We all know that there are certain recipes that are more fattening than others, but did you know that there is a link between food allergies and weight gain? The digestive system may be where calories are absorbed into the body, but when you are experiencing an allergic response, it can change the way your digestion functions. Your immune system can alter what is absorbed, how much and what kind of an impact it has on your body.
While doctors have suspected that there is a connection between food allergies and weight gain, it is only more recently that science has been able to demonstrate it in reputable studies. Doctors have seen that when patients identify their food allergens and then avoid them in their diets, they are able to lose weight much more quickly and easily.
The evidence is growing, showing that there isn’t just a link between food allergies and weight gain but that the former can actually cause the latter. The reason is that the digestive system, immune system, hormones and other body systems are all interconnected.
Some have speculated that exposure to food allergens cause a kind of chronic inflammation – and even the risk of “leaky gut” within an individual’s digestive tract. This has a harmful impact on the intestinal flora, leading to poor and inefficient digestion as well as other potential symptoms like joint pain, fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, gas, bloating, skin disorders, fluid retention and more.
This is not to say that allergies are the only factor to consider when it comes to weight management. If you live a sedentary lifestyle and are eating far too many calories every day, then weight gain will more than likely be the result. However, those two issues are not the only factors that can cause fat to collect on the body. Now, according to a growing body of research, the medical community is also acknowledging food allergies and sensitivities as contributors to weight struggles.
To find out if you have a food sensitivity or allergy that could be holding back your ability to lose weight, visit a doctor or nutritionist who may recommend that you undergo test for certain common types of food allergy. This can help you to better understand what you should and should not be eating based on your body’s unique needs.
You may also be advised to consider an elimination diet in order to better pinpoint more specific food sensitivities or allergies you may have.
