Most people are familiar with immediate-onset food allergies. These are usually a permanent or fixed allergic response such as having an allergic reaction to shellfish or peanuts. Immediate onset allergies generally occur during childhood. They can be genetically predisposed and occur in less than 5% of the population. The immediate onset food allergies were once thought to be the only “true” food allergy, however we now know that there are several types of food allergies and they can have a delayed response.
Delayed onset food allergies or type-3 allergies can appear anywhere from two hours up to several days after consuming allergic foods. This type of allergy primarily affects adults and is very insidious in nature. They occur when the immune system creates an overabundance of IgG antibodies to a particular food. The IgG antibodies bind directly to the food as it enters the bloodstream, forming different sizes of circulating immune complexes. (Bradly).
Delayed onset food allergies generally involve multiple foods, sometimes as many as twenty. Due to a combination of delayed symptoms, multiple foods, and food cravings, delayed-onset food allergies are rarely self-diagnosed. Powerful cravings and withdrawal symptoms are reported in over 30 percent of delayed food allergy patients when they stop eating food. The foods people crave are generally the foods they eat daily. Because delayed food allergies are not apparent immediately and can be caused by multiple foods, they are very difficult to detect without sophisticated laboratory testing.
The good news is that delayed food onset allergies are commonly reversible through dietary changes. It takes three to six months for your body to replace all of its IgG antibodies and the new batch of IgG antibodies have no memory of the previous foods you were strongly reacting to, so through an elimination diet one can overcome delayed onset food allergies (Bradly). An elimination diet involves eliminating all common food allergens from the diet for 3 to 6 months. This includes nuts, wheat, gluten, dairy, corn, oats, soy and any other foods you commonly crave, particularly your favorite foods. Refined, denatured and processed foods should also be avoided along with alcohol, caffeine and cigarettes. Then for 3 to 6 months consume only non-mucus foods such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and cold pressed oils, organic of course is preferred. Also, be sure to drink plenty of water, 6-8 glasses. During this time keep a food diary and write down all the symptoms you are experiencing. After you have competed the 3 to 6 month period reintroduce each food into the diet one at a time over the period of five days and note your body’s response ( Mercado). For example to reintroduce dairy to the diet, eat a piece of cheese on day one, then wait four days and note any changes either physical or mental. If you feel fine after the five days you can introduce another food item. During this time it is also recommended to increase your immunity and try to stay as stress free as possible.
Sources:
Bradly, Dr. James. “Dr. Braly’s Allergy Relief, the Natural Way.” Allergy Relief the Natural Way… Optimum Health Is at the Tip of Your Finger with IgG ELISA Food Intolerance Pin-Prick (Finger-Stick) Screening. Better Health DOES Begins at Home! Web. 23 Mar. 2011. <http://www.drbralyallergyrelief.com/igg.html>.
Mercado, Charmaine. “Conquering Delayed-Onset Food Allergies in Three Steps.” Independent News on Natural Health, Nutrition and More. Web. 23 Mar. 2011. <http://www.naturalnews.com/022556.html>.
Pitchford, Paul. Healing with Whole Foods: Asian Traditions and Modern Nutrition. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic, 2002. Print.
