How to Determine a Food Sensitivity and Lose Weight

Yesterday I discussed how gluten in wheat could be a weight loss obstacle. Remember there are numerous other foods that you could also be sensitive to. Common offenders are milk, soy, various nuts, chocolate (sorry ladies), eggs, and seafood.

So how do you know if you are sensitive to a specific food or not? Try doing a simple pulse test:

• Do this test only when you are relaxed and not stressed out.Take it after you have been sitting quietly for ten minutes. Determine your normal pulse rate on your wrist. Count the number of beats in a minute. Count your pulse rate for 6 seconds, then multiply by 10. This is your pulse rate, per minute.

• Consume only the suspected food.

• Wait 15-20 minutes still sitting down quietly. Take your pulse again in the same manner.

• If your pulse has increased OR decreased by ten points or so, it's possible you are sensitive or intolerant to the food tested.

If  you are sensitive to a particular food do not consume it for at least three months. Reintroduce it again after that time and see if you have any reaction. If you decide to resume eating the food regularly, remember to rotate it every three days so you don't become sensitive to it again.

A medical test you could have performed is the Elisa test which is based more on food sensitivities than actual allergies and may be more accurate. A food elimination test can also be done on your own might even be more accurate although it is challenging and time consuming to do. (Use Nutrition Data's Better Choices plan for alternative food selection.)