Extra Help with Food Intolerances or Sensitivities
Often, we may crave the very foods to which we are intolerant and they may be the same foods we would find most hard to give up. Because the immune response is not life-threatening, the body releases dopamine, the feel-good neurotransmitter, to “keep us going”. This is short-lived though and symptoms, of rapid heartbeat and fatigue may follow – often far enough away from eating the food for it to be difficult to identify the culprit. A sure-fire way to identify intolerances is to eliminate them from your diet to see if symptoms improve. One foodstuff at a time ensures that no confusion occurs.
Increase:
- Apples, onions, garlic and green tea contain quercetin, a bioflavonoid which reduces inflammation and may help control food intolerances by promoting gut healing; green tea is a good substitute for black tea and coffee as it contains a fraction of the caffeine, but is a great healer.
- Chew food thoroughly as digestion starts in the mouth and the immune system reacts when too large particles of food enter the bloodstream.
- Eat small meals frequently; they are easier to digest.
- Cultured foods such as natural live yogurt, contain beneficial bacteria and many useful enzymes and nutrients to protect the gut and help reduce food intolerances.
Decrease or avoid:
- Avoid eating the same foods repetitively as this can lead to an altered immune reaction to these foods. Many people consume large amounts of wheat each day in bread, pasta, and as a hidden filler in many other foods.
- Do not drink when eating, as this may dilute digestive juices.
- Avoid alcohol, caffeine, fizzy drinks, chocolate, corn, popcorn, additives, preservatives, fried and greasy foods; these are irritating to the digestive tract.
- Dairy and wheat are frequent “allergens”.