See us for food sensitivities in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Maple Shade, New Jersey, Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, and the surrounding areas. The Falcone Center uses functional medicine to effectively treat food sensitivities and other medical conditions.
What Are Food Sensitivities?
Food sensitivities, or intolerances, are negative reactions to a specific food, beverage, or additive or compound found in food. The reactions are usually bothersome enough to adversely impact your daily activities. Food sensitivities differ from food allergies in that food allergies cause reactions to the immune system that may be considered life threatening whereas food sensitivities build over time and do not cause the same harmful reactions as food allergies.
What Are the Causes of Food Sensitivities?
Food sensitivities tend to come on gradually and cause varying levels of discomfort. When someone develops food sensitivities, it tends to be caused by the following:
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Lack of an enzyme in the body that helps a specific food move through the body without any issues
- Food poisoning
- Intolerance to food additives found in processed foods
- Psychological issues or stress toward specific food
- Celiac Disease
- Leaky Gut Syndrome
- Inflammation
- Chronic illness
What Are the Symptoms of Food Sensitivities?
The symptoms of food sensitivities vary in type and severity. For the most part, the following symptoms appear when someone eats something to which they have a sensitivity or intolerance:
- Gas with an unpleasant odor
- Moderate to significant bloating
- Nausea
- Swelling in the joints
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Headache
- Abdominal cramping
- Changes in mood
- Irritability
How Does Functional Medicine Treat Food Sensitivities?
A functional medicine approach can be very effective for treating food sensitivities. Because functional medicine works to treat the whole patient, specialized testing can be performed to determine specific food sensitivities and factors that lead to the development of the increased inflammatory response to food. Once testing is completed, various treatment programs can be developed to address the issue. Most often, treatment involves an elimination diet in which certain foods are restricted from the diet for a period of one to six months. The Falcone Center will coach you through the process and recommend appropriate dietary, nutrition, and lifestyle modifications.
What Is the Cost of Treating Food Sensitivities with Functional Medicine?
At the Falcone Center, the cost for treating patients in Philadelphia, PA, Maple Shade, NJ, and the surrounding area is based on the appointment. Deposit is due when scheduling initial appointment.
It is important to note that the Falcone Center does not accept insurance as it is considered an “out-of-network provider” by most major insurance plans. While we cannot file insurance claims on our patients’ behalf, we can easily provide them with receipts and the necessary paperwork to file for reimbursement. We suggest that our patients determine whether their plans cover functional medicine prior to making an appointment.
Why Should I Have My Food Sensitivities Treated at the Falcone Center?
Food sensitivities, while not life threatening, are burdensome and can cause a lot of discomfort and even embarrassment for some people. The staff at the Falcone Center is well-trained at determining the causes and treating patients who suffer from many medical conditions including food sensitivities. Our goal is to alleviate the symptoms and potentially reverse the negative reactions that our patients have to certain foods.
How Do I Become a Patient at the Falcone Center?
To become a patient at the Falcone Center, please contact us to make an appointment for your initial consultation. To help us, we request that you fill out the new patient paperwork prior to the appointment so that we can take some time to review it before the consultation.
Dr. Victoria Falcone, director of The Falcone Center, is board certified in Family Medicine. She is licensed in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and is a member of The Institute of Functional Medicine, The American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS), and The American Academy of Family Practice. Dr. Falcone offers a unique approach to health, wellness, and rejuvenation, helping men, women and children look and feel better both inside and out. Please call today to schedule your initial consultation!