Millions of Americans suffer needlessly from food sensitivities. Dozens of common ailments like migraines, diarrhea, reflux, eczema, joint pain, and even depression can be triggered by the foods we eat. And with reaction times delayed up to 48 hours, it becomes very difficult to track your discomfort to a certain food.

In recent years the availability of simple at-home food intolerance tests has finally given people a fast and inexpensive way to discover the everyday foods that are causing their malaise. These tests are very simple to administer through a finger prick blood test that takes only a few minutes. Results are normally returned in a matter of one to three weeks. Don't ignore your sypmtomes and claim the right test kit for you.

Food sensitivities are different from food allergies. Food allergies are acute and often severe histamine reactions to a specific food like peanuts or shellfish. They occur immediately after ingesting the food and can result in severe and life-threatening symptoms like anaphylaxis or hives. People who suffer from food allergies often carry an EpiPen and are aware of exactly the types of foods that they need to avoid.

Food sensitivities are different and they are still not widely understood. They are often delayed several hours or even days after eating so it is difficult to identify the exact culprit. The symptoms of food intolerance often resemble or feel similar to common ailments like itching, acne, fatigue, diarrhea, headaches, trouble sleeping, dark circles under the eyes, acid reflux or joint pain. Many people often live their entire life without ever knowing what is causing their condition.

How Do You Know if Your Have a Food Sensitivity?

If you are constantly noticing certain ailments, aches, itches, headaches, fatigue or other symptoms like the ones listed above, you could have a food sensitivity. The most difficult part is identifying the food or foods that are causing the problems. Diagnosis is tricky because symptoms often occur hours or days after eating and that is why food intolerances often go years or decades without being diagnosed.

Until recently, the only way to attempt to figure out your food sensitivities would be to keep track of your intake in a food journal. Then you would need to attempt an elimination diet where you removed one suspected food for a period of several weeks. This tedious process has proven to be almost impossible to follow.

With the advent of at-home food sensitivity tests, you can now find out quickly and easily which foods are likely causing your ailments. These tests are designed to cut out the hassles of time-consuming, expensive lab work by allowing you to simply mail in a finger-prick sample of blood.

The Role of IgG in Food Sensitivities?

There is no cure for food intolerance. Many scientists believe it is caused by an elevation of IgG antibodies. IgG is one of the most common antibodies in our system and it’s meant to fight off many common viral and bacterial infections. For people with food sensitivities, it is thought that certain foods trigger an elevation of IgG in their system. This reaction is very similar to the way many people react to pollen. People who are allergic to pollen release a compound called histamine which causes a dilation of capillaries and the contraction of certain muscles. This often manifests in a reaction of sneezing.

Some scientists believe that increased IgG levels are what creates feelings of nausea, joint pain, diarrhea and many of the common ailments that plague millions of Americans with food sensitivities. Many people suffering from food sensitivities have been shown to have elevated levels of IgG that create nagging feelings. At-home food sensitivity tests can detect how your body’s IgG levels will respond to specific foods. And once you know this information it makes an elimination diet much simpler.

What Foods Will They Test For?

Each food sensitivity test is different. Many of the popular products will test your body’s reaction to dozens of foods and ingredients. Some of the more common foods that are tested include:

• Dairy

• Gluten

• Corn

• Animal products fed gluten and corn

• Soy

• Shellfish

• Sulfites

• Artificial dyes and coloring

• Fermentable foods like cabbage and mushrooms

You are now equipped with tools and preventative measures to help you navigate your journey back to health.

The only thing left to do is to start. Don’t wait for a holiday, your birthday, new years, or Monday. There is nothing magical about those future dates but everything magical about the power of your next decision.

So, start with your food sensitivity testing, then discover the appropriate diet and lifestyle based on your genes and repair your gut health. Regaining your strength and feeling better won’t happen overnight, but every little step brings you closer to feeling like your best self.