When you eat something to which you are allergic, your body reacts immediately. An almost certain sign of an allergic reaction is the speed with which these symptoms develop, usually within minutes of eating the food. In some cases, people are sensitive rather than allergic to a food. If you are sensitive to a food, your body may not react for several hours or even the next day. Food sensitivity symptoms are deceptive because they are not normally associate with common foods.
These symptoms are all potential food sensitivity reactions:
- Metabolism: Excess weight or difficulty losing weight
- Digestion: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, bloating, belching, stomach pain, cramps, heartburn
- Emotions: Mood swings, anxiety, fear, nervousness, anger, irritability, aggressive behavior, depression, binge eating or drinking, food cravings
- Energy and Activity: Fatigue, sluggishness, lethargy, drowsiness, lack of energy, apathy, hyperactivity, restlessness
- Eyes, Ears & Nose: Watery/itchy eyes, blurred vision, ear infections, hearing loss, sneezing attacks, runny/stuffy nose, hay fever, sinus problems, excessive mucous formation
- Mind/Neuro: Poor memory/concentration, fuzzy thinking, headaches, dizziness
- Muscles & Joints: Muscle joint and aches/pains, arthritis, stiffness, general weakness
- Skin: Hives, rashes, dry skin, excessive sweating, acne, hair loss, irritation around eyes
- Throat & mouth: coughing, sore throat, hoarseness, swelling/pain
BH2 offers comprehensive testing to understand what is causing these symptoms:
The Immuno 1Bloodprint:
The majority of toxic reactions to everyday foods are classified as Type II or III. These classifications indicate a delayed symptom onset. Delayed onset is associated with an antibody called IgG. A singe blood test can help us identify your food specific IgG antibodies and uncover which foods are harmonious with your particular system and which foods are having a toxic effect.
IgE 36 Allergen Airborne and Food Allergy Assays:
You may be also suffering from less common, Type I allergy symptoms. The most common triggers are pollens, dust, animal dander and foods. Previously, doctors used a painful, inconvenient method of skin testing to diagnose these IgE mediated allergic reactions. Recently, more convenient blood tests have been developed to detect IgE specific for many allergens. Diagnosing your immediate type allergies is often your first step in a program which can include immunotherapy, life-style management and permanent elimination of reactive foods.
Anti-Gliadin Antibody Assay:
Over 100 chroninc health conditions, including celiac disease, have been associated with increased levels of Anti-Gliadin Antibody. Gliadin is the protein component of wheat, rye and barley gluten. Implementing a gluten-free diet has shown to be a reliable treatment, allowing celiac patients to live normal, healthy lives. Recent research has shown the detection of Anti-Gliadin Antibody Assay (AGA) detects both IgG and IgA to gliadin by the ELISA method. This test is a very effective screening test for gliadin and is a good method for monitoring a patient’s adherence to a gluten-free diet.
Candida Albicans Assay:
Recently a common form of yeast infection has emerged which manifests symptoms that are often systemic causing considerable discomfort. Candida usually originates as an overgrowth of yeast in your lower gastrointestinal tract. Some reasons why this may happen include: frequent courses of steroids, antibiotics, oral contraceptives, diets high in sugar and refined carbohydrates. ELISA and immunodiffusion tests can confirm yeast overgrowth in the body.
Helicobacter Pylori (H. pylori):
A patient may be having symptoms of heartburn and gastrointestinal reflux disease due to H. pylori colonization of the stomach and lower GI tract. H. pylori has been shown to be the causative agent for many cases of stomach and small intestinal ulcers. A simple blood test that we can perform will measure a person’s antibody reactivity to the bacteria.
Tissue Transglutaminase Antibody Assay (tTG):
Celiac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis, recognized forms of gluten sensitive enteropathy (GSE), are characterized by chronic inflammation of the intestinal mucosa. Patients with celiac disease may suffer from other diverse side effects or be asymptomatic. All GSE patients have an increased risk of Lymphoma. The cause of GSE is intolerance to gluten, the protein of wheat, rye and barley. A gluten-free diet controls GSE and associated risks. For patients suspected with gluten intolerance, we use the tissue transglutaminase antibody assay (tTG), together with the anti-gliadin antibody assay. Together, these tests reliably diagnosing celiac disease.
Total IgE:
Total IgE is a measure of a patient’s total circulating levels of the IgE antibody. IgE is commonly elevated in patients with allergic reactivity to food/molds, chemicals, drugs and or environmental inhalants such as weeds, trees, pollens and grasses. Total IgE is an excellent screening assay and elevated results would justify further testing for allergen-specific IgE.
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