Food Allergies & Weight Loss

Food Allergies & Weight Loss

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Summary

An estimated 11 million Americans suffer from food allergies. The eight major food allergens are: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, wheat and soy.

Based on surveys completed by 19,300 visitors to the BestDietForMe.com website, between January 1 and March 30, 2005, more than one-third, or 37.5%, indicated that they are allergic to certain foods, are lactose intolerant, are vegetarians, prefer not to eat red meat or shellfish, or need special diet plans to lower their blood pressure or their cholesterol levels.

This is a fairly high percentage of dieters and indicates strongly that weight loss programs must be able to customize their plans to accommodate people with such special foods needs.

Could a food allergy be making it difficult for you to lose weight? One good clue might be whether you crave a particular food that you eat frequently. Once a food allergy exists, the food becomes mildly addictive and you can feel compelled to eat it. If you are allergic to a food, your body can react by storing it instead of using it for energy. If you eat a lot of foods to which you are allergic, weight gain will undoubtedly be the result.

There are two types of allergic reactions.

· Type A (classic allergy). In this type of allergy, you experience a reaction immediately after contact with an allergen (such as shellfish or peanuts, for example).

· Type B (delayed allergy or intolerance). Here, the reaction can take place between one hour or 3 days after eating the food. Symptoms such as weight gain, bloating, water retention, fatigue, aching joints and headaches can all be due to a Type B allergy.

New Food Label Law - Will It Help?

New food labeling requirements in the U.S., which take effect less than a year from now, will reduce allergic reactions in people who have potentially life-threatening food allergies . However, there may be another, unintentional result for those who suffer from food allergies. If food manufacturers follow the labeling law strictly, trace amounts of some previously unlisted food allergens will be posted, causing more diet restriction than ever before.

The Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA), passed by Congress, will take effect in January 2006. It is intended to make life easier and simpler for people who suffer from food allergies, some of which can be fatal. For these individuals, accurately reading a label can literally be a matter of life and death.

However, the law won't change the situation in restaurants. One-third of survey respondents said they had had a reaction to food served in a restaurant. Of those, 63% had had a reaction to a restaurant food on more than one occasion.

A compound to increase an allergic person's tolerance to peanuts showed success in clinical trials but has stalled in getting to market. In the meantime, studies are underway with Xolair, an asthma treatment, to see if it would protect peanut-allergic people enough so they won't react to trace amounts of the food.

The Science

The phenomenon of simultaneous allergy and addictions to both foods and chemicals is now well accepted by doctors specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of allergies. These specialists, known as clinical ecologists, believe that many chronic health problems, such as migraine, fatigue, depression, and arthritis are caused by allergies to foods and chemicals and affect approximately one-third of the population living in industrial countries.

Water retention, or edema, is especially common among allergic individuals and is an important contributing factor to obesity. The removal of an offending food will often result in a rapid water loss of 5-10 pounds within a week, all without the use of a diuretic.

Charles McGee, M.D., who practices clinical ecology in C'oeur D'Alene, Idaho (author of "How To Survive Modern Technology"), was asked whether in his opinion, food and chemical allergies could be a major cause of obesit. He replied: "There are many people who are addicted to all sorts of of foods. The ones who are addicted to coffee do not necessarily get fat. If they are addicted to sugar or wheat, they may end up running around with candies or wheat crackers in their pockets to satisfy the craving. What's most important is that it's extremely difficult for these allergic individuals to lose weight unless they gain control of their food allergies. They must identify the particular allergens, break the craving and then eliminate the chemical or food."

Functional food and chemical allergies have been largely ignored by most doctors. One reason for this is that there has been no miracle drug that can be heavily promoted by the drug companies, so the doctors would not be encouraged to diagnose the disease and then treat it. Until now there has been no simple, easy cure for allergies. Nutrition treatment in the form of vitamin, mineral, amino acid and glandular supplements, accompanied by avoidance of allergenic foods offer the critical answer to this problem.

More Resources

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, in San Antonio

Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis network (FAAN)

Product Details

· Paperback: 368 pages

· Publisher: Prima Lifestyles; REV edition (Jul 23 2002)

· Language: English

· ISBN-10: 0761537600

· ISBN-13: 978-0761537601

· Product Dimensions: 20 x 14 x 2 cm

· Shipping Weight: 427 g

· Average Customer Review: based on 6 reviews. (Write a review.)

· Amazon.ca Sales Rank: #276,658 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

(Publishers and authors: Improve Your Sales)

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Product Description

Review
"For five years I have used the ALCAT test in my practice—no other test is as accurate or useful."
—FRED PESCATORE, M.D., author, Thin for Good and Feed Your Kids Well

"This book offers a clear program for helping you discover which foods are unhealthy for you."
—ELSON M. HAAS, M.D., author, The False Fat Diet and Staying Health with Nutrition

Book Description
Now You Can Lose Weight—and Feel Great!
Do you know that there is a scientifically verified test and eating program that can change your life? It's simple: Discover your food allergies and intolerances, eliminate these trigger foods from your diet, and shed pounds effortlessly!

Inside is everything you need to know about the ALCAT test, a revolutionary approach to weight loss and well-being that will help you regain control over your weight, your health, and your life.

The ALCAT test works: 98 percent of the participants in a Baylor Institute study who eliminated their trigger foods lost weight, reduced their percentage of body fat, and gained muscle tissue.
"For five years I have used the ALCAT test in my practice—no other test is as accurate or useful."
—Fred Pescatore, M.D., author, Thin for Good and Feed Your Kids Well

"This book offers a clear program for helping you discover which foods are unhealthy for you."
—Elson M. Haas, M.D., author, The False Fat Diet and Staying Healthy with Nutrition

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

Average Customer Review:
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.

30 years of Stomach Ailments Cured overnight, Oct 8 2003

Reviewer: A customer

Doctors told me that I did not have a "disease" and so they could not help me. I had IBS(Irritable Bowel Syndrome) everyday. Before I could leave for work, I took over the counter help-3 times the normal dose. That did not include what I needed throughout the rest of the day. I did not even mention to the doctors about the acid reflux EVERY night. I thought it was mild compared to the agony and embarrassment that I suffered of the irritable bowel syndrome. There was nothing regular physicians could or would do. The Al-Cat test (and Dr. Rivera) saved my life. When the digestive system breaks down so will the immune system eventually. Since the day I began avoiding the foods I am allergic to and following the prescribed new way of eating, I have had NO acid reflux. I have been free of IBS for nearly 10 months straight. (Only occassional boughts of it before that.) I have lost 60 pounds total. I feel great. I am in the best shape of my life at age 52. I feel 30. (My husband enjoys the change.) Reading the book won't change anything. But following its suggestions and reccommendations could save your life!