We all need food to eat. But if you were to show our ancestors the food we eat today, they would find it unrecognizable. Food has been bred to be bigger, as well as pest and drought resistant, and has been processed to the very fringes of being considered food. It’s really no wonder that incidences of food allergies and food sensitivities have skyrocketed in recent years. Our bodies are simply confused by the “food” we’re putting in it.

Allergies should always be taken seriously because they’re unpredictable and can be life-threatening and the trigger foods can be hidden in other foods. Symptoms of food allergies are:

  • vomiting/cramps
  • Hives
  • Coughing
  • Wheezing
  • Shortness of breath
  • Shock
  • Trouble swallowing
  • Swelling of the tongue
  • Weak pulse
  • Dizziness
  • Anaphylaxis (a potentially life-threatening reaction that affects breathing, sends the body into shock)

Allergies occur when your immune system mistakes food proteins for invaders so it sends out antibodies to fight them as if it were being attacked by a virus. According to the CDC, there are eight types of food that make up 90% of all allergic reactions. They are:

  • Eggs
  • Peanuts
  • Milk
  • Tree nuts
  • Shellfish
  • Soy
  • Wheat
  • Fish

Food sensitivities are different but can contribute to serious health issues as well. sensitivities happen when your body is unable to break down certain foods because you’re lacking the correct enzymes to do so, are sensitive to food additives, or are sensitive to naturally occurring chemicals in your food. Dairy and gluten are two of the most common foods that cause sensitivity, but other common culprits are yeast, corn, nightshade, and many food additives.

Both food allergies and food sensitivities can cause inflammatory reactions in your body. Inflammation occurs when the body tries to heal itself from injuries or illness, and inflammation is linked to many chronic health problems such as:

  • Gastrointestinal disorders such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), indigestion, constipation, nausea, diarrhea, bloating, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s Disease
  • Metabolic disorders such as obesity, Type II diabetes, inability to lose weight
  • Inflammatory conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, arthritis or asthma, autoimmune disorders
  • Others such as fatigue, headache, migraine

Unfortunately, there is no cure for allergies or food sensitivities other than to avoid the foods that cause them altogether. But how do you do that if you don’t know what’s causing your reaction? While it may be easy to deduce that you’re allergic to peanuts and avoid them, how do you avoid food additives and how do you find out which one is causing the problem? That’s where ALCAT testing comes in. ALCAT tests for cellular reactions to over 350 foods, chemicals, and herbs to determine which of them you may be intolerant to digesting. With results from your Alcat test, you can know exactly what to look out for in the foods you eat. By eliminating or reducing those substances that may be causing inflammation in your body, you can expect significant improvement from many common ailments.

Lake Mary Chiropractic offers ALCAT testing as part of the many services we offer to our clients to help them be healthy and as pain-free as they can be. If you think you may be experiencing food tolerance, call Lake Mary Chiropractic today at (407)302-5161 for a free consultation to find out if ALCAT testing is right for you.