We are living in what I like to call very fast times. We seem to be often rushing somewhere. Yes, many of us are multi-taskers, and stress is very real on a day-to-day basis.
Many symptoms are related to stress, but the truth is that those very same symptoms can be caused by a completely different trigger, but we tend to attribute them to the stress.
Low energy, headaches, upset stomach (including diarrhea, constipation, and nausea) aches, pains, tense muscles, chest pain and rapid heartbeat, insomnia, frequent colds, and infections are some of the many symptoms of stress.
Another Cause
You might be surprised to learn that some of these same symptoms can be associated with something totally unrelated to stress. I am referring to food intolerance, which has been associated with a wide range of troublesome conditions, such as migraines, slow digestion, bloating, cramps, IBS, skin issues, and fatigue. Sound familiar?
Not the Same as Food Allergies
While many people mistakenly consider a food intolerance the same as a food allergy, the reality is that they are two very different things with very different end results. As a matter of fact, a food allergy is quite rare, and they only affect about 2% of the adult population.
During an allergic reaction, the body’s immune system believes it is being invaded and produces immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to fight off the ingredient it wrongly considers to be harmful.
The body’s inflammatory response to this reaction can go from mild to severe and can affect the different system of the body, such as the digestive system, respiratory system, or even the skin. Some cases can be extreme and result in the body’s systemic reaction (anaphylaxis), which can be potentially fatal.
Food intolerance, on the other hand, is more common and usually involves a delayed biological reaction that, while uncomfortable and unpleasant, is not life-threatening.
I have been suffering from some of these symptoms for a long time and always attributed them to stress. I never thought I could be suffering a food intolerance. But just a few weeks ago, I had a Food and Drink Scan test done by YorkTest® Laboratories.
York Test
York is a European leader in its category. It’s launching its test kits in the USA with a new at-home test that can help you determine if your symptoms are related to food intolerance. This test is very easy to use.
You can take the test at home with just a prick of your finger. The sample is sent back to the lab, and they will help you identify if you have a food intolerance to 208 different ingredients.
When I completed the test, York sent me a color-coded list of the ingredients I have a food intolerance to. You can see my results here:
I was surprised to learn that I was highly intolerant to many of the items on the list that I would have never thought I had an issue with. Some of the items listed I could have figured out myself, but had no idea about 85% of the trigger items on my list!
After I received the test results, I had a 30-minute nutritional consultation with a very knowledgeable consultant who gave me some really good pointers on how to deal with my food intolerances.
