What is a Food Allergy and Intolerance Test?
Food allergies and food intolerances are often confused. The symptoms can look very much the same but the cause is what differentiates them.
A food allergy represents something to which your immune system negatively reacts. In these situations, the food in question is something that is otherwise harmless, but for various reasons, your immune system doesn't think so.
When this happens, your immunoglobulin antibodies trigger histamines, causing symptoms like breathing problems, swelling, and inflammation. According to the CDC, an average of 6% of people have food allergies.
A food intolerance on the other hand is when your body cannot tolerate a certain food and produces a chemical reaction as a response to it including sweating, diarrhea, and breathing problems. Food intolerances affect up to 20% of the population.
Why is it important to know the difference? Food intolerances are four times more common and if you understand what sensitivities your body has, you can experience significant relief by making minor changes but all of this comes down to getting the appropriate food allergy intolerance test.
With the right food allergy and food intolerance test, you can figure out which one applies to your symptoms.
How the Test Works
At Yutopia, we offer specialized IgG food allergy tests. With these food allergy and intolerance test options we take a blood sample which is then analyzed to determine your levels of immunoglobulin G antibodies specific to an array of foods. The blood sample is taken by our team of qualified professionals and sent away to our partner clinics where it gets reviewed for potential food sensitivities.
We work with:
- Cyrex Laboratories
- Mosaic Diagnostics
- DutchTest
- Doctor's Data Inc
The IgG food map with Candida + Yeast Test will evaluate over 190 common spices, herbs, and food so that you get detailed insights into any food sensitivities or intolerances you might have. Working with Cyrex Labs, your food sensitivity and food allergy tests can help you identify any gluten Related Disorders or autoimmune disorders as well.
14.9% of the population currently has non-celiac gluten sensitivities. The right food allergy and food intolerance test can help you determine if you are among them.
Types of tests available
There are three main types of food allergy tests:
- The first are blood tests which, as the name suggests, require blood samples that get sent away for evaluation.
- The second are skin tests, like the skin prick test where small samples of foods are rubbed on your arm or your back to see how your body reacts.
- The third are elimination tests where you intentionally eat specific foods and monitor the reactions your body has, then eliminate certain things and monitor the same results.
These tests go by different names, too, like:
- IgE test
- IgG test
- Non-Gluten Intolerances tests
- sIgE test
- Allergen-specific IgE in serum
- Skin prick test (SPT)
- Oral challenge test
Food intolerance tests are slightly different. There are three main types of food intolerance tests:
- The first is blood tests, which, much the same as food allergies, take a blood sample that is evaluated in a laboratory, but unlike a food allergy test, this looks specifically for elevated immunoglobulin G antibodies.
- The second is elimination tests, where you intentionally restrict or eliminate foods from your diet to monitor the results.
- The third is breath tests.
Benefits of the Test
What are the benefits of taking a food allergy and food intolerance test?
Food allergy intolerance tests can benefit people who experience gastrointestinal symptoms or gluten intolerance as well as hormonal imbalances, skin conditions, or unexplained weakness. By learning to identify the triggers of your symptoms you can make plans to better manage your diet and as a result, improve your health and overall quality of life.
For example:
The results from a food intolerance test might show that you are highly sensitive to food additives that are commonly found in prepared or packaged food. You might learn that these food additives and your sensitivity cause:
- Low energy
- Weight gain
- Poor skin quality
With the results of your test, you'll be able to avoid foods with those additives and see an improvement in your energy levels, weight, and skin quality.
Many people who complete an IgG test benefit from understanding the relationships between food and fatigue, headaches, or digestive issues, and from there can improve their quality of life.
Key Considerations Before Testing
So, what are the key considerations before testing?
Consultations
If you are experiencing symptoms of discomfort with some regularity, it might be time to consider a consultation to review your circumstances and whether a food allergy and intolerance test is the best option.
Many of these tests can be appropriate for children and adults and are often most beneficial for those who struggle with autoimmune conditions, gastrointestinal symptoms, autism spectrum disorder, or unexplained weakness and fatigue. For children, you might complete Cyrex testing, for which an oral fluid sample, like saliva, and a blood sample are required. For these, you'll come to the facility to have the saliva swab taken and the blood drawn. The process is simple and doesn't require any anesthesia.
Preparations
Before taking a food allergy intolerance test, especially a blood draw, you may be required to fast beforehand.
Fasting is typically fairly limited, and only required for certain tests like the saliva test. In these cases you might have to fast one hour prior to your test and stop drinking any liquids at least 30 minutes prior to your test whereas a blood test might have a longer duration of fasting required.
Your healthcare provider will make this request where appropriate.
Limitations
It is important to understand that the accuracy of your results might differ based on the technology used by the Laboratories that interpret your samples. That's why it's important to make sure that your tests are conducted by companies that partner with reliable laboratories to ensure the highest level of accuracy.
After the Test
The common food allergy and intolerance test that we provide is based on a blood sample which means it can take between two and three weeks to get your results from the laboratory. Once your laboratory results are received, our expert team will help you interpret those results so that you understand what each aspect means.
From there, we will also help you with follow-up actions that might include tailoring a meal plan to better avoid foods to which you are intolerant or sensitive. Where appropriate, you'll also be connected with resources that you can use, like lifestyle changes or medication.
Summing Up
Overall, food sensitivities or intolerances are four times more common than food allergies. Where most people might experience discomfort like sweating, stomach aches, and diarrhea after eating certain foods, these are often misconstrued as allergies when in fact they are intolerances.
Many food sensitivities are on the rise and with the right food allergy intolerance test you can determine whether you have allergies or intolerances and from there make informed decisions about your diet and lifestyle.
