For the past few days I\u2019ve been waking up with allergic shiners\u2014dark and puffy little bags of skin beneath my eyes. I\u2019ve also been traveling recently for work, plus<\/em> I’ve been under a bit more stress than usual. What\u2019s my body telling me and what do they shine the light on for me to see? For one they\u2019re telling me to \u2018cool it\u2019. They\u2019re telling me that it\u2019s an ideal time to dial it back; that I may want to invite a gentle detox into my routine. But hold on\u2026how did I get from shiners to detox?<\/p>\n Allergic shiners are a telltale sign of a delayed food sensitivity. That\u2019s why listening<\/em> to your body\u2019s messages and shining a light<\/em> on its responses is among the finest diagnostic tools<\/u> for whether or not what you\u2019re eating is best serving your individual needs. Like a parent who learns to discriminate the difference in her child\u2019s cries in order to appropriately tend to her needs, I suggest that we live as acutely in sync with our own bodies messages. Shine the light!<\/p>\n The little signs and clues that your body presents, like my morning shiners, can be the insight you\u2019ve been looking for. They can reveal so much more of the information that you need in your pursuit of optimal health, disease prevention and longevity.<\/p>\n First and foremost, if you experience any kind of inflammation\u2014pain being the most conspicuous clue\u2014you can suspect that there may be a physiological response to something you\u2019re eating on a regular basis. While the inflammation may build over time, until you\u2019re bearing the weight (possibly literally), of that manifestation on a regular basis, there\u2019s also the more subtle evidence\u2026just like my allergic shiners. THE TRUTH IS: WHO KNOWS!<\/strong><\/p>\n I\u2019ll never be able to identify such a sly offender. what’s your body telling you?
\n<\/strong><\/p>\nBut what\u2019s up with the shiners?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Let me explain.<\/h3>\n
\nBut they\u2019re not the only sign of such sensitivity.
\nAllergies and sensitivities can be difficult to detect.
\nTesting doesn\u2019t always do the trick.<\/p>\n
\nYes, there are the obvious responses to food consumed\u2014anaphylaxis presenting as stomach pain, skin rashes, congestion or the inability to breathe within minutes to hours of eating.
\nYet it\u2019s important to note that reactions can be much more subtle.<\/p>\n
\nI\u2019m not suggesting that you live in hyper-vigilance, jumping at ever cry.
\nI am<\/em> recommending that you pay attention.<\/p>\nWHAT\u2019S YOUR BODY TELLING YOU?<\/h2>\n
\nThe following symptoms, other than pain, are also suggestive of underlying, internal or chronic inflammation, the kind you cannot<\/em> \u201csee\u201d:<\/p>\n\n
\nThe puffiness isn\u2019t something I usually experience, but, \u201chello\u201d, it\u2019s cropping up now.
\nIt\u2019s telling something.
\nAnd I\u2019m going to listen.
\nSo what might my shiner\u2019s be telling me?
\nYes, I\u2019ve been on the road. Yes, I\u2019m away from home and my normal meal routine. And, yes, the stressors have been heightened.
\nThose are three circumstances where unknown foods might sneak into my mouth under the guise of a shared meal, restaurant dinner, or something quick, easy, or (let\u2019s face it) comforting.
\nBut upon careful reflection there\u2019s been nothing ingested that\u2019s clearly off my path.
\nI have not indulged in cake or ice cream or a glass of wine. So the culprit must be more sneaky.
\nWhen I ate dinner out, was there some sugar used in my roasted vegetables or the sauce on my fish that my body can no longer process?<\/em>
\nWas there something unusual to my diet in the protein powders used at either of the high-end juice bars where I purchased a smoothie?<\/em>
\nWas the coconut sugar in those Paleo cookies I brought\u2014usually OK on occasion\u2014not so good for me two days in a row?<\/em><\/p>\n
\nBut what I can do is see the sign; take note; and recognize its time to reign it in and take charge of how I look and feel.
\nThis little light of mine, I\u2019m gonna let it shine\u2026<\/em>
\nIf you\u2019re ready to shine the light on your symptoms, we at the Functional Nutrition Alliance Clinic<\/a> are now accepting new clients and we\u2019re here to help you navigate your health challenges and support your optimal health. At the Functional Nutrition Alliance<\/a>, we\u2019re all about helping you create an individualized plan<\/em> that works for you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\nFor the past few days I’ve been waking up with allergic shiners ~ dark and puffy little bags of skin beneath my eyes.
\nI’ve also been in California, spending the holiday with my family, preparing to celebrate Passover and Easter and my son’s spring break.
\nBut what’s up with the shiners?
\nWhat’s my body telling me & what do they shine the light on for me to see?
\nFor one they’re telling me to ‘cool it’.
\nThey’re telling me that it’s an ideal time to dial it back; that I may want to invite a gentle detox into my routine.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[133],"tags":[184,167],"class_list":["post-8042","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-diet-lifestyle-support","tag-detoxification","tag-nutrition"],"_yoast_wpseo_sitemap-include":null,"_yoast_wpseo_canonical":null,"_yoast_wpseo_redirect":null,"_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-description":null,"_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-title":null,"_yoast_wpseo_focuskeywords":"[]","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":null,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":null,"_yoast_wpseo_title":null,"_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"What\u2019s your body telling you? Listening to your body\u2019s messages and shining a light on its responses is among the finest diagnostic tools for whether or not what you\u2019re eating is best serving your individual needs.","_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"diagnostic tools","yoast_head":"\n