Sharing my results IgG food sensitivity testas well as the advantages and disadvantages of this test method.
Hello friends! How is the day so far? I hope you are having a great time! Today, I’m working on podcast material (new episode tomorrow) and meeting a friend for lunch.
For today’s post, I wanted to share a little more about my personal health journey and one of the steps in the process: food sensitivity testing. When I first signed up for the IHP program (you can see my review of level 1 here and level 2 here), I knew I would love to be able to help friends and clients in a completely different, more personalized way. I had no idea how much this information would help me on a personal level as well.
Through my IHP knowledge and testing skills, I have been able to discover some root causes and am working to balance my body through eliminating toxicities and restoring deficiencies.
Overview IgG Food Sensitivity Test at Home (and my results)
The version in a nutshell:
– Last spring, I had horrible pink eye which triggered constant eye problems – watery, extremely red, itchy, runny eyes. I couldn’t wear contacts for almost three months. I’ve tried almost the entire drugstore eye section :/
– I saw many eye doctors who couldn’t help me (they just wanted to throw me down the kitchen sink with drops and prescriptions and nothing helped) – I finally found a dry eye specialist who was able to give me a plan of action and my eyes improved tremendously
– I had blood work done with my PCP to check my vitals and inflammation, and two markers for Lupus were positive, which explained the joint pain in my hands and the weird rashes I’ve had over the years. Whenever I was in periods of extreme or prolonged stress, I would break out in a rash and my hands would often ache at night, which I attributed so much to typing.
– I immediately went into test and learn mode, making one HTMA test, Candida Metabolic Test and Vitamins, and Food sensitivity test. (If you’re curious about testing, email me – I can get better prices than what’s available on the site.) The eye problems (which I think is partly an allergy response) + the autoimmune symptoms told me that something it was probably my gut going on so I was curious to see if I had yeast, bacteria and Candida overgrowth (I had all three) and how my body was responding to the stress. I was nutrient deficient in several markers and also had some elevated heavy metals.
– I worked for months to lower the inflammation in my body and in December the Lupus indicators were negative!!! YAYIII! While I was never officially diagnosed with Lupus – I waited to see Rheumatology until I got some answers and was retested and since my symptoms were under control – this just tells me that the inflammation has definitely gone down, so good stuff all around.
– I made some huge changes to my lifestyle and diet and the food sensitivity test was to see if I was eating anything that might be causing excessive inflammation. In today’s post, I will share the process, results, and valuable information I gained from this at-home test.
*A friendly reminder that I am NOT a doctor and these tests do not diagnose, treat, prevent or cure disease. They should provide information about your unique body so you can work with a professional to create a customized plan of action.*
The results of my IgG food sensitivity test
What is an IgG Reaction?
IgG, or immunoglobulin G, is an antibody found in our immune system. IgG reactions occur when the body recognizes certain foods as threats, triggering an immune response that can lead to a range of symptoms. These reactions are different from immediate allergy-type responses (such as urticaria, anaphylaxis, severe itching, etc.) and are often associated with delayed symptoms, making them difficult to detect without specialized tests.
The IgG food sensitivity test at home:
IgG food sensitivity test is a convenient at-home testing method designed to identify potential food sensitivities. The procedure usually involves a simple blood sample, which can be collected using a finger kit provided by the testing service. I will share screenshots of my test results to give a transparent look at this experience.
Benefits of the IgG food sensitivity test:
Personalized information:
The test offers personalized information about your body’s specific reactions to a wide range of foods. This information enables you to make informed dietary choices tailored to your unique needs. This particular test concerns 190 of the most common foods and spices!
Identifying hidden stimuli:
Unlike immediate allergic reactions, IgG reactions are often delayed, making it difficult to identify the triggering foods. The test helps uncover potential hidden culprits that contribute to various health issues.
Symptom management:
Understanding and addressing food sensitivities can help manage a variety of symptoms, including bloating, fatigue, skin issues, brain fog, anxiety, and digestive distress.
Nutrition Optimization:
Armed with knowledge about your body’s reactions, you can optimize your diet by choosing foods that support your overall well-being and minimize the risk of triggering inflammatory responses.
Targeted weight loss diets:
Test results can guide the implementation of targeted elimination diets. By temporarily removing identified trigger foods, you can assess the impact on your symptoms and gradually reintroduce the foods based on your body’s reactions. Depending on the severity, you will either remove the food for 6 weeks, 12 weeks or 6 months and then gradually add the foods back in to see how your body responds.
Disadvantages of home food sensitivity testing:
While food sensitivity testing has gained popularity as a potential tool for understanding individual reactions to certain foods, it is important to acknowledge some of the criticisms and concerns surrounding these tests. Critics argue that the scientific validity and reliability of many commercial food sensitivity tests is questionable. The main criticism stems from the diversity of immune responses and the complexity of the human body’s reaction to different foods.
Furthermore, the concept of IgG reactions as indicators of food sensitivity is not universally accepted in the medical and scientific communities. Some argue that elevated IgG levels may not necessarily correlate with adverse effects and may vary between individuals without apparent symptoms. Additionally, the dynamic nature of the immune system makes it difficult to establish definitive cause-and-effect relationships between specific foods and health issues. It is important for people considering food sensitivity testing to approach it with a critical mindset, recognize its limitations, and consult a healthcare professional for a comprehensive evaluation of their health concerns.
My experience:
In this post, I will walk you through my personal experience with it IgG food sensitivity test, I share the foods that caused reactions, my initial reactions, and how I adjusted my diet based on the results. I thought it would be helpful for my friends out there who are thinking this or are on a similar journey.
For this test, you want to have a mixture of foods in your system, especially foods that you think might be problematic (but are NOT allergic to. If you know you’re allergic to nuts, stay away from nuts). Dr. Cabral recommends an egg and cheese sandwich a few days before the test. I wanted this test to be representative of how I eat, which currently justifies gluten and dairy. I cut them out after going down the Wolf rabbit hole as some books recommended cutting out gluten and dairy if you have autoimmune symptoms. I noticed a huge improvement in my joint and eye pain.
I had a few bites of birthday cake a few days before the test and the gluten was elevated, which confirms that it’s not the best option for me right now.
My numbers were also slightly elevated for almonds, egg whites, and yogurt, which was a surprise to me.
I have been saddened to learn through this experience that I can’t have eggs all the time like I used to until I heal my gut. I only have them once a week now and enjoy every bite!! Once my gut heals, the idea is that I’ll be able to add dairy, gluten, and more often eggs, checking for reactions along the way.
The test also includes meal sample rotations to help include a variety of foods and potentially reduce adverse reactions and responses to different foods.
This whole process has been very enlightening and informative, and I’m excited to share more along the way.
If you are interested in functional testing, please email me gina@fitnessista.com subject TESTING and I would love to help!
xo
Gina
More:
The best functional workshops for women over 35
