Dr. Curtis Cripe: How Food Sensitivities Impact Cognitive Function

The hidden effects of food allergies

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Food allergies are becoming more common. Within the United States, 10% of the population identifies with some type of food allergy including eggs, peanuts, dairy, or wheat.

In some cases, the symptoms of food allergies can be severe and life-threatening, while other people suffer mild symptoms like itching or swelling. According to Dr. Curtis Cripe, the effects of food allergies can also be hidden. It’s what experts call asymptomatic food sensitivities. You even be eating foods that are good for the brain like eggs or nuts without realizing that you have a sensitivity to those foods which are triggering your body’s natural immune response.

Child Development In addition to the physical symptoms of food allergies, the presence of these sensitivities present difficulties in the social and emotional development of children. Some of the more obvious concerns involve the stress it places on children when they have had severe allergic reactions and must avoid those dangerous foods. It can put a strain on social relationship as the children aren’t able to participate in some activities, such as trick-or-treating, or may experience bullying in regards to their food allergies.

Cognitive Symptoms Dr. Curtis Cripe is also concerned about the hidden effects food allergens can have on the brain. He pointed to a recent study involving the long-term consumption of allergens, which found that eating the identified foods led to brain inflammation and neuronal damage, even when there were no outward signs of an allergic response.

These are important findings when we consider the approved treatment of allergens in which patients are given small doses of the allergen to develop a tolerance. While this may reduce severe reactions, it appears that the brain continues to be impacted.

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Even without physical symptoms of food allergies, these sensitivities can lead to emotional and behavioral problems such as depression, anxiety, ADHD, and autism spectrum disorder. From a cognitive perspective, food allergies can motor and learning deficits.

Treatment Dr. Curtis Cripe pointed out that when a person with food sensitivities eats those foods, it triggers an immune response. One of the common symptoms is brain fog, or that fuzzy feeling when you can’t quite think clearly. If this state of irritation to the brain persists over time, the brain establishes a new “set point” a this lower level of functioning.

Under the supervision of a physician or naturopath, patients may use a strict elimination diet to identify the problem foods. For more hidden sensitivities that are affecting the brain, the patient may need blood tests.

In addition to dietary adjustments, Dr. Curtis Cripe recommends targeted exercises to strengthen and optimize brain function as the body heals. With the NeuroCodex evaluation, Dr. Curtis Cripe is able to monitor when the brain has returned to its peak performance.

Dr. Curtis Cripe is the head of research and development at the NTL Group. He specializes in developing brain-based technologies for healing and repairing neurological dysfunctions. More on Dr. Cripe here.