Is a Food Allergy Causing your Fatigue?

When you are allergic to a particular food your body initially reacts with alarm and the symptoms are very clear.

You may notice headaches and migraines, abdominal bloating or cramps, frequent diarrhoea or constipation, eczema or other skin problems, painful swelling of joints, unexplained mood swings, depression or anxiety, swollen hands, ankles, feet, eyes, face, unexplained weight gain or loss, catarrh, sinus congestion, runny nose or constant fatigue.

The amazing thing about the human body is that it works remarkably well in coping with a food allergy at the initial time of reaction and after a short period the symptoms may not be as extreme or indeed the initial symptoms may not appear at all.

The problem is that whilst the offending foods are still eaten the body is having to cope with the food allergy on an ongoing basis and as part of this process the adrenal glands produce adrenalin and cortisone to keep the body working.

Over time the adrenal glands gradually become exhausted from the continuing effort of having to cope and this will leave you feeling exhausted and suffering from fatigue.

The other surprising fact about food allergies is that the sufferer typically feels BETTER when they eat the offending food, and if the allergen food is eaten regularly you may even feel a sense of "elation".

Unfortunately, this explains why the foods that are causing you the most harm are normally the ones that you crave to eat.

Not surprisingly, a result of this food allergy mechanism is a lack of energy and fatigue, as your body is constantly trying to deal with the food that is causing all the distress.

Once the body has run out of resources to fight and adapt any more you will enter a stage of exhaustion due to the immune system becoming damaged and the adrenal glands being diminished.

Many people visit their doctors or health care practitioner at this stage complaining of constant fatigue, bloating and depression without understanding that the cause may be a food allergy.

The important fact to remember is that a food allergy is often overlooked or missed in a diagnosis when fatigue or exhaustion is an issue. If you have tried all you can to improve your energy, even if you have no symptoms of a food allergy, it is worth testing for one on the chance the food allergy symptoms may be hidden.

If you do have a food allergy and you do not detect it you could face poor health and continued fatigue as a result.

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What is an allergy?

A major defence mounted by the body's immune system against normally harmless substances, or allergens, such as chemicals in pollen, food, bee stings, animal dander, or dust. An allergic reaction is the body's strong reaction to these substances in a person who is sensitive to them. Reactions range from mild to severe, and may include sneezing, a rash, or difficulty breathing (which can be fatal). Allergens trigger allergic reactions in people with allergies.
A condition in which the body has an exaggerated response to a substance (eg food or drug). Also known as hypersensitivity.
When a person is very sensitive to certain foods, liquids, pollen, or animals. The allergy can make the person ill, including sneezing, itching, and rashes. Severe allergies can even be fatal (cause death). Some organisms which cause uncomfortable allergies with people include Ragweed (pollen), Poison Ivy (oil), and Honey Bees (venom).