances outside that range.
They can also make up antigens for anything that triggers a reaction. So if your having side effects from a medication, they can make up an antigen that will apparently, address those. I think that sounds great for people on medications for long periods or life. Removing side effects, would definitely improve the quality of life for such people.
See here: http://allergyintolerancetreatment.com/
Thanks for this insearchof.
I'm doing this treatment at the Breakspear in the UK. See here:
http://forums.phoenixrising.me/show...dose-immunotherapy-provocation-neutralisation
(One person on this thread reported getting worse on this.)
I've started with a small number of antigens and I'm now injecting a cocktail which includes nickel, soy, cow's milk, wheat, almonds, potatoes, a group of about 20 different moulds, bananas and a few commonly used preservatives.
Only started the injections last week so too early to say whether it's helping.
Jenny
I'm doing this treatment at the Breakspear in the UK. See here:
http://forums.phoenixrising.me/show...dose-immunotherapy-provocation-neutralisation
(One person on this thread reported getting worse on this.)
I've started with a small number of antigens and I'm now injecting a cocktail which includes nickel, soy, cow's milk, wheat, almonds, potatoes, a group of about 20 different moulds, bananas and a few commonly used preservatives.
Only started the injections last week so too early to say whether it's helping.
Jenny