Thursday, September 5, 2019

Food Sensitivity Tests: Are They Worth It?

Food sensitivity tests are becoming more and more popular, but are they accurate? The current evidence to support food sensitivity blood tests is limited. Food sensitivity is not actually a medical diagnoses and is different from food allergies and intolerances. Food allergies are an immune system reaction where the body reacts to a substance found in a food or group of foods. It typically identifies this substance as harmful and creates antibodies to fight it off, causing adverse symptoms. Food intolerances are not an immune system reaction, but are related to digested food. Many times, someone with a food intolerance does not have a certain enzyme to digest a food or has a reaction to additives in foods. These people may be able to eat small amounts of certain foods that they are intolerant to without any adverse effects. Food sensitivity currently has no medical definition and is many times used as an umbrella term over food allergy and food intolerance.

Food sensitivity blood tests are gaining popularity, but there is no evidence to show that they are accurate in diagnosing food sensitivities. Food allergy testing tests for a protein called IgE. The presence of this protein indicates an immune system response. However, food sensitivity tests look for an IgG antibody. IgG levels have not been shown to accurately diagnose food sensitivities or allergies and can be higher or lower based on foods more recently eaten, not based on what foods someone may be allergic to. These tests may cause someone to unnecessarily avoid foods in their diets that are harmful to them. If you believe you have a food sensitivity, the best thing to do is to make an appointment with your healthcare provider or registered dietitian. 

Source: https://www.eatright.org/health/allergies-and-intolerances/food-intolerances-and-sensitivities/are-food-sensitivity-tests-accurate 

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