Food Intolerance Tests – How Do They Work?

Are there foods that always seem to have a negative reaction with your body whenever you consume them? Do not worry because it is a very common occurrence among humans. The tolerance levels can differ from one person to another, depending on their health and type of food consumed. Determining whether you have food intolerance can be hard as the symptoms can be the same for other conditions. There are different types of reactions which can either be allergy, sensitivity or intolerance. 

Allergy vs. Sensitivity vs. Intolerance

Food allergies

It happens when the immune system reacts to certain substances (mostly proteins) in certain foods or groups of foods. The immune system will always react by producing antibodies whenever it detects something ‘harmful’. If you are allergic to certain foods, your body identifies a certain protein as harmful and produces antibodies. Food allergies are accompanied by a myriad of symptoms, which can vary from breathing problems to skin rashes. Food allergies are just a small fraction of allergies that humans face. 

Food sensitivity

There is no standard medical definition to describe food sensitivity. The term can be used to describe food intolerance, such as histamine sensitivity or sulfite sensitivity. Food sensitivity can also be a catchphrase that describes both food intolerances and allergies.

Food intolerance

It is a condition that relates to trouble digesting foods. It is not an immune system reaction. Food intolerance mostly happens when an enzyme needed to digest certain foods is lacking. It can also be a reaction to naturally occurring compounds in certain foods or an additive. 

The gut is a very crucial organ but also super-sensitive. 70% of the human system relies on the gut, which means it plays a crucial part in protecting you. The gut takes a lot, varying from foods that you consume, medications, and the general environmental pollution. All these things explain why a big number of people are suffering from gut problems.

If you have a food intolerance, then you may comfortably eat small amounts of these bothersome foods. However, the challenge occurs when you eat a lot. A good example is lactose intolerant people who can drink milk in small amounts and fail to show the symptoms.

Some of the most common symptoms of food intolerance are bloating, diarrhea, wind, and tummy pains. There can also be itching and skin rashes due to food intolerance—all these symptoms a few hours after eating.

 Failure to treat food intolerance can lead to other serious conditions such as chronic inflammation, Hashimoto, joint pain, IBS, unexplained weight gain or loss, fibromyalgia, and skin problems, to mention a few.

Types of food intolerance

Lactose intolerance

It is the inability to digest milk sugar (lactose) in people with low levels of lactase enzyme. Some of the lactose intolerance symptoms include bloating, passing wind, abdominal pain or discomfort, and diarrhea. Lactose intolerance is completely different from milk allergy.

Histamine intolerance

Certain foods such as cheese have naturally occurring chemicals known as Biogenic Amines. Some of the most common chemicals are phenylethylamine, histamine, and tyramine. Most people can tolerate these chemicals in their digestive system. However, when the digestive system fails to break them down, then symptoms such as rashes, headaches, nausea, and stuffy noses are likely to occur.

Gluten intolerance

It comes with various symptoms such as bloating, altered bowel habits, abdominal pain, nausea, joint pains, a foggy mind, and depression. Research on this type of intolerance is still ongoing as its symptoms usually override with the reactions experienced when proteins found in wheat are consumed.

Food intolerance tests

You may have experienced one or a combination of the above symptoms in the past. How do you determine whether you are food intolerant or not? Food tolerance test kits are the only solutions to determine if you have this condition.

What happens during food intolerance tests?

The medical terms used during lab tests can scare you away. However, food intolerance tests are straightforward and come in different forms.

Some of the major tests include:

• IgC blood tests
• Bioresonance food
• Hair analysis and VEGA testing
• Pulse tests
• ‘Live’ blood testing

Factors to look for choosing a testing lab

There are hundreds of companies out there selling food intolerance testing kits. However, this niche is not heavily regulated, which opens up chances of manipulation.

• Evidence. The ideal company is one that has researched a lot in this area. A good example is Medicross Labs Lindau, which has invested in food intolerance research to give accurate results. Such a company provides evidence-data that people can refer to and know that they are in safe hands.
• Experience and heritage. Training and skills are not enough. You want assurance that the company you deal with is experienced in the subject matter. A company that has been operational for years shows that it is good in what it does and has dealt with different customers. Such companies will always redefine their strategies to have customer needs at heart.
• Nutritional support. What happens when a lab tells you that you should no longer take lactose? Your body still needs nutrients that are in milk and cheese. The ideal company should have an alternative diet to recommend to you and ensure that you are healthy.
• Customer support. Doing away with foods that your body is used to is not that easy. You need a company that will be a call or an email away when you need help. The frequently asked questions section should guide you on the basics.

Is food intolerance permanent?

Food intolerance can either be permanent or temporary. It helps a lot when you reassess your tolerance levels over time. You may find that you tolerate certain foods to a certain level. Then you can start including those foods up to the threshold level. However, if you decide to do away with foods that you no longer tolerate, you must replace with others with equal nutrient levels as this ensures that your diets are always balanced. Food intolerance tests are crucial as they determine the foods that fit your body and help you adopt healthy feeding habits.