If you are dealing with symptoms such as hives or bloating, you may suspect a food allergy or sensitivity. But how can you determine which foods are causing the reactions? There are so many food allergy and sensitivity tests available, it can be difficult to figure out where to start. But with the right methods and doctor involved, you can often zero in on the problem.
If you search online for “food allergy testing,” you’ll find options including clinical visits with allergists and immunologists and do-it-yourself test kits that claim to deliver comprehensive results (with a 100 percent money-back guarantee!). Not all of the methods are equally reliable, and some are downright fraudulent. There is no single test that will tell you exactly which foods to avoid. If a website, advertisement or practitioner claims to provide such a test, watch out. Take these steps instead.
• Allergy or sensitivity?
It’s important to know the difference between a food allergy and a food sensitivity. Although the terms are often used interchangeably and symptoms may overlap, they are not the same. A food allergy is an immune system reaction that can cause hives, wheezing, itching, diarrhea, vomiting, shortness of breath and anaphylaxis. About 3.6 percent of Americans have food allergies, according to a 2017 Brigham and Women’s Hospital study.
Food sensitivity (sometimes called food intolerance) is a reaction that involves the digestive system, not the immune system. Symptoms include gas, bloating, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Although intolerances can be painful and uncomfortable, they are not life-threatening, and are rarely as serious as true food allergies. Anywhere from 2 to 20 percent of Americans may be sensitive to certain foods — there are no precise numbers because there is no exact diagnostic test.