Are you ready to bloom?
At Flora Nutrition we offer in clinic Food Intolerance Testing with same day results. This means you can feel better sooner.
We use Food Detective IgG food intolerance testing. Food Detective™ is a blood test for food antibodies (IgG) that give test results in around an hour. 59 foods are tested. This means that you don't have to be to sent off to give a blood sample and wait weeks to receive results from a testing laboratory.
A small blood sample is taken from a finger-prick and is then used in the testing process. This makes this type of testing a good option for young children.
The test will show if you have IgG antibodies to any of the 59 specific foods.
What is an IgG?
IgG stands for Immunoglobulin G. Immunoglobulins are antibodies which are produced by the immune system in response to foreign bodies entering the body. There are several different types of immunoglobulins with IgA, IgE, IgG, IgM being the most well known.
What is an antibody, and what is the difference between IgG and IgE antibodies?
An antibody is a specialised protein produced by the body’s immune system when foreign bodies (such as viruses, bacteria and toxins) enter the body. They are produced by special white blood cells called B-Lymphocytes as a defence against these foreign substances. IgE antibodies are a type of antibody mostly found in the skin, nose, lining of airways and lungs, and are usually produced in classical allergies. IgG antibodies are the type of antibodies that Food Detective tests for food intolerances. It has been shown by various studies, that if foods that are producing high IgG levels are eliminated from the diet, the symptoms of food intolerance can be reduced.
Why do foods cause an IgG response?
Generally, foods are broken down during digestion into their component parts e.g. amino acids, glycerides etc. These pass harmlessly through the gut into the bloodstream. However, occasionally small fragments of partially digested or undigested foods are able to pass through the gut wall into the bloodstream where they are recognized by the immune system as being ‘foreign’. The immune system responds by making antibodies (IgGs). In some patients, inflammation or irritation of the intestinal lining allows partially digested foods to leak into the bloodstream. This condition is called ‘leaky gut syndrome’ and patients with this condition typically have high levels of antibodies to multiple foods.
Why do we not test for sugar, alcohol etc?
Food IgG-based food intolerance is caused by proteins and the antibodies directed against them. Sugar and alcohol are not proteins.
Can IgG levels remain high even if not consuming any of that particular food? (i.e. for years?)
Antibody levels may remain detectable some several years after exposure. Because certain foods such as wheat, dairy and corn are widely used as additives in processed foods or cosmetics, IgG levels are more likely to persist in an individual who mistakenly presumes that such foods have been completely eliminated from the diet.
Is it possible to have high IgG levels and not experience symptoms?
Yes, some people do have high IgG levels to certain foods but do not have any symptoms at all. This is possibly due to their immune system being extremely efficient at clearing away the antigen-antibody complexes before they have chance to be deposited in the tissues and cause a problem.
Is there any evidence for complexes actually causing symptoms?
A study of infants with milk intolerance showed that symptoms appeared within hours of cow’s milk consumption and that this was accompanied by notable immune complexes appearing in the serum.
Does a Leaky Gut need to be repaired before those foods can be eaten again without symptoms?
If all food molecules get through, why do some lead to food intolerance and some not?
Two main factors govern the development of an IgG antibody-based food intolerance: the amount of a particular food in the diet and its ability to stimulate antibody production. Foods consumed in large quantities are more often associated with food antibody production, antigen-antibody complexes and symptoms. Some foods are more ‘immunogenic’ than others i.e. are more able to cause antibody production.
What determines which substances get through the leaky intestinal wall?
The composition of your diet and the size of the food particles. Also, minerals require carrier molecules which are often impaired in people with leaky gut. This can lead to mineral deficiencies in such individuals.
What is Leaky Gut Syndrome?
Leaky Gut Syndrome is a condition where large gaps develop between the cells of the intestinal wall causing large quantities of partially digested food to ‘leak’ into the bloodstream. The symptoms of Leaky Gut Syndrome are many and varied and include: abdominal pain, heartburn, insomnia, bloating, anxiety, gluten intolerance, malnutrition, muscle cramps and pains, poor exercise tolerance, food allergies.
Why do high IgG antibody levels cause symptoms?
When a food causes the body to produce high levels of IgG then these antibodies combine with the protein in the food to form an ‘antigen-antibody complex’. These complexes are usually eliminated by other cells in the immune system. However, if the immune system is overloaded, these insoluble molecules become deposited in various areas of the body, such as the head, lung tissue, gastro-intestinal tract, skin and joints where they produce symptoms such as headaches, asthma, irritable bowel syndrome, eczema and rashes, and arthritis.
Corn, Durum Wheat, Gluten, Oats, Rice, Rye, Wheat.
Nuts & Beans
Almond, Brazil Nut, Cashew, Cocoa Bean, Peanut, Legume Mix (pea, lentil, haricot),
Soya Bean, Walnut.
Beef, Chicken, Lamb, Pork.
Freshwater Fish Mix (salmon, trout), Shellfish Mix (shrimp, prawn, crab, lobster, mussel),
Tuna, White Fish Mix (haddock, cod, plaice)
Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrot, Celery, Cucumber, Leek, Peppers (red, green, yellow), Potato.
Apple, Blackcurrant, Grapefruit, Melon Mix (cantaloupe, water melon), Olive, Orange & Lemon,
Egg (whole), Cow's Milk, Garlic, Ginger, Mushroom, Tea, Yeast.
Testing Price Packages
Initial Consultation and Food Intolerance Test $299
Initial Consultation, Food Intolerance Test plus 1 follow up consultation $359
Initial Consultation, Food Intolerance Test plus 2 follow up consultations $409