How Food Sensitivity Can Affect Weight Loss

Originally posted on June 1, 2018

Food sensitivities can disrupt the efficiency of your digestive tract making weight loss a never-ending struggle.

In the United States, obesity has become a major health concern. It can be difficult to lose the weight once it becomes a problem. One of the things that many people are looking into is the connection between food sensitivities and excessive weight gain.

The production of Immunoglobulin E, or IgE antibodies during an allergic reaction have been found to cause inflammation. When associated with food sensitivities, this can result in a disruption of the digestive tract. Gas bloating, stomach cramps, and celiac disease are common.

What is Food Sensitivity?

Food sensitivity, or a food allergy, can be caused by eating certain foods or because of changes in the body brought on by medications or illnesses. A food allergy such as lactose intolerance can begin to occur over time or if someone dramatically changes their diet.

Offending foods, also known as trigger foods, can cause inflammation throughout the digestive tract, minimizing its efficiency and making weight loss almost impossible. Food additives that are commonly found in processed foods can lead to brain fog, joint pain, flatulence, bloating, and the inability to fully digest foods and utilize the nutrients.

Symptoms of Food Sensitivities

Food intolerances and sensitivities are commonly diagnosed by the symptoms they produce. A short list of symptoms include:

• Headaches
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Severe abdominal cramps
• Bloating
• Hives
• Joint pain and stiffness
• Anaphylaxis (This is a life-threatening allergic reaction in which a person’s airway begins to swell shut.)

Identifying the foods that cause these types of reactions is essential. If a food sensitivity is noticed, it’s important to notify a healthcare professional as soon as possible.

How Food Sensitivities Affect Weight Loss

Food sensitivities cause inflammation throughout the digestive tract. When the digestive tract is disturbed in any way, it becomes less efficient. While the calories are easily absorbed, the nutrients may be lost before they can be utilized. This means an excessive amount of calories are taken, but the body doesn’t get the nutrition it needs to create energy and maintain a balanced metabolism.

People who are trying to lose weight but struggling to lose even a few pounds should talk to their healthcare professional about the possibility of food sensitivities. Many people have them, but their symptoms are so mild, they ignore the possibility. If a food sensitivity is discovered, avoiding those foods will reduce the inflammation and help to get your digestive tract back on the right path. Creating a healthier, personalized diet may be just what they need to begin their weight loss journey.

Get in touch with Backfit Health + Spine, our food sensitivity intolerance testing services can help determine what foods you may be intolerant to and set you on the road to better health in no time.