Allergy testing - wheat, gluten, dairy

science
food
(betsy.rome) #1

Is there a scientific, reliable way to test for the most common allergies?
Or do you need to go on an elimination diet for each item, one at a time? if so, for how long?

#2

Pretty broad question. Depends on the allergen of interest. Elimination diet is usually associated with food allergies/sensitivies. Other types (e.g dogs, pollen etc) there is scratch that can be done with allergy specialist.

#3

Sorry - skipped over your title. Gluten etc - I would say elimination is worth a try. Though most of the time its intolerance vs true allergy. But matters not either way - if you feel better without a particular food group, then do it.

(Karen) #4

Yes gluten for starts, but we generally don’t have much within the confines of keto.

K

(Brian) #5

I went looking for something that could detect allergies a week or so ago and after a ton of websites, it because pretty clear that even the best of the tests out there are questionable, and I mean the ones done in a doctor’s office even.

What it all boiled down to was eating a specific food and seeing whether there was a reaction being the best way, even in a doctor’s office. For foods where there is a severe reaction, it’s only done in a doctor’s office because reactions can be life threatening for some people.

There are skin tests, saliva tests, blood tests, lots of tests. And for every one of them, it seems like there are a lot of negative comments to be had.

FWIW, my wife has this thing that shows up every so often that we haven’t exactly been able to figure out. Her lip will swell (usually the upper, but not always, sometimes her lower), and in the worst cases, she’ll get kinda itchy. (So far, not problems breathing.) And we haven’t been able to figure out what triggers it. The thing that seems to be the most likely is some kind of a soy allergy, though. It seems like it tends to happen when there is something we eat while at a social gathering where there is a lot of fake meat… usually soy… being served. Then again, we had some Bragg’s Liquid Aminos in a green bean casserole for one of our Christmas dinners and there was no reaction there. So we’re still a little puzzled. Anyway, that was why I was looking.

Good luck! And if you find something that’s helpful, please do share.

(Karen) #6

I have a lot of sensitivities, not full blown allergies. I can eat some of these foods but not often. I can tolerate some cooked, but not raw. Worth doing some elimination yourself. Not too onerous.

K

(Andrew) #7

@Bellyman I can’t eat bananas but I can eat organic bananas. Same with cherries. Just depends what lovely chemicals they spray on things sometimes. Took me forever to figure that out. Perhaps that is what is confusing your wife.

(Brian) #8

Interesting. And I believe you. I haven’t had the extent of your experience but just enough to make me pay attention.

I used to get a headache after eating oatmeal. Couldn’t figure out why. Then tried some organic oatmeal. No more headaches. And then I quit eating oatmeal altogether. LOL!

Mostly, we’re pretty careful about the stuff we buy. And I do tend to get organic when it’s available. I can’t remember of my wife having a reaction to anything at home, at least now knowingly. It always seems to happen after we’re out somewhere, and often in a place where we’re not going to easily know the details of what we’re being served. One thing that’s made it difficult is that it doesn’t show up often. If it were regular or often, I think we’d get a handle on it quicker. But as it is, it can sometimes be months in between events.

Thanks for your comments!

#9

There is a lab that does stool sample testing. It is very expensive and most insurances won’t cover it. Most doctors aren’t fans, either, but everyone on my colitis forum has been telling me for 10 years to get it done to help narrow down what I can eat and what I can’t. I fought it for 10 years because the place sounded “quackish” but once I reached the end of my rope 6 months ago, I figured, what the hell - do it.

I was very impressed with the detailed report I received and I’ll be darned, once I cut out the foods that they said I had an intolerance to, my colitis improved greatly.

Still don’t know how legit the place is but I know that whenever I try to add back in a food that they told me I should avoid, I go into a flare. (shrug).

If you’re interested in looking at the website, it’s Enterolabs.
Sue

#11

There is blood testing that tests IgG antibodies for specific foods.
I have severe allergies to both wheat and gluten as well as walnuts and peanuts.
My wheat/ gluten allergy presented as full body rash and extreme itching. Accidental ingestion of gluten since (just once) had me sneezing and swelling…very scary. I cannot have flour in the house, just the dust sets me off.
Allergies can be deadly, eliminating and reintroducing can be dangerous for a true allergy.
In Canada, BC, I can get tested for five allergens per year if i am symptomatic without seeing an allergist.