Allergy OR Intolerance?
Food allergy is an immediate immune response often characterized by hives, shortness of breath, upset stomach, and in some cases, anaphylaxis. The ALCAT is not a “food allergy” test, but rather helps to identify “food intolerance.”
Food intolerance is much more common than food allergies. However, as a delayed immune response, symptoms can occur anywhere from 12 hours to 3 or more days after consumption or exposure.
Symptoms range variably and unpredictably from digestive problems, to fatigue, to skin disorders, to joint and body pain, even mood and behavioral issues. It has been suggested that upwards of 70-80% of the U.S. population has treatable food intolerance.
Unfortunately, from a conventional perspective, symptoms clearly linked to food intolerance are too often identified as integral to syndromes or named illnesses such as chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel, interstitial cystitis, even autoimmune disorders, AD(H)D, Autism, and the list goes on.
Why ALCAT?
The ALCAT test is a highly sensitive, objective test for assessing which foods you may be “intolerant” or “sensitive” to. The test identifies reactions to over 350 foods, chemicals, and other substances associated with inflammation correlated to to chronic health problems.
Food intolerance symptoms generally come on gradually and don’t involve an immediate immune system reaction. If you have a food intolerance, you may be able to eat small amounts of the offending food without trouble.
Food sensitivities, food additives and preservatives, molds, and chemicals that the ALCAT tests for can be considered exacerbating agents to avoid to assist with health and healing, but are rarely (if ever) the only reason for our illnesses. If only it were so simple!
The more important clinical puzzle to solve is why the immune system is so reactive in the first place. That said, being aware of food, chemical or mold sensitivities, food additives, and preservatives that cause immune reactions can be an important step in eliminating all sources of known kerosine being added to the fire, so to speak. By making dietary and lifestyle changes based on your ALCAT results, we essentially quell the inflammation and see a reduction in the many vague clinical symptoms patients report.
ALCAT is NOT an "allergy" test
Our body reacts to foods and chemicals in many different ways. One such way is in the form of an immediate allergic reaction. The ALCAT test does not specifically test for this type of classic or “true” IgE mediated food allergy.
Therefore, if you already know that you have a Type 1 or IgE-mediated allergy then you must continue to avoid those items regardless of the results of the ALCAT test. If you have a true food allergy, even a tiny amount of the offending food can cause an immediate, severe reaction.
ALCAT is Better than IgG testing
Too often doctors and other clinicians have relied on inaccurate tests such as blood IgG, which are debatable as people are led to believe they are “intolerant” to items they have eaten often or recently. This is not accurate and is, in fact, widely criticized due to shifting and inconsistent results based on what the individual consumed prior to testing.
But there is a better way. The ALCAT, unlike IgG testing, is an immune cell culture and direct testing approach that is far more meaningful based on our experience.
The ALCAT test has helped improve the health of hundreds of thousands of people around the world who suffer from a wide range of symptoms and illnesses.
The test is especially useful for those who, after a proper medical evaluation, are having continued problems with gastrointestinal intolerance, which affects their overall nutritional status. In addition, prolonged exposure to intolerable foods, even in minute doses, can cause a chronic and smoldering body-wide inflammatory response that can be associated with symptoms in many seemingly unrelated areas of your individual health.
