By Frances Cheung, Health Counselor

1. Keep a food diary

A food diary is an essential tool in discovering the connections between food and your body. Be creative with your diary – write down how you feel right after eating, as well as 2 hours and up to 4 days after eating, as many symptoms may not be immediate. Draw, let your pen or pencil flow on paper – it may reveal a lot more about food and its effects on you than you may realize at first. For example, you may discover that certain foods lead to fatigue, bloatedness, cramps, mood swings, skin eruptions, etc.

2. Eat well-balanced meals with variety in your diet

Overconsumption of the same foods over and over again and eating a mono diet can lead to food allergies or worsen your food allergies.
A simple guideline is to include a rainbow of colour in your diet – include a variety of purples/blues, greens, reds, oranges, yellows, whites. Each colour provides different nutritional value and helps to maintain healthy gut flora for good digestion and immune system – essential in managing/preventing food allergies.

3. Make sure to get enough rest and relaxation

Stress can heighten or trigger allergic reactions. Make sure to get enough downtime. Pamper yourself, mediate, do some yoga, connect with nature, draw, get extra sleep – these are all great and easy ways to get started.
Seek a health professional if symptoms do not clear or worsen. Food allergies are often difficult to diagnose and may be symptoms of a more serious health problem.