Why have the numbers of people with celiac-like ‘disease’ increased to the point where there is now a gluten-free section in all supermarkets? This is a serious question.
Close relative had terrible reactions to a lot of foods, especially grains. They added a plant enzyme supplement before meals (like Beano) and all the symptoms immediately disappeared.
Back in the early 70’s, I was going through a rough patch, emotionally. On the advice from a relative who had tried it herself, I went through a food-elimination protocol in a hospital. I was in my late 20s. I tested as allergic to a huge laundry list of foods. I followed a strict diet for 18 months, during which time my personal situation improved tremendously. I began adding food groups back to my diet with no problems and within 6-8 weeks was again eating normally, ie: whatever I wanted of foods commonly available.
Did the elimination regime ‘cure’ me? Was I simply having a gut reaction due to emotional problems? Don’t know. But, excepting anaphylaxis, most food reactions are minor. My personal feeling now, nearly 50 years later? We can control food intake, while many personal aspects of our lives seem out of our personal control. So, we turn to food regimentation in an attempt to gain control.
Anecdote, not data and, as always, YMMV.
Did that include Tide pods?
One of my kids has many food allergies diagnosed through a blood test. The MD said it’s a textbook case of a premature baby. We were both given antibiotics at his delivery and they helped save his life, but can cause a leaky gut. As he got older and we introduced foods to him, his immune system fought against them as they “leaked” into his blood stream.
Now that I think about it, he’s not allergic to things that we don’t eat often: fish, pork, corn...