Knowing the difference between a “Food Allergy” and “Food Sensitivity” can be confusing. So often we only think of the top 7 Food Allergens (Dairy, Peanuts, Tree nuts, Wheat, Eggs, Soy, Shellfish) with the symptoms being as severe as anaphylaxis. It can seem strange that healthy foods such as beans, broccoli or chicken can cause body inflammation, but for some people, even healthy foods need to be eliminated. They may not cause an immediate life-threatening reaction but they can cause other symptoms. When you remove foods from your diet, it is extremely important that you eat a balanced diet so that you get all the nutrients your body needs.
Let’s review the differences between a Food Allergy and Food Sensitivity.
Will I have to eliminate these foods forever?
We don’t know if you will have to eliminate forever. So often, once the gut heals and the foods have been removed for a period of time, you will tolerate them once again. We never recommend eating foods daily that way you hopefully won’t reignite your immune system and become sensitive to the food again. Other foods such as gluten, you may never be able to eat those again. It will be a lot of trial and error. It may also be dose dependent. You may be able to eat a small amount periodically.
How Often Should You Test?
Your food sensitivities can change based on your lifestyle, stress, diet and illnesses. Therefore, it’s recommended to test at a minimum annually. If you are having severe reactions, you may want to test 4 – 6 months after your initial test.
