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Hidden Food Allergies/Food Sensitivities

Conventional medicine considers "true" food allergies only those that cause an IgE antibody mediated reaction (immediate allergic or anaphylactic reaction.) However, our body has other ways to react immunologically to foods such as IgG antibody mediated responses (delayed reactions) and histamine responses which are both part of the immune system. The non-IgE related food reactions are considered food sensitivities or "hidden food allergies" and are not life threatening, but can be quite impactful on quality of life. These are "hidden" because there is often a delay in reaction up to 72 hours and daily consumption of these foods can actually mask the symptoms acting as a background drain on wellness. A large body of medical literature has indicated that hidden food sensitivity is a frequent cause of a wide range of physical and mental conditions. Conditions which frequently have allergenic components include fatigue, migraines, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis and Crohn's), gallbladder disease, arthritis, asthma, rhinitis, ADHD, depression, enuresis (bed wetting), epilepsy, eczema, psoriasis, apthous ulcers, middle ear infection, and other recurrent infections. Foods most commonly associated with food sensitivities include wheat, dairy, egg, corn, soy, citrus, nightshades (tomato, potato, peppers, eggplant), gluten grains (wheat. rye, barley), peanut, pork, beef, seafood, garlic, and chocolate.

Testing for IgE mediated food reactions is relatively more reliable than other forms of food reaction testing, but is still not perfect. However, hidden food reactions are more complicated as the reaction could be IgG antibody related, IgA antibody related, a histamine response, an intolerance, or an exorphin response. (Exorphins are external substances most commonly found in dairy and wheat that can activate opiate receptors in the brain causing or aggravating mood disorders, ADHD, and other sensory processing disorders). In addition, blood testing for food sensitivities (delayed hypersensitivity reactions) is still controversial and results can vary widely with a large amount of false positives (indicates "allergy" where none is present), false negatives (sensitivity is present but either not IgG related or poor quality control at lab), and the lack of reproducibility (same sample produces different results). The gold standard in the allergy world remains a careful elimination and specific systematic challenge of individual foods.

Things you should know before running out to get a food allergy panel that is not IgE related: make sure the lab separates IgG and IgE antibodies. There is a lab, I will not mention by name, that continues to pool the results and cannot distinguish between the antibodies. This is sloppy work and a waste of your money. In addition, I contacted this particular lab to ask them why they use such a useless method and their answer was that they hadn't updated their technology yet.

If you get a food panel done, no matter who the lab is, you should follow it with a systematic elimination and challenge monitored by an appropriately trained doctor to verify the food item is problematic for you. Once the food sensitivity has been verified, it is usually recommended you eliminate the offending food completely for a minimum of 3 months, ideally 6 months. After 6 months, most people can reintroduce the food back in "condiment" levels as the immune response should be sufficiently calmed down.

To prevent further acquired food sensitivities, it is strongly recommended you avoid eating the same foods every day as that is the most likely reason you developed the hidden food sensitivity in the first place! A word of caution, if you find you are having problems with multiple foods (more than 3), you more than likely have an issue with the integrity of your gut. This must be addressed immediately or you will start to develop issues with most foods you eat even when you are eliminating the original offending foods. This condition is referred to as Leaky Gut or intestinal permeability issues.

Navigating through food allergies, sensitivities, and intolerances can be overwhelming. You are not and should not be alone in this process. Since 1998, Dr. Miller has successfully guided hundreds of patients through the elimination challenge process. If you suspect you may have food allergies/sensitivities or are suffering from a condition commonly associated with food reactions, contact Dr. Miller at (415) 785-3347 to schedule an appointment and begin the process of removing your obstacles to health.

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Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Leaky Gut/Intestinal Hyperpermeability

Metabolic Detoxification