Food allergies can be the underlying cause of many health problems. However, many people are only aware of one type of food allergy, the one that produces an immediate reaction. There are also food allergies that have a delayed reaction that can contribute just as much, if not more to long standing health problems that have not responded to conventional medical treatments[1].

Immediate food allergy reactions happen within seconds to hours of eating the foods. This makes them easy to identify since they were recently eaten. Some classic symptoms of immediate food allergies are hives, colic, trouble breathing, and cramping or pain in the stomach or intestine. However, delayed food allergy reactions happen from three hours to three days after eating the food [1]. This makes them very difficult to identify because of the amount of time that has passed and the other foods that have been consumed between eating the problem food and the actual attack. The symptoms of delayed food allergies can be very similar to the immediate food allergy reactions, but may also include symptoms such as fatigue, irritability, aching joints, chronic migraines, and difficulty thinking or paying attention [1].

We can develop food allergies through an unhealthy digestive system. The digestive system houses 70% of the total immune system [2] and when it is healthy, it is able to separate the nutrients that are good for the body from the invaders that are bad. However, this system is commonly broken down by prolonged use of antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and steroids[3] along with chronic stress and a poor diet. When this breakdown occurs, the immune system is not able to separate the foods from the invaders. Because it cannot separate the two, it attacks them both causing an inflammatory response. This inflammatory response can be so large that it has the potential to contribute to autoimmune conditions [1,3] such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, thyroid disease, and diabetes. Food allergies were found to be a major risk factor for severe life-threatening asthma [4]. Not only that, but because the immune system is attacking the food, there are fewer nutrients to be used by the body for repair, growth, and daily functioning.

Both immediate and delayed food allergies have been noted in many research articles for causing of a variety of digestive, respiratory, and skin conditions [1]. Many patients with proven food allergies have negative immediate allergy tests[5], suggesting that the delayed allergies are playing a role and should also be tested. The presence of one allergic disorder significantly increases the risk of developing other allergic disorders affecting different organ systems [5]. One study suggests that testing for food allergies should be done as routinely as blood work, especially for delayed allergies [3].

In our office, we test for both immediate and delayed food allergies. This is one of the first tests we have our patients perform. By eliminating the underlying food allergies we see many symptoms disappear and we are able to help our patients heal much more quickly. The test we use covers 96 different food proteins and is from a reputable laboratory, U.S. BioTek. Call us today to see if this test will benefit you.