Food intolerances

Certain foods can cause a variety of problems for those who are sensitive. Over the years we
have observed patterns when it comes to these different reactions which may be helpful to you in
trying to get to the bottom of health issues.

We call these intolerances rather than allergies because problems are usually due to consuming
foods frequently. By eliminating foods for 4 weeks symptoms very commonly resolve. After this
the problem foods are usually well tolerated 2-3 times a week depending on how sensitive the
person is to a particular food or foods. If the problem food or foods are consumed every day, you
will generally see a return of symptoms.

Gluten is a protein that is found in high amounts in wheat but also in rye and barley. Gluten canbe a problem with eczema & asthma, but less frequently than dairy. It should be avoided if there
are problems with digestive issues, fatigue, joint aches and muscle aches. The good news is that
when you get it right symptoms are usually noticeably better within 1 week.

Orange coloured citrus (oranges, mandarins & tangelos) can aggravate eczema & other dry
itchy skin problems. This tends to be a problem that flares up in autumn or winter when lots of
mandarins are consumed.

Eat plain meats or visit a local organic butcher for good sausages free of gluten, dairy and
additives. Avoid all processed meats. Many brands of bread offer gluten-free options but you
may need to shop around for breads that do not contain soy flour. There are plenty of dairy-
free spreads & dips in the supermarkets & health food shops. Rice milk is great in tea but not in
coffee so black coffee may be on the menu temporarily.