Food Intolerances

Understanding Food Sensitivities and Intolerances through Kinesiology

Food sensitivities and intolerances, while not life-threatening, can severely impact your quality of life. From digestive issues to skin conditions like eczema, these reactions often cause discomfort and can contribute to long-term health problems. Unlike food allergies, where symptoms are immediate and often severe, intolerances can take up to 72 hours to manifest, making it difficult to identify the cause.

Kinesiology, and more specifically muscle response testing, is an effective way to test for these sensitivities. However, there's much more to it than simply identifying foods that don't agree with your body. Let’s explore how this holistic approach works, and why addressing underlying issues is crucial for long-term well-being.

What Are Food Sensitivities and Intolerances?

Food sensitivities and intolerances occur when the body has difficulty digesting or metabolizing certain foods. They involve an overreaction of the immune system to specific substances that it perceives as harmful, even though they are not. Unlike allergies, which can cause immediate reactions like swelling or difficulty breathing, intolerances result in milder but persistent symptoms such as:

  • Bloating, indigestion, or nausea
  • Fatigue or brain fog
  • Skin issues like rashes, acne, or eczema
  • Joint pain or swelling

These symptoms can take hours or even days to appear, making it challenging to determine which food or substance is the culprit.

How Does Kinesiology Help Identify Food Sensitivities?

Kinesiology uses muscle response testing to help identify foods and substances that may be triggering these reactions.  The method works on the principle that muscles communicate with organs through nerves, creating an electrical circuit. When this circuit is disrupted—such as when the body encounters a food or substance it is sensitive to—the muscle weakens or "switches off."

Here’s a simplified look at how it works:

  • We test a muscle that is functioning effectively by applying gentle pressure.
  • A food or product is then introduced onto the body.
  • If the muscle weakens in response, it indicates that the body is struggling to process that particular substance.

This method is non-invasive, painless, and suitable for all age groups. In addition to foods, we can also test for reactions to household products like washing powder, personal care items, or environmental factors like dust or pollen.

Addressing the Underlying Cause: Why It’s Not Just About Food

While many people approach me to simply to test for food sensitivities, I always emphasize that the issue goes deeper than just food. Muscle testing may indicate that your body is reacting to a particular food or substance, but there’s almost always an underlying reason why this is happening.

For example:

  • Stress: Emotional or environmental stress can affect how your body processes certain foods.
  • Nutritional deficiencies: Lacking certain vitamins or minerals can make your body more reactive to particular foods.
  • Digestive issues: Poor gut health can result in sensitivities to foods that are normally well-tolerated.

If you only exclude the foods your body reacts to without addressing these underlying issues, you may have to eliminate more and more foods over time, leading to a restricted and frustrating diet. Who wants to live that way? Instead, my approach focuses on identifying the root cause of the sensitivity. By addressing these factors, the body can often heal, allowing you to reintroduce foods that were previously problematic.

Benefits of Kinesiology for Food Sensitivity Testing

Using kinesiology to test for food sensitivities comes with several advantages:

  • Non-invasive: There are no blood tests or needles involved. Muscle response testing is safe, painless, and suitable for everyone, including children and babies.
  • Quick results: You’ll receive immediate feedback during the session, eliminating the need to wait for lab results.
  • Tailored to you: The test focuses on the foods and substances that are part of your daily life. This means you get relevant and specific results, without unnecessary information about foods you don’t consume.
  • Cost-effective: Compared to extensive lab tests, kinesiology is a more affordable option for identifying sensitivities.
  • Re-testable: As your body heals, you can retest foods after a few months to determine whether you can reintroduce them into your diet.

Beyond Food: Testing for Environmental and Lifestyle Triggers

Food isn’t the only thing that can cause sensitivities. Muscle response testing can also identify reactions to:

  • Household products: like washing powder, fabric softener, or tap water.
  • Personal care items: like makeup, lotions, or deodorant.
  • Environmental factors: including pollen, animal fur, and dust.

You are encouraged to bring your own items, such as your usual foods or household products, to test during the session. This ensures that we are testing the substances you are actually exposed to on a daily basis.

Healing the Body and Reintroducing Foods

Once we’ve identified the substances causing stress on your body, the next step is to eliminate them for a period, typically six weeks. During this time, the body can reset and heal, allowing the immune system to recover from its heightened state of alert.

In addition to removing the problematic foods or substances, I often recommend lifestyle adjustments and nutritional support, such as:

  • Hydration: Drinking plenty of water to flush out toxins.
  • Nutritional supplements: Such as Vitamin A, B6, or zinc to support the body’s healing process.
  • Detox practices: Epsom salt baths or infrared saunas to help the body detoxify.

After the healing period, we’ll retest the foods and substances to see if they can be reintroduced. In many cases, clients find that they can tolerate the foods they once reacted to, allowing them to enjoy a more balanced and flexible diet once again.

Conclusion

Kinesiology provides a unique, non-invasive way to identify food sensitivities and intolerances, offering immediate results and tailored recommendations. However, it’s crucial to go beyond just testing for foods. By addressing the underlying causes of sensitivities—whether they’re related to stress, nutritional deficiencies, or digestive health—you can give your body the tools it needs to heal. This way, any food eliminations are only temporary, and you can reintroduce foods over time without long-term restrictions.

If you’re struggling with unexplained symptoms or suspect food sensitivities, consider booking a kinesiology session. Together, we can identify the root cause of your reactions and create a plan for healing and long-term well-being.