Discovering Hidden Food Allergies in Your Abercrombie, ND Child

by Dr. Richard Visser

I wanted to take this opportunity to bring you information about a serious Abercrombie, ND childhood health issue - Hidden Food Allergies.

We are all familiar with food allergies such as peanuts, eggs, shellfish, milk, wheat and corn. They can cause swelling and itching, flushing, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, swelling of the lips or anaphylactic shock, which is life threatening.

We treated many children in my clinic that suffered from chronic upper respiratory tract and or ear infections. The usual course of treatment is an antibiotic cycle, with recurring infections getting the same or a different antibiotic combined with the surgical insertion of drain tubes through the eardrums, and all this before the child turns 5, usually. The parents have to reschedule their life around the chronic infections, missed school, and regular trips to the doctor's office. In this day and age, when both parents are income-producing, this causes a tremendous amount of stress. Resolving the health crisis required several things, but in my clinic we were usually able to forecast the culprit: a hidden food allergy, most often dairy or wheat combined with sugar.

What is a hidden food allergy? It is a reaction to foods consumed that does not display immediate or severe symptoms like a true food allergy, and it is usually caused by a food that the child really likes. The problem most of the time is the consumption of the SAME food on a prolonged consistent basis. Technically, once a food causing an allergic reaction is consumed, the body recognizes it as a foreign substance and builds antibodies against that food. If, after 24 hours, that particular food is no longer present, the amount of antibodies diminishes, causing the body to go back to normal. On the other hand, if that same food is consumed day after day, the antibody level stays high, causing a hidden food allergy to that particular food. In addition to chronic ear and upper respiratory infections, hidden food allergies may be a contributing factor to such conditions as chronic diarrhea, asthma, ADD, ADHD, reduced immune defense, obesity, and skin disorders, such as eczema.

There are a two ways to confirm which food is causing the symptoms: a Hidden Food Allergy Test or a Food Elimination Diet. The first tests your blood for approximately 144 different foods, and results are known within 10 days. It is sometimes covered by insurance and runs in the $500.00 range (for information on what doctors/laboratories do this test, please visit www.immunolabs.com). A Food Elimination Diet involves removing the current food items in the diet one by one for four days at a time. It isn't easy, however, as you must document every single thing consumed, including the ingredients within that product. For instance, ketchup is made up of a long list of ingredients. If the child's menu is not varied, it may be easier.

Once a food is specified as a hidden food allergen, it is possible to reverse it by eliminating that particular food for 8 weeks and then re-introducing it. Once re-introduced, if there are still reactions, then that food should be permanently removed from the diet.

A good way to prevent hidden food allergies is to practice a Four Day Rotation diet. For example, if on Monday you want to eat shrimp, then have as much shrimp as you would like for 24 hours. Then, do not eat shrimp for another 4 days. This will keep the antibodies against shrimp within a normal range.

Having all this information on hidden food allergies will make you pay attention to your diet. After all, paying attention is where it all starts when it comes to our health, but particularly our children's health. Remember to always consult your Abercrombie, ND healthcare practitioner before making any changes to your diet.