Probiotics, Prebiotics and Food Sensitivities

You may already know a lot about probiotics from our practice at Excell for Life. They are still being studied and understood as vital for our digestion and immune system in the gut as well as prevention of obesity and so many more things! (The thought is that 70% of your immune system lives in the gut.) Probiotics are amazing! In fact, we are continuing to learn about the importance of probiotics in family planning. Good quality probiotics taken during the last 3 months of pregnancy and the first 6 months of life decrease atopic dermatitis. They can also help your body digest food well and break down food for energy more efficiently.

The longer food stays in your digestive system without getting processed or passing through – the higher the chances of your body creating antibodies and/or a histamine reaction to the “material” just sitting in your digestive track. Good probiotics are central to a healthy body.  If you have reactions to certain plant (e.g. seasonal allergies) you may also want to avoid certain foods.  For example: someone with ragweed sensitivities may want to try to avoid melon, bananas, cucumber, and apples. If someone has a grass sensitivity – avoid potatoes, tomatoes and peach. This is not to say avoid them forever, but it may lessen symptoms of seasonal allergies. Also be certain to wash these thoroughly and possibly avoid them during the season you are mostly affected by the allergy.

Food Sensitivities & IgG/IgE Responses
Celiac disease is with when you have an IgE response to wheat or wheat products – which can have many negative effects on your health. However, there is a non-celiac gluten sensitivity with symptoms such as osteoporosis, leg numbness, muscle cramps, unexplained anemia, bone and joint pain. This is why we test for IgG and IgE reactions from your body with a blood test. We really like to see these values as a guide however we really go by your symptoms!!

If you have been tested for food sensitivities, chances are you have been tested for an IgG and/or an IgE response to dairy, eggs, peanuts, wheat, soy, fish, shellfish, or tree nuts because these foods make up 90% of food sensitivities. Many positive sensitivities for IgG reactions suggest you have leaky gut. Taking digestive enzymes like those found in Ortho Digestzyme (or Digestyme V for vegans)can decrease IgG responses to certain foods. We are also learning that a decrease in consumption of processed food could decrease your chances of other IgE sensitivities and celiac. We also have products that will help with healing your gut.

Now Let’s Talk About Prebiotics
Prebiotics are basically the food for probiotics. You can think of it this way. If probiotics are what we call “gut flora” (the flowers) the prebiotics is like the rich, life giving soil you want in your garden. Fiber plus is a product that contains many prebiotics to help with healing. FOS (Fructooligosaccharides is a group of simple sugar carbohydrates found naturally in many of fruits, vegetables and grains) is also good, but don’t take this if you have any issues with yeast (candida) or until it is gone. Prebiotic foods are onions, garlic, bananas, peas, legumes, honey, green tea, yogurt, and kefir.

Make an appointment if you would like to discuss more!