Testing for Food Allergies
By Helene Pulnik | Published on August 12, 2010 | 0 Comments
When many people discover that they have food allergies, they get a whole new lease on life. Dr. Helene Pulnik ND, LAc is a naturopathic physician who owns Glastonbury Naturopathic Center and Wholistic Spa in Glastonbury, CT. She talks here why food allergy testing can be so important, especially for those who have chronic skin conditions or severe digestive problems…
Lab testing for food allergies is a really useful tool for people with symptoms that are not relieved by the basic treatments available to relieve allergy symptoms, such as changing your diet and other such recommendations. Food allergy testing can also be really helpful for people who have skin problems such as psoriasis and eczema.
Testing for allergies is also very useful for people with a wide range of digestive problems, from IBS to chronic diarrhea. People with asthma, migraines, and arthritis can all benefit from food allergy testing.
Affecting the Immune System
Food allergies can affect the integrity of the GI tract, and they can affect your immune system, so identifying and removing food allergies can be very helpful for many people. Children with psoriasis, for example, can undergo food allergy testing and very quickly notice an improvement in their skin.
Our brochure on food allergy testing asks if the foods you eat are making you sick, because certain foods can trigger the immune system’s response. Over time, that can put a strain on even a healthy person, which can lead to health problems down the road.
Keeping a Diet Diary
We do blood testing, and I check for food allergies that affect two different parts of the immune system, each of which responds differently to various allergens. I also have people do diet diaries so that I can analyze the composition of their diets. It’s an amazing tool of self-discovery and helps people really open their eyes. They may find out, for example, that 62 percent of their diet is carbohydrates, and that they lack fruits and vegetables completely. Seeing it in black and white puts a whole new spin on it. We actually do have control over what we put in out mouths, but at the same time, the hardest thing for people to control is their diet, so it really is a double-edged sword.
Food allergies can also make arthritis worse and they can even make people gain weight. Our testing program at Glastonbury Wholistic Spa can help people with weight loss as well as solve some of their medical conditions completely.
*Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.