Allergies and Inflammation

The inability of the body to manage inflammatory levels of prostaglandins and cytokines causing immune hyperactivity is one of the challenges that faces us in modern society. There are more and more things that cause reactions and inflammation to burden the body attempting to seek balance. Usually by age 40 there begins to be chronic elevated inflammatory levels resulting in joint and muscle (musculo-skeletal) conditions.

The ability to buffer acidity (pH) through proper ionic calcium supplementation is one of the most important mechanisms that we must support in our body. By keeping the body alkaline and balanced we may reduce inflammatory responses resulting from acidosis (abnormal condition of excess acid in the body).

Another solution in reducing inflammation is to unburden the body of its chronic immune burdens, especially that of allergies. Many environmental allergies that we suffer from are actually secondary allergies being driven by primary allergic responses, principally to foods. It has always been obvious in clinical practice that when basic food allergies are corrected environmental sensitivities vanish. For example, by simply taking a person off of a basic food allergy like milk or wheat oftentimes there will no longer be an environmental sensitivity to cats or dogs. The basic four food allergies are wheat, milk, corn and soy (followed by beef, tomato, peanut, chocolate). The hypo-antigenic diet consists of eliminating these eight foods.

Usually within three days of elimination chronic inflammation reduces and the elevated adrenal responses down regulate. Although change will continue for months after eliminating a basic food allergy, change is felt immediately, sometimes as increased energy, clarity of mind, digestive wellness, and a reduction of symptoms. By simply reducing these items experimentally for two weeks at a time and then reintroducing the allergen it is apparent as to whether a food allergy is occurring. Upon re-introduction of an eliminated food allergy, one may notice an immediate inflammatory response such as a rash, itching or burning eyes. It may also cause aches in the body. Sometimes two or three days later after the re-introduction of the food allergen a virus or cold or immune issue may occur, which means that the food allergy caused inflammation in the gut lining which lost its ability to be sealed and impermeable letting resident virus in the lumen of the intestine to leak into the blood. Then the body has to manage a viral process.

In practice this has been so successful that I no longer respect environmental allergies until after these basic food allergies have been eliminated. Once the inflammatory levels of the body have had an opportunity to normalize then one may determine what allergies are real and what allergies were just secondary to an elevated inflammatory system.

As always, oftentimes answers are simpler than we have suspected. Basic food allergies are oftentimes the result of genetic predispositions, blood types and unique metabolism. Reducing inflammation will lengthen our lives, reduce discomfort, especially of the musculo-skeletal nature, and spare the immune system to be active in ways that protect us from more important issues than chronic inflammation.

Determine Your Food Allergy at Home

How Do You Determine Your CORE food allergens?

It is a simple process that you can do at home no charge. The majority of food allergies/intolerances are delayed sensitivity reactions. Elimination is the most accurate way for you to determine the delayed sensitivity reactions. To do this, you must eliminate the suspected food intolerance completely from the diet for 2 weeks then reintroduce and watch for reactions for 4 days (see below). Your core food allergen/intolerance complicates the healing process by increasing the overall body inflammation. Once you remove the core food allergen your body’s inflammation will reduce, and sensitivities to other foods will decrease as well.

The main 4 food allergens are: wheat (gluten), corn (zein), dairy (casein), and soy.
Next common after that are chocolate, peanuts, eggs, tomatoes and beef
Finally, rice, nuts, sesame, peas and sugar

THE TEST:

Eliminate the suspected food intolerance completely from the diet for 2 weeks then reintroduce and watch for reactions for 4 days (see below)

Immediate histaminic response (within hours, that night or next day)

• Red, burning eyes, or teary eyes
• Tiredness, sleepiness
• Headaches
• Mood changes, irritability
• Rashes, hives
• Nausea, cramps, diarrhea
• Difficulty concentrating
• Restlessness, Difficulty Sleeping

Delayed Immunological response (onset 2-7 days later)

• Colds & Flu – (WBC mediated response)
• Tiredness, sleepiness
• colored phlegm, inflammation of mucous membranes
• Fever
• skin itching and irritation and dryness-Eczema.
• Rashes, hives
• Increase Inflammation / Pain (Elevated C-reactive protein)
• Achy Body
• Vomiting

Common severe allergy symptoms are the following:

• Diary=skin eczema and respiratory conditions (asthma, etc.)
• Wheat=excessive sweating, colitis, bowel irregularity and high blood pressure
• Corn=neurological symptoms (like tremors, ticks, shakes, seizures)
• Soy is a learned food allergen, discontinue 3 months then many people can do limited amounts.

Hidden places your allergen may be: (always read ingredients on premade foods)

• Wheat- in soy sauce, barbeque sauce, flour, (pasta, bread, cakes, cookies)
• Dairy-allergic to protein called casein (caseinate), salad dressings, (milk, cheese, ice cream, etc.)
• Corn- corn syrup…in premade beverages, corn oil-used to cook chips (popcorn, corn chips)
• Soy-salad dressings, textured vegetable protein, soybean oil -used cook chips (edamame etc.)

Side Note – There are 14 primary inflammatory foods. To reduce these is to dramatically reduce the inflammatory amplitude systemically. If you eliminate all the listed foods for three weeks, you will lose a significant amount from around your waistline. This is a great thing to do prior to a beach trip or special event.