Unravelling Food Sensitivities in IBS: How to Know What Food is the Culprit

Do you ever feel frustrated and confused about what foods worsen or trigger your heartburn, bloating, gas, constipation or diarrhea? You’re not alone. This is a common concern I hear in my naturopathic practice, for good reason.

The digestive system is complex, with lots of moving parts, that all must work together, in order for us to feel our best.

Not to worry, though, you can pin-point which foods could be aggravating you. Breath a sigh of relief and keep reading to learn how.

There are two main routes to discovering your food sensitivities: the elimination diet or the blood food sensitivity test.

Let’s start with the Elimination Diet. It works by cleaning up your diet by removing the most common aggravating foods for a period of time (at least a month) and then re-introducing them one at a time to determine which food make your symptoms worse. The top food to avoid during the elimination diet are dairy, gluten, sugar, soy, nightshade vegetables, processed food, caffeine and alcohol. A huge emphasis is placed on lean protein, vegetables, fruit, gluten-free grain and healthy fat (from nuts and seeds).

The benefit is that it’s both a treatment and a test at the the same time. Most people who have food sensitivities will feel much better following this diet. That was the case for me. Within a few weeks my bloating was virtually gone, my acne cleared up and I lost about 5 lbs! Keep in mind, it’s not a diet that’s meant to be used for long periods of time. If you do feel reliant on it to maintain the status quo, there is more work to be done to heal your gut.

The major con to the elimination diet is that it requires a great deal of commitment from you to overhaul your diet. It’s understandable that events come up in our lives that can make it hard to stay on track, like a busy work schedule, taking care of family, a party, holiday or vacation. If the elimination diet doesn’t seem like the right fit for you, then consider an IgG Food Sensitivity Test (FST).

The FST is an in-office finger prick test that analyzes your blood for immune IgG anti-bodies against food protein. While food sensitivities are considered immune-mediated, they are not the same as an allergy. In the case of an anaphylactic peanut allergy, a person has created an IgE anti-body against peanut protein. When they are exposed to peanut, the IgE antibodies trigger a very quick and extreme response. Sometimes, it’s even life-threatening. This is considered an allergy to peanut. IgE antibodies are also why you might experience seasonal allergies in the Spring and Fall. IgE-mediated allergies are usually assessed by a medical specialist.

On the other hand, food sensitivities are mediated by IgG anti-bodies. Unlike their cousin the IgE, IgG antibodies create a very slow and relatively mild response. This nondescript response is why food sensitivities can be so frustrating to pin-point.

While the food sensitivity blood test is not a perfect science, it can help to determine which foods could be to blame for your digestive troubles and is a compelling option when the elimination diet doesn’t make sense. It may also be a more appropriate option for children, when it wouldn’t be easy to remove certain food from their diet.

To learn more about which option is right for you, book your 15-minute free Meet & Greet today!

Dr. Jacqui Klassen