That’s right; meat and fish also have the potential to be affecting your body and potentially cause digestive symptoms. Meat and fish provide a wide range of protein, minerals, vitamins and essential fatty acids which is why they’re both such common foods. The chances are that you already know someone who has an allergy or intolerance to a kind of meat or fish, including white and red meats.
Intolerance to meat or fish
Food intolerance is where the body struggles to digest a specific food properly. It often causes digestive symptoms like bloating or diarrhoea. Studies have demonstrated that following an elimination diet based on food intolerance testing can help alleviate these symptoms [1]. As with many other foods, people can develop intolerances to various meats and fish species.
Common symptoms of egg intolerance include;
- Bloating
- Fatigue
- Skin Problems & Eczema
- Joint Pain
- Nausea
Allergy to Meat or Fish
An allergy is almost exclusively a reaction to the proteins from a specific food [2]. The body mistakenly perceives these proteins as a threat by the body, and an allergic reaction is triggered. This allergic reaction is also known as an IgE-mediated response, as the body creates IgE (immunoglobulin E) antibodies [2] to defend against this ‘threat’. Allergies can cause a variety of symptoms, such as;
- Itchy, red, and watery eyes
- Itchy, red rash (may be raised)
- Sneezing and a runny or blocked nose
- Swelling of the lips, mouth, tongue, or face
- Vomiting and nausea
- Wheezing, chest tightness, or shortness of breath
- Anaphylaxis
Testing for intolerance to meat or fish
Meat and fish intolerances can be easily tested through simple home-to-lab blood sample testing. A small blood sample can be then sent to a lab for analysis where lab technicians analyse the IgG (Immunoglobulin G) levels within the blood to determine if intolerance is present. These tests use a standardised benchmark to compare IgG levels.
Testing for an egg allergy
An allergy test to meat or fish can be conducted using the same sized blood sample (even the same sample, if the lab conducts both). But it looks at a different type of immunoglobulin – IgE. This sample, taken at home and sent to a lab for testing, will be analysed for any potential allergies.
Mammalian meat allergy (alpha-gal allergy)
Interestingly, there is also a rare allergy to mammalian meats that people can develop. This allergy, known as mammalian meat allergy or ‘alpha-gal allergy’ is unusual because it isn’t actually an allergy to specific proteins in the meat, but it is actually a reaction to a particular carbohydrate within the meat – galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose.
What makes this allergy even more unique is that the reaction is often delayed for several hours, making it harder to identify [3]. It has been documented that a bit from certain tick species may cause this allergy to develop [4]. Unlike most allergies, mammalian meat allergy isn’t mostly developed in childhood; in fact, the case is often the opposite.
Removing Meat and Fish from the Diet
Meat and fish can be highly nutritious, so eliminating either or both from your diet should not be done lightly. If, however, you do need to remove both from your diet, you may be concerned as to how you’ll get enough protein in your diet. Here’s how;
Essential amino acids
Amino acids are what makeup proteins in our food. There are 20 different amino acids in total, but 9 of these essential amino acids cannot be produced by our bodies alone – they must be consumed through the diet. The easiest way to do that is by eating foods that contain ‘complete proteins such as eggs and dairy.
Complete proteins aren’t your only source, though. You can get all of the essential amino acids you need through multiple proteins sources – kind of like a pick and mix.
Here are a few meats and fish-free protein sources you can choose from;
- Nuts
- Beans
- Lentils
- Tempeh
- Quinoa
- Buckwheat
- Soy
- Tofu
- Chia seeds
Remember, allergies and intolerances, no matter how small they seem, can have a severe impact on your body and lifestyle. Your favourite foods may have been causing havoc in your digestive tract and you didn’t even realise. Getting tested for a possible allergy or intolerance to meat and fish could put your mind at ease and finally give your guy the break it needs.
Test Your Intolerance tests food sensitivities to meat and fish related items.
At Test Your Intolerance, our expert team have devised a scientifically validated food allergy & intolerance blood testing kit, highlighting what foods your body is intolerant to, including meat & fish. Examining hundreds of food and non-food items, the team aim to provide you with all the results you need. This can be completed easily at home by sending us a sample of your blood in the post. We also offer sensitivity testing which allows us to assess your sensitivities against up to 978 items using just a few strands of hair.
