The Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) article revealed that more than 75% of the money spent on health care is spent on chronic health conditions. Research indicates that a great deal of these chronic conditions are the direct result of food toxicities which are easily treated by simply removing the offending foods from your diet. Testing can easily expose all types of toxic food reactions leading to individualized therapies improving a myriad of health concerns. Billions of prescriptions medications are prescribed to manage the symptoms of allergic reactions. Even with the variety and depth of newer medications many children and adults persist with challenging symptoms. Steroids are often recommended and employed but fail to change the long term expression of the acutely suppressed symptoms. Parents also report worry for the toxicity and long term side effects of the allergy medications. Naturopathic medical doctors can provide allergy testing or support the role of your allergist as we add additional benefit by doing expanded testing to discover the root causes of allergies. As we guide the patient to change the diet, detox the body of parasites and candida, and heal the “leaky gut” we see symptoms reduce. The hope is we can reduce or eliminate the symptoms without the use of toxic or harmful OTC or prescription medications. A review of how the immune system works will be helpful before we begin to test for allergies.
IgE Type I Immune Reactions (immediate allergy reactions)
Allergic reactions arise as a result of both environmental exposures as well as internal immune mediated responses not related directly to IgE allergy response. IgE responses are diagnosed with blood tests to measure total IgE antibody response as well as via dermal testing. Internal immune related reactions include other antibodies such as IgG and IgA increase in the intestinal tract also from ingested foods, food additives, parasites, and candida. An elevation in IgG and IgA antibodies leads to the diagnosis know as “leaky gut”, suggesting a balanced treatment approach that addresses both IgE and IgG/IgA antibody elevations simultaneously will produce the best clinical outcomes.
IgE allergies can arise from foods, food additives, and from environmental exposures such as grass, weeds, trees, cats, dogs, dust, and molds. Environmental allergens are found plentiful in the outdoors and can concentrate indoors, particularly in the carpet and duct work of a home. Symptoms of allergies can include stomach pain, itchy skin or throat, itchy eyes, asthma, rhinitis, fatigue, constipation, diarrhea, and sleep apnea.
The tests we use to determine foodborne and airborne allergens are serum based allergy IgE panels. The airborne or environmental panel includes 46 of the most common allergens based on the geographic region where the patient lives. The IgE foodborne panel includes between 15-96 of the most common allergens that are consumed, including peanut, milk, egg, shellfish, tree nuts, fish, corn, soy, lectin, wheat, fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, and nightshades, amongst others. The advantage of these tests over skin testing is it requires merely one vial of blood, and can be done even on little children with ease. These are run through various labs covered by most insurance plans or as affordable cash labs through various labs.
If IgE allergies exist, various interventions can be used including customized allergy drops which reduce allergic response through gradual desensitization. Most patients respond within a few weeks and can have results lasting for years. The use of allergy drops or desensitizing therapy can eliminate the reaction to the source, and is extremely successful. The results of the IgG or IgA allergy tests also provide other potential therapies which target “leaky gut” which seems to be synergistic with allergy desensitization therapy.
IgG Type II Immune Reactions (delayed intolerance reactions)
Ninety five percent of the population has a Type II or IgG delayed immune response to common everyday foods. Genetics, lifestyle, and environmental toxic load contribute to the expression of IgG reactions, but because they are delayed they are very difficult to detect on our own.
There are at least 75 reported symptoms associated with IgG food intolerances or toxicities. Many of the newer health or alternative food substitutes for gluten and dairy can also be reactive in some individuals. Because different foods break down at different speeds, timing and expression of toxic reactions do vary from meal to meal and between individuals.
IgG antibody testing begins with a simple blood draw. Once the results are in, the lab generates a comprehensive report detailing your IgG toxic foods. Sometimes people find that they may only have a few food toxicities, but these end of making up the foods that are regularly consumed. As an example, if you are allergic to pasta and you eat it four or five times per week, you could be poisoning yourself four or five times per week.
The most notable point to make here is how much better you’ll feel. Some people rid themselves of lifelong chronic conditions like migraines which are almost always caused by a food toxicity. Some people feel a tremendous boost in energy and a general increase in mental acuity. The following conditions are reported to have improved with IgG food intolerance testing and elimination: Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD), Arthritis, Autism, Asthma, Candidiasis, Celiac, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), Depression, Diabetes, Digestive Disorders, Ear Infections, Eczema, Fibromyalgia, GERD, G.I. Disorders, Headaches & Migraines, Heartburn, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Joint & Muscle Pain, Leaky Gut, Mental Fatigue, Molds, Obesity, Poor Memory, Psoriasis, Sinusitis, Skin Disorders, Weight Loss, and Yeast Infections. Click here to view a IgG Food Allergy Sample Report.