Why Me ? Factors Contributing To Food Sensitivities

Wednesday, April 22, 2009 / Blog, Food Sensitivities

There is much talk in newspapers and magazines and even on Oprah about the topic of food sensitivities. As people become more aware of the impact and power that the food they eat can have both on their health and their behaviour, they are drawn to wonder if this issue applies them.

How do you know if you have a food sensitivity? How on earth did that happen? In our parent’s day, this topic seemed to be unheard of.

Here are a few of the reasons that food sensitivities develop and why they are more common in this generation.

1. Family history: When I work with clients I spend considerable time unraveling their family history as many answers are found there. There is often a common thread of things such as ear infections, eczema, asthma, learning disabilities, chronic digestive complaints, alcohol abuse and behaviour challenges. In many families these symptoms are minimized and tolerated because they are so prevalent and considered the norm. Often these behaviours and symptoms change as the person grows older and it is very common to hear a story where a colicy baby becomes a toddler with ear infections, a school aged child with learning and behaviour challenges, and an adult with migrane headaches. Although the symptoms change, the cause and the trigger is usually the same food.

2. Effects on baby in utero: The diet and lifestyle of a pregnant woman is very important in determining the health of her newborn child. Foods consumed by the mother that she is sensitive to increase the likelihood that the child will also be affected. It is important for her to avoid foods that she knows have created some type of symptoms for her before she was pregnant and to find healthy alternatives. Many woman are aware that they have digestive symptoms when they consume dairy products yet drink large quantities of milk during pregnancy. This increases the risk of the child having a dairy intolerance so alternatives to dairy are a wise thing to choose.

3. Method of feeding: The early introduction of cow’s milk into the diet of many children can result in colic, other digestive symptoms such as green stools as well as repeated ear infections and colds. Breast milk is definitely the milk of choice for children up to a year and even longer if there is a family history of food sensitivities. It is also important, however, that a woman who is breast feeding pay close attention to her own diet. If the baby has colic or any other symptoms, they are most often related to something the mother is eating. Colicky babies often have an amazing change in behaviour when the mother stops consuming dairy products. It is well worth giving it a try.

4. Introduction of solid foods: When solid foods are added to the diet of a child, it is important that they be added one at a time with at least 4-5 days between them. Often reactions take a few days to develop so going slow in the key. The foods that are common allergens should be avoided (dairy, wheat, egg, citrus, peanut butter, seafood) until the child is well over a year or longer if there is a family history of intolerance to one of these foods.

5. Multiple doses of antibiotics: Children and adults with food sensitivities often have repeated infections. These include ear infections, chronic bronchitis, pneumonia and sinus infections. While antibiotics are often necessary to cure the problem, they also have a significant impact on the digestive tract. They kill some of the bacteria in the bowel that facilitates digestion and the body then struggles to cope with food that is eaten. Some foods are poorly digested and are allowed to ferment in the bowel. This further compromises digestion and increases the symptoms of food sensitivity. The result is a roller coaster of symptoms and antibiotic use. The only way out of this cycle is the removal of the offending food from the diet along with other healthy food choices and things like acidophylus to recolonize the digestive track.

6. Diseases of the digestive track: People suffering from diseases like Crohn’s Disease, Celiac Disease and Ulcerative Colitis are at increased risk for food sensitivities. Their bowel is inflamed and “leaky” resulting in many foods being absorbed into the body before they are completely digested. This results in chronic inflammation and can be a major cause of symptoms. Anyone who has a major illness like the flu with diarrhea or a severe ecoli infection is also at risk for food sensitivities until their bowel has had time to heal. Avoidance of dairy products is usually essential for the digestive symptoms to clear up.

7. Medications: Many medications are very irritating to the digestive tract and long term use can increase the risk of food sensitivities. Drugs used in Parkinson’s Disease are an example as well as any of the anti inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprophen or aspirin.

8. Life Stresses: The bowel is very sensitive to your emotional state. Chronic stress results in a fight or flight response where your body is in a constant state of alert. When this happens your digestive system shuts down and much of the food you eat is not completely digested. Long term stress can weaken your immune system and increase your chances of developing a food sensitivity.

9. Diet and Nutrition: A varied and balanced diet is absolutely essential both for your health and to help you avoid the development of food sensitivities. The over consumption of a very few foods results in poor nutrition and a high likelihood of the development of a sensitivity to that food. This is most commonly seen in children where their diet is limited and they often will only eat very select foods. The food commonly craved is dairy products and children’s diet becomes restricted to cheese sandwiches, macaroni and cheese, ice cream and yoghurt, and chocolate milk. These children very often have chronic runny noses, recurrent ear infections, whiny behaviour and many wet their beds as long as the age of 8. The solution is to remove dairy foods completely and offer them a wide variety of other healthy foods. How do you do that – topic of next week’s blog!!