Food and Allergies
There are two types of allergies. The first is a sudden onset reaction, as when someone with an allergy to ragweed is exposed to the allergen and quickly develops a rash, shortness of breath, nasal congestion, and sneezing. A second, more insidious form that usually goes unrecognized is a delayed-onset reaction. In this form, the individual may notice only some fatigue, bloating, “mental fog,” or an exacerbation of chronic pain and congestion. Exposure to the allergen may cause damage to the desmosomes, allowing leaky gut syndrome to develop, thus deteriorating the body’s defense against specific allergens. The liver, which is responsible for detoxifying the blood, is thus overwhelmed by the number of foreign particles passing through what should have been an impermeable wall. The sufferer’s sensitivity to that allergen increases because it cannot be detoxified by an overwhelmed liver. Food sensitivities are distinguishable from food allergies by their effect on the nonimmuno - logical pathways in the body. Their effect is no less serious, however. Conditions such as celiac disease, due to gluten sensitivity, or lactose intolerance can dramatically influence leaky gut disorders.
