September 25th, 2011
Being an engineer, I have to have a test plan to systematically determine my food allergies and intolerances. Foods that will be reintroduced (order subject to change, but here is an outline):
First four foods I plan to reintroduce: cheese, gluten, tomato, soy
Cheese – Obviously, this is not vegan, but it will allow me to determine if I am dairy intolerant (casein protein intolerant). (For Science!)
Gluten
Tomatoes – I really hope these aren’t an issue; I love tomatoes.
Soybeans
Peppers
Strawberries – Same as tomatoes
Milk – Also not vegan, but will allow me to determine if I am lactose intolerant.
Eggs – Also not vegan
Corn
Wine – To determine alcohol’s affect on me and allergy to sulfites
Oranges
Peanuts
Macadamia nuts
Pistachios
A note on cheese and milk: If I have a reaction to cheese it is likely a casein reaction since cheese is low in lactose. This means that there is no reason to try milk as I will react to the casein in milk as well and will not be able to differentiate between the casein and lactose. However, if I do not react to cheese, I will try milk to determine lactose intolerance.
Adding immediately post-cleanse (not allergenic): Bananas and other sweet fruits
Steps
1. Eat possible allergenic or intolerant food
2. Look for signs of allergy or intolerance for 24 hours
3. If there is a reaction, discontinue food and wait for three days until trying next possible allergen or intolerant food
4. Otherwise, try food again the following day.
5. If there is a reaction the second day, discontinue food and wait three days until trying next food.
6. If there is no reaction on the second day, discontinue food and try new food the following day.
The extra day gives me more data. Eliminating that food after the trial allows me to ensure that I am only changing one variable at a time.
Allergy vs Intolerance
A food allergy, like all allergies, is a reaction of your immune system to an ingredient in a food. This is usually a protein that causes this response. Your body sees this protein as an invading substance and releases antibodies to contest it.
The symptoms are
Rash or hives
Nausea
Stomach pain
Diarrhea
Itchy skin
Shortness of breath
Chest pain
Swelling of the airways to the lungs
Anaphylaxis
Food intolerance, on the other hand, is a digestive issue. If your body can’t break down a food, or the food irritates the digestive tract, then you are intolerant to that food. Lactose intolerance affects about 10% of Americans.
The symptoms are
Nausea
Stomach pain
Gas, cramps or bloating
Vomiting
Heartburn
Diarrhea
Headaches
Irritability or nervousness
Source: http://www.webmd.com/allergies/foods-allergy-intolerance
Allergies are usually easier to tell, with the outward visible symptoms of rash and hives. Irritability and nervousness are harder to directly attribute to food consumption as opposed to outside forces (hormones, human interaction, etc.). Because of this, a repeat test may have to be performed to ensure the same results.
Timeline
This test will start Tuesday Sept. 27. It’s total duration is unknown, as it will depend on how many foods to which I react.