naturopath allergies IgG nutritional testing

Food Sensitivity Testing

Food sensitivity testing (also called food intolerance), is highly beneficial to uncover hidden conditions and symptoms.

I have clients that end up with high sensitivity to what we consider highly healthy foods such as beets or blueberries. Of course, beets and blueberries may be good for 80% of people. However, if you are one of the 20%, then clearly it is not the right food for you and will do more harm than good.

“The food you eat can be either the safest and most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison.”― Ann Wigmore

Is food sensitivity testing the same as food allergies testing?

Exposure to food antigens (molecules that can trigger an immune response) can lead to elevations and different kinds of antibodies IgM, IgA, IgE, IgG4. All these antibodies are different ways in which our bodies can respond. Many people get allergies and intolerances confused. Allergy testing is IgE, are conducted by allergists and immunologists.  When we do an IgG test we’re looking for sensitivities and intolerances. Functional medicine or Naturopathic Doctors are able to support a client with food sensitivity or intolerance.

Once again, we know with an IgE reaction a person eats a shrimp, peanuts, or egg exposure and now they have asthma or hives or anaphylactic reaction. That’s E and you can think of E as an emergency.

Regarding IgG testing, we’re going to look at that in a different perspective. If you have an IgE reaction, no matter what your IgG scores are you should avoid your IgEs.  An easy way to remember it is to think of G for gradual. These are like little waves along the coastline, they will creep up on you and sometimes you don’t even realize it. Let’s say I eat food this morning which consists of a couple of eggs. Those eggs may not cause me to experience symptoms for 24, 48, or possibly even 72 hours. If I was to complain later that day that I  have a migraine headache, I would automatically think what did I eat earlier today?  When in reality, it might have been what I ate yesterday or the day before.

Why conduct food sensitivity testing?

Here are a few conditions and symptoms commonly associated with food sensitivity and why people decide to look at testing:
  • Brain Fog                                                                 
  • Bloating 
  • Weight Gain 
  • Mood Swings 
  • Joint Pain/Inflammation
  • Constipation 
  • Diarrhea 
  • Bronchitis 
  • Crohn’s 
  • Eczema 
  • Migraines 
  • GI distress 
  • Stomach pain 
  • Acne 
  • ADD/ADHD
  • Sinus issues 
  • Depression 

Here is a sample IgG report to see what you would learn from this test. It covers 144 analyses or substances. It’s as easy as performing a simple finger prick in the convenience of your home. Reach out if we can assist you with this service. Or if you’ve conducted food sensitivity tests, what is your experience and how did it help you? When I eliminated my IgG trigger foods, I had more energy, lost a few pounds, experienced mental clarity and overall never felt better! I highly recommend it.