8 Common Food Allergens

I am constantly talking to different people, very often about what’s wrong with them… Whether it be a skin condition like acne, eczema or rosacea or digestive issues like bloating and constipation. I have heard it all and for the most part I truly believe that the issues we all face come from within and more often than not we are eating things our bodies cant process properly. Many people believe that unless you have an anaphylactic reaction to something then you aren’t allergic. I believe you don’t have to have your throat closed to listen to the signals your body is trying to tell you.  

I have compiled a list of common allergens that cause skin irritations and digestive problems for so many. Some are more well known than others, like dairy or gluten, but regardless of their notoriety, these allergens are important to keep in mind when you’re out and about buying food. Why? Well, it’s not because these foods are bad per se, but these are foods that can trigger inflammation in the body. Inflammation is one of the top causes of acne and skin issues and let’s be honest, we all want to feel and look our best, no one has time for that!  

I am going to breakdown these allergens and suggest you cut them out 1 by 1 until you find your culprit. I would suggest 21 days is the perfect amount of time to see if one of these is your issue. 

DAIRY

Is a pro inflammatory food. Even if the milk says, “hormone free” it is close to impossible to have no hormones in the milk. The hormones in cow’s milk completely throw off our hormones and creates an imbalance. This internal imbalance is what leads to breakouts and skin issues. Don’t be fooled by lactose free – those milks are LOADED with another culprit – SUGAR. 

SUGAR

Can be anything from the refined kind like white sugar, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup and even agave syrup. It can be a tough one to track down because companies find ways to hide it in our everyday foods and drinks. Besides the many reasons we all know sugar is bad for us, from a skin perspective, sugar throws off the body’s PH balance as sugar is very acidic. It also increases the body’s glucose levels, which in turn increases insulin, thus triggering acne. Sugar also accelerates our skin’s aging process. No thank you. Instead, try any of my go to sweeteners: raw honey, real maple syrup, coconut sugar and yacon syrup are my usual go to’s. 

GLUTEN

Gluten (in North America) is a trigger for almost EVERYONE. Gluten is highly GMO (genetically modified) and our bodies do not recognize it or know how to digest it. Gluten is bad for the gut and causes our immune systems to go into overdrive, therefore causing inflammation. There will be way more info on the problems with gluten in the future. 

PEANUT

Allergies seem to be something that we associate with time spent at school or camp, but peanuts are more than just a childhood allergy. Nut allergies are very serious and continue to plague adults too, but a lot more people are intolerant to nuts without realizing it. Most peanuts we see at grocery stores contain fungus that grows on them and in turn they become toxic to us, making nuts an allergen too. I cut out all nuts for 2 months and when I added them back I got patches of eczema that had cleared when I wasn’t eating them, sad story because I love(d) to snack on nuts. 

EGGS

Are another one that takes me back to my school years. Many people have an allergy to eggs and don’t even realize it. If you suspect that you do, try removing them from your diet for 3 weeks to see what happens to your skin. If you suffer from eczema, like me, eggs may be the culprit as there are connections between eggs and eczema, which leads to skin inflammation. If you don’t have any issues with eggs however, you can definitely keep them. 

CORN

Is an allergen that not many people think of. It is a grain, not a legume or vegetable. Corn is a highly GMO food and you guys know I am not about that life. Corn (in one form or another) is in EVERYTHING and therefore an allergy to it can go undetected. 

NIGHTSHADES

Are a sub-sect of vegetables that can be quite hard on the digestive tract. Some of these include eggplant, tomatoes and bell peppers. If eating these results in bloating, nausea, moodiness or headaches, you may be one of these people. Issues with the digestion of nightshades can also result in skin irritations, so if you suspect that they may be causing you issues, start by eliminating them for 3 weeks and see how you feel. I am not a doctor, just a KG suggestion.

Last but not least, SOY is another one that can cause digestive and skin issues. Soy is also highly GMO, just a reminder. 

This list can seem daunting to eliminate, but taking it step by step makes it less scary and manageable.  

Feature image via Pinterest.