Food Intolerance Testing
What is Food Intolerance Testing?
Food intolerance testing is a way of measuring your body’s immune reaction to food. For the most part, food shouldn’t cause a reaction in your immune system. However, if you have a sensitivity to a specific food, your immune system will create antibodies specific to that food. With a simple blood test we can isolate these antibodies and determine which foods are causing an immune reaction.
How Accurate is the Blood Test?
The panel shows your results for more than 200 common foods. Your body’s immune response can be interpreted in two ways. The antibodies present can indicate both a tolerance and intolerance to certain foods. This sounds counterintuitive, but that’s why we will arrange a complimentary follow-up meeting with our nutrition consultant. Some foods will have a low-level immune tolerance, while others will show a high-level immune intolerance. The results will be explained and a step-by-step elimination diet tailored to your needs will be recommended. An elimination diet based on your immune results is the fastest way to conclusively identify your problem foods and bring you back to health.
When is my Follow-Up Appointment?
We will tentatively book a follow-up appointment about 2 weeks after your test. Lab results can often take up to 10 days, leaving us just enough time for shipping and preparing the food elimination plan. In the event of lab delays we will call you and arrange a new time.
What is a food intolerance?
If you have a food intolerance it means your body has an abnormal reaction to certain foods or food types that makes them hard for you to digest. There are a number of reasons why this might happen but the most common is lacking the correct enzymes for proper digestion.
It’s estimated that about 45% of the population may be affected by some kind of food intolerance. While not life-threatening, food intolerances can be uncomfortable and, if left untreated, could lead to chronic medical conditions.
What are the symptoms of food intolerance?
If you or someone you love suffers from any of these symptoms regularly, it could be a food intolerance:
• Stomach Ache and/or Nausea
• Gas and/or Bloating
• Constipation and/or Diarrhea
• Itchy Skin
• Chronic Pain or Headache
• Chronic Fatigue
• Disturbed Sleep
• Water Retention
What’s the difference between a food allergy and a food intolerance?
Often ‘food allergy’ is used synonymously with ‘food intolerance,’ but the causes and effects of each are very different. The symptoms of a food allergy occur quickly (usually within an hour) after eating and can be quite severe. These may include swelling of the lips and throat, breathing difficulties, skin rashes, severe pain, vomiting or diarrhea. Unlike food allergies, the symptoms of food intolerance may be experienced hours, days, or even months after eating the problem food.
What foods are tested?
Below is a chart of all the foods that are tested.
