Why Do I Have Chronic Stomach Pain?

We have all heard the term lactose intolerant. Notice the term is not lactose allergy, because there is a difference between food intolerances, food sensitivities, and food allergies. You can be allergic and intolerant of a food, but they are not synonymous. “A food intolerance occurs when a person has difficulty digesting a particular food,” according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.

Understanding Food Sensitivities.

Food sensitivities and food allergies are immune responses.  Intolerances do not involve the immune system. When you have an intolerance, you are not digesting food properly due to a lack of enzymes, like lactose intolerance, for example. The enzyme needed to digest the food is lactase. Food allergies are typically limited to airways, skin, and GI, while food SENSITIVITIES can affect any organ in the body from head to toe and can manifest in many ways beyond the GI including headaches, migraines, GERD, inflammation, arthritis, and depression.

Common Food Sensitivities.

Any bodily discomfort can be a cause for concern. If you have reoccurring stomaching pain, migraines, headaches, GERD and overall malaise, but cannot pinpoint which food or food chemical may be the culprit, this could be due a delayed onset of symptoms. It can take up to 3 days for your body to react, taking days to show up. The reaction can last even longer. Consider the variety of foods one might eat in a72-hour period. You can see why solving the problem on your own can be difficult.

Below is a list of the common food sensitivities and associated symptoms:

·     Dairy- Symptoms include abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, gas, nausea

·     Gluten- Symptoms include bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea or constipation, headaches, fatigue, joint pain, skin rash, depression or anxiety, anemia

·     Caffeine (We’re sorry)- Symptoms include rapid heartrate, anxiety, jitters, nervousness, insomnia, restlessness

·     Salicylates (plant’s nature insecticides)-Symptoms include stuffy nose, sinus infection, nasal and sinus polyps, asthma, diarrhea, colitis, hives

·     Amines (food’s natural preservative)- Symptoms include flushing, headaches, hives, itching, anxiety, stomach cramps, diarrhea, low blood pressure

·     Sulfites (an added preservative in food)-Symptoms include hives, skin swelling, stuffy nose, hypotension, flushing, diarrhea, wheezing, coughing

While this list is not exhaustive, you see how common foods are common digestive antagonists. Over 70% of the body’s immune cells are in the gut. When we remove trigger foods from our diets, gut health improves, our immune system functions normally, and your symptoms diminish or stop all together.

Food Sensitivity Test Explained.

At Connected Health Concierge Primary Care, our providers rely on the Mediator Release Test (MRT) through Oxford Biomedical Technologies to provide informed options for combatting gastrointestinal issues. MRT tests a blood sample for 170 different food and food chemicals to determine how a patient’s body responds to each. MRT is the most advanced and reliable instrument for measuring responses attributed to causing inflammatory reactions.

While allergy testing is a diagnostic test often covered by insurance, food sensitivity testing remains an out-of-pocket, HSA or FSA eligible expense.

After Testing

Oxford Biomedical provides every test result with a food elimination plan. Connected Health takes this a step further. Individuals who purchase their MRT at Connected Health receive a follow up with our dietitian, Rita de Freitas, RDN,CLT, who fully explains the results, how to complete a successful food elimination diet, and will provide a customized menu with delicious recipe suggestions to help make implementation easier and attainable for food substitutions.

Should You Get Tested for Food Sensitivities?

Chronic Food sensitivities and adverse reactions to food can play a large role in:

•     Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

•     Migraines/Headaches

•     Arthritis/Joint Pain

•     Fibromyalgia

•     ADHD

•     Brain Fog

•     Autoimmune disease

•     Weight Imbalances

•     Heartburn/GERD

•     Eczema

If you have been diagnosed or experience any of these chronic conditions, your food could be to blame. A complete diagnostic review of food sensitivities can be the key to unlocking freedom from pain, bloating, and discomfort.

Solve the Mystery of Chronic Abdominal Pain

Scheduling your MRT/ LEAP Food Sensitivity Test is a click or call away. For those in the Pittsburgh area, Connected Health is ready to walk you through relief. Schedule your blood draw by CLICKING HERE or callingour office at 724-933-4305.  

What Connected Health Patients Think

“I have dealt with gut issues for years and have been told the same thing each time from various doctors. It's been about 9 years of frustration. I heard about Connected Health and didn’t know what to expect. It has been a life altering experience for me. I finally got my gut issues figured out and due to Connected Health having their own pharmacy, I was able to get started immediately on getting things fixed. I could not recommend Connected Health more!”

“I have a little-known condition called EoE. I was tested for food allergies in the past, but was experiencing pain with foods I wasn’t allergic to. Eliminating one food at a time, as directed by my GI doctor, did not give me relief. Thanks to Connected Health and their dietitian, I got answers through a food sensitivity test my GI doctors never mentioned. The results were overwhelming, and frankly, quite depressing as I had reactions to most of the foods and food chemicals tested. The dietitian developed a specialized menu with my limited safe foods. Within a month, I lost ten pounds just from the amount of bloating and swelling those foods caused. Months later, the weight is still off and my EoE and other GI issues are more under control. I never thought a single test could be so life changing for the better.”

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