Beyond and Behind Food Allergies

by Emerson Ecologics

What To Do After Food Elimination

When a patient has a food , the most urgent and obvious action is to . In simple cases, that’s sufficient. But what if there are multiple food allergies? What if there’s also an atopic condition, like eczema or asthma? What if food reintroduction always ends badly? 

Sometimes helping a patient with food allergies requires a more encompassing approach. Whether you call it naturopathic or functional or integrative medicine, the concept is the same. The goal is to get to the root cause. 

Behind every food allergy is an that’s gone awry. And beyond every disrupted immune system are a myriad of genetic and environmental influences. 

Thus, an integrative approach to food allergies removes environmental irritants to relieve the immune burden. It supports as well as gut integrity and detoxification. And it considers the bigger picture of the patient. 

 

These three steps are key to looking beyond and behind food allergies in your patients. Here’s what research shows is the best way to implement these steps.

Step 1: Remove Environmental Irritants

As the prevalence of allergic conditions has escalated in recent decades, so have the number of new chemicals in everyday environments. Epidemiological studies suggest that exposures to pesticides, solvents, and air pollution are associated with increased rates of asthma and allergies. 

Environmental toxins could contribute to allergies because of their effect on T-helper cell function. With allergies, there tends to be reduced activity of Th1 function and increased activity of Th2 function, or a situation called Th2 dominance. Many environmental chemicals contribute to Th2 dominance. 

Phthalates—chemicals that readily leach from plastics—disrupt immune function and skew T cells toward a Th2 response. The same is true for heavy metals, such as aluminum, mercury, and lead. 

Exposure to tobacco smoke, diesel exhaust, and particulate matter is also associated with higher rates of asthma and allergies. Studies show that these exposures not only irritate the lung tissue, but also alter immune function. 

Pesticides have extremely low allergenicity, and therefore, people aren’t likely to be allergic to them. However, pesticide exposure is associated with allergies because of the chemicals’ indirect effects on immune function, T-helper cell balance, and oxidative stress. 

It’s also important to note that environmental irritants don’t need to be synthetic to disrupt immune function. Excessive exposure to natural pollutants—like mold spores—can also impact immune function.  

Decreasing the chemical burden on the immune system is especially crucial for patients with allergies. To remove environmental irritants, you’ll want to address three areas of exposure:  irritants in the home, chemicals in everyday products, and additives in foods.

Irritants In the Home

Household dust is mostly a mixture of human skin, animal fur, lint, soil, and particulate matter from cooking. But dust can also harbor flame-retardant chemicals, heavy metals, and even dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT). Other irritants in the home can include cigarette smoke, pet dander, dust mites, and mold spores. 

The following steps can help your patients combat these irritants and allergy-proof their homes:

  • Don’t allow anyone to smoke in the house.
  • Have air ducts professionally cleaned every year or two.
  • Vacuum once or twice a week with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter.
  • Use a high-quality air purifier.
  • Use an exhaust fan over the stove.
  • Wash bedding once a week with hot water.
  • Use dehumidifiers in areas where mold might grow, like basements (keep humidity below 50 percent).

Chemicals In Everyday Products

Many conventional cleaning supplies, personal care products, and cosmetics commonly contain chemicals that can disrupt immune function. Synthetic fragrances are also a huge problem; according to the Environmental Working Group, collectively, they’re considered among the top five allergens in the world. 

Here are some specific immune-disrupting chemicals to avoid in everyday products:

  • Triclosan. This endocrine-disrupting chemical is most commonly found in conventional hand sanitizers. Choose natural alcohol based sanitizers instead. 
  • Ammonia and bleach. Use vinegar, baking soda and other natural cleaning products for all-purpose cleaning. 
  • Fragrances.  Avoid dryer sheets and scented laundry detergents.
  • Phthalates (dibutyl phthalate [DBP], dimethyl phthalate [DMP], and diethyl phthalate [DEP]). These are common in conventional lotions and shampoos. Choose natural or organic personal care products instead.
  • Parabens (propyl-, isopropyl-, butyl-, and isobutyl-parabens). These are common in conventional lotions, shampoos, and cleansers, but are rare in natural or organic versions.

Additives In Food

Food additives include colorings, flavorings, preservatives, and other chemicals that are purposely added during processing. Chemicals from packaging or manufacturing equipment, including adhesives, coatings, paperboard, and plastic, can also contaminate foods. 

In a 2018 policy statement, Food Additives and Child Health, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) cautioned that many food additives could disrupt endocrine and

The AAP specifically warned against these immune-disrupting chemicals:

  • Bisphenol-A (BPA). This is found in polycarbonate plastics, like water bottles, and in the lining of some food and soda cans. 
  • Phthalates. These are found in plastics, like food packaging. 
  • Perfluoroalkyl chemicals (PFCs). These are found in grease-proof paper, cardboard packaging, and some nonstick pans. 
  • Artificial food colors. These synthetic dyes may be hidden in many processed foods.
  • Nitrates and nitrites. These preservatives in processed meats have been associated with allergies and hives. 

The most effective way to avoid these and other chemical additives is to eat natural, organic whole foods.

Step 2: Support Immune Health

Allergies are characterized by an imbalance in T-helper cell function, so sustainable recovery requires . However, the immune system doesn’t exist in isolation. 

About 70 percent of all immune cells reside in the intestinal tract, where they interact with the gut microbiota as well as the foods and chemicals we consume. Food allergies are closely associated with compromised intestinal-barrier function. 

Whether the food or the intestinal permeability comes first depends on the individual and isn’t always easy to determine but the two likely contribute to each other in a vicious loop. What we do know is that one important way to indirectly support immune health is to support . 

Also, since exposure to environmental chemicals can disrupt the overall balance of Th1 to Th2 activity, supporting the body’s natural detoxification pathways helps to alleviate the burden on immune function. 

To offer whole-body support for , consider the following strategies to balance T-helper function, gut health, and detoxification. 

Balance T-helper Function

Several supplement ingredients have been found to help balance the T-helper function and calm the immune response: 

  • Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus). Astragalus is an herb that has long been used in China to support immune health and resilience. It has a balancing effect on many aspects of immunity, including T-helper function.
  • Turmeric. Turmeric supports a healthy inflammatory response and supports healthy T-helper function.
  • Probiotics. Some strains of Lactobacilli bacteria have been shown to balance the activity of Th1 and Th2 cells.
  • Quercetin. This dietary flavonoid balances T-helper function in animal studies.
  • Zinc. This essential mineral supports a healthy balance of T-helper function.

Support Gut Health

It’s not entirely known if a breakdown of the intestinal-barrier function is a potential cause or consequence of food allergies. But regardless of which comes first, it’s reasonable to support healthy gut function and intestinal-barrier function in anyone who has multiple food allergies. 

Consider the following supplement ingredients to support intestinal health:

  • L-Glutamine. This amino acid serves as a source of fuel for intestinal cells, and has been demonstrated in numerous studies to support tight junctions and intestinal barrier function.
  • Zinc carnosine. This chelated compound of zinc and l-carnosine supports healthy gastrointestinal mucosa and intestinal barrier-function.
  • . Probiotics support intestinal immune function and strengthen intestinal-barrier health. Prebiotics are types of fiber that fuel the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut. They can be consumed in foods (like garlic, onions, asparagus, and bananas) or taken as dietary supplements.

. Collagen provides a rich source of amino acids that might serve as fuel and building blocks to repair intestinal cells. Clinicians are beginning to use collagen as a novel ingredient to support gut health.

Support Detoxification

Detoxification pathways help the body metabolize and remove everyday chemicals. It’s especially critical to support detoxification in patients who struggle with multiple allergies or have known environmental exposures. 

Along with a nutrient-dense diet and therapies like saunas and Epsom salt baths, consider the following nutritional supplements for detoxification:

  • Detoxification combination products. Support all of the phases of healthy liver with products that contain B vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants.
  • Antioxidants. Help neutralize free radicals that can damage the immune system. Consider n-acetylcysteine, selenium, vitamin E, and herbs to support cellular glutathione and other antioxidant defenses.
  • Herbs. Turmeric (Curcuma longa), artichoke (Cynara scolymus), and milk thistle (Silybum marianum) are just three examples of herbs that can support liver health and detoxification.

Step 3: Consider the Bigger Picture

Some cases of food allergies are straightforward. But many are not. 

Some patients struggle with debilitating symptoms from food allergies, like migraine headaches. Others become so limited in the foods they can eat that their diet becomes a problem in other areas of their life. And some patients have reactions not only to foods, but also to multiple other allergens or chemicals. 

Once you’ve removed environmental irritants and taken a whole-body approach to support immune function, you may need to go even deeper. Some aspects to consider include heavy metal exposure, chronic viral exposure, or an undiagnosed medical condition. 

In addition,can interfere with the body’s ability to heal, as can a lack of exercise or sunlight. A genuinely holistic approach to food allergies considers the bigger picture of the patient as a whole. 

By removing , supporting gut and immune health, and looking at the bigger picture, your patients may discover they can feel better than they ever knew was possible.