If you’re over the age of 20, chances are you’ve noticed it seems like almost everyone you encounter these days has some form of food sensitivity. Your local restaurant likely has menu items specifically marked gluten or dairy free, and your grocery store has significantly more allergen and food-sensitivity options available, if not an entire section dedicated to these products.

Current statistics show that food sensitivities and food allergies are found in more than 20 percent percent of the population of industrialized countries. This is a high number, and it’s likely to be even higher due to a large number of cases gone unreported or undiagnosed.

Glutathione is an antioxidant that fights cell-damaging molecules in our body. It helps us to break down nutrients we consume, repairs DNA, activates important enzymes, and inactivates toxins. If the glutathione in your body has been depleted by too much-repeated use of these types of medications or too many rounds of antibiotics over the course of your life, it’s likely that your body will have a negative response to food in some form.

Furthermore, these medications cause intestinal permeability, which contributes to the development of immune responses to foods.

It’s estimated that the average individual encounters at least 700,000 different toxins (though many believe that number to likely be as high as 2 million) every single day. These toxins are in cleaning products, bottled water, skincare and makeup, perfumes, soaps and detergents, air fresheners, furniture, plastic products, paint, the list could go on.

Our bodies are designed to encounter germs. This is essential for our immune systems to build up a natural defense against harmful bacteria, and to allow good bacteria to populate our gut. When this is removed, whether by the oversanitization of surfaces, or excessive use of hand sanitizer, etc, our immune system becomes hyper-reactive to germs and is unable to neutralize the fight.

Additionally, our digestive tract is unable to properly absorb and process nutrients, often manifesting in food allergies or sensitivities.

Processed foods are essentially any food product that has been changed from its natural state by refining and adding additional ingredients such as preservatives, fillers, gums, additives, etc. These ingredients cause inflammation in the gut, often leading to sensitivities for many individuals.

Identifying food sensitivities helps us remove inflammation and immediate symptoms quickly, but the stool test tells us why these symptoms are occurring.

When you’re doing a rotational eating plan, making an extra concerted effort to eat seasonally will help with this. We aren’t designed to eat the same 20-30 fruits, vegetables, and meats year-round. Shopping at your local farmers market, produce stand, and developing relationships with any local farmers in your area will make eating seasonally much easier. Even when you’re not doing rotational eating, your body will thank you for making the effort to consume food with the seasons.

Dealing with symptoms that seem to constantly come and go and change often can be incredibly frustrating and discouraging. You might feel like you eat “healthy,” but still have sensitivities. Following some of the strategies we discussed today can make a big difference in helping you eliminate food triggers and begin your journey to healing. However, as we mentioned earlier—it’s important to also work with a trusted practitioner who can help you identify the root of the problem.

While walking the road to identify and treat your food allergy or sensitivity symptoms can seem like a long one, when you allow your body to heal, you will be so grateful you did! Health is wealth, friends.