Learn to avoid foods that trigger lupus flares with a simple at-home food allergy testing strategy

Learn to avoid foods that trigger lupus flares with a simple at-home food allergy testing strategy

A food allergy is an immune response to a particular food or drink, similar to the immune response against the body itself in a lupus patient. Do not confuse food allergies with food intolerances; They are different. Food intolerance is not caused by the immune system, but is simply your body's negative reaction to a certain food (e.g. lactose intolerance).

You have to take care of yourself; Having lupus or an autoimmune disease makes you particularly susceptible to food allergies, and these allergic reactions can trigger flare-ups.

There are many ways to diagnose food allergies and the symptoms they cause. According to the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network, you should watch for the following 7 symptoms up to two hours after eating.

Food allergy symptoms to watch out for:

o Tingling in the mouth

o Swelling of the tongue and throat

o Difficulty breathing

o Hives

o Vomiting, abdominal cramps or diarrhea

o Sudden drop in blood pressure

o Loss of consciousness

If you suspect you have a food allergy, it is important to work with a doctor because while simply eliminating that food from your diet may relieve your symptoms, it does not treat the potential allergy itself.

Allergy testing is easier than it sounds. You may be afraid of needles, but in most cases you don't even need to see them!

Common allergy testing methods:

Pin prick allergy test

During the pinprick skin test, the doctor puts a small drop of the substance (in this case, food) you may be allergic to on your skin and then pricks you with a tiny needle. He or she will then wait a few minutes to see if you develop a reaction, usually localized in the form of redness and swelling.

RAST allergy test

The RAST test is another allergy test in which a blood sample is sent to a laboratory where special tests are performed to determine your allergies.

The allergy pulse test at home

Another easy way to get an indication of a food allergy is to do a home allergy pulse test. This is done by checking your pulse before and after eating. Keeping a close eye on your pulse while challenging different foods can often help you identify possible food reactions. However, it is important that you do not use or rely on this test if you have a history of severe allergic reactions, especially anaphylaxis (a life-threatening allergic cause that causes swelling of the throat).

To perform the pulse test on yourself, simply measure your pulse before eating a meal to determine your baseline (or control) pulse.

It's best to eat just one meal and check your pulse again after 15, 30 and 60 minutes. If you see an increase in elevation more than 10 beats faster than your baseline heart rate, it means you are likely allergic to that food.

One obvious problem is that you may want to eat multiple foods at the same time. Go ahead and eat that meal and do your pulse test again before and after your meal as described above. This will help you determine if the foods have no effect or if there are foods that cause an increased pulse rate response.

To start testing your food reactions, a simple natural diet is the way to go. Stick with meals that don't require a lot of work and only contain a few simple ingredients.

If you notice an increased heart rate, it's a good idea to test each food separately to narrow down which food ingredient is responsible for that meal.

Make sure you always keep a diary with you so you can keep a proper record and identify which foods, if any, trigger a flare-up. Be warned though, food triggers and their reactions can change and are therefore difficult to catch. However, this test is a good start to controlling unnecessary flare-ups that are due to food allergies.

It's best to work with an experienced wellness specialist who can help you maintain your health regimen and receive further assistance in answering your health questions if needed.

90% of all food allergies are caused by just eight foods!

Yes, it's true. Just 8 common foods are the culprit for most food allergies. These are milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts (such as walnuts, cashews and pistachios), fish, shellfish, soy and wheat. You should also avoid spicy foods, processed foods (like American cheese), alcohol, chocolate, and caffeine if you have lupus. I know this doesn't sound like fun, but all of this has the potential to compromise your immune system and have unexpected effects on your body. This is the last thing you need to worry about with lupus!

One way to remember these foods is to remember the term “DONGS,” which stands for:

Dairy: cow's milk and related products, goat's milk and related products, eggs

Ocean: fish, shellfish

Nuts: peanuts, tree nuts

Grains: Soy, wheat, wheat, rye, oats, barley, anything called “gluten.”

Spices: Paprika, garlic, cinnamon, cloves, cola, licorice, mustard, oregano, paprika, poppy seeds and sage

Now that I've told you all the no-nos, let's go over some of the foods you can eat and enjoy without fear of stimulating your immune system. Foods like brown rice, sweet potatoes, and vegetables can make delicious meals full of energy and carbohydrates to get you through the day. For a refreshing drink, why not reach for fresh fruit or vegetables and make a delicious smoothie or drink that will also support your immune system and energy (just avoid asparagus, eggplant, onions, zucchini, raw olives and peppers).

It's important to stay strong so you can fight lupus throughout the day, not just after eating. So try to eat several smaller meals throughout the day, rather than 2 or 3 heavy meals that rob you of valuable energy that you don't need to waste.

Learn more about the basics of being healthy Lupus diet, as well as holistic approaches to reducing lupus symptoms, visit Healing-Lupus.com for a free mini-course.