28 Jul What Happens in Food Intolerance Testing?
We see many clients who suspect they may have a food intolerance. Symptoms after eating include;
- Heartburn
- Acid reflux
- Bloating
- Digestive pain
- Constipation
- Diarrhoea
- Achy joints
- Tiredness and fatigue
- Ongoing and unexplained symptoms
Food Intolerance Testing Options
There are a number of food intolerance tests out there including muscle response, skin tests or blood tests.
In our clinics, we use the theory of Kinesiology muscle testing to observe changes in response to foods that are introduced into the body’s circuit. In a session, a practitioner will use a strong indicator muscle in the body and test foods against that muscle to identify whether that food is biogenic (feeding the body), biostatic (a filler food) or biocidic (depletes the body).
The benefits to using muscle testing include
- Its quick and easy
- Its painless
- Its cost effective
- It is included within a session that also looks at balancing the digestion and immune system
Whats the difference between an allergy and an intolerance?
An allergy is an instant response that triggers the immune system. An allergic reaction can include
- an itchy sensation inside the mouth, throat or ears
- a raised itchy red rash
- swelling of the face
- vomiting
A food intolerance is a much slower response. A few hours after eating a food intolerance may cause;
- bloating
- wind
- digestive pain
- constipation / diarrhoea
- IBS
What is a Gateway Allergen?
We refer to wheat, cows diary and sugar as ‘Gateway Allergens’. These food types can cause so many issues in the body it can appear that an individual is intolerant to everything they eat.
However, once Gateway Allergens are eliminated from the diet, clients often experience a dramatic improvement in symptoms. If there are still issues with the digestion or immune system, we are able to monitor and detect the intolerance foods more specifically.
Why do Gateway Allergens cause problems in the body?
- Wheat has a high concentration of Lectins – a class of proteins that are present in all plant life. Gluten is by far the most damaging lectin to our health, with wheat germ agglutinin a very close second. They damage the lining of the gut, cause global inflammation in the body and act like a glue sticking to our joints.
- Cows Dairy contains lactose. People with lactose intolerance don’t produce enough lactase to breakdown lactose, so it stays in the digestive system and causes problems. Some people are intolerant to the protein in diary called casein. Not all dairy is a problem. We find milk is the bigger gateway allergen because of its processing. Some people who cannot tolerate cows milk may be okay with yogurt, cheese or goats dairy. Unlike cow’s milk, goat’s milk does not contain agglutinin. As a result, the fat globules in goat’s milk do not cluster together, making them easier to digest.
- Processed sugar causes havoc in the body, not only leaching essential vitamins and minerals from the body but putting stress on vital organs including the pancreas, liver, digestive and immune system.
When one or all of these three foods are eaten regularly, the digestion is impaired and the immune system goes on red alert.
Do I need a Food Intolerance Test?
If you suspect you have food intolerances and want to get to the root of the problem, a Food Intolerance Test can lead to some illuminating insights. An alternative to paying for a test is to do an elimination diet at home. Start by cutting out the Gateway Allergens above and monitor symptoms. If you are still having issues, cut back to a very basic diet such as Paleo or FODMAP and re-introduce foods one day at a time. Keep a food diary alongside a symptom diary. Make a note of the foods that create a reaction.
If an elimination diet does not get to the root of your issues, there could be another reason for your symptoms such as ICV Malfunction or a stomach acid imbalance and we recommend seeing one of our practitioners to investigate this further.
Will I always have to avoid foods?
A food sensitivity test is a snap shot in time. It will identify the foods that your body is struggling with in this moment. If you have a poorly functioning digestive system you may need to eliminate quite a few foods in order to give your digestion a break and give it time to heal.
We have seen many clients improve their digestion and reintroduce foods that they were previously intolerant to, especially fruits and vegetables that provide healthy nutrition for the body.
We do not recommend that clients who see an improvement in symptoms go back to eating Gateway Allergens regularly as this usually results in symptoms returning. We do aim to get our clients to a place where eating the odd piece of birthday cake will not cause a huge issue in the body so they can feel they are leading a full life without the fear of food intolerance.
Our method of working is usually to conduct an initial food intolerance profile, work to improve the digestion and immune system and retest food intolerance once symptoms have eased.
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Check out our Food Intolerance Clinics in the UK