Getting tested for your “food sensitivities” is all the rage these days. Are food sensitivity tests giving you any legitimate information? What do other experts have to say about it? In this episode I evaluate the various tests, working towards helping you decide if you want to invest in these types of tests.
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Listen to the Episode Series “How to Smell a Rat”
View the Articles and Research sited:
American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology
Blog Post by Self-Hacked
The European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
The Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Dr. Christianson’s Ultimate Guide to Food Testing
Today’s Dietitian
Science Based Medicine
 

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

* [02:48] What “Food Sensitivity” means for you. Food sensitivity wasn’t a term until seven years ago and isn’t medically recognized. So how do you get tested for it? And are the tests accurate?
* [05:22] Let’s compare this to Food Allergy. The physiological differences between food sensitivities and food allergies can be deadly. But that doesn’t mean the less severe reactions should be ignored.
* [07:36] The IgG test and you. The IgG test is most likely to be used when testing your food sensitivities, although there’s no scientific proof that it works. Incorrect results can lead to stress in your diet.
* [07:36] How about IgE? The IgE test is more accurate and consistent than IgE, but there’s still a drawback to be had.
* [20:48] You can reverse your food intolerances. Rebuilding the gut through a mostly plant-based diet (starchy foods, eliminating acidic ones, probiotics) can reverse the symptoms of an unhappy system.
* [21:48] Let’s talk about alternative tests. Some accurate labs IgG/IgG-4 include KBMO, Meridian Valley, and US BioTek, recommended by naturopathic medical doctor Alan Christianson, alongside skin tests.
* [25:28] The Elimination Diet works. Getting rid of some foods in your diet and taking careful note of your reactions is often a lot easier than undergoing the expensive and uncomfortable testing (that may not even work).

TRANSCRIPT:
[Related episode: Ep. 111: How to Tell What’s Worth Your Time and Money in Health and Wellness, Part 2 (of 3) with Robyn Openshaw]