If you suffer from chronic pain or inflammation, you’re not alone.
It is estimated that 100 million Americans suffer from chronic pain, and the average cost of treatment is nearly $600 billion! Yes, billion…that’s a ton of medicine, a ton of money, and way too many Americans dealing with a reduced quality of life.
But, what if there were two things you could do to help reduce your level of pain, would you try it?
If you answered yes, then read on!
Addressing these health issues can make a big difference in the level of pain you experience every day, and improve your overall quality of life.
Food allergies and sensitivities are have become more present as the foods we are consuming today have become less close to what our bodies recognize as food.
Gluten, wheat, corn, and soy are all crops that have been significantly genetically modified over the years, making it very difficult for our bodies to process them. This can lead to inflammation, food sensitivities, and even food allergies.
When we consume foods that our bodies cannot recognize, the body will mount an attack on this food and start creating antibodies. This is a recipe for long-term food allergy and sensitivity issues if the foods are not removed from the diet.
Many people are become allergic or sensitive to dairy and gluten and don’t know it. These are some of the most allergenic foods for people. When it comes to dairy, lactose intolerance could be the cause or a full-blown dairy allergy could be present.
However, dairy poses another issue because of the hormone and antibiotics present in conventional milk. The antibiotics will throw our digestive health out of balance, and the added hormones can cause endocrine disruption.
Consuming foods that don’t sit well with your body can lead to inflammation, which will then result in pain.
It will also cause an imbalance in your gut flora, and with an imbalanced gut, comes imbalanced health, since your gut is central to your overall health. Consuming foods we react to is a sure-fire way to trigger digestive inflammation and upset.
The issue with certain infections is that you may not even know that you have one. Many of these are linked to the gut. Things like SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) candida, parasites, and leaky gut can all lead to inflammation in the body, and as you’ve learned.. inflammation eventually equals pain.
Many people suffer from these infections without knowing, because they can be difficult to diagnose. However, being aware of the signs and symptoms can help you uncover whether you believe you are suffering from a chronic or hidden infection, and then take the steps to get that infection under control.
Whew, that’s a lot of information.
But, don’t worry, here are the signs and symptoms of food allergies and sensitivities, and steps you can take to start addressing them today.
Food allergies and sensitivities are different, but both can lead to inflammation and pain.
A true food allergy will cause an immune system reaction that can cause issues with different organs in the body. Some allergic reactions can even be life-threatening.
A food sensitivity or a food intolerance is normally less serious than a food allergy, but they can still cause inflammation and digestive health issues. Remember.. with an imbalance in gut health, comes an imbalance in overall health, so removing foods you may be reacting to is essential.
⚙ Hives
⚙ Rash
⚙ Difficulty breathing
⚙ Persistent cough
⚙ Swelling of the tongue
⚙ Weak pulse
⚙ Dizziness
⚙ Pale or blue coloring of the skin
⚙ Anaphylaxis shock in serious cases
⚙ Vomiting or gastrointestinal distress
⚙ Gastrointestinal distress
⚙ Skin reactions such as eczema or rashes
⚙ Fatigue
⚙ Irritability
⚙ Brain fog
⚙ Unexplained weight changes
⚙ Joint pain
If you suspect that you have a true food allergy, it is so important to completely remove this food from your diet. Food allergies can be diagnosed through skin prick testing or blood work. Avoidance is the only way to address a food allergy.
Eliminate the foods you believe you are reacting to for at least two weeks, and then reintroduce one food at a time. If you react to a food upon reintroduction, that’s a good indication that you are sensitive to that food.
Keep in mind that many people do not tolerate gluten, soy, corn, or dairy as these can be very inflammatory. If you do reintroduce dairy into your diet, opt for organic, grass-fed dairy products to avoid steroid, hormone, and antibiotic exposure which can further inflame the body and cause more pain.
When it comes to hidden infections, and particularly hidden infections related to the gut, you will want to watch out for the following symptoms.
If you are suffering from any of these symptoms that are not relieved by addressing food allergies or sensitivities, it may be time to work with a holistic health practitioner to run testing to determine if a gut infection is present. Removing the infection can be a huge step in reducing the amount of pain you may be experiencing each day.
If you suffer from chronic pain, it may seem like anything you do just doesn’t make it any better. However, there are so many steps you can take! Addressing diet, and removing foods that simply don’t work for your body is a huge step in the right direction.
Start by eliminating these reactive foods, and see how your body feels.
On top of that, consider supplementing with a high-quality probiotic, and curcumin supplement. Both of which can help support gut health and help fight inflammation.
You should start feeling like a new you in just 60-90 days!
