Do You Have An Addictive Food Allergy?

Introduction

If you're plagued with strong cravings for the exact food you have an adverse reaction to, you may be dealing with an addictive allergy. Addictive allergies present a strange paradox - how can you possibly be addicted to something you're allergic or intolerant to?

In addictive allergies, the reaction tends to be relatively low grade - it's bad enough that you feel unwell after eating the food, but not so bad that it motivates you to remove it from your diet completely. Also, people who regularly eat a food they are allergic to tend to develop a certain level of tolerance and may not even notice the digestive repercussions anymore.

I was one of those people...

I was one of those people. I had an allergy to food and didn't know it. Then I went to the doctor for an endoscopy, and they could see the damage being done to my intestines.

If you are experiencing digestive distress and suspect an addictive allergy, or are struggling to give up a known allergen, this article will walk you through the most common culprits of addictive allergies, the impact they have on digestive health and, most importantly, the steps you can take to overcome them.

Common Culprits

When foods are categorized as being "off limits," you may have noticed that they seem so much more tempting. Knowing what foods you are allergic or intolerant to often isn't enough to ensure you can completely avoid them in your diet. For example, you may feel congested and heavy every time you eat a pizza, or anxious and irritable after a bar of chocolate, but yet you still crave (and eat) these foods.

The cause isn't just psychological. Your body may be craving the nutrients in those goods. When you do attempt to remove these foods for your diet, you might feel some withdrawal symptoms. These withdrawals can be powerful and eventually cause you to cave and start the addictive cycle once again. Whether psychological or physical, it is a known fact that many foods become even more desirable as you try to restrict them.

Unfortunately, the foods that are the most common allergens tend to be the most addictive. They are also difficult to avoid as they show up in almost all processed foods. Some common culprits of addictive allergies include:

• Dairy products
• Wheat
• Gluten
• Soy
• Sugar

The Impact of Addictive Allergies

Addictive allergies can wreak havoc on the digestive tract, especially because, by the nature of addictions, you tend to eat the offending substance quite frequently. Ingestion of an allergic substance triggers an inflammatory response in the gut. Recurring inflammation in the digestive tract can destroy the villi of the small intestine and cause malabsorption of nutrients.

Chronic inflammation may also damage the integrity of the gut wall and lead to leaky gut. The immune system tries to protect the body from anything that passes through the gut barrier into the blood. While food particles are viewed as nutrients inside the intestines, they are perceived as an enemy or foreign invader if they pass through the gut wall and into the bloodstream undigested. In leaky gut, allergies may worsen as the immune system is on high alert.

Addictive allergies can also trigger a binge and purge cycle, and may lead to unhealthy eating patterns and even an eating disorder. It can be very difficult to eliminate and resist a food you are supposed to avoid, and this type of restriction can provoke binging on that substance. Indulging in this food will not, however, bring the desired effect. In fact, it will likely make you feel much worse as your body tries to cope with the allergen, and purging may feel like the best option.

Overcoming Addictive Allergies

Overcoming addictive allergies can be tricky business. In many cases, ingesting the offending substance can actually make you feel good in the short-term. Take your morning cup of coffee as an example. You get an immediate high and energy boost, even though in the long-term it frays your nerves and damages the adrenals. All addictions have this quality - what hurts the body appears to offer some short-term relief, and that's what makes them so confusing. However, the long-term effects can cause significant damage.

Find the Source

Removing the foods you're allergic to is the first and most obvious step to overcoming an addictive allergy, but this is easier said than done. Do an elimination diet if you're not sure which foods you have a reaction too. It is beneficial to undergo an allergy test to verify your concerns.

Learn how to interpret your food cravings. What about the hamburger are you craving? A source of iron? A source of protein? The cheese on top? If you can identify what your body needs, you can find non-allergens that satisfy it. Cravings don't come from thin air, they come for a reason.

Substitute with a Healthy Alternative

Next, find a healthy alternative that authentically gives you what you need. This will make change easier and more realistic to maintain. Instead of reaching for another cup of coffee to get you through your afternoon slump, take a short nap if possible or go to bed one hour earlier. Or, if naps don't perk you up, try a stimulating cup of ginger tea and a short walk. In my case, instead of eating red meat, I researched other blood building foods. Now I don't crave burgers as much.

Some other examples of healthy alternatives and remedies for common addictions:

• Sugar => The bitter taste is the best antidote for sweet cravings. Include bitter greens, such as kale and dandelion, in your diet. Avoid processed sugars and favor naturally sweet foods that aren't addictive such as honey, dates and sweet potatoes. Gymnema, known as the "killer of sweet," is used in Ayurveda to curb sugar cravings and balance blood sugar levels.
• Dairy => Use dairy-free alternatives such as almond milk instead of regular milk, banana ice cream with almonds instead of regular ice cream and cashew cheese instead of cheddar cheese. Aromatic herbs like cardamom or mint clear the heavy, congested feeling after eating dairy products.
• Wheat => Include beans to get the fiber and satisfaction that wheat provides. Spelt flour is an easier to digest alternative to wheat flour.
• Alcohol => Introduce non alcoholic alternatives that support liver health such as Pomegranate with Lime Juice & Aloe Vera. Also, include foods that tonify the liver such as strawberries and applesauce.
• Cigarettes => Engage in moderate daily exercise and breathing techniques (pranayama) such as belly breathing.

Even if you find a healthy alternative, there may be a couple of days, or even weeks, during the withdrawal period that feel uncomfortable. It is difficult to give up something with an addictive quality, even if you know it is causing you harm. Be as disciplined as possible during the hard parts and the silver lining in the cloud will appear as you wean from the dependency.

Combat Cravings

Strong cravings tend to come from a distorted appetite. Your appetite goes haywire if you are regularly eating foods you have an inflammatory response to. Cleaning out the gut and regaining digestive strength (agni) will restore a balanced appetite and reduce insatiable cravings. Consider a kitchari cleanse to eliminate allergenic foods and gently scrub out your gut.

Restore Gut Strength

Even once you have overcome your addiction to an allergenic food, your intestines can be left damaged and depleted. Reduce any residual intestinal inflammation with Pitta pacifying foods, particularly pear juice to soothe the digestive tract and pomegranate to reduce inflammation.

There are also a number of Ayurvedic herbs, such as cooling aloe vera and demulcent shatavari that are known for their restorative qualities, helping heal the intestinal lining. Amalaki is generally the top choice in Ayurveda to reduce inflammation resulting from allergies and restore the integrity of the gut wall.

Conclusion

It seems counterintuitive to continue eating foods you have an allergic reaction to. However, the most common allergens are often the most addictive and near impossible to avoid in processed foods. Generally, the allergic reaction or intolerance itself is not so serious that you are forced to remove it from the diet completely, but that does not mean your digestive tract is getting away unharmed.

The gut becomes irritated and inflamed with each bite of an allergenic food. Even though the food may taste delicious and bring some temporary satisfaction, the long-term effects can be detrimental. Addictive allergies can trap you in an ongoing cycle that feels impossible to break.

If you suspect you are dealing with an addictive allergy, it is a good idea to get tested for allergens to verify your concerns. It requires discipline to remove addictive foods from your diet but Ayurveda has many tools to help you identify and eliminate the source of the problem. Long-term, Ayurveda also offers guidance on diet and lifestyle to reduce inflammation resulting from addictive allergies, and healing herbs to restore gut strength.