Diet Plan for Food Allergies Q&A

When you have food allergies and sensitivities, you always must be discerning when it comes to your food choices. The best way to steer clear of negative reactions caused by food sensitivities/allergies is to avoid that food whenever possible.
 
The most common food sensitivities and/or allergies are to:

● Eggs
● Fish
● Milk (lactose)
● Peanuts
● Shellfish
● Soy
● Tree nuts
● Wheat/gluten

People may begin to suspect they have a food sensitivity or allergy when they start experiencing negative symptoms after consuming certain food items. The most common symptoms associated with food allergies and sensitivities are:
 
● Tingling and/or itching in the mouth.
● Hives.
● Skin that itches.
● Eczema.
● Swelling of the lips, face, tongue, throat, and/or other body parts.
● Wheezing and nasal congestion.
● Difficulty breathing.
● Abdominal pain.
● Diarrhea.
● Nausea.
● Vomiting.
● Dizziness and/or fainting.
 
For some, their reaction to a particular food may vary in severity. It can range from uncomfortable to life-threatening and symptoms may present quickly or after several hours. This is why it’s important to confirm your allergy and/or sensitivity with a medical doctor or allergy specialist. They will perform specific testing to help identify your triggers and diagnose what type of allergy you have. 

While food allergies and food sensitivities can present similar symptoms in some cases, they’re actually different conditions.
 
Food sensitivity develops when the body can’t properly digest the food that has been consumed or the food that has been eaten is acting as an irritant inside the stomach. Symptoms associated with food sensitivities may include headaches, nausea, gas, cramps, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and irritability.
 
In contrast, a food allergy occurs when the body’s immune system identifies a certain food as ‘dangerous’ and starts attacking it. This immune system response triggers an allergic reaction, which can cause symptoms such as hives, vomiting, abdominal pain, throat tightness, hoarseness, coughing, breathing problems, dropped blood pressure, and anaphylaxis.
 
If you have food sensitivity, you may be able to still consume a small amount of the food that you’re sensitive to without much distress. However, if you have a  food allergy, you’ll need to avoid that food permanently as consuming it can cause severe, and potentially dangerous, reactions within the body.

Food sensitivities or food allergies cause your body to react poorly, slowing down internal processes and making it harder to lose weight even when you’re doing all the right things. Eating inflammatory food that isn’t tolerated well by your body can affect your entire digestive system, which is an important system – especially when trying to manage a weight condition. 
 
At InShape Medical, we can help you restore balance to your body and metabolism, ensuring it gets the proper nutrients you need while helping you avoid the foods that are causing negative reactions.
 
In addition to this, we can help you learn more about the trigger foods that are causing your discomfort, provide strategies on how to avoid them moving forward and help you create a diet plan that is tailored to your unique medical needs.
 
If you’re looking for help to address dietary concerns, including allergies and sensitivities, contact us at InShape Medical. Whether you’re a new or existing client, our team is happy to provide the support you need to achieve your weight loss goals in a safe and maintainable way. For more information, contact us or schedule an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 107 Edinburgh S. Drive, Suite 215 Cary, NC 27511. We serve clients from Cary NC, Raleigh NC, Durham NC, Chapel Hill NC, Apex NC, Pittsboro NC, and Garner NC.