I have had a lot of interest in food intolerance testing and have been asked a range of questions regarding the testing I offer.
What is a Food Intolerance Test?
The food intolerance test is a blood test for food antibodies that can be completed during a return consultation with myself. The testing is done during a consultation and the results are obtained after 40 minutes.
There is no sending off to a laboratory or waiting weeks for results!
This is not an allergy test, but testing for intolerances that cause a wide range of symptoms. If you want to know more check out the post on Food Intolerances 101
The blood is obtained through a finger prick and the blood is taken up into a lancelet then is diluted before being added to a reagent tray. The testing tray shows if you have IgG antibodies to specific food protein extracts by the appearance of one or more blue spots on the tray.
What foods are tested for?
The foods that are tested include:
Fish:
Freshwater fish mix (salmon, trout), Shellfish mix (shrimp, prawn, crab, lobster, mussel), Tuna, White fish mix (haddock, cod, plaice).
Cereals: Corn, Durum Wheat, Gluten, Oats, Rice, Rye, Wheat.
Meats:
Beef, Chicken, Lamb, Pork.
Nuts & Beans: Almond, Brazil Nut, Cashew, Cocoa Bean, Peanut, Legume Mix (pea, lentil, haricot), Soya Bean, Walnut.
Other: Egg (whole), Cow's Milk, Garlic, Ginger, Mushroom, Tea, Yeast.
Vegetables: Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrot, Celery, Cucumber, Leek, Peppers (red, green, yellow), Potato. Fruits: Apple, Blackcurrant, Grapefruit, Melon Mix (cantaloupe, water melon), Olive, Orange & Lemon, Strawberry, Tomato
What do you do with the results?
It is dependent on the results obtained and your symptoms.
As a general rule, a severe intolerant food or foods are to be removed for a period of 3-6 months whilst undertaking a gut healing protocol.
Moderate intolerances, if no severe intolerances present, will also be removed from the diet for a minimum of 3 months to support gut healing.
Mild intolerances are not to be overindulged in and only eaten occasionally. If symptoms are still experienced, gut healing will be used to support the healing.
What do you have to eat leading up to the test?
Just your normal diet, to give the most accurate result possible.
Got any questions or interested in completing a test?
Please be in touch!