One of the major advancements in science in recent years has been the expanded understanding of the immune system and the much bigger and more important role it plays in general health and wellness. Initially, it was thought that our immune system only protected us from “invaders” of the environment, bacteria, or viruses. We now believe the immune system plays a protective role as well. We have two sides to our immune systems. The defensive side of the immune system does fight off those “invaders” that cause illnesses and the offensive (repair) side helps restore tissue and organ damage the illness may have caused. If either side becomes overburdened an imbalance may result.
“Recent studies have shown that when the defense elements or lymphocytes (type of white blood cell) of the immune system are burdened due to the effect of foreign antigens, the vital repair process suffers. Organs and tissues weaken over time, and the body’s ability to fight off future assaults is reduced. The effect of immune system dysfunction can result in chronic inflammatory and auto immune diseases that often defy treatment.” (Credit Dr. Russell Jaffe, ELISA/ACT Biotechnologies)
Delayed food and chemical sensitivities are different than allergies.
Delayed sensitivities can be tricky to find because symptoms can surface 3 hours to 3 weeks after the exposure. Those delayed food reactions and chemical sensitivities contribute to continuous low-grade inflammation. What happens when we have inflammation? Anything can happen! Infertility rates go up, unidentified skin conditions, inability to lose weight, chronic “invisible” pain, thyroid dysfunction, diabetes, the list is really endless. The greatest burdens to our immune system are remnants of incomplete digestion and environmental antigens. For example: if an apple is identified on your food sensitivity results – this would mean that every time you eat an apple your immune system is responding as if it is a “foreign invader”. Imagine your immune system responding to 2 or 3 (in most cases even more) antigens at once over the course of a week, a month, and if left unaddressed even years. You can see how the system can get overburdened very quickly. By identifying these immune triggers and avoiding exposures the burden can be reduced or even eliminated. This can help the defense and repair system return to proper balance.
Knowing your food and chemical sensitivities gives you another tool in your wellness toolbox.