Food Sensitivity:
Intolerance and Avoidance
Many times, even though you may not be truly allergic to a specific food, a food sensitivity can be just as uncomfortable and unforgettable as the allergic response. The only major discerning point is the lack of the anaphylactic symptoms.
It's very important though, after realizing you do have a food sensitivity, that you take the necessary steps to learn all you can about your problem. Often times, a cross-over allergy reaction may even be leading towards more of your sensitivities and you never even realized it.
Ultimately, knowledge will help you set up and maintain a new lifestyle which will aid you in applying realistic goals that you and your family can be comfortable with.
A Major Stumbling Block - Temptation
After the initial diagnosis, temptation is generally not that much of a problem. After all, you know how miserable you have been when you have been
eating the offending foods. But after a little time of following the new diet, symptoms subside, your energy levels and stamina return, and memories fade. It is now that the offending food starts to look pretty darn good. This will start by just having cravings for one little bite. One bite, with no symptoms will become two. Soon you are continuously craving more.
The second stumbling block for most people is when you go out, This can be to a friend's house, a restaurant, another family member, on vacation etc.. The location just does not matter. Human nature is such that in order not to be a "bother" you will just eat whatever is served, regardless of your diet. Again one bite will lead to two and on and on.
The cycle of your food sensitivity has begun again.
Making & Keeping the Transition To Your New Diet
Many family's will make the commitment to eat the same foods as the allergic member of the family. This does help the food sensitive person to
adjust to their new diet without having the house full of forbidden foods. The non-allergic family members then can eat their regular foods outside of the home environment. It is therefore smart to stock the house with
safe allergy foods foods which will only reinforce the habit of staying on the new diet.
Some other ways to help ease into a new diet include:
- It is much easier and quicker for ease of preparation to cook only one meal for the entire family. Making multiple meals, some for the allergic, some for the non-allergic, means there is forbidden foods still in the house somewhere.
- Every time you leave home, get in the habit of taking your own private "goodie bag". If for any reason you do get held up and must eat your next meal away from home, you know you already have safe foods along in your possession.
- Avoid hot and spicy foods. They tend to aggravate an already troubled digestive system.
- Drink plenty of clear fluids to stay hydrated.
- During the early stages of transitioning to your new diet, many people will avoid food because of nausea and an upset stomach. This is the worst thing you can do. An empty stomach will hold all the undiluted digestive acids, making the nausea even worse. Eat small amounts of soothing foods to help dilute the digestive acids, thus reducing your constant feelings of nausea.
Any food sensitivity, by eliminating the offending food from your diet, will lead to a reversal of the symptoms and a feeling of general health and well-being will be obtained given time and patience.
Return to "Common Allergy Symptoms"
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*Disclaimer*
This site is not intended to replace the advice and supervision of your professional medical treatment plan. Although all of the information is true and accurate to the best of our knowledge, we still recommend you carefully check all food labels before consuming any food product. We can not assume any legal responsibility for any illness obtained while following the advice contained on this site.
