Food Sensitivities Testing (Blood Test) is NOT as same as Food Allergy Test you might have done (scratch test) at your allergist’s
office. Here’s the site explains very clearly the differences between Food Allergy and Food Sensitivity Test. Please read this
first to understand the differences between these two.
The partial list of Food and Chemical Sensitivity Symptoms:
Digestive Symptoms : stomach pains & cramping, constipation & diarrhea, acid reflux or heartburn, bloating, gas, nausea, vomiting
Weight : inability to lose weight, food cravings, binge eating, water retention
Sinus/Respiratory : stuffy or runny nose, asthma, chest congestion, chronic cough, wheezing, frequent sneezing
Head/Ears : migraines, headaches, earaches, ear infection, ringing in ears
Eyes/Throat : itchy eyes, watery eyes, sore throat, persistent canker sores
Emotional/Mental : depression, anxiety, mood swings, irritability, poor concentration
Energy : fatigue, hyperactivity, lethargy, restlessness, insomnia
Skin Disorders : eczema, dermatitis, excessive sweating, rashes, hives
Other symptoms : joint pain, arthritis, irregular heartbeat, chest pains, muscle aches
The major differences between Food Allergy and Food Sensitivities is the onset of symptoms. Food Allergy is much
easier to be diagnosed because its onset is immediate to 1 hour after ingestion vs Food Sensitivities, delayed reactions manifest
in many different ways as they can affect any organ system in the body and can take from 45 minutes to 72 hours later to become
apparent. That means you are having symptoms like migraine headache on Tuesday afternoon caused by the meal you ate at
Sunday branch. This “delayed response” cause many people puzzle and often go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.
Immunologic mechanism in Food Allergy is IgE vs “white blood cells, IgG, IgM, C3 and C4 in Food Sensitivities. Lastly, Body organs
involved in Food Allergies is limited to airways, skin, gastrointestinal tract and often acute vs Food Sensitivities – any organs system
in the body can be affected and often chronic, sometimes acute (histamine response). The treatments prescribed (for undiagnosed
food sensitivities) usually provide only temporary relief that mask the symptoms instead of addressing the root cause of the problem.
I was one of them.
This is my story. I have been always in good health except sensitive stomach and migraine headache for past 25 years. I was able to
eat anything until I came to U.S. in 1986. I woke up one day with severe burning pain in stomach. I was told I had stomach ulcer.
Everybody said it was due to stress. I took high doses of Zantac for 3 months plus (I did not know probiotics back then) and the
burning pain subsided as long as I avoid acidic food like tomatoes, but all of finger tips started to make blisters, and became very
dry and eventually peeled off. I went to more than a dozen dermatologists and all prescribed steroid creams. Nothing helped to heal
my skin problems for 10 years. My typical day started with opening up 10 band-aids package and wrap up finger tips. While I was
attending biochemistry class when I was at grad school, he was talking about bacteria called H. Pylori and its symptoms. I rushed out
the room and called my PCP to get tested right away. The test came back big time positive. This is the good question why my PCP
for 10 years had never mentioned to me about H.Pylori…..even though my digestion and migraine headache were only two
complained for every year. Again, I took very strong 3 antibiotics for 3 weeks. Looking back, these two episodes of strong
antibiotics killed most of my guts flora. I wish I knew about the fact taking probiotics (and exactly what kinds of probiotics) is very
beneficial to take during and after taking this antibiotics but I did not know back then. The skin eruptions on the finger tips started to
subside around the time (I was also seeing herbalist at around the time) and I was no longer needed to buy a lot of band-aids. If you
are already my patient, now you know why I carefully check your hands and toes! The skin (especially the extremities) is the mirror
of your stomach.
When I started suffering from stomach issues back in 1986, I also started having migraine headache which often hit before, during
and after my period. I thought it would go away once hit menopause but it did not stop. During the 3 years of grad school, migraine
headache got worse. I thought it must be stress caused and once I take a break after schooling, it will get better. It was not and it
continued getting worse and worse after I opened my first clinic in Lexington Center. Since my clinic was located on the sub-
basement level. I thought the air and moisture on the floor might be the factor to make it worse. I moved the clinic to the 1st floor
location and hoping for no headache. On the contrary, it was getting worse and worse. I decided to cut hours, take longer break
between AM and PM shift and eat lunch at home. No changes but migraine was getting worse especially bad on Saturday afternoon
seeing more than a dozen patients one after another.
I might did more but this is I can think of what I did to cure my migraine headache and stiff neck:
Eliminated foods known to cause headache (red wine, dark chocolate, aged cheese, processed foods, sugary foods, etc…
Avoid inhaling any strong chemicals from cleaning materials (for example: windex and other cleansers)
Stopped going hair saloon, avoid to pass thru the first floor of department stores
Read numerous books on how to treat neck stiffness and headaches
Listened relaxing music and visual DVDs
Took various kinds of yoga, tai-chi classes
Practiced meditation
Took many acupuncture classes for neck pain and migraine headache
Posted my problem on and off on acupuncture site and wrote headache blog (to get help!)
Joined gym and worked with trainers to strengthen my neck and shoulder muscles
Treated by more than 3 dozen acupuncturists (one acupuncturist needled deep on the back of my neck, I almost fainted; one
acupuncturist did electro acupuncture on the back of my head and neck – I ended up having cold sweat, vomited, and fainted
afterword)
Treated by many massage therapists (I can not count – so many!) and reflexology therapists
Treated by many chiropractors
Treated by a movement therapist
Treated by three Naturopathic doctors
Treated by three Reiki masters
Treated by one Osteopathic doctors
Treated by two Nutritionists
Treated by two Dietitians
Treated by two homeopathic doctors
Treated by more than many Western and Chinese herbalists
My PCP had sent me to get 5 MRI (brain scan)
Treated by highly recommended physiatrist who does dry needling (I passed out and I could not drive home)
Purchased massage machines and gadgets
Purchased “a lot of” supplements
Treated by aromatherapist
Treated by a therapist who practice ion water detox therapy
Took medications my neurologist wanted me to try if I really needed to (this was my the last choice)
As an acupuncturist, I am pretty good at treating patients come for migraine headache. If it is acute stage, I am able to stop their
pounding throbbing nature of migraine headache with 2-3 needles (usually takes only 5-15 min.), if it is already full blown, at least I
am able to calm it down w/o taking any western medication but ironically, I am NOT able to needle myself. My husband (and other
acupuncturists) tried but did not help. I have spent thousands of dollars, suffered from this ongoing pain.
The good thing happened the last winter (2014), one of my friend told me about the book called “Grain Brain” written by David
Perlmutter M.D. I always order and read health related books anybody recommend me to read. Around the same time, I have heard
about Food Sensitivities Testing from my colleague. I read the book and took the test. I stopped the ALL foods I am not suppose to
eat (at least 6 months).The result was astonishing! The week 1 – no migraine. I thought it was fluke. Then week 2, 3, and 4 – I was
still skeptical because I do not recall the last time I have not had a month w/o migraine. When the week 8 ended, I was totally
convinced my migraine was caused by food sensitivities by not food allergy. It has been more than 6 months now. No neck stiffness,
no migraine headache even after seeing 20 patients straight. Maya (my 5 years old Golden Retriever) knew when I was having
Migraine attack by my behavior when I come home – I open the front door, immediately picks up the ice pack, draw the shade down,
turn the light off, put a few peppermint oil on the temples. She used to come to the bedroom without tail wagging but staying on the
floor quietly. My husband turn the TV off and goes to his room to be as quiet as possible. Not anymore! I get a few loads of laundry
done while I cleans floors. I sometimes can go out for dinner on Saturday (Saturday is my long day).
I have learned A LOT about how Gastrointestinal problems link to various health problems like Migraine Headache for example. This
test brought my life back.
What kinds of symptoms food sensitivities manifest on? Dysfunctional digestion, autoimmune diagnosis, iron deficiency, infertility,
neurological symptoms, pain and fatigue, itchy, scratchy rash, intractable dandruff, foggy brain, migraine headache, pins and
needles (peripheral neuropathy), mood disorder includes, ADHD, ADD, depression, anxiety and much much more.
I use the following two labs. Their selections of food/chemicals/molds are uniquely different.
1. Mediator Release Testing (MRT)
Mediator Release Testing (MRT) FAQ
(Test Profiles)
Oxford Biomedical Technologies
2. ALCAT testing by Cell Science Systems
“Food Sensitivities” related website:
1. How to find out if you have food and chemical sensitivities (not allergies).
2. How hidden food sensitivities make you fat.(Huffpost Healthy Living- Mark Hyman, MD)
3. Food Sensitivities (whfoods.org)
