How Accurate Are Food Sensitivity Tests?
If, after eating, you’re experiencing digestive trouble or are prone to migraines, headaches, or skin issues, then you may be wondering if food sensitivity could be the culprit. Your research on food intolerance leads you down the path to food sensitivity tests. These tests, however, are not proven and are typically not covered under insurance, potentially draining your bank account of hundreds of dollars. Before you spend your hard-earned money, let’s take a look at the accuracy of food sensitivity tests and see if there’s a more cost-effective way to discover the foods that could be making you sick.
Food Allergies vs. Food Sensitivities
The methods for diagnosing and treating true food allergies vs. food sensitivities are different, and since one is possibly life-threatening it’s important to have an understanding of each.
- Difficulty swallowing or breathing
- Nausea and vomiting
If you think you may be experiencing allergic reactions to a specific type of food, including gluten, a visit to an allergist for allergy testing is in order.
A food sensitivity, or food intolerance, manifests in the digestive system, which takes longer than the immune response to react to trigger foods, and causes:
- Digestive upset (nausea, gas, bloating, constipation, cramping)
- Joint pain
- Skin problems (acne, eczema)
- Headaches and migraines
Food sensitivities occur when your body is unable to properly break down food. A prime example is lactose intolerance. You might be missing the necessary digestive enzymes, or reacting to a specific additive, like sulfites or artificial colors. Your sensitivity might be caused by an intolerance to caffeine or even natural sugars found in foods like onions and Brussel sprouts.
Food Sensitivity Testing and Its Accuracy
Before we delve into the specifics of food sensitivity tests, here are some general considerations to be aware of:
- There is a dearth of evidence validating the accuracy of food sensitivity tests.
- If following a diet based on food sensitivity test results, you can potentially suffer from nutrient deficiencies.
- Discrepancies in lab results abound: most labs draw from raw food extracts, and heating, cooking, and processing food changes the makeup of the antigens.
- These tests can also be administered as home test kits, which may blunt the accuracy.
That being said, let’s take a look at available food sensitivity tests.
Antibody Food Sensitivity Tests
Antibody-based food sensitivity tests check levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) in response to certain foods. Studies show that when foods are eliminated based on antibody test results there is marked improvement in migraine and IBS symptoms, but researchers caution that more tests are warranted to validate these findings.
There are staunch opponents to antibody food sensitivity tests. These researchers point out that the presence of specific IgG antibodies may indicate protection against food allergies, not evidence of a food sensitivity.
There is also evidence that lab results have a poor duplication rate. If pursuing an IgG test, opt for a blood test that uses side-by-side duplicate testing to ensure more accurate results. Antibody tests can also be done using a skin prick, but the reliability of this method has not been tested.
Cell-Based Food Sensitivity Tests
In the 1950s the cytotoxic test brought cell-based food tests into the limelight. By 1985, this test was banned due to prevalent inaccuracies.
Advances in technology and testing led to the implementation of more accurate cell-based tests: the Antigen Leukocyte Cellular Antibody Test (ALCAT) and the Mediator Release Test (MRT).
The ALCAT was the first cell-based test to emerge on the scene, and is still offered by many healthcare providers and laboratories. It measures changes in the sizes of white blood cells when the collected blood sample is exposed to food antigens. When white blood cells shrink, it’s believed that they release antibodies such as histamine and leukotrienes that bring on food sensitivities.
One study showed that 4 weeks on an elimination diet based on ALCAT results improved IBS symptoms such as stomach pain; however, participants did not report significant improvement in IBS relief or quality of life (1).
This patented test is considered potentially more accurate than the ALCAT in measuring reactivity because in addition to measuring white blood cell size it measures the ratio of solids (white blood cells) to liquid (plasma) in reaction to food antigens.
Based on these test results, your registered dietitian or healthcare practitioner will develop a LEAP diet, which stands for Lifestyle Eating and Performance and eliminates the foods you are sensitive to. Currently there are no studies on the MRT published in PubMed, the premier source for medical research.
Provocation and Neutralization Test
A rather uncomfortable food sensitivity test, the provocation and neutralization test involves injecting extracts of specific foods underneath the skin of the upper arm. If a wheal (swelling) develops, it signals a food sensitivity reaction.
This reaction is then neutralized with a diluted dose of the antigen. It may take several rounds of neutralization to find the correct dose. Treatment involves regular injections to desensitize yourself to the antigen.
One study indicated that when people were administered injection tests for 5 food antigens, results matched oral challenges in 78% of cases (2).
Muscle Response Food Sensitivity Test
Applied kinesiology, known as muscle strength testing, is considered a pseudoscience and has less validity behind it than other food sensitivity tests.
During a muscle response test you’ll hold a vial of the suspected food antigen in one hand while the practitioner tests the muscle response (or strength of your other arm). If your extended arm can be easily pushed down, then you have a food sensitivity to the particular antigen.
Published studies indicate that muscle strength testing is no more accurate than guessing.
Electrodermal Screening Food Sensitivity Test
Electrodermal food sensitivity screening uses acupuncture points to measure your skin’s electrical response to digitized food antigens. A probe is held in one hand and a second probe containing the digitized frequencies of a specific food is connected to different points on the body. A high electrical reading on the galvanometer indicates a food sensitivity. There are no published studies confirming the accuracy of electrodermal screening for food sensitivity.
The Elimination and Challenge Test: A Budget-Friendly Alternative
As the accuracy of food sensitivity tests are not 100%, many healthcare practitioners recommend a more budget-friendly approach: listening to the cues your body sends in response to different foods. While this approach takes more effort and commitment, it is more effective and precise over the long term.
You can start by keeping a detailed food diary for at least 2 weeks. Record every single ingredient you eat, including the brand of food you eat and the time of day you eat it. Take note of every adverse reaction you experience, even if it’s a quick digestive pain or reaction. Patterns should start to emerge, indicating the ingredients that are triggering food reactions.
From there you can start an elimination and challenge test. You eliminate the foods that exacerbated symptoms for at least 2 weeks. That’s how much time it can take for symptoms to subside and for your body to go through withdrawal.
After 2 weeks of elimination, introduce the oral challenge test. One by one try the foods you’ve eliminated to see which ones trigger your food sensitivity symptoms.
You can also engage the help of a dietitian or health coach to lead you through a customized elimination and challenge test. If you are a DIYer, then you can try popular self-guided elimination diets such as the Whole30 Program.
How to Stay Healthy While Testing for Food Sensitivities
Food sensitivity diets lend themselves to certain dietary restrictions, which can compromise health by leading to nutrient deficiencies. The Amino Company specializes in protein nutrition and overall wellness. If you have food sensitivities for high-protein foods and you're worried that your prescribed diet is decreasing your protein intake, then we can help.
Essential amino acids are the building blocks of protein. We make essential amino acid supplements that provide you with the nutrients your body needs to build and maintain muscle mass, fight off infection and inflammation, support cognitive and physical function, and strengthen heart health by promoting healthy cholesterol and blood pressure levels. You can improve well-being and shop our premium protein products for your specific health goals here.
Majaribio ya Uwezo wa Chakula Ni sahihi Kadiri Gani? Ikiwa, baada ya kula, una matatizo ya kumeng'enya chakula au una mwelekeo wa kupata kipandauso, maumivu ya kichwa, au matatizo ya ngozi, basi huenda ukajiuliza ikiwa mzio wa chakula ndio sababu. Utafiti wako juu ya kutovumilia chakula unakuongoza kwenye njia ya vipimo vya unyeti wa chakula. Hata hivyo, vipimo hivyo havijathibitishwa na kwa kawaida havifai chini ya bima, na huenda vikaondoa mamia ya dola kwenye akaunti yako ya benki. Kabla ya kutumia pesa zako zilizopatikana kwa bidii, hebu tuangalie usahihi wa vipimo vya unyeti wa chakula na tuone ikiwa kuna njia ya gharama nafuu zaidi ya kugundua vyakula ambavyo vinaweza kukufanya uwe mgonjwa. Njia za kugundua na kutibu mzio wa kweli wa chakula dhidi ya unyeti wa chakula ni tofauti, na kwa kuwa moja inaweza kutishia maisha ni muhimu kuwa na uelewa wa kila mmoja. - Ugumu wa kumeza au kupumua - Kutoweza kula na kutapika Ikiwa unafikiri unaweza kuwa na athari za mzio kwa aina fulani ya chakula, ikiwa ni pamoja na gluten, ziara ya mtaalamu wa mzio kwa ajili ya upimaji wa mzio ni kwa utaratibu. Uwezo wa kupendeza wa chakula, au kutovumilia chakula, huonekana katika mfumo wa kumeng'enya, ambayo inachukua muda mrefu kuliko majibu ya kinga ya kukabiliana na chakula, na husababisha: - Ugonjwa wa kumeng'enya (kutoweza kula, gesi, bloating, constipation, cramps) - Maumivu ya pamoja - Matatizo ya ngozi (acne, eczema) - maumivu ya kichwa na migraines. Mfano mzuri ni kutoweza kuvumilia laktosi. Inaweza kuwa na enzymes muhimu ya kumeng'enya au athari kwa nyongeza maalum kama sulfites au rangi bandia. Ugonjwa huu unaweza kusababishwa na kutovumilia caffeine au hata sukari ya asili inayopatikana katika vyakula kama vile vitunguu na Brussels sprouts. Utafiti wa Uhalisi wa Chakula na Uhalisi wake Kabla hatujaingia katika maelezo ya vipimo vya unyeti wa chakula, hapa ni baadhi ya kuzingatia kwa ujumla kuwa na ufahamu wa: - Kuna upungufu wa ushahidi kuthibitisha usahihi wa vipimo vya unyeti wa chakula. - Ikiwa unafuata mlo unaotegemea matokeo ya mtihani wa unyeti wa chakula, unaweza kuwa na upungufu wa virutubisho. - Kuna tofauti nyingi katika matokeo ya maabara: maabara nyingi hutumia vichwa vya chakula kisicho na chakula, na kupasha joto, kupika, na kusindika chakula hubadili muundo wa antigeni. - Uchunguzi huu unaweza pia kutolewa kama vifaa vya kupima nyumbani, ambavyo vinaweza kupunguza usahihi. Hiyo ikisemwa, hebu tuangalie vipimo vya unyeti wa chakula vinavyopatikana. Mtihani wa Uwezo wa Chakula wa Antibody: Mtihani wa Uwezo wa Chakula wa Antibody unachunguza viwango vya immunoglobulin G (IgG) katika majibu ya vyakula fulani. Utafiti unaonyesha kwamba wakati chakula ni kuondolewa kulingana na matokeo ya mtihani wa kingamwili kuna marekebisho makubwa katika migraine na dalili za IBS, lakini watafiti kuonya kwamba vipimo zaidi ni halali kuthibitisha matokeo haya. Kuna wapinzani wakali wa vipimo vya unyeti wa chakula cha kingamwili. Watafiti hao wanasema kuwa uwepo wa antibodies maalum za IgG inaweza kuonyesha ulinzi dhidi ya mzio wa chakula, sio ushahidi wa unyeti wa chakula. Pia kuna uthibitisho kwamba matokeo ya maabara yana kiwango cha chini cha kurudia. Kwa mfano, kama unafanya mtihani wa IgG, chagua mtihani wa damu ambao hutumia vipimo vya mara mbili kwa upande ili kuhakikisha matokeo sahihi zaidi. Uchunguzi wa kinga zaweza pia kufanywa kwa kutumia kidonda cha ngozi, lakini kuegemea kwa njia hii hakujathibitishwa. Utafiti wa Cell-Based Food Sensitivity (CFSS) ni utafiti wa kwanza uliofanywa na utafiti wa cytotoxic na unaohusisha majaribio ya chakula na seli. Mwaka 1985 uchunguzi huo ulipigwa marufuku kwa sababu ya kutokuwa sahihi. Maendeleo katika teknolojia na upimaji yalisababisha utekelezaji wa vipimo sahihi zaidi vya seli: Mtihani wa Antigen Leukocyte Cellular Antibody (ALCAT) na Mtihani wa Utoaji wa Mediator (MRT). ALCAT ilikuwa mtihani wa kwanza wa seli kuibuka kwenye eneo la tukio, na bado inapatikana na watoa huduma nyingi za afya na maabara. Inapima mabadiliko katika ukubwa wa chembe nyeupe za damu wakati sampuli ya damu iliyokusanywa inapoathiriwa na antigeni za chakula. Chembe nyeupe za damu zinapopungua, inaaminika kwamba hutoa kingamwili kama vile histamine na leukotrienes ambazo huleta unyeti wa chakula. Utafiti mmoja ulionyesha kwamba wiki nne za lishe ya kuondoa kulingana na matokeo ya ALCAT ziliboresha dalili za IBS kama vile maumivu ya tumbo, hata hivyo, washiriki hawakuripoti uboreshaji mkubwa katika kupunguza IBS au ubora wa maisha. Mtihani huu wa patent unachukuliwa kuwa sahihi zaidi kuliko ALCAT katika kupima athari kwa sababu, pamoja na kupima ukubwa wa seli nyeupe za damu, hupima uwiano wa vimelea (seli nyeupe za damu) kwa kioevu (plasma) katika athari ya antigen ya chakula. "Kwa kuzingatia matokeo ya mtihani huu, mtaalamu wako wa lishe au mtaalamu wa huduma za afya ataendeleza lishe ya LEAP, ambayo inasimama kwa ""Lifestyle Eating and Performance"" na kuondoa vyakula ambavyo una hisia." Kwa sasa hakuna utafiti juu ya MRT iliyochapishwa katika PubMed, chanzo kikuu cha utafiti wa matibabu. Mtihani wa kuchochea na kutofautisha: Mtihani wa kuchochea na kutofautisha unajumuisha kuingiza dondoo za vyakula maalum chini ya ngozi ya mkono. Ikiwa uvimbe (uvimbe) unatokea, huo huonyesha kwamba mtu ana hisi mbaya kwa chakula. Kisha mmenyuko huo hupuuzwa kwa kutumia kipimo kilichopunguzwa cha antijeni. Huenda ikachukua mizunguko kadhaa ya kutofautisha ili kupata kipimo sahihi. Matibabu yanahusisha sindano za kawaida za kujiondoa antitigen. Utafiti mmoja ulionyesha kwamba wakati watu walipewa vipimo vya sindano kwa antigens tano za chakula, matokeo yalifanana na changamoto za mdomo katika 78% ya kesi. "Kinesia ya Applied, inayojulikana kama ""mtihani wa nguvu ya misuli,"" inachukuliwa kuwa sayansi bandia na ina uhalali mdogo nyuma yake kuliko vipimo vingine vya unyeti wa chakula." Wakati wa mtihani wa majibu ya misuli utaweka chupa ya antigen ya chakula inayoshukiwa katika mkono mmoja wakati mtaalamu anachunguza majibu ya misuli (au nguvu ya mkono wako mwingine). Ikiwa mkono wako ulioinuliwa unaweza kusukumwa chini kwa urahisi, basi una unyeti wa chakula kwa antigen hususa. Uchunguzi uliochapishwa unaonyesha kwamba kupima nguvu za misuli si sahihi kuliko kukisia. Electrodermal Screening: Uchunguzi wa Electrodermal ya chakula: Uchunguzi wa electrodermal ya chakula hutumia pointi za acupuncture kupima majibu ya umeme ya ngozi yako kwa antigens za chakula zilizochapishwa. Chombo cha uchunguzi kinashikiliwa kwa mkono mmoja na chombo cha pili kilicho na masafa ya dijiti ya chakula maalum huunganishwa na sehemu tofauti za mwili. Kiwango cha juu cha umeme kwenye galvanometer huonyesha unyeti wa chakula. Hakuna masomo yaliyochapishwa yanayothibitisha usahihi wa uchunguzi wa electrodermal kwa unyeti wa chakula. Kwa sababu usahihi wa vipimo vya unyeti wa chakula sio 100%, wataalamu wengi wa afya wanapendekeza mbinu ya kifedha zaidi: kusikiliza ishara mwili wako hutuma kwa kujibu vyakula tofauti. Ingawa mbinu hii inachukua juhudi zaidi na kujitolea, ni ufanisi zaidi na sahihi kwa muda mrefu. Kuanza na kuweka diary ya chakula kwa angalau wiki mbili. Angalia kila kiungo unachokula, pamoja na bidhaa ya chakula unachokula na wakati wa siku unachokula. Angalia kila athari mbaya unayopata, hata kama ni maumivu ya haraka ya kumeng'enya au athari. Mifumo inapaswa kuanza kuonekana, ikionyesha viungo vinavyochochea athari za chakula. Kutoka hapo unaweza kuanza kuondolewa na mtihani wa changamoto. Kuondoa vyakula ambavyo vimeongeza dalili kwa angalau wiki mbili. Hiyo ni muda gani inaweza kuchukua kwa dalili kutoweka na kwa mwili wako kwenda kwa njia ya uondoaji. Baada ya wiki mbili za kuondolewa, weka mtihani wa changamoto ya mdomo. Jaribu moja kwa moja vyakula ambavyo umepuuza ili uone ni vyapi vinavyosababisha dalili zako za unyeti wa chakula. Unaweza pia kuajiri msaada wa mtaalamu wa lishe au mkufunzi wa afya kukuongoza kupitia mtihani wa kuondoa na changamoto ya kibinafsi. Ikiwa wewe ni mpenzi wa DIY, unaweza kujaribu mpango wa chakula wa kujitegemea kama vile Whole30 Program. Jinsi ya kukaa na afya wakati wa kupima kwa unyeti wa chakula: Vyakula vya unyeti wa chakula hujiandaa kwa vizuizi fulani vya lishe, ambavyo vinaweza kuhatarisha afya kwa kusababisha upungufu wa virutubisho. Kampuni ya Amino ni mtaalamu wa lishe ya protini na afya kwa ujumla. Ikiwa una wasiwasi juu ya lishe yako ya kawaida na kwamba lishe yako ya kawaida inazidisha ulaji wako wa protini, unaweza kufanya hivyo. Asidi za amino muhimu ni vipande vinavyofanyiza protini. Tengeneza virutubisho vya asidi amino muhimu ambavyo vinakupa virutubisho ambavyo mwili wako unahitaji kujenga na kudumisha misuli, kupambana na maambukizo na uvimbe, kusaidia kazi ya utambuzi na mwili, na kuimarisha afya ya moyo kwa kukuza viwango vya afya vya kolesteroli na shinikizo la damu. Unaweza kuboresha ustawi na ununuzi wa bidhaa zetu za protini za premium kwa malengo yako maalum ya afya hapa.