Over 1 in 5 people in the UK suffer from hay fever, and hospital admissions for food allergies have increased fivefold in the last 10 years. Around 1 in 70 children may now be affected by peanut allergies and many more are struggling with intolerances to foods such as wheat and dairy. So, apart from avoiding the foods or other triggers in question, how can nutrition help, and what is the difference between a true allergy and an intolerance?

An intolerance to certain foods is usually where you are unable to properly digest them, and this can cause stress and inflammation both in the digestive system and elsewhere in the body. A nutritional approach seeks to improve the body’s relationship with that food, both by working on the integrity of your digestive system and by preparing that food in a way that makes it easier to digest. Afterwards, you may find that when your health and vitality is high, you can tolerate these foods quite well, and that when your vitality drops, you need to keep these foods to a minimum. I often use the analogy of “how close to the edge of the cliff are you standing?” If you are very close already, then a slight stress, in whatever form, is more likely to knock you off the edge. The way you eat can help keep you further away from that cliff edge.

A true allergy will produce a specific chemical response in the body, releasing antibodies and histamines that are responsible for many allergy symptoms, from hives and swelling to vomiting and wheezing. These are all understandable reactions by the body to a threat to try and get it out of the body as quickly as possible. An extreme allergic response, known as anaphylaxis, brings on these symptoms rapidly, accompanied by a sudden drop in blood pressure. As with intolerances, much can be done to take you further back from the edge of the cliff. Interestingly, it has been noted that mast cells will only release histamine when they are dehydrated.

Hydration isn’t just about drinking more water, however, but about ensuring that water is flowing dynamically around the body, nourishing and cleansing each cell. There is also specific nutritional support that you can put in for your adrenals, both in terms of how and what you eat, and particular nutrients such as vitamins C, B5 and B6.

To find out more about a natural approach to allergies and intolerances, come to my workshop at the Dragonfly Clinic on 15 May 2012 at 8–10pm (£10). Booking is essential: call 01273 311711. www.dragonflyclinic.com

Kirsten Chick
www.connectwithnutrition.co.uk