Food Allergies and Sensitivities Explained
Food sensitivities are not the same as food allergies. Food "allergies" are an IgE reaction in which the food causes the release of histamine and an immediate hypersensitivity (sometimes anaphylactic) reaction. However IgG reactions are delayed onset, which means that often you are eating offending foods and unaware of their potential effects! Sometimes symptoms can appear anywhere from hours to days after eating the food.
Testing for IgG food intolerances/sensitivities is confusing for many doctors, as they not typically trained on this type of reaction, as it is neither obvious nor life-threatening. However, food intolerances gaining public awareness as people are removing offending food groups and then noticing improvement in their chronic disease symptoms. Unfortunately though, there is some conflicting evidence on the comparison of IgG versus IgE and the testing behind it. Keep in mind that there are different ‘branches’ of your immune system and being allergic to a food doesn’t mean you are intolerant and vice versa.
While there is no gold standard food sensitivity test, we have been able to use the results to help guide patients in a reasonable way that makes sense to systematically remove certain food(s) to help figure out the root cause of some of their lifelong symptoms. Does it work? Yes, very often it does. We regularly receive patient testimonials about the life changing effects the test and subsequent elimination has created. Patients whose chronic headaches disappear, PMS balances out, depression lifts, fatigue improves, sleep resumes, joint pain eases, skin rashes go away, behavior changes for the better, bloating diminishes, weight loss occurs, bowels normalize and more.