By Lisa M. Belisle, MD, MPH
Originally published September/October 2009, Parent & Family
Kids, school and stomachaches. You know the drill: morning rolls around and your child doesn’t want to get on the school bus, claiming his belly hurts. You keep him home, and he seems to recover, only to have the same thing happen again.
Then there is the recurring daily headache. Your child starts the day just fine, only to return in the mid-afternoon holding his head in pain. A visit to the doctor shows that nothing is wrong with his brain, but gives you no additional answers.
As a parent, you are stumped. Clearly your child is not feeling well, but you can’t figure out why. What should you do?
Start by taking a look at his plate.
When it comes to medical and emotional problems that are difficult to diagnose, food may be part of the problem — and part of the solution. Take a look at the following list:
- Dairy
- Wheat
- Citrus Fruits (oranges, grapefruits, lemons, etc.)
- Corn
- Meat
- Nuts
- Tomatoes
- Eggs
- Caffeine-containing products
How many of the foods on this ‘trigger list’ find their way to your child’s plate on a regular basis? According to Dr. Neal Barnard, author of Foods that Fight Pain, studies show that these common edibles can contribute to migraines, arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome and fibromyalgia (muscle pain). Certain foods have also been linked to problems such as asthma, diabetes, gout, kidney stones, skin problems and a wide variety of other issues. Wondering why your child has belly pain, headaches or other baffling ailments? Food sensitivity may be the answer.
Food sensitivities differ from food allergies. Food allergies lead to an immediate immune-system response, often causing people to develop difficulty breathing, swelling in the lips and face, and skin eruptions, such as hives. Food sensitivities (also called food intolerances) are more likely to go unrecognized, as they cause less dramatic symptoms that take more time to develop.
Food sensitivities are more common than true food allergies. Research from the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology suggests that peanut or tree nut allergies affect 3 million Americans. In contrast, the National Institutes of Health estimates that between 30 and 50 million Americans are lactose (milk) intolerant.
Our tolerance of trigger foods varies depending upon our circumstances. Dr. David Gershon calls the human gut our “second brain” (See Resources, below). Our intestines contain millions of nerve cells that can be both positively and negatively impacted by our emotions. Not surprisingly, food sensitivities are often worse during times of stress, malnutrition, changes in altitude and season, and menstrual periods (see Dr. David Rakel’s Textbook of Integrative Medicine in Resources). School and family worries are leading sources of stress, and thus will make underlying food sensitivities more prominent.
Testing for food sensitivities can be more challenging than testing for food allergies. While blood and skin tests will usually detect a food allergy, food sensitivities can be more difficult to diagnose. If you suspect a sensitivity, it is helpful to keep a food journal for your child that can be shared with your child’s physician or health care provider. (See Mmm: Dr. B’s Three M Food Sensitivity Journal.)
Based on information from this food journal, your child’s provider can suggest strategies to help deal with your child’s health problems. One approach is an “elimination diet” which removes all common trigger foods, replacing them with foods that heal the intestines (such as sweet brown rice), before reintroducing the triggers one at a time. Another important food sensitivity-reducing tactic involves stress-management skills, such as mindful breathing and visualization.
Food sensitivities and stress go hand in hand. When considering foods as triggers for health problems, one must also consider the health of our “second brain.” When both brains work in harmony, and food triggers are minimized, managing school stomachache syndrome and other ailments is as easy as “ABC.”
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Mmm: Dr. B’s Three M Food Sensitivity Journal
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Obtain a small notebook and write down all foods eaten by your child for at least three weeks. (Older children can help with this process.)
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Copy the list of trigger foods noted in this article, and be sure to write down when these foods are eaten. Though many other foods can cause food sensitivities, this provides a start.
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When food journaling, keep the three “M’s” in mind:
- What food is your child putting in his Mouth?
- How does this food Make him feel or act?
- When foods from the ‘trigger list’ are Moved off his plate, does he feel or act differently?
For a downloadable food sensitivity journal, visit www.drlisabelisle.com.
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REFERENCES AND RESOURCES:
Foods That Fight Pain by Neal Barnard, M.D., Three Rivers Press, 1998
Integrative Medicine by David Rakel,M.D., Saunders, 2007.
Sicherer, SH et al., “Prevalence of Peanut and Tree Nut allergy in the US determined by a random digit dial telephone survey,” Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Volume 103:559-62, 1999.
The Second Brain by Michael Gershon, M.D., Harper, 1999.
National Digestive Diseases Information Clearing House (a division of the U.S. National Institutes of Health): www.digestive.niddk.nih.gov
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