Food Sensitivity Testing

Have you ever wondered if the foods you are eating are causing you to feel unwell?  Testing for food sensitivities may help you find your answer.

Food sensitivities are an immune reaction triggered by food allergens causing an inflammatory response.  Your immune system may react to certain foods by creating antibodies toward that food.  Food components that cause antibodies to be released are known as antigens or allergens.  Two types of antibodies produced in response to foods are IgE (immunoglobulin E) and IgG (immunoglobulin G).

A food allergy is caused by IgE antibodies and is an immediate reaction causing the typical allergy symptoms such as difficulty breathing and hives.  On the other hand, a food sensitivity is caused by IgG antibodies and is a delayed reaction, meaning symptoms often occur hours or even days after exposure.  The delayed IgG response of food sensitivities can make it difficult to attribute a specific food to a specific symptom.  During an IgG reaction, IgG antibodies bind to food antigens creating antibody-antigen complexes.  The immune system typically removes these complexes from the body.  However, if complexes are present in high amounts and the reactive food is still being consumed, the immune system can’t remove them quick enough.  As a result, the food antigen-antibody complexes accumulate and are deposited in body tissues triggering inflammation and thus a wide variety of symptoms.

Symptoms Commonly Associated with Food Sensitivities:

• Brain fog
• Fatigue
• Bloating
• Weight Gain
• Mood Swings
• Joint Pain/Inflammation
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Bronchitis
• Crohn’s Disease
• Eczema
• Migraines
• GI Distress
• Stomach Pain
• Acne
• ADD/ADHD
• Autism
• Sinus Issues
• Depression

Food sensitivity testing measures the levels of IgG antibodies in up to 240 different foods and is a great way to help identify potential food sensitivities to individualize your nutrition plan and improve your health!

Ask your naturopathic doctor if testing for food sensitivities may be helpful for you.