Common Triggers
Chemicals
Indoor air is the most common source of chemical exposures in many people’s lives. Moving to a new house or renovations to home or office often bring new furnishings, carpet, paint, synthetic fragrances, and pesticides. Fragranced personal care or laundry products may also be problematic for those with chemical intolerance. With the post World War II exponential proliferation of petrol-chemicals, plastics, and pesticides, people living in the modern world are exposed to tens of thousands of chemicals that humans have not co-evolved with. As a result, about 1 in 5 people in industrialized nations have chemical intolerances.
Foods
Food Intolerances are not the same as food allergies, although some symptoms may be similar. The most important difference is that allergies always involve immunoglobulins or “IgE”, where food intolerances do not. Common food allergies include eggs, cow’s milk, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, shellfish and cause severe immune system reactions affecting numerous organs in the body. In contrast, food intolerance symptoms are generally less serious and often limited to moderate to severe digestive problems. Physical reactions to certain foods are common, but most are caused by a food intolerance rather than a food allergy. A food intolerance can cause some of the same signs and symptoms as a food allergy, so the two are often confused. Persons with chemical intolerance are more likely to have food intolerances rather than allergies.
Drugs
Well-known drug allergies include antibiotics such as penicillin, ampicillin, and tetracyclines causing mild to severe allergic reactions. Certain drug intolerances such as salicylates (e.g., aspirin) can be naturally found in a wide range of foods, including fruits, vegetables, teas, coffee, spices, nuts, and honey; amines such as histamine, which can be present in a variety of foods including fermented foods, cured meats, dried fruits, citrus, avocados, aged cheeses smoked fish, vinegar, and fermented alcoholic beverages like beer and wine; and sulfites, which can also be found naturally in some foods like grapes and aged cheeses or added to foods like dried fruit to delay browning and wine to prevent spoilage caused by bacteria. The most common symptoms of salicylate sensitivity are: Stomach discomfort or diarrhea, Itchy skin, hives or rashes, Asthma and other breathing difficulties, headaches, fatigue and depression.
Those with chemical intolerance” are more likely to develop food or drug intolerances, although food and drug allergies may co-occur. Your doctor is the best choice to determine whether you are dealing with a food or drug intolerance or allergy.
