Food testing is immediately done for severe and immediate allergic reactions. Allergen-specific immunoglobulin IgE antibody testing can be done at your doctor’s office and can reveal which specific nutrients are causing allergic reaction in the body.
Delayed onset food sensitivities can be tested for with more investigative testing, including:
- IgG, IgA, and IgM antibody levels
Also, to rule out false-negative tests, the following tests are conducted:
Detailed testing helps nutritionists create an all-inclusive wellness plan for individuals with food sensitivities.
- Blood Test: measuring antibodies and immunoglobin (IgG blood test) can show the specific nutrients that may cause food sensitivity. It is best to consult a professional nutritionist to discover your hidden food intolerances through a blood test.
- Temporary food elimination: Avoiding dairy and gluten products temporarily for 6 weeks can give the gut time to heal, and to see if you feel any relief in the body.
- Eliminating the top food allergens: There are 7 other top food allergens apart from dairy and gluten. These include corn, eggs, soy, nuts, nightshade vegetables (tomatoes, bell peppers, potatoes, and eggplant), citrus, and yeast (baker’s, brewer’s yeast, fermented products like vinegar). Avoid these foods for 6 weeks and notice if you feel any relief in the body. Reintroduce these products to your body one by one, consuming them 2-3 times a day for 3 days. Notice any changes in the body. If you feel any symptoms, eliminate that specific food for 90 days or consult your nutritionist about certain lifestyle changes to cope with it.
The testing for food allergies is insufficient to test for food intolerances.
Food allergy tests test for the IgE antibodies in the blood present for a certain nutrient. However, the food sensitivity tests measure the IgG antibodies. The difference in testing shows that food allergy tests cannot show food intolerances. Also, research around the testing methodologies for food intolerances is limited, leaving practitioners to resort to an elimination diet to determine food intolerances in their patients.
“Each year in the U.S., 200,000 people require emergency medical care for allergic reactions to food.”
If you are overweight, have diabetes, inflammation, heart disease, or cancer, identifying food sensitivities and food allergies is even more important because food helps you fight against all these other conditions.