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It is believed that 60 to 80 million Americans suffer from a hidden food allergy. In an article I wrote last week titled "Could Hidden Food Allergies Be Causing Your Migraines?", I discussed the difference between food allergies that are hidden and those that are not, as well as detection methods and some of the many symptoms of hidden food allergies. For those of you who didn't see that article I will review some of the most common symptoms which could indicate the presence of a hidden allergy:Tinnitus, recurrent ear infections, asthma, dark circles under the eyes (allergic shiners also seen in children reacting to vaccines), chronic digestive problems (diarrhea, constipation and heartburn), food cravings, spastic colon, migraine headaches, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel, fluctuations in blood sugar, joint and muscle pain, fluid retention, brain fog and or mental confusion, irritability, behavioral problems/tantrums (in children), eczema, rheumatoid arthritis and many others.If you have ever had any of these symptoms, you'll want to pay attention to this. It is more than likely that your favorite food (the one you crave the most) could be the culprit. This is because once your body becomes metabolically unbalanced it becomes adapted to that imbalance and will actually fight to maintain it by making you CRAVE the actual food that is creating that imbalance!!
Many people are not aware that an inflamed gastrointestinal tract is yet another way that we end up with a type 3 or 4 food allergy. This is because when the GI tract is inflamed it becomes more porous allowing tiny little food particles through thus creating an immune response where antibodies bind directly to the food particles themselves as they enter the blood stream. This creates something referred to as circulating immune complex. This complex is comprised of the allergens and the antibodies that reacted to it becoming bound together and then circulating in the blood stream. In this particular type of response the allergic reaction is delayed (up to 72 hours).
Very recently I was told of a 5 year old boy who was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. He was placed on heavy medication. One day his parents learned that his rheumatoid arthritis could be directly linked to a hidden food allergy. Not knowing what else to do they had him take a very simple in home test called the Allertest. This incredible life changing test revealed that he had a hidden allergy to dairy. In a person who manifests rheumatoid arthritis as a symptom, the immune system breaks down the components of joint tissue, causing joint pain, redness, stiffness, and swelling. What stimulates the immune system to do this? There's increasing evidence that individuals with rheumatoid arthritis have intestines that are more permeable to certain antigens, allowing these antigens to invade the body, stimulating the symptoms.
There is light at the end of the hidden food allergy tunnel. The good news is that once the offending/immune triggering food has been detected, it can be removed. Stay away from pre-packaged, processed foods because they can contain very tiny amounts the food you are trying to avoid. These amounts can be so minute that the FDA does not require them to be listed on the ingredients even though they are present, and even the smallest amount will often cause the reaction. After removing the food for a few months the immune system will readjust, the antibodies will go down and the food can then be re-introduced slowly. Just be aware that too much of this food or eating it too often can trigger reactions again.
