“Oh, I’m allergic to dairy, but I’ll still eat it.”
*Looks down at my bowl of ice cream*
The number of times I’ve told someone I’m allergic to something and then proceeded to eat it is unfathomable. But it’s also understandable.
I don’t know of many people who don’t have some bad reaction when they eat a certain food (usually dairy), but they still power through and eat it.
Spoiler alert: we have to stop killing our bodies like this.
Why Food Allergies Matter
One huge reason we continue to eat things that are bad for us or that we’re allergic to is that we don’t know exactly what we’re allergic to. Sure, we have bad reactions to some things, but food allergies affect most of the population.
About 32 million people in the U.S. have food allergies. Of those food allergies, milk, egg, and peanut are the highest ones.
Let’s face it — it’s not fun to be told you can’t eat a certain thing. Diet culture has caused more people to label certain foods as ‘bad,’ and it’s traumatic. No one wants to have their food intake limited or restricted.
But there are times when we need to listen to and respect our bodies. Enter: applied kinesiology.
What is Applied Kinesiology
@kinesiologyinstitute Using this kinesiology method, you will be able to determine which foods you eat are either good for you or not.🍏 #kinesiology #kinesiologist #food ♬ original sound – Kinesiology Institute
Our bodies are more intelligent than we often give them credit for. Applied kinesiology allows you to not only listen to your body, but also see how your body reacts when you give it something that’s harming it.
Doctors have used applied kinesiology “to diagnose and treat nervous system problems, nutritional deficiencies or excesses, imbalances in the body’s ‘energy pathways’… and many other health concerns.”
While it is suggested that you go to a kinesiologist to get actual and reliable results, many people decide to do this test at home.
How to Use Applied Kinesiology
In practice, applied kinesiology feels almost like magic – but people have been using this method to find out what they’re allergic to for years.
Instead of buying an allergen test or going to a doctor, people are holding foods in closed containers up to their chests. At the same time, someone (usually a professional technician) pushes down on their arms. Science Direct says, “A decrease in muscle power is said to indicate a positive test result.” Meaning that if you hold something up to your chest that you’re allergic to, your arm will go down easily.
Some experts say that you should not only go to an expert when you’re doing this practice, but they also suggest you pair it with a real allergy test as well. If you want the best results, going to an expert is a good idea in general, but I want to see if I can get some results just by doing it at home.
My Week
@renee.benes Muscle testing was something I learned about years ago and is actually how I uncovered the traumas I was carrying around with me — but I don’t tell math people because it just sounds crazy 😂 However I strongly believe that our bodies know what’s up and will talk to us if we are willing to listen! Just wanted to share this with anyone who might want to give it a try. PS Can I say this test is better than a doctors? No. Talk to a doctor if you’re having major issues #muscletesting #foodintolerance ♬ Work Out (Talkbox) – Adam Tahere
I was really excited about this week and testing my allergies. I know I’m allergic to some things: dairy, possibly gluten, and maybe a few random things as well, but I wanted confirmation.
A number of experts said that this test isn’t scientifically based or backed and I have to agree with them.
I got to my fiancé’s house and pulled out everything from his fridge — eggs, bread, bell peppers, cheese, milk, and the coffee I had just bought from Dunkin’. I held each food item in my hands as he pressed down. Shockingly, the test was inconclusive.
My arm stayed pretty high as I held the bell peppers, but it dropped immediately as soon as I grabbed the eggs. We went back to the bell pepper and it dropped again. I ended up closing my eyes because I think a big part of my brain was making my arm go down when I held something I thought I was allergic to, but it still gave me inconclusive results all across the board.
My Results
I don’t doubt applied kinesiology or the science behind it, but I do doubt this test. If you’re planning on taking an at-home allergy test, I suggest you do one that is backed by science and maybe includes some professionals.
While it was fun to do, and my fiancé and I had a little laugh about it, I didn’t get any real results from it and it ended up being a slight waste of my time.
That being said, I’m sure if you go to a professional and do this in a controlled environment, you will get better results than I did.
Have you ever tried applied kinesiology before? Are you going to now? Comment below!
For More Health And Wellness Articles, Read These Next:
