Do you feel bloated, fatigued, congested, and less energetic? Do you also have digestive issues, tummy rumbling, stomach pain, and painful joints? Well, listen up because I’m talking about food allergies and intolerances and how they can hinder your weight-loss goals.
I deal with my own food allergies on a daily basis. I have celiac disease and I also have an intolerance to dairy. I found out I had celiac disease when I was 25 years old and I’m still learning about it. It still amazes me to think what one feels when you eliminate your allergy out of your diet.
I will let you in on a little info about me last year. I love baking and cooking and when I would cook I used cooking spray. Well, little did I know that Pam spray led me to feel very weak, have no energy, bloated EVERYWHERE, and needing a nap at 11 am. I’m an energizer bunny, so this was tough on me. I figured I would get some labs done to see if I was lacking something. Low and behold, I actually had a VERY toxic level of B12, which is very hard to do since it is a water soluble vitamin. Next, I had to get checked for a couple of cancers because my B12 level was dangerously high and wasn’t budging. That was a scare! As of now, my levels have been going down slowly, but I have checkups every 3 months. So this being said, when talking about allergies, it can be a much more serious topic than we think.
Here are 8 of the most common food allergens and intolerances:
Milk
Eggs
Peanuts
Tree nuts (such as almonds, cashews, walnuts)
Fish (such as bass, cod, flounder)
Shellfish (such as crab, lobster, shrimp)
Soy
Wheat or gluten
Do you have a food allergy or intolerance?
Food Allergy can cause:
1. Immune system reaction that affects numerous organs in the body.
2. A range of symptoms including: fatigue for a while – not for just a couple days, water retention, sickness, such as a cold or flu from weakened immune system, emotional issues, and physical changes.
3. In some cases, an allergic food reaction can be severe or life-threatening.
4. Even a tiny amount of the offending food can cause an immediate, severe reaction.
5. Digestive signs and symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, cramping and diarrhea. Other signs and symptoms can include a tingling mouth, hives, and swelling of the lips, face, tongue and throat.
6. If you have a food allergy, you’ll need to avoid the offending food entirely.
Food intolerances:
1. The symptoms in food tolerances are generally less serious and are limited to digestive problems.
2. The symptoms can come on gradually and don’t involve an immune system reaction.
3. If you have food intolerance, you may be able to eat small amounts of the offending food without trouble.
You may also be able to take steps that help prevent a reaction. For example, if you have lactose intolerance, you may be able to drink lactose-free milk or take lactase enzyme pills that aid digestion (such as Lactaid). I will actually take digestive enzymes with each meal so that I ensure that I will digest most of my nutrients in my food.
Weight-loss and allergies
First let’s talk about dairy. Foods with dairy can cause unhealthy bacteria to overgrow. It can also produce toxins that cause inflammation that swells the intestines and prevents normal digestion which will cause your weight gain.
One thing I came across and was shocked was–you can gain up to 30 pounds a year due to a dairy allergy. Whoa!
Lastly, a dairy allergy is tied to inflammation in the gut, as opposed to lactose intolerance, which is an inability to digest the milk sugar called lactose.
The first step to finding out if a dairy allergy is making you gain weight is to identify both the main and hidden sources of dairy in your diet. Check labels and stay away from dairy for about 6 weeks and see what you notice. If there is a change then I would eliminate it! You can substitute with rice milk, almond milk, or coconut milk. Just make sure it has the GMO free label on it.
Gluten allergy or intolerance
When someone is allergic to gluten, the undigested energy (food) converts to body fat as a defense mechanism against malnutrition. Oddly enough, overweight and underweight celiac both are slowly starving.
Gluten intolerances may experience bloating, gas and pain, skin rashes, fatigue, diarrhea and/or constipation, and numbness in hands and feet, among others. Gluten intolerants are often diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome, Type 1 diabetes, infertility, thyroid disease and other conditions or illnesses.
When it comes to weight-loss, your body is in auto pilot mode and will convert all its fuel as fat, so it has a hard time to lose the weight.
It also will slow down the rest of your body’s organs and hinder weight-loss by retaining extra fluid in your abdomen. Seriously, take my word on this one – I looked 6 months pregnant after I was poisoned with gluten!
What are your first steps to see if you have a true allergy?
Get a blood test. Blood testing for IgG food allergens (Immuno Labs and other labs) can help you to identify hidden food allergies. While these tests do have limitations and need to be interpreted in the context of the rest of your health, they can be useful guides to what’s bothering YOU in particular. When considering blood tests for allergens, it’s always a good idea to work with a doctor or nutritionist trained in dealing with food allergies.
Go dairy- and gluten-free for six weeks. Dairy and gluten are the most common triggers of food allergies. For patients who have trouble losing weight, I often recommend a short elimination as part of the The Blood Sugar Solution. Both dairy (milk, cheese, butter and yogurt) and gluten (most often found in wheat, barley, rye, oats, spelt, triticale and kamut) are linked to insulin resistance and, therefore, weight gain. Temporarily cutting them out of the diet allows the inflamed gut to heal. This one move may be the single most important thing most you can do to lose weight.
Avoid the top food allergens. If you don’t feel a sense of relief from nixing dairy and gluten, you may need to take the elimination diet one step further by cutting out the top food allergens: gluten, dairy, corn, eggs, soy, nuts, tree nuts, nightshades (tomatoes, bell peppers, potatoes and eggplant), citrus and yeast (baker’s, brewer’s yeast and fermented products like vinegar), shellfish, fish, and wheat. Try this for a full six weeks. That is enough time to feel better and notice a change. When you reintroduce a top food allergen, eat it at least two to three times a day for three days to see if you notice a reaction. If you do, note the food and eliminate it for 90 days.
Lastly, if you feel that you are dealing with these issues consult with your doctor for further testing.
Some good reading material for learning more about our food is:
Wheat Belly Diet by William Davis
The Blood Sugar Solution by Mark Hyman, M.D.