Food Sensitivity Testing and Parasites | The Missing Piece
The Missing Piece in Your Food Sensitivity Test
Food allergy testing and food sensitivity testing have been all the rage in the past few years in the holistic health world. I get more into the differences (and they’re big) between food allergies and food sensitivities in a recent post. But in this article, I want to talk about an important, and often overlooked, hidden cause of food allergies that your practitioner may be overlooking: parasites.
Hi lovelies. I’m Hilary Beckwith, ex-dieter and functional health expert. Women with PCOS, IBS, and autoimmune conditions come to see me with signs of adrenal stress, insulin resistance, and inflammatory conditions, and my job is to find the root causes so we can address their symptoms more effectively and fill in the gaps between their lab values and how their body actually feels. Before you continue, click here to read my Medical Disclaimer.
In this article, you’ll learn:
how your body responds to food allergies
how your body responds to parasites
how to find and address parasites
is your food allergy actually a food sensitivity?
Some use the terms food allergy and food sensitivity interchangeably, and here’s why it’s important to know the difference. They’re two different types of responses by the immune system that require two different types of testing.
If you go to your doc and tell them you think you have food allergies, they’re going to run a food allergy test, which will provide negative results if you actually have a food sensitivity.
Let’s explore the differences in the diagram below:
your body’s response to parasites
The most relevant takeaway from the above table is that food allergies involve IgE antibodies. In fact, most allergies, not just food, involve an IgE response.
What does that have to do with parasites?
Studies have shown that IgE levels increase with parasite presence in humans. Not all parasites - but most.
This is meant to be a protective mechanism against the parasite; however, the increase in IgE levels in the body increases susceptibility to having an allergic reaction to foods. Although more research is needed, the current thought is that proteins from foods that are structurally similar to certain parasites are attaching to IgE antibodies and activating an allergic response.
It’s why when I meet a client who has developed food allergies later in life, and somewhat suddenly, my first suspicion is parasites.
HERE’S HOW IGE ANTIBODIES WORK
IgE antibodies develop as a defense against an allergen - an antigen that causes an allergic response.
These Y-shaped antibodies attach themselves to mast cells - cells that primarily line mucosal tissues, such as lungs, intestines, sinuses, under the skin, etc. - and wait for an allergen to show up.
When said allergen arrives, it attaches to one or more IgE receptor points(the two points at the top of the Y). When two IgE receptors have been activated, this triggers mast cell degranulation - meaning, the cell opens up and releases a surge of toxic, inflammatory substances that damage surrounding cells and molecules, including the allergen.
This is a great video description for all you visual learners.
do you need a parasite cleanse?
Having food allergies does not mean you have parasites, just as having parasites doesn’t necessarily mean you will develop food allergies.
But when working with 1:1 clients, and I see food (or seasonal) allergies that developed later in life, that is information worth digging into.
Parasites are sneaky. They are really good at evading lab testing and the immune system, due to their ability to signal “everything is fine - nothing to see here” to the immune system. In fact, there is ongoing research into the effects of a specific few parasite types that might actually have a protective impact on those with autoimmune conditions.
Personally, I scored very low on the very same screening questionnaire I offer clients, and I lab-tested negative (twice) - yet I still found parasites when doing a cleanse.
We need a clearer picture of overall health to know whether a parasite cleanse is right for you. Here are some things I consider when assessing a client for parasites:
digestive health
inflammation markers on lab testing
immune markers on lab testing
parasite symptoms
potential parasite exposures (swimming in standing water, consuming raw or undercooked meats and fish, allowing pets on furniture, pets licking your face, frequent interactions with children, etc.)
before you rush into a parasite cleanse
Parasite cleanses are a trendy topic right now, and that means there is a huge influx of influencers (and some practitioners) wanting to sell you parasite eradication products you may not need. Many of these influencers and practitioners do not have proper training to assess for and address parasite infections - but I do.
As a Restorative Health Practitioner, I have been trained in parasite eradication and have even experienced success with it myself.
Parasite eradication is not a one-and-done event. Parasite cleanses are a whole-body problem, and require:
healing and repair to tissues damaged by parasites
functional support to address the digestive mechanisms that, if working optimally, should prevent you from getting a parasite infection in the first place
a knowledge of the parasite’s life cycle - many parasite cleanses only address mature parasites, not their eggs or larvae
the ability to adjust supplements and methods according to your body’s response to the process
Before you jump into some expensive product line from someone who happens to be really good at talking, consider getting a more functional perspective to help you reduce food allergies, lower inflammation, and repair the mechanisms that are meant to protect you from parasite infections.
The first step is answering a few questions about your symptoms. This is the same parasite screening questionnaire I give to my 1:1 clients.
