WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ALLERGIES AND FOOD SENSITIVITIES
An Allergy is what results when your Immune System is inappropriately activated.
Your immune system is designed to attack bacteria, viruses, and parasites. It is not intended to attack the food you consume. When the immune system is activated, antibodies (also called immunoglobulin) are produced. Antibodies in turn trigger an inflammatory response. Inflammation causes pain and tissue damage, which sit atop a cascade leading to further symptoms.
There are two types of antibodies produced IgE, and IgG by the immune system in allergic reaction to food. The IgE reactions typically occur immediately after ingestion of the allergen, and in some cases cause serious health problems such as swelling of the lips and tongue, hives, bloating, abdominal pain or sudden diarrhoea. IgE reactions can also lead to many other symptoms not generally recognized as being cause by food Allergens including frequent bronchitis and pneumonia, conjunctivitis, eczema, nasal discharge, ear infection, fever etc.
Many food allergies are not IgE reactions, but IgG reactions, which usually show up hours, or even days, after ingestion of the allergens. The IgG reactions usually result in Constipation, or diarrhoea, bloating, gas and abdominal Pain.
Many allergies are the result of incomplete conversion of proteins (from food) into amino acids. The lack of appropriate levels of hydrochloric acid (HCL) in the stomach will cause incomplete conversion of the proteins into amino acids, which contain peptides. Because the allergens (peptides) were not destroyed in the stomach by the HCL, they will migrate into the digestive tract, causing allergic reactions/sensitivity, and in many cases other serious ailments. There is no diagnostic test, or allergy skin test, to determine if the proteins consumed are properly converted to amino acids. Unconverted protein in the digestive tract will cause allergies.
Clinical Studies indicate that allergens can be transferred from the mother during pregnancy, and breast-feeding. This is especially true when the nursing mother has low levels or no production of HCL. Allergens, which are normally eliminated in the stomach by the HCL, are dumped into the Digestive tract, where they are absorbed and passed on to the newborn by breast-feeding. Studies concluded that it is vitally important that the digestive tract of the pregnant and nursing mother operate at its optimum level to prevent the transfer of pathogens to the newborn.
The lack of hydrochloric acid in the digestive process will allow un-sterilized and un-emulsified protein to enter the digestive tract. Pepsin functions as a proteolytic enzyme, which degrades food protein into small peptides, and is one of the most important enzymes in the digestive process. This enzyme is completely inactive in the Stomach with a neutral or alkaline pH. Proper pH balance in the stomach is essential for good conversion and absorption. The lack of HCL production in the stomach will result in diminished immune system support, allergies and other serious ailments.
Stomach function as you can see is right at the top of a cascade of digestive events and its function must be addressed in any treatment of digestive disorder.