Allergies
Fall Allergies talk September 26th
20/Sep/12 08:12 AM
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND
I will be giving a free talk as part of my 4 Seasons of Wellness program called Fall: Allergies on Wednesday, September 26th, 7pm at the Main Street Library (137 Main Street, Toronto). Call the library at 416-393-7700 to RSVP!
Got allergies? Understand this immune reaction and how natural medicine can help you alleviate and prevent symptoms naturally.
See my Events page for more upcoming dates and topics!
I will be giving a free talk as part of my 4 Seasons of Wellness program called Fall: Allergies on Wednesday, September 26th, 7pm at the Main Street Library (137 Main Street, Toronto). Call the library at 416-393-7700 to RSVP!
Got allergies? Understand this immune reaction and how natural medicine can help you alleviate and prevent symptoms naturally.
See my Events page for more upcoming dates and topics!
Comments
Fall Allergies talk September 19th
10/Sep/12 01:42 PM
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND
I will be giving a free talk as part of my 4 Seasons of Wellness program called Fall: Allergies on Wednesday, September 19th, 7pm at the Deer Park Library (40 St. Clair Avenue East, Toronto). Call the library at 416-393-7657 to RSVP!
Got allergies? Understand this immune reaction and how natural medicine can help you alleviate and prevent symptoms naturally.
See my Events page for more upcoming dates and topics!
I will be giving a free talk as part of my 4 Seasons of Wellness program called Fall: Allergies on Wednesday, September 19th, 7pm at the Deer Park Library (40 St. Clair Avenue East, Toronto). Call the library at 416-393-7657 to RSVP!
Got allergies? Understand this immune reaction and how natural medicine can help you alleviate and prevent symptoms naturally.
See my Events page for more upcoming dates and topics!
Spring detox and allergies talk March 21st
19/Mar/12 10:04 PM
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND
NOTE: This talk may be cancelled if the Toronto Public Libraries strike continues through Wednesday. Please check the news to see if the library will be open!
I will be giving a free talk as part of my 4 Seasons of Wellness program called Spring: Detox and Allergies on Wednesday, March 21st, 7pm at the Deer Park Library (40 St. Clair Avenue East, Toronto). Call the library at 416-393-7657 to RSVP!
Dreading allergy season? Wondering how to do a healthy detox? Learn about the benefits of detoxification and how detox key to treating and preventing seasonal allergies.
Topics will include:
See my Appearances and Events page for more upcoming dates and topics!
NOTE: This talk may be cancelled if the Toronto Public Libraries strike continues through Wednesday. Please check the news to see if the library will be open!
I will be giving a free talk as part of my 4 Seasons of Wellness program called Spring: Detox and Allergies on Wednesday, March 21st, 7pm at the Deer Park Library (40 St. Clair Avenue East, Toronto). Call the library at 416-393-7657 to RSVP!
Dreading allergy season? Wondering how to do a healthy detox? Learn about the benefits of detoxification and how detox key to treating and preventing seasonal allergies.
Topics will include:
- Liver health and detox support
- Tips for healthy detox
- Naturopathic treatment for seasonal allergies
See my Appearances and Events page for more upcoming dates and topics!
Wylde on Health November 4th
01/Nov/11 09:17 AM
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND
I will be on Wylde on Health with host Bryce Wylde this Friday, November 4th at 7pm on CP24!
The topic for Friday’s show is Breathing Easily Naturally. Topics will include:
Check it out on channel 24 or online here.
I will be on Wylde on Health with host Bryce Wylde this Friday, November 4th at 7pm on CP24!
The topic for Friday’s show is Breathing Easily Naturally. Topics will include:
- Asthma
- Allergies
- Infections such as sinusitis, bronchitis, pneumonia
- Lung diseases such as emphysema
- Smoking cessation
- Natural treatments for respiratory health (including nutrition, self-care, acupuncture)
Check it out on channel 24 or online here.
Fall: Allergies and Immunity talk September 21st
14/Sep/11 08:38 AM
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND
I will be giving at free talk as part of my 4 Seasons of Wellness program called Fall: Allergies and Immunity on Wednesday, September 21st, 7pm at the Deer Park Library (40 St. Clair Avenue East, Toronto). Call the library at 416-393-7657 to RSVP!
Topics will include:
Monthly talks have started up again! See my Appearances and Events page for upcoming dates and topics!
I will be giving at free talk as part of my 4 Seasons of Wellness program called Fall: Allergies and Immunity on Wednesday, September 21st, 7pm at the Deer Park Library (40 St. Clair Avenue East, Toronto). Call the library at 416-393-7657 to RSVP!
Topics will include:
- Seasonal allergies
- Preparing for cold and flu season
- Lung health
Monthly talks have started up again! See my Appearances and Events page for upcoming dates and topics!
What's the difference between food sensitivity, allergy, or intolerance?
25/Aug/11 05:07 PM
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND co-authored with Mélanie DesChâtelets, ND.
Do you ever feel confused about the difference between food sensitivity, food allergy and food intolerance? The differences are actually pretty simple to understand and will help you understand how food affects you. First, some basic definitions:
Antibody: A large Y-shaped protein produced by the immune system. Its job is to recognize foreign proteins and neutralize them. It’s what happens when you get a cold, the bacteria or virus is recognized and then neutralized by antibodies.
Enzyme: In simple terms enzymes help breakdown things. Enzymes are very specific for what they break down. Therefore, your body has thousands of different enzymes to break down very specific compounds. Without enzymes the process may not occur at all or at a very reduced rate. In the digestive system, enzymes help break down food into smaller units for absorption.
Both food allergy and food sensitivity are antibody-mediated reactions to food. The antibody recognizes a food protein as harmful and tries to neutralize it. If this is similar then what is different? We have different types of antibodies in our body. Different types of antibodies react differently and cause different symptoms.
Food allergy
Food allergy is mediated by an antibody called IgE. When this type of antibody reacts with a foreign protein it immediately elicits typical reactions ranging from uncomfortable to life threatening. Skin irritation, redness, and swelling are common. Difficulty breathing is more disturbing as it represents tightening of the airway. Other symptoms such as hoarseness of voice, stuffy and runny nose, itchy and red eyes as well as nausea and vomiting can are also seen with food allergies.
Here’s a diagram to demonstrate - imagine the pink line represents the symptom threshold; when you cross this line you have symptoms. The star represents the ingestion of the allergic food item.
With food allergy, as soon as the offending food is ingested, IgE levels rise and react quickly. The allergic symptom threshold is always reached. Avoidance of this offending food is necessary as it can be life threatening. The levels of IgE will also drop relatively quickly and within 5-7 days you typically no longer have symptoms.
Food sensitivity
Food sensitivity is mediated by an antibody called IgG. IgG antibodies react very differently from IgE. When IgG antibodies react with foreign proteins, they elicit a milder, slower, and non-typical reaction. Symptoms can vary from migraines, to increased behavioural difficulties in children with ADHD, to chronic digestive concerns (constipation, diarrhea, IBS, IBD), decreases in energy, skin issues (acne, eczema), and other vague symptoms. Here’s the problem - unlike food allergies, food sensitivities are very hard to diagnose. This is because their impacts can be seen 24 to 48 hours after the ingestion of the offending food. There are two ways that can help identify food sensitivities: the first is a strategic elimination/hypoallergenic diet, which works as both a diagnostic tool (to identify offending foods) and treatment (avoidance of offending foods as a first step towards long-term healing). The other is an IgG food sensitivity blood test - I offer this testing via either Immunolabs or Rocky Mountain Analytical. This tests how reactive your IgG antibodies are against various foods. The higher the reactivity the higher likelihood a food sensitivity might be present. This test can be a good starting point in assessing potential food sensitivity.
Here’s a diagram to demonstrate how IgG works.
With food sensitivity, the offending food is ingested and the IgG antibody levels rise slowly and linger for up to 3 weeks. This is what makes a food sensitivity so hard to diagnose. You first ingest the offending food sensitivity and you are symptom-free. This is because you are still far from your symptomatic threshold. In a few days you ingest this same food item and again no symptoms. What you don’t know is that your IgG antibody levels have accumulated with those of your last exposure. Third time is a charm, you ingest the food and this time you get symptoms, such as migraine, constipation, weight gain, water retention, skin breakouts, fatigue, etc. Please note in this example I used 3 days but this is for illustrative purposes and is not literal. It can be confusing! Symptoms don’t appear immediately, so it is hard to link exposure to symptoms and you are left guessing at which foods is causing symptoms. Unlike an IgE food allergy were every single exposure is followed by symptoms, IgG food sensitivities depends on frequency and dose of the exposure.
Food intolerance
Food intolerance represents an enzyme deficiency, meaning your body can’t break down a component of food and this causes digestive upset. The most obvious example is lactose intolerance or lactase enzyme deficiency. This enzyme is important in breaking down lactose found in dairy products. The lack of this enzymes results in gas, diarrhea, and discomfort.
I work with many patients to address food sensitivities. The goal is not to eliminate a food for the rest of your life although avoidance for a period of time is sometimes necessary while we improve the integrity of the gut lining so that you can once again tolerate the offending food. When you figure out which foods you are sensitive to and understand the symptoms, you are empowered to take charge of your health!
Do you ever feel confused about the difference between food sensitivity, food allergy and food intolerance? The differences are actually pretty simple to understand and will help you understand how food affects you. First, some basic definitions:
Antibody: A large Y-shaped protein produced by the immune system. Its job is to recognize foreign proteins and neutralize them. It’s what happens when you get a cold, the bacteria or virus is recognized and then neutralized by antibodies.
Enzyme: In simple terms enzymes help breakdown things. Enzymes are very specific for what they break down. Therefore, your body has thousands of different enzymes to break down very specific compounds. Without enzymes the process may not occur at all or at a very reduced rate. In the digestive system, enzymes help break down food into smaller units for absorption.
Both food allergy and food sensitivity are antibody-mediated reactions to food. The antibody recognizes a food protein as harmful and tries to neutralize it. If this is similar then what is different? We have different types of antibodies in our body. Different types of antibodies react differently and cause different symptoms.
Food allergy
Food allergy is mediated by an antibody called IgE. When this type of antibody reacts with a foreign protein it immediately elicits typical reactions ranging from uncomfortable to life threatening. Skin irritation, redness, and swelling are common. Difficulty breathing is more disturbing as it represents tightening of the airway. Other symptoms such as hoarseness of voice, stuffy and runny nose, itchy and red eyes as well as nausea and vomiting can are also seen with food allergies.
With food allergy, as soon as the offending food is ingested, IgE levels rise and react quickly. The allergic symptom threshold is always reached. Avoidance of this offending food is necessary as it can be life threatening. The levels of IgE will also drop relatively quickly and within 5-7 days you typically no longer have symptoms.
Food sensitivity
Food sensitivity is mediated by an antibody called IgG. IgG antibodies react very differently from IgE. When IgG antibodies react with foreign proteins, they elicit a milder, slower, and non-typical reaction. Symptoms can vary from migraines, to increased behavioural difficulties in children with ADHD, to chronic digestive concerns (constipation, diarrhea, IBS, IBD), decreases in energy, skin issues (acne, eczema), and other vague symptoms. Here’s the problem - unlike food allergies, food sensitivities are very hard to diagnose. This is because their impacts can be seen 24 to 48 hours after the ingestion of the offending food. There are two ways that can help identify food sensitivities: the first is a strategic elimination/hypoallergenic diet, which works as both a diagnostic tool (to identify offending foods) and treatment (avoidance of offending foods as a first step towards long-term healing). The other is an IgG food sensitivity blood test - I offer this testing via either Immunolabs or Rocky Mountain Analytical. This tests how reactive your IgG antibodies are against various foods. The higher the reactivity the higher likelihood a food sensitivity might be present. This test can be a good starting point in assessing potential food sensitivity.
With food sensitivity, the offending food is ingested and the IgG antibody levels rise slowly and linger for up to 3 weeks. This is what makes a food sensitivity so hard to diagnose. You first ingest the offending food sensitivity and you are symptom-free. This is because you are still far from your symptomatic threshold. In a few days you ingest this same food item and again no symptoms. What you don’t know is that your IgG antibody levels have accumulated with those of your last exposure. Third time is a charm, you ingest the food and this time you get symptoms, such as migraine, constipation, weight gain, water retention, skin breakouts, fatigue, etc. Please note in this example I used 3 days but this is for illustrative purposes and is not literal. It can be confusing! Symptoms don’t appear immediately, so it is hard to link exposure to symptoms and you are left guessing at which foods is causing symptoms. Unlike an IgE food allergy were every single exposure is followed by symptoms, IgG food sensitivities depends on frequency and dose of the exposure.
Food intolerance
I work with many patients to address food sensitivities. The goal is not to eliminate a food for the rest of your life although avoidance for a period of time is sometimes necessary while we improve the integrity of the gut lining so that you can once again tolerate the offending food. When you figure out which foods you are sensitive to and understand the symptoms, you are empowered to take charge of your health!