How do I ascertain a chronic food allergy?

If you suspect that certain foods disagree with you, you may be able to find the cause via trial and error. Once you have this information eliminating them from your diet will help you back on the road of wellness.

What to do?

Providing you are certain the sensitivity is not severe enough to cause life-threatening reactions, including anaphylactic shock, and as a 'second best' to seeking professional advice, you could conduct a personal trial at home. Stop eating the suspect food for a week (eg. milk). Carefully read food labels to detect the presence of this food and be diligent in keeping it out of your mouth! During this time keep a record of how you feel and whether any symptoms are diminishing.

The next week, do a "challenge test". Consume lots of the food you have previously eiminated (eg. three servings per day). Notice if you feel worse, even if this takes a few days to occur. If this is clearly the case, you may then need to get affirmation and support regarding your findings. A dietitian, naturopath, nutritionist or allergy specialist will appreciate the research you've undertaken!