Dr. Carrie Jones: Food Allergies Vs. Food Intolerances
A common question I ask my patients is, “Are there any foods that you avoid?” The answers range anywhere from “absolutely not” to a very long list. I ask this question because I find the things you put in your mouth may be affecting all of those symptoms you just described.
Fatigue? Gas and Bloating? Headaches? Constipation? Rashes? Acne? Joint pain? PMS?
Yes – they can all be food related.
As the commercials on television will tell you (and it is true) 70%-80% of your immune system lives right around your intestines. It is a smart maneuver in human design because anything you eat, breathe, swallow, and drink goes right into your gastrointestinal tract. Therefore the cereal you had for breakfast is evaluated just the same as the flu-bug you inhaled while waiting in line for coffee. . . then your immune system has to decide - friend or foe?
Many of us would assume the flu-bug must be destroyed and the cereal can live to see another day, right? Well, what if you put milk in your cereal and you shouldn’t have milk? What if your cereal is made up of wheat flour and you’re sensitive to wheat? What if your cereal also has soy crunchies for extra protein and soy is the enemy?
What if you didn’t know?
We value and respect the experiences of all of our HerWriters, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.
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