IDENTIFYING ALLERGIES |
First, see a naturopathic doctor
(N.D.), clinical nutritionist, chiropractor, or other health care practioner who offers the following tests.
Then take one or more of the tests:
Cytotoxic Testing/ALCAT. This blood test determines whether a suspected antigen will damage or destroy
sample blood cells. Accurate if the technician is skilled. The ALCAT test replaces the technician with a
computer.
ELISA-ACT. Considered one of the best clinical tests. Whole plasma is used to observe all of the immune
system components, not just serum or cells. This test may also reveal sensitivities to food additives,
heavy metals, and environmental toxins.
Electronic Screening. Observations are made from within the body itself by using a non-invasive electromagnetic
instrument that picks up your body's "messages" at different acupuncture or meridian points. Electronic
screening can find phenolic sensitivities: a biochemical common to several foods that may trigger the same
reaction. An ideal test for children or impatient adults!
Environmental Medicine/Immunotherapy. Working in harmony with your body, a small amount of a suspected food allergen
is injected into your skin to provoke a reaction. The goal is to find the exact dilution your immune system needs
to throw off the allergen, in order to build up tolerance to an allergenic food. This test yields quick results,
often within a month. Useful for people who have environmental illness coupled with food allergies; can't reduce
their exposure to allergens; have serious health problems; or have tried self-help techniques unsuccessfully.
Kinesiology/Muscle Testing. See a qualified chiropractor or naturopath for this non-invasive, holistic method
in which your body communicates food sensitives through muscle testing before and after contact with a suspected
food. |
SUGGESTED DIETS |
Test yourself: Be an allergy detective.
The Elimination Diet is an inexpensive way to
determine your own food sensitivities. Note: If you have severe, violent reactions to food, DO NOT attempt this
diet test. See your health care practitioner.
STEP 1: Identify the suspect. Make a list of all the foods you crave, make you feel elated or exhausted, and
that you eat nearly everyday. If you consume lots of processed foods, put sugar, corn, soy, yeast, artificial
food colorings, preservatives and additives on your list. If you regularly drink coffee or alcohol add these to
the list. Check any supplements you take to make sure they do not contain common allergens like corn or artificial
colorings. Omit all of your suspect foods for 2 or 3 weeks to clear your system of allergens. Avoid other
possible allergens by drinking purified water and eating organic produce and meats. Don't even think about
cheating on this diet! Even a tiny amount of an allergy-causing food will affect test results.
STEP 2: Track the suspects and watch for symptoms. After 2 to 3 weeks, you should be feeling dramatically
better. Now, reintroduce each suspect, one by one, allowing 4 days after each food to observe responses. Eat a
large serving of nothing but suspect #1 for breakfast. If you remain symptom-free, try another generous helping
for lunch. Track symptoms in a journal, noting physical, emotional and mental changes. Watch for potential
withdrawal symptoms that follow a "high" and for delayed symptoms. If you have no reactions to the first
suspect within those 4 days, then you probably aren't allergic to it. If you do feel symptoms, then that food
should go on a new list of confirmed suspects: your food allergies.
The Rotary-Diversified Diet This diet is a healing/eating plan based on 4 principles: 1) Eating whole
unprocessed foods, 2) Diversifying your diet, 3) Rotating foods, and 4) Rotating food families. By eating a
variety of foods, this allows the body to recover from an allergy-causing food for 4-7 days before eating it again.
Foods from the same family can be rotated less frequently.
After determining the foods to which you are allergic, eliminate them completely for a
period of 3 months to 1 year.
This will in most cases break the sensitivity and give the body's immune system a chance to recover/rebuild itself.
Foods from the same family can be rotated less frequently. For example, any member of the nightshade family
including potatoes, eggplant, and tomatoes, should not be eaten more often than once every 2 days. Patience
and perseverance are the keys to making a rotary diet work. It can take months to get into a good rotating
groove. Many people find it helpful to work with a nutritionist who is experienced with allergies or to join
an allergy support group. Some nutritionists work with labs that will provide a computerized rotation diet
based on your own unique test results. Check with your healthcare provider as there are many ways to handle
these problems. |