Food Intolerance Testing

Just to clarify a few points.

1. To the poster who said "legally I am a nutritionist", it is important to inform what that means. A dietician is the legally recognised term both in Ireland, UK and many other countries for someone who has a bachelors degree in the science of nutrition. Nutritionist is not a legally defined term. Therefore the poster by saying that legally they are a nutritionist, really what they mean is legally they are NOT a dietician. Anyone can call themselves a nutritionist as it has no legal meaning.

2. Medically, people either have food allergies or inability to process specific food items. Food allergies are allergic reactions caused by specific antibodies to specific food components. Other people can have inherited enzyme deficiencies. The alternative food industry has taken this and generalised it to people with bad diets. The most recent fad is the gluten free diet. The thinking being that given certain individuals (coeliacs) have specific antibodies to the gliaden fraction of gluten, which causes specific complaints, including an increased risk of a particular type of bowel tumor, then if we eliminate gluten from healthy people it will also make them feel better. This is false logic. The trend before gluten was lactose. Some people are born with an inability to process lactose (lactosemia). In babies born with this, continued intake of lactose leads to liver failure and delayed development. Again the alternative brigade took this and said well maybe eliminating lactose from people who are born normally also must be good and hence the fad arises.

3. Reading those that have food "intolerances: here, the answer is staring them in the face. For example the poster looking for that magic dietary cure which will change their life. Except, a 10 day business trip, with meals out and alcohol is never going to change that. Its analogous to the diet industry. People want that magic diet, that one simple easy thing to make the weight fall off. Having seen many patients with irregular bowel habits or cramping etc, closer inspection always finds the answer. Many of these will have hectic lives, irregular sleep patterns, too much alcohol, caffeine, processed foods. Eliminating certain particular foods is not the answer. The answer is realising that to feel good you have to look after yourself, try sleep more, reduce the caffeine, eat less food in restaurants (full of salt and sugar). You dont need to pay 350 dollars for that.

I did a food intolerance test recently It was carried out in conjunction with kineasiology principles. Two people formed a link with me and one tried for reaction to different philals of foodstuffs. I was advised that I was intolerant to dairy sugar red wine rice and wheat. They advised on substitute foods and I have to say I am really happy with the results I have lost over 2 stone in a short time. I gave up my medicine to control my stomack acid and feel that my system is no longer under pressure. My blood pressure has improved and I am able to cross my legs again ! It amazes me that some weight loss programmes advise say 2 slices of bread I cant have any so how could I loose weight on those programmes? I used take medicine to control my stomach acid reflux but I think that my body was just reacting to certains foods and shouting NO ! Instead of a bowl of cornflakes milk and sugar I now have gluten free cornflakes, fructose sugar (looks exactly like ordinary sugar) goats milk and a slice of spelt and honey bread for breakfast. NO big deal. If I eat food that I am intolerant to I have to clear my throat and mucuus gathers in my system.

So I do not break the rules when out I ask for gluten free bread and I am so grateful I can have potatoes !!!