Food sensitivity screening is a method of testing the long-term effects of foods on your body. This is not a test for food allergies that tend to be quick and intense. Sensitivity reactions are more insidious, more subtle and may occur hours, even days, after eating.
Households often consider screening for food sensitivities because they see a change in their body after eating. These symptoms may be difficult to link to a particular food with just this info.
Typically, the screening process examines a patient’s immune system’s reaction to common foods. This will help to illustrate trends which might otherwise not be apparent from a single day’s diet.
Reasons for screening
Screening for food sensitivities can be used when food intolerance issues keep a person feeling stuck in their symptoms. When reactions don’t happen right away, food can be confusing.
Others attempt to eliminate one food at a time, but can be a lengthy process and answers are not clear. Screening provides a more defined starting point. It can indicate foods that it is worth paying attention to.
It is also utilized by individuals who wish to know more about their body. They don’t have to guess; they receive information that could aid them in making their daily food choices in a more consistent manner.
The screening process and how it works.
Typically, the screening for food sensitivities starts with a small blood sample from a clinic or testing kit. The sample is then submitted to a lab for consideration.
The blood is tested by a variety of common foods in the lab. Common sources are dairy, wheat, eggs, fruits, vegetables and meats. The test examines IgG antibodies, which correlate to a body’s response over time, not immediately.
An important thing to keep in mind is that there is no need to alter the diet prior to the screening. Normal eating conditions ensures that the results accurately represent real eating. This provides a more accurate picture of how the body responds to the typical food selections that are made throughout the day.
The results of the tests are combined into a report for ease of reading and understanding.
The results from reading is simple.
The information provided from screening for food sensitivities will typically present on the level of reaction for each food. Raised levels may indicate stronger body reactions to some of the items.
These results are not definitive rules of what should be avoided. Rather, they serve as a guide to identify patterns in diets. Sometimes, foods may be withheld for a brief period before reintroducing them gradually to determine any reaction.
This is a step by step process that will help you to avoid sudden diet changes. It provides time for them to learn what they have and make appropriate food adjustments in a manner that is realistic to their day-to-day life.
Many also prefer to talk to a health care provider when interpreting their results for additional assistance.
Using screening results in everyday life
Once cleared of food sensitivities, many people start to feel the impact of certain foods on their well-being. Often there are small modifications to meals afterwards, including with the ingredient used or with portion size, for a limited time.
Some people record basic information on food consumption and how they feel afterwards. This can help identify patterns over time between food and symptoms.
There’s no need for daily eating to be strict. With greater awareness of body response most foods can still be eaten in a normal diet. The aim is to increase understanding, and not to eliminate food options altogether.
