Food allergy/intolerance information

Miss Informed

Hi,


I am considering getting tested for food intolerance, but I'm not sure how to go about it. Firstly, I don't even know if I should be looking to be tested for intolerance or allergy. I just assume intolerance because my symptoms are mild (nausea, poor skin, high and low energy levels).

I am looking for hard scientific testing, no hocus pocus, the last thing I need is a misdiagnosis by cowboys who prey on peoples' illness. Yet there seem to be so many different methods and it's hard to tell what's what.

Can anyone tell me what methods are out there?

FluffyCat

Pharmacy I work with do those tests. Its involves a pin prick blood sample and then the pharmacist mixes it with different solutions, put it on a sampler and results are got!!
Anyone who has had it done has agreed with the results and found there health improve when they cut out whatever food.
So what Im saying is, go into the pharmacies and see if they do the test

El_Dangeroso

FluffyCat wrote: »

Pharmacy I work with do those tests. Its involves a pin prick blood sample and then the pharmacist mixes it with different solutions, put it on a sampler and results are got!!
Anyone who has had it done has agreed with the results and found there health improve when they cut out whatever food.
So what Im saying is, go into the pharmacies and see if they do the test

Is that the york test? I heard that one is a bit dodgy.

I would be very surprised if you could get a single test that would show up everything. Even the term 'intolerance' isn't well defined for things like gluten, it's rather a vague term.

The best way to test for intolerances IMO is to go on an elimination diet. Eliminate the top 7 food allergens (Gluten, Dairy, Shellfish, Eggs, Soy, Nuts and Peanuts) for 6 weeks and then do a 'challenge' as in eat a sizeable amount of each one at a time and see how it affects you. It's quite tough but it's probably far more accurate than those blood tests and it's free.

FluffyCat

Well the best way to determine food intolerance is to cut out food and then re-introduce it but sometimes that method isnt 'scientific' enough for people and they want more.
Im not sure what the test the pharmacy does buts its not an unrealible one. Its used by food type doctors and stuff but as I dont personally believe in it all I can say is that some pharmacies do offer them for people who want them.
BTW they cost €100

El_Dangeroso

The thing is, an elimination diet is more 'scientific' than those blood tests. I'm pretty sure none of them have been validated for picking up intolerances, allergies maybe but not sensitivities.

Everyone I know who got one of them done came out with a list of foods to avoid as long as their arm, aka an elimination diet.

Escar

www.fitzwilliamfoodtest.com