Allergy Tip: Bulk Up On Dietary Fiber – Loveland, Fort Collins

Dietary fiber is the non-digestible form of carbohydrate or “bulk” found in plant foods, including fruits and vegetables, whole grain products, beans, nuts and seeds. It provides the bulk of the diet, which helps promote healthy gastrointestinal function and contributes to a feeling of fullness after eating. If you have one allergy or multiple, adequate amounts of daily dietary fiber can help the body in the allergy battle.

The average adult eats about 15 grams/day which is about half of what the recommendation is. Women need 25 grams of fiber per day and men need 38 grams per day according to the Institute of Medicine.

A minimum of 35 grams per day facilitates the growth of beneficial bacteria in your intestinal tract, increases optimal bowel movements and aids in binding of toxins and other chemicals for elimination. Add vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts (ones you know you are not sensitive to) and seeds to your diet.

A Better Way of Finding Allergy Testing
Although the advice is to bulk up on your dietary fiber, unwittingly consuming increased amounts of foods that you are allergic to can lead to problems. You can be allergic or sensitive to just about any type of food. Not sure which ones you are sensitive to? Get to your local allergy elimination practitioner for NRT (Neuromuscular Response Testing).

Beware of traditional allergy testing (blood IgE and Skin scratch testing) methods that give 50-60% false positive results and are not historically accurate with food allergies.