-IBIS-1.7.6-
tx
immune system
Food sensitivities
Integrative Therapies

Home Care

Food allergies involve a negative reaction to eating certain foods. The foods may not get completely digested and may cause complications. Symptoms include puffiness of the face, dark circles under the eyes, chronic diarrhea, and chronic infections. There may be swollen glands, skin rashes, upper respiratory infections, and digestion problems. Food allergies can be triggered by stress, excessive drug use, immunization, environmental toxins, or excessive consumption of allergic food.

The best strategy for dealing with food allergies is to avoid allergic foods. In the majority of cases, once a food allergy has been identified and the food eliminated from the diet for at least 4 months, the food can be eaten again and tolerated, provided it is not eaten too frequently. However, in some instances it is difficult and perhaps impossible to tolerate that particular food without negative reactions.

Holistic healthcare practitioners have a variety of tests for food allergies. Consult your physician if the allergic reaction continues despite your efforts to eliminate it.


THE PROPER DIET FOR FOOD ALLERGIES WILL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:

1. Using the Elimination diet will help to reveal the foods to which you may be allergic or intolerant . On this diet the most commoly eaten foods are totally withdrawn, leaving only those foods that rarely cause allergies. The standard elimination diet consists of the following foods: turkey, lamb, rice, bananas, apples, and cole vegetables (such as cabbage, brussel sprouts, collard greens, and broccoli).

This limited diet is mantained for 1 to 4 weeks. If there are allergic symptoms present, they will usually stop towards the end of the first or second week on the diet. If the symptoms do not go away, it is possible that the allergic food or foods have not been eliminated and an even more restricted diet needs to be followed. After all the symptoms have gone away, it is important to reintroduce new foods one at a time, eating the same food for at least 2 meals a day for 2 days. If symptoms do not return, that particular food is regarded as "safe," and after waiting an additional day, a new food can be reintroduced.

Reintroduction of the allergic food will usually produce a heightened return of symptoms. Eliminate the allergic foods from the diet for at least 4 months. After that, the food may be reintroduced and eaten on a limited basis if no symptoms return.

2. A 5-day water fast can cleanse the body systems and help in the identification of allergic foods. Fasting should be done only under the supervision of a knowledgeable healthcare practitioner.


THE FOLLOWING SUPPLEMENTS, ADDED TO THE DIET, CAN HELP REDUCE THE FREQUENCY AND INTENSITY OF REACTIONS TO FOODS:

1. Vitamin C – 1,000 milligrams, 3 times per day. This dosage is reduced if diarrhea occurs.

2. Selenium – 100 micrograms, 2 times per day.

3. Quercetin – 250 milligrams, 20 minutes before eating.

4. Bromelain – 250 milligrams, 20 minutes before eating.

5. Pancreatin or other digestive enzymes – 1 to 2 tablets with meals.

6. Zinc – 15 milligrams per day.

7. Vitamin A – 15,000 Units, 2 times per day. Caution: Pregnant women (or women who may become pregnant) should limit Vitamin A intake to 10,000 Units per day.

8. Flaxseed oil – 1 tablespoon, 2 times per day.

9. Thymus extract – Take according to product label instructions.

10. Vitamin B-complex – 50 milligrams per day.


Clinic


Footnotes

BarShalom R, Soileau J. (eds.) Natural Health Hotline. Beaverton, OR: Integrative Medical Arts, 1991-1999.