How Are Food Allergies Affecting You?

We have all heard the phrase “Food Allergies,” but how much do you really know what they are or how they could possibly affect you? Food allergies have become one of the most important aspects in my life, and now I feel it is my mission and responsibility to share what I know with all of my patients.

My name is Dr. Ann Watwood and this is my story:

It all began when I was 20 years old. I was a full-time college student at ASU as well as a server in a restaurant. Out of nowhere, I began dropping plates and drinks on people and was having difficult time walking. I even began to fall down stairs because my legs would just “give out.” I spent six months visiting doctors and still had no answer.

Finally, I fell down a flight of concrete stairs, split my head open, and ended up in the hospital. They could not figure out what was wrong with me, so they referred me to a neurologist. I met with him the next day and he diagnosed me after ten minutes of talking with me with a disease called Myasthenia Gravis.

Over the next two years, I progressively got worse as doctors prescribed more medications, surgeries, and other therapies. Finally, it got to the point where I was only continuing to worsen, and they wanted to do plasmapheresis -- which is like dialysis, where they sick a big tube in your chest to filter your blood three times a week. I was now 22 years old and I was going to be on disability, in a wheel chair, and have a big tube sticking out of my chest. I was sick of this, and I had enough!

My mom and I began to research alternative medical treatments when we came across Naturopathic Medicine. There was an accredited Naturopathic Medical School in AZ, and since I had graduated ASU with a pre-med (barely since I could not walk), I applied to the school and was accepted.

I spent the first three years of Naturopathic Medical School trying any treatment that might be beneficial. I had slight improvement, until I found the real answer in my third year: I had FOOD ALLERGIES.

I was allergic to gluten, corn, rice, and dairy. When I took these foods out of my diet, I had a 98% improvement in my symptoms in just two weeks! Yes, that’s right, 2 WEEKS. My husband even commented that I was like a different person. Now I work a full-time job, raise my two step-children, work out at a gym for 30–45 minutes, three times a week, and I can wear all of my favorite high heels again (yea)!

So how can something as simple as food allergies be completely overlooked by the traditional medical world? My theory is that they are used to treating the symptoms, and not the root cause. As a Naturopathic physician it is my goal to help my patients find the root cause of their health issues. No one should settle for less than feeling GREAT!

If you are interested in learning more about food allergies, click here to join me at one of my Free Seminars on food allergies at one of my three clinics.