Intolerance Testing

[India]

Does anyone have any advice on food intolerance testing? Coeliac UK told me the tests are a waste of time and money but I know people on here have used them - were they helpful? As I don't live in the US, I'm not asking for recommendations of companies but I'd love to know whether you think they produce meaningful results.

Many thanks

[cassP]

complete food allergy testing can be really expensive! some people were happy they did it- and others on here would suggest doing an elimination diet.

if you want to do a couple of inexpensive tests that COULD help u out a bit- google: SIBO & Fructose Malabsorption. if they ring true at all for u- i THINK your doctor can run a couple of breath tests and they wouldnt be as pricey as a huge allergen panel.

?? just a thought- maybe those 2 tests could have some answers for ya.

or also a candida test.

[jackay]

Does anyone have any advice on food intolerance testing? Coeliac UK told me the tests are a waste of time and money but I know people on here have used them - were they helpful? As I don't live in the US, I'm not asking for recommendations of companies but I'd love to know whether you think they produce meaningful results.

Many thanks

I had it done twice, about a year and a half apart. The first time I wasn't gluten free and gluten did not show up on that test. I now know I was gluten intolerant at that time. Anyway, avoiding all of the foods that showed intolerance didn't help. I went on a four day rotation diet with the foods that tested O.K.

When I had the test done 18 months later, I was eating gluten free. I tested intolerant to so many foods it was unbelievable. I eliminated all those foods along with everything that contained gluten and I didn't notice any difference.

I then went on an elimination diet and started out with just three foods for a while (chicken, olive oil and turnips. I gradually added more foods. This worked so much better for me than avoiding the foods I tested intolerant to.

So what I am saying is that I found the testing a waste of money. They are very expensive. Luckily, my insurance covered a good share of it.

[India]

Thanks for your replies. I hadn't been convinced by the testing people I spoke to and this confirms my suspicions.

I'm going for a SIBO test soon but my local hospital doesn't do a fructose intolerance test, so I need to find somewhere then persuade my doctor to refer me (I love our National Health Service but it can be difficult).

I hope to never go through an elimination diet again - I nearly lost my sanity as well as most of my body fat! Would a rotation diet be easier on the body?

[alchemist]

Thanks for your replies. I hadn't been convinced by the testing people I spoke to and this confirms my suspicions.

I'm going for a SIBO test soon but my local hospital doesn't do a fructose intolerance test, so I need to find somewhere then persuade my doctor to refer me (I love our National Health Service but it can be difficult).

I hope to never go through an elimination diet again - I nearly lost my sanity as well as most of my body fat! Would a rotation diet be easier on the body?

Hello India I have tried the Elisa ige food allergy test and the Al-meow:) igg test....both provide lovely charts as to which foods you have highly-moderately and low sensitivities to......they are almost worthless (in my case). I react to pretty much all of the foods that both tests say were safe for me to eat.The elimination diet previously mentioned is the way to go.Its funny actually if you dig around on the Al-Meow:) website there is an article that says that the value of this type of testing is very questionable as igg antibody measurements to food do not necessarily indicate a problem.

good luck

steve

[India]

Thanks Steve - I'm tickled to have a reply on this from an alchemist There seems to be pretty much a consensus on this, so I won't waste my money. Back to the food diary...

[Lisa79]

I am the same, suffer many intolerances, to be 100% honest I struggle to know exaclty which foods I am intolerant too, one day I might get away with pinching a few chips and other days I suffer terribly. Some days I could get away with a slice of cheese.

I also bet there are many foods which may be my problem and I just don't know it.

I used to have terrible pains after a Cajun Chicken Salad, turned out to be the small pinch of paprika...

Mash potatoes it could be the milk? as I can sometimes get away with a chip or a roast potato (only sometimes).

Elimination diets are so hard and just wish there was a simple test that could tell me exactly what foods dont agree with me.

I am reading a book at the moment called it could be allergy and it could be cured. Very interesting but some examples really show you could have an allergy/intolerance to something and have no idea.