MY FRIEND HAS CUT OUT WHEAT AND DAIRY, HAS LOST WEIGHT AND SAYS SHE FEELS GREAT. SHE NOW CLAIMS SHE MUST BE “ALLERGIC TO THEM” AND I MUST SAY I AM TEMPTED TO FOLLOW SUIT. IS THIS A FAD DIET OR IS THERE SOMETHING MORE TO IT?

Unsubstantiated food allergies and intolerances are becoming more of a problem as people either use them as a tool to loose weight or because they have heard word of mouth that giving up certain foods can make them feel better. It is true that western diets today are generally very high in refined, over processed carbohydrates and this is leading to health problems. I would certainly recommend anyone with a diet like this to cut down on these types of foods but not necessarily the foods your friend has targeted without good cause.

If people with carbohydrate imbalanced diets do cut out wheat and dairy there is a good chance they will start to get more energy, loose weight and feel better but this is probably to do with the fact they are increasing the intake of previously deprived nutrients and also eating foods that come from much purer sources, are less likely to disrupt blood sugar levels or over stimulate the body. If you knew your friend ate these foods before, then it is very unlikely she is allergic to them. Allergies usually appear in childhood and produce very immediate symptoms so she would know straight away what is causing the problem.

It is possible that your friend has food intolerances and as wheat and dairy are common intolerances, these are the foods that people are targeting without professional help. I would suggest you find out from your friend what prompted her to start this exclusion diet, what her symptoms where and whether there is a weight issue connected to it. If your friend was over weight, then her weight loss is a positive thing but you must encourage her to get professional help as she could be following a nutritionally deficient diet.

Nutrients found in wheat and dairy are found in other foods but my main concern is lack of calcium. Young women deficient in calcium can really increase their chances of osteoporosis after the menopause. If she is looking under weight, then there could well be some disorder issues. Firstly she needs to see her doctor to make sure there is no underlying medical problem, get qualified nutritional help and consider taking a validated food intolerance test.

MY SON REACTS BADLY TO FOODS CONTAINING CERTAIN ADDITIVES AND I HAVE READ THAT OMEGA OILS CAN WARD OFF ALLERGIES. HE IS NOT KEEN ON FISH WHAT ELSE CAN I DO DIET WISE?

The body is essentially made and maintained by the nutrients we get from food. Proteins, carbohydrates, fats, minerals and vitamins are required to create our very existence and how healthily we balance that diet can have a huge influence on our overall health. The oils found in fish are termed essential fatty acids because the body needs them for essential cellular growth, repair and metabolism so yes it does play a part in maintaining healthy skin, balancing the immune system and influencing behavior and mood.

As far as allergies go, fish oils are unlikely to “ward off” allergies if they are already existing but they are certainly beneficial health wise to an allergy sufferer. One thing you must be aware of is the valuable nutrients we get from fish oils do not work in isolation but need a full and varied intake of many different nutrients to make them beneficial. Other nutrients found in fish such as body building protein are equally important but there are many essential nutrients not found in fish and this is why any diet needs to be well balanced and varied.

Omega oils found in fish are also found in nuts, seeds, cereals and vegetables so if your son is not keen on fish, try increasing his intake of these other foods. There are also many types of fish, tuna, swordfish and salmon for example all have very different tastes and textures but are all nutritionally rich so experiment. You have already experienced the negative effects of additives so stick to pure basic foods that are not processed or heavily refined. Look for foods that have less than 5 items listed on the ingredient label or are so pure they don’t even need a label and stick to wholemeal cereals.

Omega oil supplements are a good idea but check they are suitable for children and also take them with a general multi mineral and vitamin supplement. Some pure oils can also be rubbed directly on the skin to ease eczema. I would also suggest you got your son tested for allergies and intolerances so that you can pin point specific foods and eliminate them from his diet. Speak to your doctor and if you go privately always go for a clinically validated test.

The good news is that most children do grow out of these types of food reactions but the healthier his diet is now, the more likely he can combat food sensitivity now and in the future.

Do you have any questions* for our resident expert, Liz Tucker?  Then email us at liz@behappybehealthy.co.uk

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