FAQ’s (food intolerance)
Q : What is Food Intolerance?
Individuals can develop biochemical sensitivities to foods that in others are wholesome and harmless. This sensitivity causes the immune system to react as if it were protecting the body from an enemy such as a bacteria, virus or parasite. The white blood cells react to these foods and sometimes “explode”. When they explode they release packets of chemicals, which kill off the invader. If you eat your reactive foods on a daily basis this constant internal war can leave a trail of destruction. Several adverse reactions can occur, such as leaky blood vessels, increased production of mucus, chronic inflammation of tissue, spasm of smooth muscle tissue in the lungs, intestines and stomach and general disruption of the body’s biochemical processes.
Q : What test do you use?
We use the ALCAT test which measures your immune response to foods at a cellular level. With adverse delayed reactions to foods, the diagnosis is more difficult. The cells that react, especially phagocytic cells are not found in the skin so a skin test will not suffice. IgE antibodies are not involved as in food allergies, which means an antibody test will not show up food intolerance’s.
The ALCAT Test differs from other food allergy or intolerance tests as it accurately and objectively measures leukocyte cellular reactivity in whole blood. Controlled studies have shown a high correlation with double blind oral challenges with food and food additives.
Note: the ALCAT test only checks for food intolerances, it is not a food allergy test.
Q : What is the difference between a food allergy and food intolerance?
Although many people have adverse reactions to certain foods, most are caused by a food
intolerance and not a food allergy. Less than 4 percent of adults have a true food allergy. Food intolerance is much more common, it very simply means that your body does not break down that food which leads to an inflammatory response. A common example of food intolerance is lactose intolerance, lactose is the sugar found in milk.
A true food allergy can cause a tingling mouth, hives, swelling of the lips, face, tongue and throat, trouble breathing, and dizziness or fainting. It can also cause nausea, vomiting, cramping and diarrhea — signs and symptoms that often occur with a food intolerance as well.
With a true food allergy, your immune system produces IgE antibodies to fight the culprit
food, this alerts your immune system and triggers a full immune response releasing histamine and other chemicals into your bloodstream, leading to food allergy symptoms.
Q : What kind of dietary changes will I need to make ?
When you receive your results you will be on an elimination diet where the only foods that you may eat are foods from your ‘green list’ or foods that your body did not react to. It is therefore recommended that you get tested for 150 foods to give you a larger variety of foods to choose from. This elimination diet lasts for 3-12 months depending on the severity of the reaction. This price includes taking of the blood sample by phlebotomist, the test, and follow-up consultation.
Q : Is this test covered by VHI ?
No it is not, as this test is new to Ireland it is not yet covered by VHI. This test is backed by the medical industry in the US and we are working on this for Ireland but it may take years. To help you decide on whether to get the test or not it is a good idea to weigh up your current medical costs against the cost of the test.
Q : How long does it take ?
On your first appointment you come into the clinic and we take your details and a quick blood sample and payment. The initial appointment only takes about 10 minutes. We then send the sample off to our lab in Germany for analysis, it takes 7-10 days to get the results back. Once the results are back, we will call you to schedule a follow-up nutritional consultation. The nutritional consultation takes about 40 minutes, during which time Niamh will go over your test results in detail, she will also explain how the elimination diet works and answer any questions that you may have.
Niamh is available for 10 minute follow-up consultations (cost €10) which are recommended to track your progress and keep you motivated.
Q : What foods will I be tested for ?
You are tested for 100 of the most common foods eaten, with a good range of foods from each of the following food groups:
- Meat
- Seafood
- Grains
- Dairy
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Herbs and Spices
- Nuts / Oils / Misc
The following is a list of the foods that we test for:
