Have you ever wondered why you can’t eat certain foods without feeling the uninvited repercussions? What is it about strawberries that make the skin dry and patchy? Or, how come cheeseburgers upset the stomach? Why does dairy irritate the sinuses? The answer is simple: food allergies. Many often interpret the term "food allergy," as a negative reaction to food that causes angio-edema, unexplainable hives, or anaphylactic shock. However, these are the symptoms of a severe allergic reaction. It is common for many people to experience physical or digestive reactions to food, which are referred to as food sensitivities.

Food sensitivities result from the body being unable to properly metabolize or assimilate specific foods or nutrients. When this happens the food consumed remains undigested and becomes toxic to the body causing physical symptoms to arise. Some of the most recognizable signs of food allergies are: migraine, eczema, sinusitis, indigestion, bloating and gastrointestinal upset. Often times, foods that are considered healthiest for the body nutritionally are also the foods which provoke allergic reactions. Among the most common food sensitivities are dairy, sugars, gluten, citrus, proteins, fish, nuts and foods from the nightshade family (tomato, eggplant, onion, garlic, etc).

A safe, natural and effective way to relieve these bothersome food intolerances is through a process called Natural Allergy Elimination. This treatment restores harmony between the body and the offending food through the use acupuncture and applied kinesiology. This technique has been used to successfully reduce, and in many cases, permanently eliminate the symptoms caused by food allergies in infants through adults.

Jessica Pesha, A.P. can be contacted at Indian River Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine which is located in the 40th Ave Professional Ctr at 2050 40th Ave. Ste 2, Vero Beach. For more information call 772-564-8383.