Food Allergy Panel Lab Test
- Food sensitivities are a common underlying cause of many chronic conditions.
- Discover causative agents that lead to inflammation, gas, bloating, coughing, wheezing, and other symptoms with a food allergy panel.
- This is a non-conventional blood test not usually covered by insurance.
What Is a Food Sensitivity?
Our bodies are inherently set up to recognize some elements as “foreign” and other elements as “natural.” A multitude of genetic and environmental factors can increase our risk for food sensitivities or allergies by causing a defect in our bodies’ ability to differentiate between these two categories. When we consume foods that our bodies consider “foreign,” they attack them and cause an immune response. This immune response can trigger inflammation and a wide variety of symptoms.
Food Sensitivities vs. Food Allergies
Doctors commonly test for food allergies, but sensitivities often go undiagnosed by conventional medical doctors and allergy specialists. The symptoms can be similar, but the difference is in the antibodies produced in response to certain foods. A food allergy creates an immediate onset IgE (immunoglobulin E) mediated response to foods, whereas a food sensitivity is a delayed-onset IgG (immunoglobulin G) mediated hypersensitivity reaction that may produce symptoms hours or even days later. A delayed response makes it harder to track sensitivities based only on your symptoms. This is why it’s valuable to have objective and accurate testing done that measures any IgG response to the foods you are eating, which is a simple blood test that our naturopathic doctors can perform in our office.
The most common food allergies and sensitivities are:
- Gluten
- Wheat
- Dairy
- Eggs
- Nuts
- Soy
However, many other food sensitivities can exist.
Common symptoms due to food allergies or sensitivities are:
- Nasal/sinus congestion
- Abdominal discomfort
- Gas/bloating
- Skin rashes
- Chronic infections
- Joint pain
- Migraines
- Fatigue
The naturopathic doctors at Living Wellness Medical Center use specialized food sensitivity testing that measures an IgG immune response to foods to assess any underlying sensitivities to food. Based on your results, they can recommend effective dietary changes that can eliminate these symptoms. Removing the foods that are causing the irritation can heal the gut and improve your health.
