What are Food Allergies: 
With food ALLERGIES, when you eat a contending food, there is an actual hypersensitivity reaction by the immune system leading to rashes, hives, itching of eyes or throat, or even anaphylaxis. This is the person that cannot even be in the same room as a dish of peanuts, for example. This is also the type of reaction some people have to a bee sting. This person should carry an EpiPen and be prepared to use it if they come in contact with the allergen. 

How to test:  Typically testing is relatively easy and involves either a skin-prick test performed by an allergist (a type of doctor specializing in allergies and allergic reactions) OR a blood test checking for IgEs to a certain type of food. IgE molecules indicate a hypersensitivity reaction to a food group or other allergen (pollen, dander, etc), and anyone with IgEs to an allergen should carry an EpiPen. 


What are Food Sensitivities: 
Food Sensitivities are much more common reactions, though not as immediately life-threatening. Though, I do like to point out that people that have food sensitivities that go unaddressed are likely to have inflammation that becomes chronic and leads to a myriad of other life-threatening illnesses (i.e. cardiovascular diseases, cancers, memory/brain issues, arthritis, etc.). Inflammation is key when considering your overall health, and eliminating foods that are causing inflammation is paramount in maintaining and optimizing your health. 

Common reactions to food sensitivities include: rashes (eczema, psoriasis, acne), heart palpitations, asthma, hair loss, joint pain, digestive issues (reflux, diarrhea, constipation), post-nasal drip, sinus issues, headaches/migraines, and more. 

How to test:  Testing is a bit more complicated than it is for Food Allergies (IgE reactions). With food sensitivities, sometimes people will have elevated IgG or IgA levels (different types of molecules in the immune system that recognize more chronic antigens). While some people acknowledge that you could have IgG and/or IgAs for any food you've eaten since your body has "seen" it and responded to it, I have seen that too high of IgG or IgA could also be a problem. It makes sense that when these IgG and/or IgA levels get too high, this indicates an over-response of your immune system, and thus increased inflammation from these foods. 

So, back to testing: Testing can be done with a blood test, an elimination/rechallenge diet, or a pulse test (or a combination of those). Each of these testing methods has pros and cons, but all of them do help guide you to understand your particular sensitivities. 

1) Blood Test: Commonly done through private labs, this blood test takes an average of about 1-3 weeks to return and typically gives you a bar graph analysis showing the foods you have the highest reaction to. The pros: This is a very easy way to test and the data is pretty clear - it's easy to see which bar graphs are biggest, and thus it's easy to identify the foods you react the strongest to. Cons: This test costs money and it has a lot of false positives and false negatives by nature. 

2) Elimination/Rechallenge Diet: This is a well-known way to strategically avoid foods that you are wanting to "test" for a food sensitivity. Typically, I recommend people avoid the testing foods for a period of 3-6 weeks, depending on their symptoms. After that time period, foods are reintroduced strategically and then we watch for symptoms to arise after the testing food. The Pros: This is the gold-standard for testing foods as the body doesn't lie. If you eat something and get a reaction, there's no question that you have a sensitivity to that food. This is a relatively inexpensive way to test, except the cost of wasted foods that you may find out you don't tolerate. The Cons: This test is difficult to adhere to for many people. It requires a lot of planning and strong-will to avoid the foods when not even certain if reacting to them or not. 

3) Pulse Testing: This relatively simple testing method involves first counting your pulse for a minute, then tasting (holding in mouth but not swallowing) a questionable food and re-counting the pulse. If the pulse goes up by more than 6 beats in a minute, the person is likely to have a sensitivity to that food. 


So, do you have any of the Food Sensitivity symptoms? If so, are you ready to explore your Food Sensitivities? Even if you cannot pinpoint a particular negative symptom but you're still interested in checking foods, it could be worth testing the 8 most common food allergens/sensitivities (wheat, peanut, egg, milk, fish, soybean, shellfish, tree nut) and possibly another common food group that tends to trigger inflammation (the nightshade family of fruits/vegetables). 

Not sure where to start? Need help sorting out your data? Want to try a blood test? Great! I can help you with all of these and more. Simply fill out our Contact form here, and I'll get back to you right away. 
 

There’s really nothing quite like a migraine. 
 
They hurt. 
 
You can’t see. 
 
You puke. 
 
You can’t focus. 
 
And work? How are you supposed to work with a migraine? 
 
What are the top causes of Migraines?
Migraines are truly debilitating… And what causes a migraine for one person may be totally different than what causes one for someone else. Here are some of the top causes of migraines I see in my practice: 
 

1. Weather: Yep, here in the PNW, we have constant weather changes. The barometric pressure changes up to 3 days before a storm hits too, so sometimes it can be hard to understand why a migraine is hitting you when you can’t even see the clouds rolling in yet. This is actually the #1 cause of migraines though among all people. 
2. Hormones: Hormone swings (i.e. during your period, menopause, and/or pregnancy) are a HUGE reason for migraines. Of course these types of migraines are more common among women since their hormones are fluctuating a lot more on average compared to their male counterparts. 
3. Food complications: I say “complications” because it’s not just “food allergies” or “food sensitivities” that trigger migraines. Sometimes it’s the chemical additives, the dyes, the fragrances, the fillers, or the preservatives that trigger migraines for people. MSG and sugar, for example, are very common triggers for migraines among all genders. 
4. Sensory and toxin overload: Lights, smells, noises, and the chemicals on our skin (from personal care products) can all add up! I call this a “sensory bucket” – and when it overflows, that’s when you get symptoms (like migraines). Everyone’s bucket is a little differently sized, too. 
5. Sleep and routine changes: Changing your sleep schedule can impact your threshold for a migraine. Letting your blood sugar get too low (or too high) can also bring on a migraine. These seemingly subtle changes in routine can impact your migraine threshold dramatically, depending on the person. 
6. Structural imbalances: Muscles too tight? Spine maligned? Ligaments too lose or overstretched? These physical causes can absolutely trigger a migraine for many people. 

 
What can you do about your migraines??
 
Well, let’s go through the list I mentioned above and see what you can get started on today to improve your migraine threshold tomorrow. How about trying: 

• A regular eating schedule with a focus on clean, whole foods with low glycemic index (low sugar/carbohydrate content). This will help to stabilize blood sugar and decrease changes for a “Food Complication”. 
• Limit alcohol: Alcohol puts added work on your liver to metabolize out those toxins. The bad news is your liver is also where your hormones go to get processed. So, if you are stressing the organ responsible for helping metabolize your hormones, this could be effectively stressing your hormone system as well (which could trigger a migraine). So, cut back on the booze! 
• Check out EWG.ORG to see how your personal care products check out on toxin levels. If they’re not listed or rating poorly, consider switching to a cleaner alternative to reduce your toxin and sensory input trigger. 
• Get regular sleep: Limit activities in the evening that are too stimulating to ensure you can get a solid night of sleep. There are several other sleep hygiene tactics you can check out as well (like limiting screens before bed, eating a protein snack before bed, etc.). 
• Get regular exercise: This can help keep your structure more balanced. Sure, you can still tweak your neck even if you regularly exercise, but your body will be more likely to self-correct if it’s already stronger and healthier from the regular activity level you maintain. 

 
And what if you’ve done all that and you still have migraines? Or if you get a “breakthrough migraine”?? Or what if you just don’t know where to start?? Then what??
 
Then you come see me!! 
 
I specialize in various treatments for pain including trigger point injections and anti-inflammatory injections for your nerves causing your migraines. Scared of needles? I hear you, and you’re not alone. I’d love to talk to you about this treatment anyway and even discuss some preliminary [needle-free] treatments we can do that may be just as effective for you. 
 
Know someone with migraines that could benefit from this information? PLEASE share this article and pass on my contact information. Migraines are literally THE WORST and no one should have to continue to suffer when there is help available!!