Do I Have A Food Intolerance? The Test Results Are In!

Disclosure: I received a YorkTest Laboratories Food&Drink Scan Premium Test Kit in order to facilitate this article. All opinions are 100% my own.

Is the food you're eating making you sick? Do you suffer from ailments like migraines, headaches, IBS, bloating, skin issues, low mood, weight gain, or joint pain? Unfortunately, any of these symptoms can be triggered by the foods you eat. That's why I was happy to have the chance to try the Food&Drink Scan Premium test kit from YorkTest Laboratories. It is a food and drink intolerance test that measures your body's Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody response to 208 foods and drinks by analyzing non-allergic inflammatory reactions to a variety of foods. It is very important to note, however, that the reactions to the food intolerance test are not allergic reactions. Unlike food allergies that trigger the immune system, a food intolerance reaction does not involve the immune system.

A few weeks ago I shared my experience with taking the YorkTest Laboratories Food&Drink Scan Premium Test*  in the privacy of my own home and sending the samples off to the lab for testing. See my earlier post to learn more about the simple finger-prick test and how easy it was to complete the test kit.

THE test results

Surprised and affirmed are two words that pretty much describe the way I felt when I read the results of my food intolerance test. I was surprised to see wheat and buckwheat raised igG antibodies and were listed in the red reaction column on the report. I have never connected wheat or buckwheat foods to headaches, joint pain, or feeling sluggish. However, I have been very suspicious of cow's milk and it isn't because of abdominal issues associated with lactose intolerance.

 A few years back, I made the connection between eating ice cream and having bad headaches the following day. The headaches were so severe that I was finally forced to take note of what I ate in the last 24 hours, weather conditions, and overall activities. Looking for anything out of the ordinary.

After keeping a log for several weeks, it clearly showed ice cream was the offender. So, when cow's milk appeared as having a reactive response, it made perfect sense, but I still couldn't figure out why I don't have the same severe symptoms when I have a bowl of cereal with milk. The nutritional therapist and I discussed it and she felt I might not always show symptoms of milk intolerance with other milk products because of portion sizes and a variety of other reasons, all which she explained during the consult.  

my consult with a nutritional therapist
  
After receiving my test results, I took advantage of the comprehensive nutritional support offered as part of the YorkTest Laboratories Food Intolerance Test Kit. The 30-minute consult with Stacy, a Nutritional Therapist, was AMAZING! She offered nutritious alternatives to my trigger foods and helped me fill in missing pieces of my dietary puzzle. What I mean by that is there were some trigger foods that showed up on the IgG Food Intolerance Test that I would swear I have never eaten before in my life. Plaice/Sole being one of those foods. Yuck! I don't eat white fishy fish, only shell fish and salmon. So, how is sole on my list of foods to avoid? Well, Stacy explained that sole/plaice fish can be added to stuffed clams, imitation crab meat, and possibly sushi. And what was I eating almost every Friday during lent? Stuffed salmon or sushi. Stacy nailed it! The stuffing in the salmon has imitation crab meet which most likely contains plaice or sole fish.  

Stacy also helped me to figure out how I could have a borderline reaction to Spirulina, another item on the list that I thought I had never ingested. She asked if I was taking any supplements. Other than collagen, I couldn't recall taking any type of supplements in the last three months. (I was thinking of supplements in pill form). As she provided more information on Spirulina, I realized I sometimes make a smoothie and throw in a scoop of "greens" powder. I really never thought the powder as a supplement, but you can guess what ingredient is in the greens powder...

Spirulina showed a borderline reaction on my Food Intolerance Test

Stacy covered a lot in 30 minutes and I took a lot of notes so I could remember everything. She discussed the importance of taking a probiotic, especially since I am currently taking an antibiotic, and suggested alternating or rotating probiotic brands. The thought process being that having a more diverse gut bacteria is generally associated with better health.  She also mentioned that I should take a probiotic at least 4-6 hours prior to taking the antibiotic. The longer the time in between the probiotic and antibiotic doses, the better.

At the end of my consult with Stacy, I felt prepared and excited to take the next step in my journey to better health - the elimination diet.

the next step - dietary changes

Planning and preparation are essential when embarking on a new elimination diet. I searched for recipes on the internet and visited my local supermarket and health food store to stock up on foods I knew I could eat and discovered new products that didn't contain trigger foods.

My elimination diet starts today. I am a bit nervous about eliminating coffee. Stacy said I don't need to remove borderline foods, but I feel like I can do it. Stacy explained that borderline foods/drinks could become a reactive food over time and I figure why not try to eliminate them or have them less frequently, so I am giving it a try. In place of coffee, Stacy suggested black tea might be a good substitute for coffee, so I will see how it goes. One thing is for certain, whatever I do decide to drink to give me a morning boost, I will first read the label to check for hidden ingredients. Reading labels is very important. I have already discovered my blueberry tea contains elderberry. Unfortunately, not all foods are going to be as obvious as my Amish Elderberry Jelly...     

Elderberry is one of the food items showing a reaction on the Food Intolerance Test

As I embark on my health journey, YorkTest provided me with a Food & Drinks Diary which is a 12-week plan to healthier living. It is created to keep track of what you are eating and drinking and is packed with helpful tips and other tidbits to keep you on track.

Along with the Food & Drinks Diary, YorkTest also provides an informative 23-page Guidebook that takes you step-by-step through the entire process. From the time you receive your results to the elimination diet, this helpful guide is with you every step of the way. After reading through the material I feel empowered to start my journey to better health!   

the benefits of testing

The YorkTest Food&Drink Scan Premium test kit opened my eyes to the importance of having a good baseline of foods and drinks to include or eliminate from my diet. I feel confident that YorkTest Laboratories was the best choice for me as they have been testing and helping to identify food intolerances for 35 years!

The IgG Food Intolerance Test acts as a guide to determine if food reactions are contributing to physical or mental symptoms. 

The removal of highly reactive foods from the diet is a non-invasive, food-based therapy to potentially relieve a variety of symptoms.

Elimination diets can reduce stress on the immune system and lower gut inflammation. 

Are you curious if you may have a food or drink intolerance? Check out the YorkTest Food&Drink Scan Premium test kit. If there are no current specials online, please feel free to call YorkTest Labs direct at 1-844-533-2724 and use Contact ID #601406. This special number entitles you to my exclusive friends & family discount of $50 off any test kit!  

DO YOU SUFFER FROM SYMPTOMS OF NAUSEA, BLOATING, MIGRAINES, ETC. THAT YOU FEEL COULD BE RELATED TO CERTAIN FOODS OR DRINKS? SHARE IN THE COMMENTS BELOW. 

   xoxo,

*Please note: The elimination of specific food(s) or drink(s) prior to the Intolerance Test (3 months or longer) will reduce the ability for the lab to detect antibodies (reactions) to the eliminated food(s) or drink(s).

**Please note: I am not a doctor, medical professional, licensed nutritionist, or registered dietician. This blog is a reflection of my own personal beliefs and opinions, based on research I’ve come across in the food and fitness industry. Please always consult with your doctor first before changing your diet, or starting a new exercise program. The information given is not intended to replace any recommendations offered by your doctor or healthcare practitioner. And please listen to your body when experimenting with new foods and diet changes.

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