On Food Allergy
By Tomoko
Many lay claim to suffering from food allergies. I question if every case is an actual food allergy or if some cases are psychosomatic. My brother-in-law cannot eat certain types of fish. When he ingested some by accident, he almost ended up in the emergency room because his respiratory system became inflamed and he could not breathe. While we might blame pollution, pesticides, herbicides, GMOs, and many other toxins which come in contact with our food, I am led to believe that some cases of food allergy are psychological.
I remember reading an article written by a mother with a small child who experienced a devastating earthquake in the 90s, in Kobe, Japan. Due to the state of emergency, the city was shut down. Residents in that region had no other option but to rely on emergency food and water supplied by the rescue mission. The mother had a choice to make. Her son allegedly had a severe food allergy. She used to prepare special meals for him meticulously eliminating certain ingredients that were believed to trigger his allergies. In the midst of catastrophe, she had to decide whether to risk his experiencing food allergies caused by the emergency food provided by the rescue mission or starve him to death. She chose to feed him. He showed no signs of an allergic reaction to any of the food he ate. She wondered whether her son’s allergic reaction was psychological, whether she planted a seed of fear in him and whether or not his body was simply obeying what his mind was led to believe.
People in war-torn countries or poverty stricken nations where the daily fight for survival is a way of life never worry about food allergies nor are they concerned about prescriptions for anti-depressants or sleeping pills. They don't have time for that luxury. Nonetheless, I notice those who live in relatively advanced societies where citizens can enjoy prolonged peace tend to create problems for themselves.
I know a mother who used to take so many anti-whatever medications for years, but she weaned herself off of everything when her son had a car accident and became wheel chair bound for life. When her focus was shifted from chemical and/or emotional imbalance to becoming a full time caregiver for her disabled son, all her “severe conditions” miraculously disappeared.
I am not by any means attempting to suggest that food allergies or other illnesses that require pharmaceutical interventions do not exist, but I believe that before one decides to self-diagnose, one should examine whether we are just creating health problems to keep us busy and distracted.
Every food on earth was originally created to nourish us. Rice and wheat have been around and have sustained civilizations for centuries. So have meat, fish and everything else considered edible that grows from the earth. I believe we should support environmentally friendly and sustainable agriculture. I support such efforts wholeheartedly. Of equal importance however is our attitude toward food. Instead of putting fear in every spoonful of whatever we eat, perhaps if we pour over our gratitude and love to all the fruits of the earth, our body might react with joy. It's possible that when “fear” is replaced with “gratitude” what might seem to be an allergic reaction might disappear, because as they say “Perfect love casts out fear”.
