Sharing the results of my IgG food sensitivity test, as well as pros and cons of this testing method.
Hi friends! How’s the day going so far? I hope that you’re having a great one! Today, I’m working on podcast stuff (new episode tomorrow) and meeting up with a friend for lunch.
For today’s post, I wanted to share a bit more about my personal health journey and one of the steps in the process: food sensitivity testing. When I first enrolled in the IHP program (you can check out my review of level 1 here and level 2 here), I knew that I’d love to be able to help friends and clients in an entirely different, more personalized way. I had no idea how much this information would help me on a personal level, too.
Through my knowledge in IHP and testing abilities, I’ve been able to discover some root causes and I’m working on rebalancing my body through removing the toxicities and restoring deficiencies.
At-home IgG Food Sensitivity Test Review (and my results)
The nutshell version:
– Last spring, I had horrible pink eye which became a trigger for constant eye issues – watering, super red, itchy, mucus-y eyes. I couldn’t wear contacts for almost three months. I’ve tried pretty much the entire pharmacy eye section :/
– I saw many eye doctors who were unable to help me (they just wanted to throw the kitchen sink of eyedrops and prescriptions at me, and nothing helped) – I finally found a dry eye specialist who was able to give me an action plan and my eyes improved tremendously
– I did blood work with my PCP to check basic markers and inflammation, and two markers for Lupus came back positive, which explained the joint pain I had in my hands and the strange rashes I’ve had over the years. Whenever I’ve been under periods of extreme or prolonger stress, I’d get a rash, and my hands would often ache at night, which I had attributed to typing so much.
– I instantly went into test and learn mode, doing an HTMA test, Candida Metabolic and Vitamins Test, and Food Sensitivity test. (If you’re curious about testing, email me – I can get better prices than what is available on the website.) The eye issues (which I think are partially an allergy response) + autoimmune symptoms told me something was likely going on in my gut, so I was curious to see if I had any yeast, bacteria, and Candida overgrowth (I had all three) and how my body was responding to stress. I was nutrient deficient in several markers, and also had some elevated heavy metals.
– I worked for months to get the inflammation down in my body, and in December, the Lupus markers were negative!!! YAYYYYY! While I was never officially diagnosed with Lupus – I was waiting to see Rheumatology until I could get some answers and retest and since my symptoms were under control- this just tells me that the inflammation is definitely down, so good things all around.
– I’ve made some huge lifestyle and diet changes, and my food sensitivity test was to see if I was eating anything that might be causing excess inflammation. In today’s post, I’ll share the process, results, and the valuable information I gained from this at-home test.
*A friendly reminder that I’m NOT a doctor and these tests do not diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure illness. They’re to provide information about your unique body so you can work with a practitioner to create a custom action plan.*
My IgG Food Sensitivity Test Results
What is an IgG Reaction?
IgG, or immunoglobulin G, is an antibody present in our immune system. IgG reactions occur when the body identifies specific foods as threats, triggering an immune response that can lead to a range of symptoms. These reactions are different from immediate, allergy-type responses (like hives, anaphylaxis, severe itching, etc) and are often associated with delayed symptoms, making them challenging to pinpoint without specialized testing.
The At-Home IgG Food Sensitivity Test:
The IgG Food Sensitivity Test is a convenient at-home testing method designed to identify potential food sensitivities. The process typically involves a simple blood sample, which can be collected using a finger-prick kit provided by the testing service. I’ll be sharing screenshots of my test results to provide a transparent look into this experience.
Benefits of the IgG Food Sensitivity Test:
Personalized Insights:
The test offers personalized insights into your body’s specific reactions to a wide range of foods. This information empowers you to make informed dietary choices tailored to your unique needs. This particular test is for 190 of the most common foods and spices!
Identifying Hidden Triggers:
Unlike immediate allergic reactions, IgG reactions are often delayed, making it challenging to identify trigger foods. The test helps uncover potential hidden culprits contributing to various health issues.
Symptom Management:
Understanding and addressing food sensitivities can contribute to the management of various symptoms, such as bloating, fatigue, skin issues, brain fog, anxiety, and digestive discomfort.
Optimizing Nutrition:
Armed with knowledge about your body’s reactions, you can optimize your nutrition by selecting foods that support your overall well-being and minimize the risk of triggering inflammatory responses.
Targeted Elimination Diets:
The 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 foods based on your body’s responses. Depending on the severity, you’ll 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.
Cons of At-home Food Sensitivity Testing:
While food sensitivity testing has gained popularity as a potential tool for understanding individual reactions to certain foods, it’s essential 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 are debatable. The main critique stems from the diversity of immune responses and the complexity of the human body’s reaction to different foods.
Additionally, the concept of IgG reactions as indicators of food sensitivities is not universally accepted within the medical and scientific communities. Some argue that elevated IgG levels may not necessarily correlate with adverse reactions and can vary between individuals without apparent symptoms. Moreover, the dynamic nature of the immune system makes it challenging to establish definitive cause-and-effect relationships between specific foods and health issues. It’s crucial for individuals considering food sensitivity testing to approach it with a critical mindset, recognizing its limitations and consulting healthcare professionals for a comprehensive evaluation of their health concerns.
My Experience:
In this post, I’ll walk you through my personal experience with the IgG Food Sensitivity Test, sharing the foods that triggered reactions, my initial reactions, and how I’ve adjusted my diet based on the results. I thought it would be helpful for my friends out there who are considering this, or who are on a similar journey.
For this test, you want to have a mix of foods in your system, especially foods that you think may be problematic (but ARE NOT allergic to. If you know you’re allergic to walnuts, stay away from walnuts). Dr. Cabral recommends an egg sandwich with cheese a few days before testing. I wanted this test to be representative of how I eat, which for now, excuses gluten and dairy. I cut these out after I went down the Lupus rabbit hole as a few books recommended skipping gluten and dairy if you have autoimmune symptoms. I noticed a huge improvement in my joint pain and my eyes.
I had a few bites of birthday cake a few days before the test, and gluten was elevated, which verifies that it’s not the best choice for me right now.
My numbers were also slightly elevated for almonds, egg whites, and yogurt, which was surprising for me.
I’ve been bummed 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 about once a week now and enjoy every bite!! Once my gut is healed, the idea is that I’ll be able to add back dairy, gluten, and more frequent eggs, checking for reactions along the way.
The test also includes sample meal rotations to help include a variety of foods and potentially reduce negative reactions and responses to various foods.
This whole process has been very enlightening and informative, and I’m excited to share more along the way.
If you’re interested in functional testing, send me an email gina@fitnessista.com subject TESTING and I’d love to help!
xo
Gina
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