Food sensitivities includes both food intolerance and true food allergy.
Food Intolerance
Food intolerance affects a large percent of the population, but often goes unrecognized. The symptoms may occur several hours after eating an offending food and the reactions are not always easily recognized. Symptoms can include: fatigue, gas, cramps, bloating, stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea, heartburn, GERD, headaches, food cravings, mood swings, muscle/joint pain, daytime sleepiness, and obesity. Repetitious eating is the largest contributing factor in developing food sensitivities.
Food intolerance treatment may consist of a combination of elimination and rotation diets. You and Dr. Bishop will determine which treatment is best for you. Your custom program will help control your symptoms and stimulate your immune system to improve your health.
Elimination Diet
Elimination of the offending food from your diet is the best form of treatment. Complete elimination can alleviate most, if not all of your symptoms and can lead to tolerance. Careless, halfhearted, or partial avoidance can, in some people, lead to increased sensitivity. It is also best to avoid artificial flavors, colors and preservatives.
Rotation Diet
In a rotation diet, alternate foods are eaten on a rotating basis to prevent the development of new food intolerances.
Food Allergy
A true food allergy has a rapid onset of symptoms that range from tingling in the extremities, coughing, wheezing, nausea and vomiting to hives, a swollen tongue and/or throat. This can ultimately result in a constricted airway and you may stop breathing. The reaction occurs immediately or within one or two hours after consuming the offending food.
Food allergies are treated by total avoidance of the food that caused symptoms and that food can never be eaten again. The most common food allergies are to peanuts, nuts and shellfish.