Access to information regarding the risks of eating certain foods has increased in recent years, but there is still a lot of confusion around this complex subject. Many people experience symptoms of food sensitivities and food allergies on a daily basis without even knowing it. Symptoms of food sensitivities can range from barely noticeable to extremely uncomfortable. Many people accept their symptoms as an inevitable part of life, unaware that they have the power to improve or eliminate the issue by addressing their diet. Food sensitivities and allergies are unique to each individual, can change over time, and may be discovered through specific lab tests and careful assessment. When symptoms are so subtle that they go unnoticed by the person affected, they can slowly wreak havoc over the course of time and lead to larger problems years later. Arming yourself with personalized information regarding your own food allergies and sensitivities can save you time, money, and unnecessary physical discomfort. This knowledge can provide the opportunity to improve the state of your current and future health. Putting this information to work for you can aid your decisions around food in order to optimize your health and quality of life.

What are Food Sensitivity Symptoms?

Most of the common negative physical reactions people experience after eating certain foods are examples of food sensitivities, rather than allergic reactions. Some physical reactions are consistent with both food sensitivities and true allergic reactions. This is one of many reasons that the subject is so confusing.  Both conditions create a less than ideal and potentially dangerous situation for the sufferer. Sensitivities may result in draining your body’s own naturally balanced resources, leaving it with a smaller reserve to deal with larger, more dangerous exposures or disease processes.

Lactose intolerance is a common example of a food intolerance, or sensitivity. People with lactose intolerance have digestive systems that do not produce enough of a particular enzyme known as lactase. If they eat dairy products, common symptoms like bloating, diarrhea, and flatulence may occur. In severe cases, individuals may experience stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting.

Although food sensitivities are generally not immediately critically dangerous, their effect may drastically diminish your ability to enjoy optimal health. More subtle presentations can gradually manifest as chronic pain, generalized inflammation, digestive discomfort, and the inability to properly absorb nutrients through your digestive tract.  

Food Allergy Symptoms

While some people with food sensitivities can tolerate small amounts of the food without experiencing discernable symptoms, some individuals with extreme food allergies can put their lives at risk with exposure to even the vaporized particles, dust, or tiny crumbs of the food they’re allergic to. A true food allergy causes the immune system to overreact, and this can affect multiple organs in the body.

This is where the real danger comes in with food allergies; a wide range of complications may arise due to the effect on particular organs. Symptoms can be mild to moderate, severe; even life-threatening. Nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, hives, and eczema are considered mild to moderate symptoms of a food allergy. More severe symptoms may include, but are certainly not limited to:

• Difficulty breathing
• Difficulty swallowing
• Sudden drop in blood pressure
• Weak pulse
• Chest pain
• Fainting or passing out

Anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction that may include swelling of the face and airway, can happen within seconds of exposure and may result in unconsciousness or death.  This reaction is treated with a drug called epinephrine, a hormone and neurotransmitter that is very effective for ceasing serious and life-threatening symptoms of an allergic reaction when administered in time.

Reach Out to Us For More Information

If you would like to know more about your own food allergies or sensitivities, it is best to consult with a specialized medical professional for complete assessment and individualized testing.

Naples Vitality can work with you to determine, through specific lab work and comprehensive assessment, which food allergens and sensitivities are truly pertinent to you. Based on your results, we provide personalized care plans, along with ongoing education, coaching, and support. We work together to establish a safe and sustainable plan of action that empowers you to create and maintain your most optimal and vital self.

To learn more, we eagerly invite you to register for our upcoming seminar with Naples Vitality. Please register early, as seats will be limited at this and fun and informative presentation.

At our convenient location in Naples, FL, our caring and dedicated team of professionals will be pleased to answer any questions you may have. We look forward to speaking with you soon, and hope to see you there!