Can Food Allergies Cause Peripheral Neuropathy?

We all know how important a healthy diet is to keep us feeling strong and healthy — but could your food choices also affect your nerve health? For example, can food allergies cause peripheral neuropathy or make neuropathy pain worse?

Allergies can indeed lead to neuropathy, a condition impacting the peripheral nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. The body's immune response to allergens can trigger inflammation, which can harm these nerves and cause neuropathic pain.

Allergies and Neuropathy

Allergies occur when the body's immune system overreacts to specific substances called allergens. When exposed to an allergen, the immune system releases chemicals that cause symptoms such as sneezing, itching, and congestion. In some instances, this immune response can lead to inflammation that impacts the nerves, potentially resulting in neuropathy.

Neuropathy includes various conditions that damage peripheral nerves, leading to symptoms such as pain, numbness, and weakness. Although numerous factors can cause neuropathy, the connection between allergies and these nerve conditions is gaining attention. Histamine, a chemical released during allergic reactions, is known to contribute to nerve pain and may link allergies to neuropathy.

The many faces of neuropathy

There are hundreds of different kinds of neuropathy, the most common being diabetic neuropathy, which is caused by fluctuating blood glucose levels. But did you know that diabetic neuropathy can be broken down into different peripheral nerve syndromes?

One example of secondary neuropathy is metabolic neuropathy, which includes nerve disorders associated with metabolic diseases such as diabetes, hypoglycemia, and nutrition deficits. Metabolic neuropathies can be managed by changing your diet, taking supplements or medications prescribed by your doctor, and controlling blood glucose levels.

What are metabolic neuropathies?

Metabolic neuropathies are nerve disorders resulting from diseases that disrupt the body's chemical processes. Symptoms include difficulty feeling sensations, using limbs, walking, nerve pain, and weakness in various body parts. Dysautonomia can also occur, affecting involuntary functions like heart rate, blood pressure, and digestion. These symptoms typically begin in the toes and feet, progressing up the legs and eventually affecting the hands and arms. Complications may include deformity, injury, numbness, pain, and difficulty walking, leading to falls.

Metabolic neuropathy causes

Diabetes can play a huge role in developing metabolic neuropathy, but it isn't the only cause. Other factors that may lead to neuropathy include:

• Food allergies

Can food allergies cause peripheral neuropathy? Unfortunately, yes. An allergic reaction can trigger neuropathy and make the condition worse. Gluten allergies are one of the worst offenders when it comes to neuropathy pain. People diagnosed with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity often find that eating gluten causes tingling, numbness, or other neuropathy symptoms.

• Alcohol

Alcoholic neuropathy is caused by increased alcohol consumption. Alcohol is toxic to your nerves and can cause extensive damage over time. Heavy drinking can also cause nutrient deficiencies, leading to or exacerbating neuropathy.

• Inflammation

Certain diets can lead to chronic inflammation, which can cause and worsen neuropathy. For example, diets full of refined grains, sugars, salt, and dairy make it more difficult to control blood sugar levels, making it more challenging to control inflammation. As a result, inflammation can damage nerves, increase pain, and cause other health issues.

• Nutrient deficiencies

Without proper nutrition, your body can't grow, heal, or work well — including your nerves. If your body isn't getting the nutrients it needs, your nerves won't be able to function properly, and you may develop neuropathy. Many people with neuropathy have vitamin deficiencies (most commonly B12 or B6).

Foods that help neuropathy

Thoughtful eating habits can go a long way toward preventing and managing diabetic neuropathy, metabolic neuropathy, and other health issues. Whether diabetic or not, both men and women can benefit from following these tips to help combat neuropathy.

• Consume a diet rich in whole foods, whole grains, fish and other healthy fats, fruits, and vegetables.
• Limit sugary drinks, artificial sweeteners, dairy, trans fats, saturated fats, processed foods, and fast foods.
• If you're allergic or are sensitive to certain foods (i.e. gluten, dairy, aspartame, MSG, etc.), avoid them as much as possible.
• Limit foods and ingredients that cause inflammation (i.e. salty foods, processed foods, etc.).
• Take supplements and medicines as your doctor prescribes, especially if you've been diagnosed with a vitamin or nutrient deficiency.
• Stop drinking and smoking to protect your nerves and ensure your body has the proper nutrients to function properly.

Find neuropathy pain relief at Viasox

Changing your diet to include healthier foods is one of the best ways to manage or prevent certain types of neuropathy and neuropathic pain. However, suppose you're still experiencing tingling, numbness, or other neuropathy symptoms even with a different diet. In that case, you can turn to many additional treatment options to help manage your pain. One of the easiest and most convenient treatments is a high-quality pair of diabetic socks or compression socks.

Here at Viasox, we're proud to stock some of the best diabetic socks in North America. Our products have been painstakingly designed to provide comfort and support to your feet and lower legs to help combat sensitivity and pain. Shop our entire collection online today for access to fun and funky patterns or more traditional designs. No matter what your taste, we've got the perfect fit for you!