What You Should Know Before a Food Sensitivity Test

While we all may try to enjoy the plethora of food options that are available to us, there are some foods that our bodies may be more sensitive to than others. Food sensitivity is also referred to as food intolerance and describes a condition where a specific person has problems digesting a certain food. If your doctor has prescribed a food sensitivity test, here are some things you should know about it.

Food Sensitivity Is Not A Food Allergy

Food sensitivity or intolerance is when you have trouble digesting food. Symptoms of this condition are things like bloating, gas, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. These are all issues that are with the digestive system. A food allergy is when your body acts as if the food is a poison. It can result in life-threatening conditions like swelling and hives.

Food Sensitivities Are Treated Differently Than Allergies

Food sensitivities are fairly common with over three million cases in the United States alone. This condition is diagnosed with a food sensitivity test that is performed by your doctor. If sensitivity is identified, it’s treated in one of two ways. The first is diet modification. This means not consuming the particular food. The second is with IgG medications that help to reduce the symptoms associated with the sensitivity.

The Elimination Diet Is The Most Popular

When it comes to food sensitivity testing, the elimination diet is the preferred method. This starts with you sitting down with a dietitian. They’ll likely have you keep an accurate food diary that also describes your symptoms throughout the day. They’ll notate which foods they believe are causing the sensitivity. Then, these foods will be eliminated from your diet. You’ll go through a period of two full weeks without eating the foods which your dietitian believes are the culprit. After this time and your symptoms clear, phase two of this diet is enacted.

Reintroducing Foods

Once your symptoms are gone and you can start from a clean slate, it’s time to reintroduce foods. Your dietitian may do this blindly by feeding you when you’re at their office. By not telling you which food they’re reintroducing, they can eliminate any mental connections that may interfere with the symptoms. Each food is reintroduced and symptoms are watched for. If a food creates symptoms after it has been reintroduced, it’s found to be the culprit of your sensitivity condition.

Food sensitives are a common condition that a large portion of the population deals with from time to time. Determining the culprit of your condition takes patience and commitment. The above should help you to better understand food sensitivity testing and what you can do to prepare for it.