Hello lovely! Today, let’s talk about the intriguing topic of food intolerances and how they might be causing you to feel exhausted, irritable, and overall not your best self. Have you ever experienced any of these symptoms and wondered about their cause?
Perhaps you’ve experimented with multivitamin supplements or trendy juice fasts, yet you’re still not at the top of your game.
Could food intolerances be hiding in your diet, causing unexpected reactions in your body?
It can be confusing because their effects can linger for two to three days. You might have a healthy meal and still feel unwell or experience symptoms like feeling heavy, bloated, achy, or having trouble sleeping after eating something nutritious. These surprising responses could be linked to the foods you consume, and the cause may not be what you expect.
In my work with clients, I focus on pinpointing the foods that might trigger these reactions. It’s important to note that food intolerances are different from food allergies. Food allergies lead to quick and often severe reactions, while food intolerances may take days to fully appear. They could even disrupt your sleep.
Food intolerances
Food intolerances may lead to inflammation in your body, causing issues like bloating, retaining fluid, and even gaining weight. These symptoms, however, can be quite subtle, making it a challenge to link them directly to a food intolerance.
For instance, I had a client who was committed to a keto weight loss program but couldn’t understand why the extra kilos weren’t coming off. After investigating her situation, I found that her body was reacting to the almonds that she was including in her keto diet to increase her protein intake. By temporarily removing this trigger food and allowing her body to heal, she successfully started losing weight.
Sometimes, solving the food intolerance puzzle involves identifying the problematic food and taking a brief break from it to promote healing.
Cravings VS Food Intolerances
It might sound strange, but the foods we crave are often the ones that lead to reactions. This creates a confusing cycle because food intolerances affect our neurotransmitters, which influence our brain chemistry. You might feel great after a meal, but then, about 20 minutes to an hour later, you start to feel not so good. You might become irritable, without fully understanding why. So, you might think that if that meal made you feel good initially, having it again will restore that sense of well-being. This rollercoaster of neurotransmitters can lead to cravings for foods that aren’t good for us. Identifying and dealing with these food intolerances can help break this cycle.
Another client was experiencing a surprising reaction to corn. During meals with loved ones, she would suddenly become teary. She also struggled to find the motivation to get out of bed, often feeling flat and tired throughout the day.
It wasn’t until we dug deeper, identified the issue, and removed the problematic food that she started to feel her vitality return. She rediscovered happiness, regained her energy, and stopped spending her days in bed. If you’re experiencing restless sleep, a food intolerance might be the cause.
Food intolerances can disrupt your digestive system, leading to bloating, gas, and even abdominal discomfort. This disruption can harm your sleep quality. Have you ever woken up feeling tired, with achy joints and muscle discomfort? These puzzling symptoms could be connected to food intolerances.
These intolerances don’t always appear in a clear manner. They can manifest in various ways, impacting everything from your mood and energy levels to weight control, mental clarity, and mood swings. Unravelling your body’s unique response to certain foods is essential.
Once we identify these triggers, we can create a tailored plan to aid in the healing process and solve the food intolerance puzzle. The outcome? You’ll feel refreshed, in control of your life, and enjoy stable moods. What better way to embrace life to the fullest?
If you suspect food intolerances are affecting you, contact me. Let’s explore and solve this puzzle together.
Just drop me a message or visit my website and ask for a free 15-minute ZOOM chat. I’m here and excited to help you through this journey.
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This is how gut microbes can influence weight!
Probiotics can help you gain weight or lose weight by interacting with our genetics, food and metabolism.
And yes, I did say lose or gain weight……..
Firstly, let me explain that the trillions of microbes in the gut need to be varied, meaning that there should be a large variety of species. There are many different species (or breeds) of microbes, and they all have their place in aiding health — the more variety and balance, the better health results.
Back to the weight loss or weight gain issue….
Do you eat yogurt and berries for breakfast? Thinking that it’s helping you lose weight?
Well, Lactobacillus acidophilus (like the species found in yoghurt) has been connected to weight gain.
I am not saying throw your yoghurt and berries in the bin. Instead, I am suggesting looking at the overall picture. If Lactobacillus acidophilus is the predominant micro-organism of the gut, then weight gain can result.
It is about the variety of species of gut microbes. Imagine if we only have trained german shepherd guard dogs in the world. It may be a safe world, but I am sure that other breeds may be more suitable as a family pet.
While Lactobacillus acidophilus is associated with weight gain, other Lactobacillus species correlate with weight loss.
Species like Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus gasseri, and Bifidobacteria animalis have been found to support weight loss.
Want to lose weight?
Look at your gut flora to support your goal.
Tests can be performed to identify the predominant species of the gut, and specific species can be utilised to support weight changes.
Want more information about your gut health?
Or want to look at all the factors contributing to weight gain, I’d love to be able to help.