About Understanding Food Sensitivity Testing

A 35-year-old man with psoriatic arthritis gets a referral to a holistic care provider who recommends a food sensitivity test. The man is experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms, like abdominal pain and bloating, and he wants to reduce his reaction to foods.

Many people with Spinal decompression symptoms see ads for at-home food sensitivity tests that claim to identify which foods are contributing to their discomfort. These tests typically measure immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to 90 or more foods and claim that if you remove the foods with high IgG levels from your diet, you will experience fewer or no gastrointestinal symptoms.

Unfortunately, there is no one test that can accurately diagnose food intolerances or sensitivities. Many of the tests offered online and at retailers take advantage of vague medical definitions for allergy, intolerance, and sensitivity and make claims about their accuracy that are unsubstantiated.

Most tests that claim to identify food intolerances or sensitivities focus on IgG antibodies to proteins in certain foods, like dairy products (cow, goat, sheep); eggs; grains (wheat, barley, rye); nuts; and vegetables. There are also tests that specifically look for IgE antibodies to common food allergens, such as peanuts and tree nuts.

While there are a few valid, clinically validated methods to determine if you are intolerant or sensitive to specific foods, the gold standard is an elimination diet performed under the supervision of a gastroenterologist, dietitian, or nutritionist. These trials involve following a restricted diet to identify which foods cause adverse reactions, such as bloating, gas, diarrhea, or cramping.

Leigh Brain & Spine
6110 Falconbridge Rd STE 100, Chapel Hill, NC 27517
(919)-401-9933
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