Food Allergies Series "3": Natural Treatments For Food Allergies

There’s a clear difference between food allergy and intolerance. A food allergy is the immune system's response to a disagreeable food. A food intolerance is the digestive system’s response to a disagreeable food.

Food allergies can be severe, and may even contribute to other health problems. If you have been diagnosed by your healthcare provider to have food allergies, it is strongly advisable to pursue the natural food allergy treatments detailed below.

1. Avoid Allergen Triggers

Although any food can provoke a reaction, relatively few foods are responsible for a vast majority of significant food-induced allergic reactions. If you truly want to take advantage of food allergies treatments, please know that most food allergies are caused by the following foods:

Cow’s milk

Allergic reactions to cow’s milk are common in infancy and childhood. Persistence of a cow’s milk food allergy in adulthood is rare; however, it is common for adults to experience non-immunologic reactions (which would be a food intolerance) to cow’s milk and dairy.

Wheat

More common in children, wheat allergy represents a type of adverse immunologic reaction to proteins contained in wheat and related grains (associated with anaphylaxis).

Soy

Soy allergy affects children most of whom outgrow their allergy by 7 years of age.

Peanuts

Peanut allergy affects children and adults. In highly sensitized people, just trace quantities of peanuts can induce an allergic reaction.

Tree nuts

Tree Nuts that are most commonly responsible for allergic reactions include hazelnuts, walnuts, cashews and almonds.

Those nuts that are less frequently associated with allergies include pecans, chestnuts, Brazil nuts, pine nuts, macadamia nuts, pistachio, coconut and acorns.

Shellfish

Shellfish allergies include the groups of crustaceans (such as crabs, lobsters, crayfish, shrimp, krill, woodlice and barnacles) and molluscs (such as squid, octopus and cuttlefish). Shellfish allergy is common in adults.

Fish

Fish allergies often develop later in life and because of cross-reactivity among various species of fish.

2. Avoid Inflammatory Foods

Below listed foods cause inflammation within the body, weaken the immune system and lead to digestive issues.

Packaged foods

Industrially ultra-processed and packaged foods most likely contain GMOs such as corn, soy, canola and vegetable oils. Additionally, such foods may also contain hidden ingredients (food coloring, preservatives, flavoring, etc) that may cause allergic reactions.

Sugar

Sugar causes inflammation, out of control growth of harmful bacteria in the gut and weaken the immune system. Excessive sugar consumption can exacerbate food allergy symptoms and restrict your body’s ability to tolerate foods normally.

Artificial flavorings and food colorings

These type of food additives can exacerbate food allergies and may cause asthma. Unfortunately, food labels are not required to include all such ingredients by their full chemical name, or a complete list of all chemicals that are present, which is why you see simply “color added” or “artificial color” on the label.

Gluten

Many folks self-report gastrointestinal and non-gastrointestinal hypersensitivity symptoms caused by gluten ingestion, even though they do not have celiac disease or wheat allergy. Symptoms associated with a gluten intolerance may lead you to believe that you are allergic to other foods when you really aren’t. Most patients improve when they are on a gluten-free diet.

3. Consume Non-Allergenic Foods

The below listed are the least likely to cause an allergic reaction and will help to boost your immune system, helping you to get rid of food allergies.

Green leafy vegetables

Leafy greens (including kale, collard greens, romaine, arugula and watercress; avoid spinach) are exceptionally rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and enzymes. They will help to boost your immune system, aid detoxification, increase antibody response, which can all help to relieve allergy symptoms.

Nutritious gourmet meals on COMFORT KETO menus regularly include green leafy vegetables as healthy addition to our meals.

Probiotic-rich foods

Probiotic foods such as kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, whole yogurt, raw cheese (not pasturized), miso and kombucha, and all truly fermented foods support immune health and repair any damage on the intestinal lining, They reduce your body’s oversensitivity to food triggers that lead to allergy symptoms.

Nutritious gourmet meals on COMFORT KETO menus regularly include probiotic foods as healthy addition to our meals.

Coconut milk

Coconut milk is the best alternative for cow’s milk. It is free from dairy, lactose, soy, nuts and grains.

Nutritious gourmet meals on COMFORT KETO menus include coconut milk as healthy addition to curry dishes.

Seeds

Just like nuts, seeds such as flaxseeds, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds and sunflower seeds are high in omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, protein, vitamin B1, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus and selenium. Yet, they are not common allergens.

Nutritious gourmet meals on COMFORT KETO menus frequently include seed as healthy addition to our salads and power bowls.

Gluten-free flours

Nutrient-dense and gluten-free flours such as coconut flour, almond flour, lupin flour, and oat fiber contain plenty of fiber, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals.

Nutritious gourmet meals on COMFORT KETO menus frequently include gluten-free flours as healthy addition to our meals which use low-carb flat breads and tortillas.

Bone broth

Bone broth is the most beneficial food for restoring gut health, supporting immune system and promoting healthy inflammatory response.

Bone broth is extremely high in minerals. Cooking the bones for so long de-mineralizes the bones and releases the minerals into the broth. Adding a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to the broth before you turn on the heat, will help decalcify the bones and extract the minerals even more.

When using land animals, your broth will be rich in minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus. When cooking fish bones, your broth will be rich in iodine.

Bone broth made from beef and chicken stock support the healing of leaky gut, as the amino acids and minerals are all in the broth necessary for repair replenishes the intestines.

Almond butter

Almonds are low in saturated fatty acids, rich in unsaturated fatty acids, and contain filling fiber, phytosterol antioxidants, vitamins like riboflavin and trace minerals, such as magnesium. Almond butter is simply ground almonds, and is a safe and healthy alternative for people allergic to peanuts and peanut butter.

Breast milk

Studies shows that exclusive breastfeeding has a preventive effect on the early development of asthma and atopic dermatitis up to two years of age. Research published in Pediatrics Clinics of North America shows that breast milk complements a baby’s immune system, supplementing undeveloped defenses with immune factors while creating the foundation for the innate and adaptive immune systems.

4. Elimination Diet

Infographic provided by www.organicnewsroom.com

A 3–6 weeks elimination diet eating plan (antibodies take around three weeks to dissipate) can help you pinpoint which foods are the culprits for your digestive and allergy symptoms, and what foods you may need to be avoid. Such a trial-and-error diet plan reintroduces the foods one at a time in order to determine which foods are, and are not, well-tolerated. If the symptoms disappear during elimination, a food allergy is likely the cause of the symptoms. The cause can be established by reintroducing foods once at a time.

Elimination diets will cut out all common allergens, including:

• gluten

• dairy

• soy

• refined/added sugar

• peanuts

• corn

• alcohol

• caffeine

• hydrogenated oils (margarine)

• citrus fruits

• eggs

• all packaged, processed or fast foods

Here are our suggestions for the steps to follow:

1. Eliminate common allergen/sensitive foods for at least three weeks.

2. Keep a journal to record how you are feeling when eliminating the trigger foods.

3. Consume only fresh vegetables, clean sources of protein (such as grass-fed beef and poultry, wild-caught fish and small amounts of sprouted beans), healthy fats (such as avocados and coconut oil) and whole-food carbohydrates and fruit. These anti-inflammatory foods will help to reduce allergy symptoms.

4. After at least three weeks, reintroduce one food group at a time, eating each new food for about 1–2 weeks. Record your symptoms and notice any changes in symptoms between the elimination and reintroduction phases.

5. If the symptoms return after reintroduction of a suspicious food item, you can confirm that this food in focus is a trigger. Eliminate the suspicious food item once again. Notice if the symptoms clear up once again when the particular trigger food is removed.

6. Repeat this step by step approach with each trigger foods group.

5. Digestive Enzymes

The incomplete digestion of food proteins may be linked to food allergies and gastrointestinal symptoms. Digestive enzymes are vital food allergy remedies as they aid the digestive system in fully breaking down food particles.

Probiotics

Good bacteria helps the immune system deal with food more favorably. To boost the good bacteria in your gut, take 50 billion organisms daily.

Here are for your consideration The 7 Best Probiotics: A Clinical-Based Product Review

MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane)

MSM supplements (an organic sulfur-containing compound) may serve as an effective food allergies treatment, improve immune function, lower inflammation, help restore healthy bodily tissue, relieve digestive issues and skin conditions.

Vitamin B5

Vitamin B5 supports adrenal function, helps to maintain a healthy digestive tract, and it boosts immune function so that your body is less likely to overreact to trigger foods.

L-glutamine

L-glutamine can help repair leaky gut (intestinal permeability) and immune health.

6. Essential Oils

Peppermint Oil

When applied topically to the temples, abdomen or bottoms of the feet, peppermint oil soothes the digestive tract, reduces food allergies associated inflammation, and helps to relieve headaches and itching. 1–2 drops in a glass a glass of water soothes digestive issues.

Eucalyptus Oil

Another essential oil for allergies is eucalyptus oil contains anti-inflammatory citronellal, and opens up the lungs and sinuses, improves circulation and reduces symptoms of food allergies. Eucalyptus also works as an expectorant, helping to cleanse the body of toxins. Apply 1–2 drops topically to the chest and temples.

Closing Thoughts

There is no current cure for food allergies. The condition can only be managed by allergen avoidance or treatment of food allergy symptoms.