IBS and Food (Intolerance, Allergies and Sensitivities)
August 25, 2009 by admin
Filed under IBS Solutions
When a person’s immune structure reacts to normal food substances, which are taken by all as harmless eatables, they are considered to be suffering from food allergy. When you have a food allergy your immune system will release chemicals which in turn result in a variety of symptoms, like the gastrointestinal ones, vomiting, nausea, pain in the abdominal region, etc. Sometimes they will also suffer from symptoms associated with allergies which include rashes, itching, and swelling of lips, throat infection and breathing problems.
You will be surprised to hear that in the traditional sense these are rare cases of true food allergies. Studies have pointed at IBS conditions to be the cause for some reactions, also suggesting that if we restrict those foods, IBS symptoms may also vanish. This theory has been criticized by the fact that the allergies were diagnosed through the finding of substances in their blood called Immunologlobulin G (IgG). These are antibodies which fight infectious conditions in the body. They are not deemed trustworthy in the case of diagnosing food allergy. But despite these findings, it is worth considering this factor, because when the subject restricts the intake of these foods, which was the cause of the allergic, a reduction of IBS symptoms is shown to happen.
- Dairy products like milk, poultry products like eggs, chicken, red meat, pork, lamp and wheat, all of which are common food items were considered as causing a food allergy.
- When some of these foods were eliminated, there were reduced IBS symptoms like frequency of pain, and abdominal bloating, also improved life quality, a feeling of control over IBS and rectum functioning in an improved manner.
- As well, good response from patients to adapt to the restricted diet, who also found greater improvement in their condition.
- If you try to cheat on diet, the condition worsens.
If you try to distinguish organic GI disorders from IBS and food allergies, it is found that IBS is associated with straining, diarrhea and bloating of the abdomen, than organic disease which can cause loss of appetite and difficulties in upper abdominal reflux. When symptoms in IBS patients and food allergy patients were compared it was found that lower abdominal pain, frequent pain and bloating is more likely to occur in IBS patients, which is relieved from having a bowel movement.
To ascertain whether you are suffering from a food allergy, you should consult your doctor to determine your conditions through diagnostic tests. Similarly maintain a food diary to examine your eating patterns, and the symptoms that you may develop after consuming them. After identifying a particular food as potential factor, you should follow an elimination diet, and examine how restricting that food has affected you.
