Don’t make the mistake of assuming all food sensitivities are obvious. While some people have very obvious reactions to specific foods that are difficult to ignore, many signs of food sensitivities are subtle. If you have chronic joint pain, stubborn breakouts, or migraines, the problem may be something you’re eating.
What Are Food Sensitivities?
It’s believed that up to 30% of people suffer from food sensitivity or food intolerance. This intolerance is different than a full-blown allergy, which may be life-threatening. Instead, a sensitivity to a food may lead to chronic symptoms rather than acute symptoms that may be immediate and severe.
Any organ or system of the body can be affected by a sensitivity. It may take anywhere from 45 minutes to days before you notice symptoms. Because the symptoms can be chronic and vague, you may not even know there’s a single underlying cause. This can make it difficult to pinpoint the cause of the problem right away.
Food sensitivities, intolerance, and allergies all have one thing in common: it means you need to stop eating the food. The trick is knowing what food you are sensitive to.
Testing for Food Sensitivity in Houston
The gold standard in testing for food sensitivities is the ALCAT test, which identifies food and chemical sensitivities. The results from this blood test can pinpoint which foods are likely to trigger inflammation and other side effects. Several clinical assessments of this test when used to make dietary changes have been found to produce a dramatic improvement in common symptoms of food sensitivity.
This test works by measuring your responses to foods at a cellular level to determine the triggers for symptoms like migraines and gastrointestinal disorders. The test specifically measures reactions to food through leukocyte stimulation. Leukocytes are white blood cells that make up your immune system and serve as your primary defense against acute infections. Chronic activation of the white blood cells can lead to a range of health disorders. The ALCAT test requires challenging these white blood cells with extracts of food to see which foods they react to.
Food Sensitivity Testing Can Improve Your Quality of Life
Many people live with the long-term effects of food sensitivities like cramping, heartburn, bloating, inflammation, acne, and joint pain without ever knowing the reason they don’t feel well. A simple sensitivity test can help you understand the foods that cause these reactions so you can make simple changes in your diet to improve your overall health.
Testing for food sensitivity is a simple and easy way to find out if your body is having negative reactions to foods you may be eating every day. At the Campbell Medical Clinic in Houston, we perform sensitivity tests using the simple ALCAT blood test to help you enjoy the best health possible. Contact us today at (832) 460-6468 to schedule a free consultation to learn more about ALCAT testing.