Food intolerance testing

Food intolerances are prevalent in today’s society. Everyone knows someone with a gluten, wheat or dairy intolerance. As some of you may already know, I frequently test for food intolerances in my patients. This is because time and time again, food intolerances play such a huge role in people’s health and symptoms- I have never had a patient whose symptoms do not improve once they take away the troublesome foods.

One of the main reasons that food intolerances are so common now is due to the ‘Standard Australian Diet’ (SAD) being so far from what we are designed to eat. Our food is heavily processed. We eat very large amounts of foods containing dairy and wheat which are also often added into processed foods without us realizing. Our environment is populated by substances that may upset our digestive health- toxins, chemicals, preservatives, unfiltered water and antibiotic use are just some of the things that can disrupt our digestive tract. This can lead to food intolerances. There are of course cases in which genetic factors predispose us to intolerances.

What is a Food Intolerance?

Food intolerances are very different to a food allergy. An allergy is more obvious and immediate symptoms. It involves an antibody known as IgE reactions and is an immediate and more severe response.

A food intolerance is quiet different. It is a different part of the immune system that responds. An intolerance is an IgG antibody reaction. A reaction can occur immediately or up to 3 days following consumption of the food- this is why testing is so important, as it can be very hard to link your symptoms to a food. Who would blame the egg that they had 2 days ago for their gas and bloating?

What Are the Symptoms of Food Intolerance?

Symptoms can be many and varied. Most common are digestive reactions- nausea, bloating, pain, gas, heartburn, diarrhoea, constipation, vomiting. Other common symptoms include headaches or migraines, skin problems (acne, eczema, psoriasis). Immune problems such as frequent infection, sinusitis or hayfever are common. One of the biggest is fatigue, mood changes and poor sleep. I often check for food intolerances in patients having difficulty losing weight– it makes a big difference.

Food intolerance testing

Having any of the symptoms above is enough to lead you to suspect food intolerance. I recommend testing as the fastest and most accurate way to diagnose food intolerances. Your other option would be do undertake a grand elimination diet in which you follow a very restricted diet for a period of 4 weeks, then slowly re-introduce suspect foods, looking out for symptoms over the space of 3-4 months. To do this properly takes months- this is why the blood test is the best way to go!

I am now using a new method for food intolerance testing. The blood sample is done via a finger prick and can be taken during our consultation which means the results are back much faster than previous methods. It is also the most cost effective way of testing for food intolerances as we can check 96 foods for $249.00. The blood samples are sent to America for testing but results are available within 10-20 days and it is the lab that takes payment, not us.

The outcome? A practical list of food in which your body does and doesn’t like! I am then able to make you a healthy eating dietary plan that is specific for your needs and symptoms.

If you suspect food intolerances may be playing a part in your health, a quick test will give you all the answer you need. It gives you control over your symptoms and a way of managing health for the long term without having to resort to medical treatment or even supplementation.

Contact me on 9518 0722 to arrange a test.

Yours in Better Health