There is more to weight loss than just diet and exercise. Factors like allergies, hormones, stress, and polycystic ovaries can reduce the efficiency of your metabolism and prevent or slow down weight loss.

Are food allergies making you gain weight?
Bloating, fatigue, itchy skin and sinus problems are just some of the unpleasant symptoms of food allergies. But did you know allergies might also be slowing down your metabolism, causing weight gain and even preventing fat loss?
Food allergies occur when a food triggers an immune reaction in your body. Your body then goes into protection mode, producing antibodies much as it would to fight off an infection. Antibodies cause inflammation, which then trigger your body to release cortisol, a natural anti-inflammatory. In short bursts and moderate quantities, cortisol is useful for preventing long-term damage from inflammation. But when your body releases excess cortisol over long periods of time, insulin resistance develops and your body releases more insulin to compensate. Insulin is one of the most powerful fat storage hormones. It also switches fat burning off.

The best way to eliminate allergies for efficient fat loss is to:

• Find out what food is triggering your allergic reaction
• Eliminate the food from your diet
• Make sure your immune system has balance and support.

What are the types and symptoms of allergies? There are two types of allergies – fixed and cyclic.

Fixed allergies are usually present at childhood, are permanent, and get worse with each exposure. This type of allergy occurs when the body creates immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to a food. IgE allergies cause a swift and sometimes severe reaction, lasting seconds to hours. Some reactions include wheezing, sneezing, itching, asthma, hayfever, eczema and rashes. Bee stings, grasses, seafood and peanuts are common IgE allergens. A balanced immune system can reduce the sensitivity of some IgE allergies, but avoiding the allergens is the best strategy.

Cyclic allergies occur when the body creates IgG, IgA and IgM antibodies. This immune reaction is most often triggered by foods, especially gluten, wheat, yeast, dairy, corn, egg and soy. Symptoms usually appear more slowly and stay longer, often hours or days. The most common symptom is fatigue. Other symptoms include headaches, bloating, bowel irregularity, nausea, sinus, skin rashes and poor immunity. Cyclic allergies improve if you avoid the foods that trigger them. And if you’re healthy, your body can tolerate small quantities of the allergen.

How do I find out if I have food allergies?
Visit your Naturopath or GP for allergy testing. Before you go, it’s a good idea to keep a food diary for one or two weeks, making note of the following:

• What you eat
  
• Any symptoms you experience
  
• How long after consuming the food the symptoms occur.
  
• IgE allergies are identified through skin prick testing and blood tests at your Doctor or Allergy Specialist.
  
• IgG allergies can be tested through two specialty laboratories - Allergy Services or ARL Pathology
  
• Gluten allergy (including Coeliac’s disease) can be tested by your Doctor.
  
  

For many people there may be ‘hidden’ allergies that are not diagnosed or able to be diagnosed by standard medical tests. These may be tested using a kinesiology based method called NAET (Nambudripad’s Allergy Elimination Technique). NAET therapy is both a diagnostic and desensitisation technique that can provide relief from many allergic conditions. For more information or to find your nearest NAET practitioner, see naet.com.au .

What does a healthy gut have to do with allergies?
The gut wall is surrounded by a mass of lymphatic immune tissue, which has the capacity to produce antibodies to foreign invaders and allergens. At least 70% of the body’s immunity comes from the gut. Poor diet, excess alcohol, sugars, stress or medications can lead to an unhealthy gut, where:

• The gut wall becomes ‘leaky’ to substances it would not normally absorb
• Certain bacteria and yeast in the gut wall can grow to unhealthy proportions
• Beneficial bacteria may become scarce
• Parasites can flourish.

All of these factors place an extra burden on the body, by:
• Preventing optimal nutrient absorption
• Causing ineffective elimination of toxins
• Causing further inflammation and therefore raising cortisol levels.

How can I improve the health of my gut?
The best treatment for allergies and gut repair is to:

• Remove allergens from the diet
• Remove non-beneficial bacteria, yeast and parasites from the gut
• Put beneficial bacteria back in the gut
• Provide the gut with extra nutrients for healing to reduce allergies and inflammation

Non-beneficial bacteria, yeast and some parasites can be addressed using herbs such as:

• Citrus seed extract
• Black walnut
• Barberry
• Golden seal
• Olive leaf
• Chinese wormwood

However, some gut pathogens require antibiotics and antifungal agents to be effectively eliminated.

Beneficial bacteria, known as probiotics, include:
• Lactobacillus acidophilus, rhamnosus, plantarum, and salivarius
• Bifidobacterium bifidum, infantis and longum.

The probiotic Saccharamyces Boulardii is particularly useful in treating yeast overgrowth. The best nutrients for a healthy gut are:

• Glutamine
• N-acetyl D-glucosamine
• Vitamin A, C and B5
• Zinc
• Magnesium
• Essential fatty acids.

Promote gut healing with:
• Slippery Elm
• Aloe Vera
• Liquorice
• Marshmallow

Where can I get more information on allergies, tests, and natural treatments?
Consult your Naturopathic or Integrated Medical healthcare practitioner to find out the best natural medicines for you. They can also refer you for a stool test to detect bowel pathogens and specific probiotic deficiencies.