Importance of Food Sensitivity Testing

At Simon Wellness Consulting, we offer food sensitivity testing to residents of St. Petersburg and Tampa Bay to help them not only identify and understand how certain aspects of their diet affect them, but also provide them with the correct forms of treatment to remedy the problem.

Contrary to popular belief, having a food sensitivity or intolerance is not the same as having an allergy. However many use the terms interchangeably, mistaking one for the other and, unfortunately, confusing them—leading to misdiagnosis and a general misunderstanding of what they are, respectively, and how one can affect you. Sometimes people are not even aware their diet is the cause of some of their health problems, until they get the proper food sensitivity testing.

Generally, people know when they have a food allergy, or what is sometimes referred to as an “IgF-mediated reaction.” When this is present, it makes certain proteins a threat to your body’s immune system and, when consumed, often cause tingling, itching, swelling, nausea, vomiting, etc. This is what is known as an “allergic reaction.” To be diagnosed with a food allergy, a doctor will typically look for IgF antibodies in your blood stream.

Food intolerances, on the other hand, are slightly different. Having a sensitivity to certain foods can produce similar blood test results as allergies, however their symptoms tend to be a little less noticeable. Sensitivity affects the class of antibodies known as IgG, which causes non-celiac inflammatory reactions. For example, a person may experience excessive weight gain, fatigue, or irritated digestive functioning after consuming foods they are intolerant of or sensitive to, yet there often isn’t a full-blown dramatic reaction like there can be with allergies.

Food Sensitivity Testing in Tampa and St. Petersburg

The ALCAT test helps people in identifying their body’s cellular reactions to over 350 foods, chemicals and herbs. The fact of the matter is that we consume a lot of different kinds of products, with an abundance of ingredients—some good, some bad—and knowing which ones are hurting us is imperative to improving our health and overall quality of life. From conditions like obesity and diabetes to issues like fatigue and weight gain, patients can select from our 10 levels of food sensitivity testing to identify existing problems in their diet, and how to fix them.

After your testing, your certified nutritionist will administer the proper elimination diet for you to produce favorable results, in a way that won’t disrupt your normal routine. To get started, or to schedule a consultation with a Wellness Consultant in Tampa or St. Petersburg, give us a call at Simon Wellness Consulting today. 727-239-9443. If you have specific questions or concerns, you can email Isabelle Simon directly at isabelle@simonwellnessconsulting.com.