Food Allergy & Intolerances Support & Testing
We offer a comprehensive and personalised approach to addressing food allergies and intolerances. Instead of just focusing on symptom management, we aim to identify the underlying root causes of these conditions and develop targeted strategies, testing and food plans, to promote healing and overall health.
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Here are some ways we can help with food allergies and intolerances:
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Comprehensive Assessment: Functional medicine practitioners take a detailed and holistic view of an individual's health history, lifestyle, genetics, and environment to understand the factors contributing to food allergies and intolerances. This assessment helps identify potential triggers, such as leaky gut, imbalanced gut microbiome, inflammation, or immune system dysregulation.
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Advanced Allergy Testing: We utilise advanced allergy testing methods, such as specialised blood tests, food inflammation tests (FIT) and functional laboratory assessments, to identify both immediate and delayed hypersensitivity reactions. These tests provide a more comprehensive picture of an individual's immune response to various foods and allergens.
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Elimination Diet and Food Reintroduction: Functional medicine often employs elimination diets to identify problematic foods causing allergies or intolerances, e.g., gluten, dairy, food pollen, histamine and FODMAP's. By eliminating common allergens and then systematically reintroducing them, we can pinpoint specific triggers and design customised nutrition plans that avoid those allergens.
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Gut Health Optimisation: The gut plays a crucial role in food allergies and intolerances. Our service focuses on improving gut health by addressing issues such as leaky gut, dysbiosis (imbalance of gut bacteria), and intestinal inflammation. Strategies include probiotic supplementation, prebiotic-rich foods, and gut-healing nutrients which can be incorporated into treatment plans.
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Reducing Systemic Inflammation: Inflammation is often associated with allergic reactions and intolerances. We emphasise dietary and lifestyle changes aimed at reducing systemic inflammation, promoting overall immune balance and improving tolerance to certain foods.
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Supporting Nutrient Deficiencies: We assess an individual's nutritional status and address any nutrient deficiencies that may be contributing to food allergies or intolerances. Proper nutrient supplementation and dietary adjustments can enhance immune function and support the body's ability to manage allergens effectively.
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Stress Reduction and Lifestyle Modifications: Stress and lifestyle factors can influence the immune system and exacerbate allergic responses. We incorporate stress reduction techniques, sleep optimisation, and lifestyle modifications to support immune resilience and reduce the severity of allergic reactions.
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Personalised Treatment Plans: Functional medicine is highly individualised, and treatment plans are tailored to each person's unique health profile and specific allergies or intolerances. This approach enhances the effectiveness of interventions and increases the likelihood of long-term success.
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Long-Term Prevention and Management: Beyond symptom relief, functional medicine focuses on long-term prevention and management of food allergies and intolerances. By addressing underlying imbalances, the goal is to decrease the body's sensitivity to allergens and improve overall immune function.
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Our service offers a comprehensive, patient-centered approach to food allergies and intolerances, empowering individuals to take control of their health, understand their unique triggers, and make informed decisions about their nutrition and lifestyle to improve their quality of life.
Common Food Allergies & Intolerances
Food allergies can vary in severity, from mild symptoms to life-threatening reactions (anaphylaxis). If you suspect a food allergy or experience adverse reactions, seek medical advice and undergo proper allergy testing. Understanding your food allergies helps manage your diet and avoid harmful allergens. Carry appropriate medication (like an adrenaline auto-injector) and inform others about your allergies for added safety. Food intolerances are different and involve difficulty digesting certain foods due to specific enzyme lack or abnormal responses to food components
Milk (Dairy) Allergy
This allergy is a reaction to proteins found in cow's milk, and it is more common in infants and young children. Some individuals may also be allergic to milk from other animals, such as goats or sheep.
Egg Allergy
Egg allergies are more common in children, but many outgrow the allergy by the age of 5. The allergy is usually a reaction to proteins in egg whites.
Peanut Allergy
Peanut allergies are prevalent and tend to be lifelong. Peanut allergies can cause severe reactions, making it essential for affected individuals to avoid all peanut-containing products.
Tree Nut Allergy
Tree nuts, such as almonds, cashews, walnuts, and hazelnuts, can cause allergic reactions in some individuals. Tree nut allergies are often lifelong and can be severe.
Soy Allergy
Soy Allergy: Soy allergies are common, especially in infants and young children. Soy is present in many processed foods, making it important for those with soy allergies to read ingredient labels carefully.
Wheat Allergy
Wheat allergies are particularly common in children and can sometimes be outgrown. Allergic reactions are usually a result of proteins found in wheat.
Fish or Seafood Allergy
Allergic reactions to fish are often severe and can develop at any age. Some individuals may be allergic to specific types of fish, while others are allergic to a variety of fish. Seafood allergy is common and often lifelong. It includes reactions to crustaceans like shrimp, crab, lobster, and mollusks like clams, mussels, oysters, and scallops.
Fructose Intolerance
Fructose is a sugar found in many fruits, honey, and certain sweeteners. Fructose intolerance occurs when the body has difficulty absorbing fructose properly, leading to digestive symptoms like bloating, gas, and diarrhoea
Lactose Intolerance
Lactose is the sugar found in milk and dairy products. Lactose intolerance occurs when the body lacks enough lactase, the enzyme responsible for breaking down lactose. This can lead to digestive issues, such as bloating, gas, diarrhoea, and stomach cramps, after consuming dairy products.
FODMAP Intolerance
FODMAPs (Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides, and Polyols) are a group of carbohydrates that some people have difficulty digesting. FODMAP intolerance can cause symptoms like bloating, gas, abdominal pain, and diarrhoea after consuming foods high in FODMAPs, such as certain fruits, vegetables, grains, and dairy products.
Gluten Intolerance
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye, and their derivatives. Non-coeliac gluten sensitivity is a condition where individuals experience symptoms similar to those with coeliac disease, such as digestive discomfort, fatigue, and headaches, without the autoimmune response seen in coeliac disease.
Histamine Intolerance
Histamine is a compound involved in the immune response and found in some foods. Histamine intolerance occurs when the body has trouble breaking down histamine, leading to symptoms like headaches, hives, nasal congestion, and digestive issues after consuming histamine-rich foods like aged cheeses, fermented foods, and certain beverages.
Caffeine Intolerance
Some individuals are sensitive to caffeine found in coffee, tea, energy drinks, and some medications. Caffeine intolerance can lead to symptoms like jitteriness, rapid heart rate, anxiety, and digestive issues.
Sulphite Intolerance
Sulphites are compounds used as preservatives in certain foods and beverages. Some individuals may experience adverse reactions to sulphites, leading to symptoms like headaches, difficulty breathing, and hives.