Functional Nutrition for Allergies
Allergies are a common condition that can have a variety of side effects depending on the person. The reaction occurs when your body responds to a foreign substance that it doesn’t know how to handle. It releases antibodies to fight this substance which causes you to react. There is a wide range of allergies, such as seasonal, food, and drug. People have different responses to these sensitivities as well.
Our Nutrition Team at Holistic Wholeness Institute helps individuals with allergies alleviate their symptoms naturally with food and lifestyle habits. First, we take a look at what you are currently eating, and then we understand which foods are causing you to have a reaction, so we know to limit them. We use both in vivo (real-life) and in vitro functional lab tests) to figure out the right diet for your unique makeup. We also will implement more symptom-fighting superfoods into your diet!
Here are some of the common types of allergies we specialize in and an overview of how we tackle them:
Seasonal Allergies
Treating your seasonal allergies each year with over-the-counter medication can cause drowsiness and increase blood pressure. However, by implementing nutritional changes to your diet year-round, you can decrease your reactions to irritants. The Holistic Wholeness Institute’s goal is to keep our clients at a stable, healthy weight, as those who are obese suffer from more allergy attacks. We also replace foods that cause inflammation with anti-inflammatory options containing Vitamin C, bromine, and omega-3’s.
Food Allergies
Eating a wide variety of foods is vital for obtaining all of our fundamental vitamins and minerals. However, when individuals have food allergies that cut off major food groups, they eliminate essential nutrients. Those with common allergies such as nuts, soy, eggs, milk, and fish are at risk of developing these deficiencies. Our team is here to help you understand which nutrients you lack and give you recommendations on which foods or vitamins to supplement with to be wholly nourished. We also take a holistic look at our patients to see if they are experiencing conditions such as leaky gut or migraines, as these conditions can all link together.
The Autoimmune Protocol (AIP)
A typical nutritional plan we recommend to our patients with allergies is the Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) diet. This regime aims to reduce inflammation to defeat allergen symptoms. This diet is also aimed to help those with migraines, leaky gut, IBD, arthritis, and other autoimmune disorders. AIP is broken down into multiple stages. First, we will eliminate certain foods and products that are known to cause flare-ups. Some examples are:
- Grains
- Nuts/Legumes/Seeds
- Coffee
- Alcohol
- Eggs and Dairy
- Nightshade Vegetables (such as tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers)
In the following stages, we slowly reintroduce each food back into your diet in a particular way. Here, we understand which foods may be aggravating you.
If you feel drained from having seasonal allergy flare-ups, looking for nutritional supplements for your food allergies, or seeking guidance for your Autoimmune Protocol Diet, please schedule a consultation with us! We are eager to help you understand how you can use nutrition to advance your quality of life.
