A quick Q&A with Dr. Stephen Wangen from the IBS Treatment Center.
What Causes a Food Allergy?
It is most likely that food allergies are genetically predetermined. In the big picture, humans have only recently introduced many current day foods into the diet, so it’s not surprising that the immune system doesn’t recognize every food as a friendly substance.
Undoubtedly we do not understand everything there is to know about food or food allergies.
Why Is It So Difficult to Recognize One’s Own Food Allergy?
This is problematic because of the often delayed nature of food allergies. Allergy symptoms may show up hours or even a day later, after a food is well absorbed into your system.
This difficulty is compounded by the fact that certain foods, such as dairy and wheat, are so prevalent in our diet that many people eat them nearly every day. Therefore connecting your symptoms with your eating habits often nearly impossible.
How Do I Determine if I Have a Food Allergy?
The only sure way to determine if you have a food allergy is to have your blood tested for antibodies to a variety of foods. This is done with an ELISA Food Allergy Panel, which measure your immune response to approximately 100 different foods.
If you think you have a food allergy, contact our office at Info@IBSTreatmentCenter.com or toll-free at 1.888.546.6283.
Dr. Wangen is the founder and medical director of the IBS Treatment Center, the award winning author of two books, and a nationally recognized speaker on digestive disorders. He has been on ABC, NBC, and Fox as well as public radio, and was named one of Seattle’s Top Doctors by Seattle Magazine.