IIN Food Sensitivities & Allergies 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Leaky gut (increased intestinal permeability) is believed to contribute to food sensitivities primarily by:
- Allowing partially digested food proteins to enter the bloodstream and trigger immune responses (Correct answer)
- Reducing stomach acid production
- Increasing bile secretion into the small intestine
- Accelerating gastric emptying
Correct answer: Allowing partially digested food proteins to enter the bloodstream and trigger immune responses
When tight junctions between intestinal epithelial cells loosen, larger food protein fragments can cross into systemic circulation and provoke immune activation.
Question 2: A client with a tree nut allergy is most at risk for cross-reactive reactions with which food group?
- Other tree nuts (Correct answer)
- Legumes such as lentils
- Grains such as oats
- Nightshade vegetables
Correct answer: Other tree nuts
Many tree nuts share similar protein structures, so individuals allergic to one tree nut are at elevated risk of reacting to others.
Question 3: FODMAPs are a category of fermentable carbohydrates that can trigger symptoms in people with:
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) (Correct answer)
- Celiac disease
- Peanut allergy
- Eosinophilic gastritis
Correct answer: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
FODMAPs are poorly absorbed short-chain carbohydrates that cause osmotic water draw and fermentation in the gut, commonly worsening IBS symptoms.
Question 4: Which laboratory test is considered the most clinically reliable for diagnosing a true food allergy?
- Oral food challenge (OFC) conducted under medical supervision (Correct answer)
- IgG food sensitivity panel
- Applied kinesiology (muscle testing)
- ALCAT blood test
Correct answer: Oral food challenge (OFC) conducted under medical supervision
The oral food challenge, where the suspected food is consumed under controlled medical observation, is the gold standard for confirming food allergy diagnosis.
Question 5: Histamine intolerance is best described as:
- Impaired ability to break down dietary histamine, often due to low diamine oxidase (DAO) activity (Correct answer)
- An IgE-mediated allergy to histamine-containing foods
- Autoimmune destruction of histamine receptors
- Overproduction of endogenous histamine by mast cells
Correct answer: Impaired ability to break down dietary histamine, often due to low diamine oxidase (DAO) activity
DAO is the primary enzyme that degrades ingested histamine in the gut; deficiency allows histamine to accumulate and produce allergy-like symptoms.
Question 6: When a client suspects a milk sensitivity, an IIN health coach would most appropriately recommend:
- Trialing a temporary elimination of dairy and monitoring symptom changes (Correct answer)
- Ordering a comprehensive food IgG panel immediately
- Suggesting the client take lactase supplements without further assessment
- Advising permanent avoidance of all animal proteins
Correct answer: Trialing a temporary elimination of dairy and monitoring symptom changes
Health coaches support clients through lifestyle and dietary experiments like elimination trials within their scope; ordering lab tests is outside that scope.
Question 7: Which nutrient is particularly important for supporting gut barrier integrity and may help reduce food sensitivity symptoms?
- L-glutamine (Correct answer)
- Vitamin B12
- Chromium
- Iodine
Correct answer: L-glutamine
L-glutamine is the primary fuel source for intestinal epithelial cells and supports the maintenance of tight junction proteins that form the gut barrier.
IIN Food Sensitivities & Allergies 3
Leaky gut (increased intestinal permeability) is believed to contribute to food sensitivities primarily by: