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The hidden factors
Our well being can be undermined by allergies, other problems

by Flavia Kreis

These days, people of all ages are increasingly suffering from such problems as depression, anxiety, insomnia, bloating and weight gain. These problems can have a number of causes, not all of which are obvious. In this column I try to address a few of them.

Trouble in the endocrine system is one cause. This system of glands is like an orchestra; when an individual gland is unbalanced the rest of them cannot be in harmony. Oftentimes, due to our environment of toxins, artificial hormones, antibiotics and pesticides containing heavy metals, our endocrine system stops functioning optimally, causing adrenal exhaustion (can't sleep or wind down) and the symptoms mentioned above.

Another cause is food allergies and sensitivities. When we think of allergies, most of us picture sneezing, watering eyes, stomachache — but in fact it can manifest itself in many different ways, and can occur long after the time of exposure to the allergen. This is why most allergies and sensitivities go undetected by conventional tests.

The many manifestations of allergies vary from person to person, and include headache, fatigue, lack of concentration, bloating, weight gain or loss (sometimes three pounds or more from one day to the next), hot flashes and skin problems, to name a few.

In children, the manifestations can include restless behavior, irritability, bedwetting, inability to fall asleep easily, infections (especially of the ear, nose or throat) and asthma.

Keep in mind that the physical health of your body can trigger or reduce the manifestation of an allergy; the healthier we are, the faster our immune system responds to any form of invasion, whether it is from food or some other source. Our immune system responds better to attacks when we are rested, well-fed (organic foods), have some form of spiritual outlet, take necessary supplements and exercise.

We get a constant bombardment every day from chemicals. When our body is fed by nutrient-depleted foods which are also GMO-altered — by radiated meats, antibiotics, synthetic hormones, pesticides and chemical preservatives — what do you think is going to happen inside? Nothing good, obviously. But most of us are in denial about this.

The reason we're in denial boils down to habits: They're hard to break. The truth is, many people are averse to change. But others are willing to invest the time and money in a better quality of life, including better quality food, and are healthier for it. After all, we cannot change parts of our body like we do with cars.

Either we take personal responsibility and educate ourselves, or we rely completely on the promotion and advertising of for-profit companies and accept what they and others tell us is good food for us.

Flavia Kreis is a certified nutritional consultant and the owner of Integrative Nutrition and Wellness Center, located in downtown Mountain View. For more information, visit www.integrative-nutrition.com.