An increasing number of adults in the US are self-diagnosing themselves with a food allergy – but it’s most likely to be a food hypersensitivity or intolerance. Allergies and Intolerances are completely different – we’re here to discuss the differences between the two, and bust some myths surrounding the topic.
What is an allergy?
An allergic reaction is an immediate reaction. It can occur within minutes and up to 2 hours, of consuming, inhaling or even touching the substance you’re allergic to. This involves IgE antibodies, and in some cases can be life-threatening.
Symptoms can range from sneezing, to itchy and runny eyes and nose, swollen lips, tongue and eyes, vomiting and diarrhea and in some cases anaphylaxis. If you experience any of these reactions, you will need to seek professional medical advice immediately.
A delayed response (4-28 hours) is called a non-IgE mediated allergy, and this is the type of allergy we test for here at Allergy Test.
What’s the difference between an allergy and an intolerance?
Intolerances are not life threatening, however they can cause major discomfort. If you’re experiencing a food intolerance, you may have symptoms such as bloating, wind, diarrhea, nausea, migraines and fatigue. Other symptoms include rashes and skin problems such as eczema.
How does the Allergy Test work?
We have developed the most comprehensive, non-invasive tests available in the world using the latest bio-technology. Using a sample of your hair, we take this information and convert it into a broad picture of your intolerances.
We find hair samples to be less invasive, and the sample will not deteriorate or alter in the way which blood and urine samples would.
Once we have your results, they are emailed out to you, showing all items with an intolerance level of 85% and over. This means they are all high intolerances. After performing thousands of tests, we have found 85% to be the point at which symptoms begin to develop from an intolerance.
Can my intolerances change over time?
Yes. Your intolerance levels to a certain food can change over time. In some cases the removal of a food, followed by gut ‘healing’ and soothing can lead to the successful reintroduction of the food. This is not the case for everyone however.
Studies have also found that lactase activity declines after the age of 35, meaning that after this age our bodies may find it more difficult to break dairy products down.
Think you may be experiencing a sensitivity to a particular food or metal? We can test for this, giving you more clarity on the subject and helping you on your way to becoming happier and healthier again.
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