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Many people do not realize that they may be allergic or at least sensitive to the foods that they are eating on a regular basis. Furthermore, many of the foods commonly available today contain “common allergens,” foods that people are commonly allergic to. These contain but are not limited to: wheat, dairy, sugar, corn, and soy.
Sally Fallon in her book Nourishing Traditions, talks about why certain foods are hard to digest. She writes,
“Allergy tests have revealed sensitivities to every food commonly eaten, but most prevalent are allergies to milk products and grains... The proteins in grain and milk, namely gluten and casein, are two of the hardest proteins for humans to digest...(pg. 56.”)
By no means do I claim to be a doctor or even an expert on this subject, but I have used my own body as a testing ground for the past 12 years. My own research has led me to know what works best for my body and how I feel at my optimal health. I believe everyone has an “optimal diet” that works for their body.
Because of my own experience in this subject, one of my intentions as a personal chef is to support people in making dietary choices that best support their body. Many people may not even realize that the symptoms they may be experiencing in their body may be due to eating certain foods or eating too much of one of kind of food.
I have created the following questionnaire as a guide for people to start to question whether the food they are eating may be a culprit to their health concerns.
- Do you experience bloating after eating?
- Do you have other digestive problems such as stomach aches, constipation or diarrhea?
- Do you become tired after eating?
- Do you have skin problems such as acne, eczema or psoriasis?
- Do you have sinus congestion, postnasal drip, or sneezing after eating?
- Do you feel weighed down by the meal you just ate?
- Do you get headaches on a regular basis?
- Do you have insomnia?
Any of these symptoms could suggest that you may have a sensitivity to certain foods. However, I am not here to diagnose you and if you have other health related concerns, you should talk with your doctor.
However, there is a very simple to find out if you are allergic to a food. Simply cut the suspected food out of your diet for at least four days (make sure that if you are avoiding wheat, that you consider everything wheat is used in, such as soy sauce, pasta, cereals and crackers.) “Then eat a small amount on an empty stomach. Test your pulse before and after eating the food. If your pulse rises more than a few beats per minute, or if you have an adverse reaction, you are probably allergic to it” (Fallon 57).
All of this may be overwhelming for you to think about, especially when you don’t have time to cook your own food. I am here to serve and support you in choosing foods that support your body. Most of the dishes I prepare are either free of the common allergens or able to be adapted to fit your specific dietary needs. My first trade is that of a fine artist so I am very good at being creative while making something your body can still digest.
One of the most challenging aspects about changing your diet or staying off foods that you are allergic to is having food that your CAN eat around you. My suggestion is to try to surround yourself with only the foods that you can eat while eliminating the foods that you are allergic to. “Out of sight, out of mind.”
However, if you don’t have the time or experience to cook for yourself, this may be a good time to set up a FREE no obligation consultation with me. Simply call or email me.
Looking for some recipe ideas to kick start your new diet? Click here to see some recipes.
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