FOOD ALLERGIES
Health care specialists estimate that over 90% of the
people suffer with food reactions, which are commonly called food
allergies. The reactions are often so weak
the person is not even aware of the condition, yet suffers from symptoms
such as excess hunger and sinus drainage.
FOOD REACTION. The connection between food and illness is well known to those in health
care. Experts estimate that over 90% of the people suffer with
food reactions. These reactions range from mild discomfort to
episodes requiring emergency medical treatment. Food reactions
that occur immediately are normally not treatable. However, the
delayed reactions, which is properly call FOOD SENSITIVITY, is often
corrected through medical treatment that includes a rotation diet plan.
IMMEDIATE REACTION.
Immediate reactions are usually very harsh. The early symptoms may
include acute nausea, abdominal pain, skin eruptions, rapid swelling, or
breathing difficulties. On rare occasions, emergency medical help is
needed to preserve life. People with this affliction usually know the
cause and avoid the food altogether.
DELAYED REACTION OR FOOD SENSITIVITY. In most cases food sensitivities are acquired through overexposure.
Foods causing a reaction are often favorite ones that have been eaten
daily over a long period of time. The severity of the reaction
varies greatly from person to person. One person may eat foods
daily for years and develop only weak responses, while another eating
the same way may develop acute reactions.
FOOD WITHDRAWAL.
Health
practitioners have noted that strong food sensitivities and addictions
usually develop together. Foods causing a strong sensitivity reaction
are usually those eaten daily over a long period of time. The addictive
aspect of food sensitivities becomes very clear when eliminating a food
causing a strong reaction. Doing without the food will usually worsen
symptoms bringing out feelings of frustration, anger, and depression.
The withdrawal process develops in three stages: (1) during the first
four or five days, symptoms intensify as the offending foods are being
avoided, (2) the following ten days bring on slight or no change, and
(3) during the last 15 days significant improvement is noticed. The
entire withdrawal process takes about 30 days.
SYMPTOMS OF FOOD SENSITIVITIES.
Symptoms
of food sensitivities are usually very subtle, imprecise, and hard to
identify. There is a 1 to 30 hour lapse between eating the food and the
reactions. The reaction starts out very weak and slowly becomes
stronger, making the cause and effect connection very obscure. Food
sensitivities are sometimes called “hidden food allergies.”
The victims of food
sensitivities suffer from such a wide variety and degree of physical and
emotional maladies that they are often labeled “neurotic” or
“hypochondriac.” The extremes are people complaining of chronic
fatigue, depression, and metal dullness: and those displaying totally
different symptoms, such as hyperactive and aggressive behavior.
Allergists and immunologists have reported suspected correlation between
food sensitivities and the following symptoms:
-
CHEST AND ABDOMEN.
Abdominal pain, asthma,
belching, bloating, colitis, constipation, cramps, crohn’s disease,
diarrhea, flatulence, heart palpitations, nausea, rapid pulse,
vomiting
-
EMOTIONAL. Aggression, anxiety,
concentration difficulties, crying spells, depression, feelings of
unreality, hyperactivity, insomnia, irritability, lethargy,
nervousness, nightmares
-
HEAD. Canker sores, dark
circles under eyes, dizziness, earache, faintness, bleeding gums,
headaches, hearing loss, hoarseness, itchy eyes/ears/mouth, migraine
headache, nasal polyps, nose-picking, puffy eyes, rhinitis, ringing
ears, sinusitis, sneezing, sore throat, water eyes
-
LIMBS. Cold hands/feet, joint
pains, muscular soreness, muscular aches/pains, swelling, weakness
-
SKIN. Dermatitis, eczema,
hives, itching, rashes, red blotches, spots
-
GENERAL. Arthritis, bed wetting,
chronic fatigue, excessive hunger, excessive perspiration, frequent
urination, low-grade fever, overweight, swollen lymph nodes,
sleepiness after meals.
Please note that the
symptoms listed above can stem from many sources. Diagnosis of any
health problem should only be made by a qualified health care professional.
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