Before Taking a Food Sensitivity Test, Try This...

Time and time again I have clients come to me with a lot of digestive distress, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, headaches, brain fog, fatigue, and other various symptoms. One of the most common questions I get is, “do you think I need to take a food sensitivity test?” and my answer is pretty much always no. When we work together 9 times out of 10 we can figure out if there is a food sensitivity issue through food journals, elimination diet, free testing or an evaluation of your symptoms but there are plenty of other things you can try before jumping to the conclusion that you need to eliminate food or take a food sensitivity test.

1. Make sure you are chewing your food 20 times before swallowing.
2. Put the phone or device away and slow down/pay attention to what you are eating.
3. Never eat when you are stressed out or anxious, take a few deep breaths before eating.
4. Drink more water.
5. Eliminate processed foods and oils (canola, sunflower, soy, peanut, sesame, rice bran).
6. Eat a variety of prebiotic and probiotic foods.
7. Stimulate your digestive system by having something bitter before eating (apple cider vinegar or bitters).
8. Add more magnesium to your diet or take supplements.
9. Eliminate daily stressors the best you can or be mindful on how to manage them.
10. Ditch the gum, carbonated beverages and straws.
11. Avoid artificial sweeteners (aspartame, sucralose, sweet n’ low, splenda, nutrasweet, equal).
12. Get in some type of movement daily.

If you have exhausted yourself and feel like you have tried pretty much everything, reach out!