If you’ve been thinking about getting food sensitivity testing for a while, this might be the perfect time.
We’re excited to announce new IgG food sensitivity testing at Brio! IgG testing has been an important part of many patients’ health transformations – from improving eczema to reducing arthritis. And now the tests are bigger and better! By partnering with a local Canadian laboratory, our food sensitivity tests now include more foods, more testing options, faster results and at lower cost than our previous American test.
Personalized nutrition is the foundation of naturopathic care. Our digestive tract has been interacting with the outside environment since we were born; “communicating” with nutrients, microbes, medications, etc. In addition, genetics and immune system play a major role in an individual’s overall nutritional needs. Food sensitivity testing helps us learn about how our unique immune system reacts to common foods.
You may have heard of allergy tests also called a “skin prick” or “skin scratch” test. These are called IgE tests often used to identify causes of immediate reactions such as hives or breathing difficulties. In contrast, we use IgG food tests that measure delayed reactions to foods from hours to 3 days after exposure. These delayed reactions make it difficult for us to connect specific foods with specific symptoms. In addition IgG reactions are frequently observed in commonly consumed foods, like eggs, dairy and soy.
Because 70% of our immune system lies within the digestive tract, many of these food sensitivities (but not all) result in digestive symptoms like bloating, stomachache, diarrhea and constipation. However when immune cells are activated, immune complexes travel through our bloodstream leading to non-digestive symptom. IgG sensitivities can contribute to eczema, joint pain, mood changes, fatigue, migraines, fluid retention, foggy thinking and weight gain.
Do we always need a blood test to identify food sensitivities? Absolutely not. If we suspect a particular food to be triggering symptoms, we can test it by removing it from the diet (until your symptoms resolve) then reintroducing it and seeing the symptoms reappear. If we suspect multiple food sensitivities, an elimination diet can be used. This is a limited diet void of the most common food sensitivities. After symptoms resolve then each suspected food is reintroduced one by one and symptoms are observed. This process is informative and very accessible, but can be difficult to do for many families and not ideal for everyone. An elimination diet is very restricted and for some, the elimination diet itself may include food sensitivities. Instead of eliminating most foods, the advantage of IgG testing is it indicates specifically which foods to investigate.
Digestive symptoms can also come from enzyme deficiencies (ie. lactose intolerance), gut bacteria imbalance, exposure to toxins, and more so review with your physician to determine if food sensitivity testing is right for you.
We are thrilled to offer expanded food sensitivity testing that gives us even more understanding of our individual dietary needs. Book an appointment to find out if IgG food sensitivity tests could help uncover underlying causes of your symptoms.
NEW IgG Food Sensitivity Tests
120+ Foods Panel
An additional 20+ foods compared to our previous IgG test. Commonly consumed foods are included such as eggs, milk and wheat.
200+ Foods Panel
The most comprehensive panel; more than double the size of our previous test; includes all the foods in the 120+ panel plus common foods not previously tested such as quinoa, chickpea, peppermint and couscous.
Other options available:
* Vegetarian Food Panel
* Add specific foods to the 120+ or Vegetarian Panels
* Candida IgG testing can be added or tested on its own
As with our previous test, blood sample is taken in-house and only takes a few minutes. Results are typically available in 2 weeks.
In health,
Dr. Carin Matsushita
