Food Sensitivity Testing

The immune system is in charge of protecting your body. With around 70% of your immune system located within your digestive tract, it’s no surprise that foods may create an immune response. By understanding the difference between food allergies and food sensitivities as well as how you can determine if food sensitivities are the cause of your symptoms, you will be able to prevent further suffering and illness.

What are food sensitivities?

Food sensitivities, also known as a delayed food allergies, occur when the immune system reacts to a particular food by releasing immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies. This reaction may take hours or days to develop as the antibodies attach directly to the allergens, forming complexes. When these complexes accumulate in the body, they are transported to various tissues and cause inflammation, which contributes to the various symptoms experienced with food sensitivities.

Are food sensitivities the same as allergies?

No. When you are allergic to a food, your body produces an immune response and releases immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies. These antibodies bind to immune system cells, which causes a release of histamine. The elevated histamine results in a much more immediate (occurring within minutes of ingesting the allergen) and severe reaction. Symptoms can include; hives, digestive issues, runny nose, chronic fatigue, asthma or shortness of breath, swelling and inflammation and/or anaphylactic shock.

What are the symptoms of food sensitivities?

The symptoms of food sensitivities can involve some or all systems of the body. Due to their vague and delayed nature, it may be difficult to determine which foods are causing your symptoms. This list is not exhaustive as each individual may experience different symptoms. It is important to keep in mind that although these symptoms can be associated with food sensitivities, they can also be related to other medical conditions as well.

Systemic: fever, fatigue, chills, sweating, weakness, water retention, cravings, dizziness, difficulty sleeping, rapid weight fluctuations, and teeth grinding.

Skin: itching, redness, swelling, eczema, psoriasis, dark circles under eyes, dandruff, and acne.

Brain: mood changes, memory disturbances, behavioral problems, anxiety, confusion, irritability, restlessness, and poor concentration.

Lungs: bronchitis, asthma, chronic cough, sore throat, runny nose, and chronic congestion.

Heart: chest pain, irregular heartbeat, and high blood pressure.

Musculoskeletal: joint pain, muscle stiffness, swelling, and weakness.

Digestive: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdomina

l pain, gas, bloating, constipation, cramping, bad breath, and belching.

It is important to speak with a healthcare practitioner who will do a clinical exam, full history and lab testing to determine whether your symptoms are due to food sensitivities or another underlying condition.

How are food sensitivities detected?

Elimination Diet:

An elimination diet is just what it sounds like – a diet in which you remove food groups that may be causing your symptoms for 4-8 weeks and then reintroduce each group one-by-one to determine if the symptoms recur. This is one of the best ways to determine what foods you are sensitive to you but can be challenging and tedious.

IgG Food Sensitivity Testing:

These tests often involve a small finger prick that is done in your appointment with an ND. After collection, the kit is sent to a lab that analyses your sample to measure the level of antibodies that are present for each food. The higher the number of antibodies, the stronger the possible food sensitivity. After the testing is complete, it is important to review all results with your ND to ensure you are interpreting the results correctly.

There are pros and cons to each method of identifying food sensitivities. It is important to discuss with your healthcare professional which option is best for you.

Once I have identified food sensitivities, what do I do?

Once you have your results, a naturopathic doctor can help you create an individualized plan to eliminate the foods you are most sensitive to while still getting a balanced diet. This essentially results in a more specific elimination diet. During this time, other treatments may be recommended in order to heal your digestive tract and promote healthy digestion and absorption of nutrients.

Kristin Wootton ND offers food sensitivity testing at all of her locations. Book an appointment today to see if Food Sensitivity Testing is right for you!

Resources:

http://www.thelakesideclinic.com/food-sensitivity-testing/

http://rmalab.com/medical-laboratory-tests/allergy/igg-sensitivity

http://www.merckmanuals.com/home/immune_disorders/biology_of_the_immune_system/acquired_immunity.html