Gut Toxicity / Food Allergies

The Digestive System

The digestive system includes the entire path that food and nutrients take on their journey through the body, from the mouth and esophagus to the small and large intestines. The best of diets is not much better than the worst of diets in delivering our required nutrition if the digestive system is not functioning properly.

What Is Gut Toxicity & What Are Food Allergies

One doctor studied over 450 cases of allergies and found that they cleared up when intestinal toxemia was eliminated. Faulty digestion also plays a role in toxicity of our system. Certain foods can produce a mild and constant stress that can indeed be a source of chronic problems. Food and stress are the root of digestive problems.

Allergic reactions to food, food intolerance (hypersensitivity), refined food, junk foods, food additives, and chemical contaminants in food can alter our moods and lead directly or indirectly to a constant state of low energy. Allergies are associated with lower immune system function. Allergens irritate the system because they are made up of protein molecules which are bigger than those normally found in food. When the blood vessels and mucous membranes are healthy they screen out the larger protein molecules. The blood vessels and membrane tissues of the allergic person are of poor quality and allow the entry of the larger protein molecules. When the tissues of the body are irritated by these allergens, the body releases a chemical known as a histamine. This substance causes the mucous membrane to swell, and if the irritation is extensive, the entire body can be affected with swelling.

An example of intolerance is the temporary sensitivity that occurs after a viral or bacterial infection of the intestinal tract. This infection alters the permeability of the gut, causing a "leaky gut," which allows undigested food residue to more easily pass into the blood stream. This in turn can cause chronic tiredness.

Many times food allergies are linked to toxicity in the gut. Our bodies can be a breeding ground for harmful microbes and chemicals. One of the primary sites in the body for toxins is the colon. When the colon becomes toxic, harmful bacteria, fungi and parasites proliferate. A toxic gut can be a home to a host of parasites. Parasites stimulate the immune system and wreak havoc with our digestion and assimilation. Eating a lot of refined, high-sugar foods instead of fresh, enzyme-rich fruits and vegetables further poisons the colon. Eating meat and chicken that have been given antibiotics are likely to cause digestive problems. A diet high in refined foods also slows the transit time in the colon allowing toxins to linger and inflame the gut lining. Malabsorption and/or leaky gut syndrome is the result.

Adverse food reactions can create almost any symptom and affect almost any body system. Many problems with food allergy or intolerance can be traced to problems within the intestinal tract. Leaky gut syndrome is one contributor to food intolerance. In such cases, food reactions improve when the leaky gut is repaired using nutrients.

As we keep adding irritating foods to our diet, the toxins damage the tissue of the gut. The inflamed wall becomes more porous and lets the toxins into the blood stream. The body treats them as foreign invaders and manufactures antibodies. This in turn leads to food allergies or hypersensitivity. The end result is fatigue and a weakened immune system.

Certain foods seem to cause more of an allergic response than others. They are wheat, peanuts, cow's milk and other dairy products, corn, and eggs. Beyond this list of common irritants, almost any food can provoke a response depending upon the individual. Most individuals are allergic to more than one food.

A good way to test whether or not you have a food sensitivity is to take your resting pulse before you eat a meal. After the meal is over and for the next few hours, if your pulse speeds up more than 10 beats per minute this means that one or more of the foods that you ate is an irritant. To test a specific food allergy, cut the food from the diet for four days, then eat it and take your pulse. If it speeds up more than 10 beats per minute the food should be eliminated. Besides doing a pulse test, a blood test may be done to determine what foods are irritating to the system. A comprehensive stool analysis can also be done to determine the condition of the gut and also check for parasites.

Therapy for Gut Toxicity and Food Allergies

Internal cleansing can help restore and heal an inflamed gut. The gut can be effectively detoxified through diet, herbs, and cleansing techniques. Food allergies can be taken care of by eliminating the caustic irritants from the diet. Once the foods and chemicals are eliminated from the body, the feeling of well being and vitality will be restored.

Practice proper food combining.

1. Eat acids and starches at separate meals.
2. Eat protein foods and carbohydrate foods (grains, bread, pasta) at separate meals.
3. Eat but one concentrated protein food at a meal.
4. Eat proteins and acids at separate meals.

A good rule of thumb is to combine vegetables and protein together at one meal or starch and vegetables together without protein. It is especially good to follow this rule while trying to heal the digestive tract.

The digestion time of various foods is determined by how easy they are to digest and assimilate in the body. Foods that take less time do not require a lot of work and energy to digest.

Digesting Time for Some Common Foods

A blood purifying and cleansing diet is recommended while healing. Digestion of food must be complete. The bowels must be kept clean. If one is not hypoglycemic, a short juice fast is recommended followed by a vegetable and protein diet. Some grains may be included in small amounts such as millet, wild rice, quinoa, and amaranth.

Foods that heal are sprouts, almonds, beans, raw nuts, peas, lemons, sesame seeds, green leafy vegetables, root vegetables, yellow fruits and vegetables, berries, carrots, apricots, parsley, celery, cabbage, watercress, apples, grapes, artichokes, garlic. Foods rich in Magnesium help prevent allergies: almonds, cashews, sesame seed, lima beans. Natural sodium found in zucchini, celery, carrots, beets, and seaweed helps to prevent water from getting into the cells, which otherwise would result in stuffy nose, watery eyes and swollen tissues.

In some cases a fast or partial fast on Ultra Clear, Ultra Clear Plus or Ultra Clear Sustain (contact us to obtain these products), for up to three weeks has been helpful with allergies and gut repair. These products, distributed by Metagenics, can be obtained through a natural health care practitioner.

Fiber is very important for cleansing the intestinal tract. A good bulking agent such as Nutri-cleanse, or flax seed meal should be used to keep the colon and intestinal tract clean. Figs are also an excellent source of fiber.

Limit or avoid food additives such as aspartame (Nutri-sweet), BHT, and Monosodium glutamate (MSG). If you consume meat make sure it is range free and has not been fed hormones, antibiotics, or other chemicals. During the healing process avoid all refined and preserved foods, sugars, caffeine, and dairy products. Use very little grain as it is a known allergen. Try to obtain organically grown produce whenever possible so that you are not loading poisons from chemical sprays and fertilizer into your body. A good principle to follow is a "zone" favorable diet that is 40 percent complex carbohydrate (from vegetables), 30 percent protein and 30 percent unsaturated fat.

Vitamin/Mineral Therapy

Multi-vitamins with extra A, B-complex (pantothenic acid, B6, B12).

Vitamin C with bioflavonoids, (helps in the assimilation of iron).

Calcium and Magnesium (balanced) prevents allergies.

Manganese, Potassium, Zinc.

Iodine (kelp) to produce thyroid hormone and protect metabolism.

Pantothenic acid, vitamin C and vitamin E have all been shown to reduce the production of histamines under stress.

Acidophilus (milk free).

Marine lipids, flax, Black Currant Seed Oil or evening primrose oil (essential fatty acids) are needed to produce adrenal hormones and to synthesize pantothenic acid in the intestines. New Life 1000 provides essential fatty acids from cold water salmon oil.

Digestive enzymes to prevent toxins from accumulating in the blood. Phyto Opti-Zymes contains a complex mixture of enzymes to give you extra digestive support.

Royal jelly and bee pollen. Bee Alert contains Bee Pollen, Royal Jelly, Ginseng, and Bee Propolis to help increase endurance, relieve stress, enhance immunity, and reduce allergies.

Reishi mushroom for the immune system.

Green superfoods as they are easy to digest and help to build strong immunity and in some cases have helped with allergies from pollens in the air. Green Magic has a broad spectrum of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, & micronutrients that provide the basic building blocks for rejuvenation at the cellular level.

Co enzyme Q10 to help the liver produce anti-hystamines.

Proanthocyanidins from grape seed extract or pine bark. These have been shown to be remarkably effective in treating allergies. Mega Pro Plus contains concentrated Proanthocyanidins: possibly the World’s Most Powerful Antioxidant.

Herbal Therapy

Alfalfa (Acid/Alkaline balance).

Lymphatic cleansers-Red Clover, violet leaves and burdock.

Chapparal (cleans deep in the cells).

Chickweed, Dandylion, Echinacea, Eyebright, and Fenugreek (cleans the stomach of mucous).

Gentian (tonic for the digestive tract).

Black walnut (Kills parasites and fungus).

Burdock root and Dong Quai to purify the blood.

Licorice and Pau D'Arco to kill fungus.

Exercise

Yoga postures to improve the digestion. Trampoline jumping to clean the lymph and strengthen the internal organs. Walking is the easiest and very beneficial.