Food Allergies vs Sensitivities: What’s The Difference? (Plus, Testing Information)
If you’re at all familiar with food allergies, you know how serious they can be.
Simply put, food allergies can be downright life threatening.
But what about food sensitivities?
Those just cause some short-term digestive issues, right?
Not so fast!
There’s a lot of misinformation out there when it comes to the food allergies vs sensitivities discussion.
And that’s why we put this article together.
Not only do we explore the food allergies vs sensitivities conversation, we dive into the difference between IgG and IgE antibodies and the testing involved for both.
In short, IgE antibodies are connected to food allergies, while IgG antibodies are connected to food sensitivities. Having either of these types of antibodies is not a good sign. It’s a sign your immune system is out of balance and something needs to change.
So, how do you know if you have IgG and IgE antibodies?
IgG and IgE blood testing.
These tests are very important diagnostic tools. The results can provide an essential blueprint for immune system improvement.
But how do you improve your immune system?
Don’t worry, we’ll get to that.
But first let’s learn more about IgE and IgG antibodies. Once you understand the difference between IgE and IgG antibodies, you’ll have a much better understanding of food allergies vs sensitivities.
IgE Antibodies Explained
IgE (or immunoglobulin E) allergies are immediate responses to a foreign substance that has entered the body. These foreign substances can come from food or inhalation.
IgE allergies can cause very serious symptoms like difficulty breathing, swelling, and hives. In even more severe cases IgE reactions can lead to anaphylactic shock. This test measures the blood level of IgE, one of the five subclasses of antibodies.
Antibodies are proteins made by the immune system that attack antigens, such as bacteria, viruses, and allergens.
IgE antibodies are found in the lungs, skin, and mucous membranes. They are associated mainly with allergic reactions (when the immune system overreacts to environmental antigens such as pollen or pet dander) and parasitic infections.
The IgE test is often performed as part of an initial screen for allergies. Symptoms of allergies may include visible inflammation, blotches, hives, itchy eyes or nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, tight throat, and trouble breathing.
Symptoms may be seasonal (as with allergies due to pollen or molds) or year-round (as with food allergies), and they can range from mild to severe, depending on the person and the allergy. Symptoms can be particularly harsh for children as their immune systems are not fully formed yet. IgE levels may also be elevated in those with parasitic infections.
Healing the gut and immune system, and the regular elimination of parasites is crucial to cut down on all manner of immune reactions. We’ll explain more below when we get to IgG.
IgE antibodies are primarily associated with allergies. The first time someone is exposed to a foreign substance, like a virus or bacterium, it may take the immune system up to two weeks to make an antibody blueprint and to produce enough of a specific antibody to fight the infection.
A common example of a typical IgE response to a food allergy is with peanuts.
Suppose a person with a peanut allergy eats a peanut. B cells in the body (a type of white blood cells that are part of your adaptive immune system) are exposed to peanut allergens. B cells begin making IgE antibodies to fight the peanut “infection” because your body recognizes peanuts as poison, not food.
These IgE antibodies were made specifically for defending the body against peanuts.
The IgE antibodies bind to the peanut molecules or allergens in the body.
After the exposure to peanuts, IgE antibodies can also attach themselves to mast cells. Mast cells are a type of white blood cell that is part of the immune and neuroimmune system. They release histamine (causing inflammation intended to keep you safe) and play a protective role in the immune system's tolerance to pathogens as well as trying to protect the blood-brain barrier.
There in the mast cells, the IgE antibodies wait until the next peanut exposure. When this next exposure occurs, the IgE antibodies signal the mast cells to release histamine and other compounds. Histamine and these other compounds are the cause of allergy symptoms like itching and inflammation. All of this usually happens within minutes of ingesting the allergen, which can be pretty scary when you first determine your child has a peanut allergy!
IgE allergies are treated with medications that block the release of histamines.
Any medical doctor, functional medicine practitioner, or pediatrician should be able to run an IgE blood test to determine what your allergies are.
Keep in mind that the stronger the immune system and the healthier your gut, the better your body will be able to tolerate accidental exposure. IgE food allergies typically do not go away but can decrease over time as health improves. We recommend staying away from those things you are completely allergic to.
Food sensitivities are a different story and oftentimes can be overcome, and a previously damaging food (usually with the exception of a few like gluten and dairy) can become supportive and healthy again upon healing the gut lining and the immune system.
IgG Antibodies Explained
These are antibodies that provide long-term resistance to infections, called Immunoglobulin G (IgG). They have a much longer half-life (around 28 days) than the traditional IgE allergy.
This is where food sensitivities come in because they are much more subtle and most people live with them for years, if not their entire lives. A food sensitivity is an adverse reaction to a food with no antigen-antibody response.
Symptoms range from headaches and nausea to depression, anxiety, and hyperactivity, or simply just fatigue, bloating, or mood changes after eating. Dark under-eye circles when you are well-rested also indicate a negative liver response to a food, especially in children.
These symptoms may occur hours or even days after the offending food has been ingested. The degree and severity of symptoms vary widely because of the genetic makeup of the individual. Watch Christa’s show on rejuvenating the gut at the genetic level to completely understand this concept and the power you have to heal the gut and immune system by following the 5 key steps to lasting gut healing.
The complete elimination of IgG-positive foods may bring about substantial improvements in symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome*, autism, ADHD, cystic fibrosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and epilepsy as demonstrated in numerous clinical studies performed at the National Institute of Health.
Everyone should get IgG tested for food sensitivities, so they know what foods work for their body and what foods don't. It's no different than putting the right type of gas in your vehicle to help it perform the best.
Food Sensitivity Testing
An IgG food sensitivity test typically checks for anywhere from 55-184 different foods and will give you reports as to how much chronic inflammation and adverse reaction particular foods cause upon consumption. It delivers results as values of high, moderate, and low.
All high and moderate values should be completely avoided for 12-16 weeks while you embark upon a proper gut-healing program. Only after you've done the work to clean up your gut and re-educate your immune system can you retest to see how many true food sensitivities are left and how you should craft your diet around them in the future. Often after gut healing, 50-80% of food sensitivities go away, and one can reintroduce certain foods, and the body will know how to best use them for health after that.
You can order your own food sensitivity tests online from ALCAT or My Med Lab. My Med Lab offers a 96 Food Panel and a 184 Food Panel. We suggest starting off small if you haven’t tested before because if you have leaky gut syndrome, then you will react to many foods that will later become non-reactive.
Leaky Gut Syndrome
There is a Mucosal Barrier Assessment Saliva Test you can run by Biohealth Labs to check to see how strong or weak (thin) your gut-lining is. We suggest this test as it provides a baseline for GI health, so you know where to go with your health plan.
It looks at Secretory IgA, or SIgA. The results reveal a patient’s ability to defend against infections, allergies, and food reactions as well as provide clues as to where to go next in the investigation and treatment of health complaints.
If you have intestinal permeability or “leaky gut syndrome,” this means there are microscopic holes in the lining of your small intestine (where food gets absorbed) allowing food particles, toxins, & bacteria to escape (think of a brick wall with holes in the caulking or mortar) into the bloodstream. Just a few years of stress, several rounds of antibiotics, or frequent soda, coffee, alcohol, and sugar consumption can thin the lining of the gut.
When food particles escape the gut lining, the spleen, which is a major immune organ, has to work overtime to clear them out of the bloodstream because they do not belong there. This puts an inordinate burden on your immune function (and invariably some of those toxins make their way to your brain). Chronic, prolonged inflammation and toxicity over time can be a leading cause of autoimmune disease and related disorders.
If you’d like to learn more about digestive health, watch our related shows:
- Digestive and Immune Supplements 101
- 5 Steps To Heal The Gut & Immune System
- Is Gluten Really That Bad For You?
- How To Balance Stomach Acid And Overcome Heartburn
- Kick Candida For Good
We hope this article has helped you better understand food allergies vs. sensitivities.
5 Steps To Healing The Gut
If you'd like to deep dive into our gut health protocol and our unique 5-step process to healing the gut, watch our free webinar.
WHY WATCH?
Because the cause of your food allergies, low energy, brain fog, joint pain, anxiety, thyroid disease, autoimmune conditions and slow metabolism could be due to a leaky gut.
You don't have to suffer anymore, let us help you heal from the root cause.
Link to Mucosal Barrier Assessment saliva test doesn’t work. ;-(
Hi Leah! Unfortunately, that test is no longer available. A great alternative is Fluids IQ Mucosal Barrier Assessment – https://fluidsiq.com/?v=7516fd43adaa
Homeopathic medications are made with the help of a method called potentization. First, a tiny proportion of a natural substance is diluted in water or alcohol. Dilution provides the medication with potency or efficacy. So the more dilution, the higher the potency. After the ingredient is diluted, the solution is shaken vigorously in a glass bottle or test tube, due to which a few silicon particles break off and dilute with the solution. It also creates pressure inside the container, similar to the pressure on the water’s surface on a mountain. The bubbles created during shaking ensure that there is no loss of potency of the medicine in water or alcohol that helps preserve the unique nature of homeopathic medicines and their efficacy
My 17 mos old son tested positive for peanut and peacan allergy. What program should he be on? Doctors aren’t into holistic ways of healing the gut, etc. Can kids take probiotics? I posted another comment about me getting hives. What are we missing here?
Hi. I get hives after eating certain foods. What is the most accurate method to determine what the problem is? Can any of your programs be modified for vegans? I had hives before going vegan btw, so veganism isn’t the issue here
My 3 years old boy has very severe food intolerance. Can you advise?
Hi Evelyn, Thanks for writing and I am very sorry to hear about your son. I would suggest seeking out a practitioner who focuses on food allergies. Please email our team if you need help finding someone 🙂
Yahoo will send emails to tthe additional affected accounts.
I like your awesome website design and your content. I am a food lover and enjoy making muffins on weekends when time allows me to make muffins.
Thanks for your support, Liana! Enjoy the muffins!
Hi, This is a fantastic food recipe, thank you for the detailed recipe for the brilliant write up.
Thanks for the support Sandy, so glad that you found this article helpful
😉
ANY FOOD YOU EAT WILL CAUSE AN IGG POSITIVE TEST! All the test does is tell someone if you’ve been eating that food and how much. I would bet my life that every person who is tested has a gluten “intolerance” whatever that means…unless you don’t eat much gluten.
Hi – how can I order the SIGA test at biohealthlabs?
Great post!
Thanks!
Bill
Hi Bill – We would recommend having your doctor order it for you or finding a nutritionist who is able to order the test kit for you. Please feel free to email us for some referrals, [email protected]
what would a high igG and a High igm iga and ige on reference range be
Can you recommend an immunologist/and or allergist in the Howell New Jersey area? The one that is familiar with these topics
Hi! You are welcome to email our team, [email protected] and we can send you some of our recommendations 🙂
Hello,
Can an IgE test take the place of an IgG test? As in, if a food shows positive in IgE, can one assume that it would show positive in an IgG test as well?
Thanks
I have Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, take many H1 h H2 inhibitors, & can eat only 6 foods. Do you have success with MCAS patients? Which tests should I request from my immunologist?
HI Valerie, we have had people with MCAS complete our programs with some modifications, feel free to reach out to our team, [email protected]
Hi,
My lgG blood test for peanuts came back at 7. I had an immediate reaction (light headedness and feeling my face flushed that lasted for half an hour) after eating a peanut (I am 62 years old and never had a problem with peanuts). Same reaction with eating two edamame. My skin test (lgE came back negative for peanuts. My allergist said that the skin test was most accurate. What to do?
Hi I, Glad that you’re getting testing completed! You may find that cleaning up your gut you could add these foods back into your diet, but for now, I would recommend avoiding both edamame and peanuts. Peanuts are higher in mold and lectins, making them more difficult to digest, so we recommend swapping out for almond butter or tahini 🙂
How can l determine best test for potential root canal infection, anaerobic bacteria? what possible tests can be done from early life, infancy (in utero) in war. I am trying to determine root cause of a rare illness.
Good stuff.
I’m looking at my results from a food allergy test and I am happy that I found your description of IgE vs IgG. The interpretation give three categories and I’m wondering exactly what they mean. 1.no antibody detected, (ok 2. Equivocal (what’s that mean?) 3. And 3 increasing anitbody levels 1-6. (How serious is each levels?) And how concerned should I be with “elevated”. Is there a document that describes all of this?
Where is your lab & how much is it
Hi, From last 2 years, I am seeing an increase in Hs-CRP( started from 4.9 and now 9.6) and weight gain around 10kgs. Can it be a food sensitivity issue or some parasitical infection? Will IgG test help? Or any other test?
Absolutely, food sensitivities can certainly be at the root of inflammation, however we often find that by focusing on the gut and the micro biome, we can reduce inflammation throughout the entire body. This is done through a 5 step protocol which has been shown to have tremendous results and lowered inflammation. If you have not already, I recommend checking out the Gut Thrive in 5 program and emailing our team at: [email protected]
need a doctor near me who will test me . I live in the northeast pa area
yesterday recieved the report of ige blood test i m allergic to cauliflower,sesame,radish,yeast,eggs,chicken,housedust,dustmites,perfume,detergent,ofloxocin and chlorofloxocin(drug)
Hi
My igE blood test came back
3.55 to peanut does this mean I am allergic and should not eat peanuts?
Hi Lucie, Please check with your practitioner. They can help you interpret your lab results and let you know how serious this sensitivity is.
I have a Ige test counts as 700 ..i get cough nd cold often .once r teice a week . Does this count says i have asthma ??? Im scared . Can any one explain me plz .?
Hi Sam! We recommend discussing this with your doctor. They have very specific tests available to help you determine if you are suffering from asthma.
Hi, my son is 8 and his Igg was 19.0 for wheat but his ige was .27. we did a skin test and it was neg. So my doctor said he might out grow it and if his symptoms get worse then I take him of wheat for a month and see if there is a difference. His has rashes on his elbows for about a year now and is always sneezing 24 hrs. the skin test came back positive for mold though,so we don’t know if it’s the wheat or mold causing issues. I’m really not sure what to do. I think I should just eliminate wheat for now but don’t understand why the specialist isn’t worried about it.
I would totally eliminate grains (all have a form of gluten). If your doctor is only trained in conventional medicine that is why he’s not taking it seriously. You may be able to add back some grains later.
Great article! I do have IgG antibodies (flagged as high: 2.4) for wheat — does this mean that I should also NOT have physical contact with wheat products? (for example, kneading dough or working in a bakery)
Thanks!!
Hi Mal, We recommend going over your lab results with your practitioner as it would be legally irresponsible for us to interpret your results. They will be able to guide you responsibly and let you know what you should avoid.
I would say yes, avoid. I don’t know why a simple yes or now can’t be given for these questions.
Hi. My son just had a ton of labs done. His casein igg level was 6.6. From what I can find online this seems like an allergen for him. We haven’t met with md yet so trying to get some additional info. He is 5 and has autism. Any insight?
Hi Angela. In this case, we must defer to your son’s pediatrician to interpret the lab results. We can say, that if he is sensitive or allergic to casein then removing it from his diet is important and we’re sure his pediatrician will agree.
Hi Christa
You discuss food sensitivities, but what about airborne, such as molds, spores or just allergies in general.
Hi Keri, Airborne allergies are detected with IgE testing and discussed in the beginning of the blog.
Could the airborne allergens cause itching?
I did an IgG test a few years ago and eliminated all of the Foods and didn’t notice a change.
Im assuming the root is my leaky gut. I’m currently on your kick candida cleanse(10weeks in) and not noticing a difference.
I don’t currently have insurance or a ton of money to keep doing testing or programs, but I really want to heal and start seeing changes.
What would you suggest next?
Hi Julia, Since you are enrolled in the Kick Candida for Good program our Customer Support team can help guide you. Please contact us at [email protected] We look forward to hearing from you soon.
I have immunodeficiency, specifically severely low IgG and IgA. Would a food sensitivity test be inconclusive?
Likely not, Shelby. You’ll need to look into running an immune cytokine test to try to pinpoint the root of the immunodeficiency so that your results can be more accurate. For now, the elimination diet is a good tool to let your body tell you how well it likes certain foods or not.
My son’s blood test came back with :
F079-IgE Gluten 0.23 Abnormal kU/L Class 0/I 01
F078-IgE Casein 0.32 Abnormal kU/L Class I 01
Does this mean that he is really allergic to gluten and dairy? Does he need to go on gluten/dairy free diet with this levels of tests?
Hi my daughter has had bowel issues so they did blood test her igE came back at 6120. She then had a skin test which came back negative so now we need to wait to see a specialist m just wondering if I could get more advise as I don’t understand it really . Thank you
Where can I get tested as you suggest here?
Hi Keely, Your doctor can order food sensitivity tests for you. You can also check out Dr. Tom’s website (http://thedr.com/) as he talks quite extensively about and offers lab testing for food sensitivities and we refer quite a few people to his site for labs. ALCAT is another online option for testing for food sensitivities http://whatsmyfoodintolerance.com/?gclid=CMiq4Ne1jtUCFdG6wAodO8oIYQ. Hope that helps!
Hello ! I have IgE 1000 values. I make urticaria, allergy and asthma. What tips can you help me with? Thank you !
Hi Claudia, Most allergies and skin issues are rooted in either gut or immune system or both so by rejuvenating your gut microbiome and strengthening your immune system, your Urticaria should significantly improve or go away completely. Our Gut Thrive in 5 program is an excellent place to start. https://thewholejourney.com/programs/gut-thrive/gt-enroll-now/?cfid=3
My son’s urticaria and sleep apnea went away almost immediately! He was 5yo. We did the IgG testing and healed his leaky gut and is still gluten- and egg-free. Now he is 6yo and he can swim in the lake with his friends, run and play with NO hives. And he can breather at night, although some nights are noisier than others. Yay! Good luck to you!
Can you tell me more about how you cured his urticaria? My 8 year old daughter keeps getting worse. Thanks!
what is the The IBA (intestinal barrier assessment) test, is it homegrown? available at quest? how much is it? ah, the comments are asking similar followups…
The IBA (Intestinal Barrier Assessment) was an old school leaky gut test that has been discontinued and we are currently working on updating the blog. Now you can request your doctor order a lactulose/mannitol test for leaky gut/intestinal permeability.
How do you take the IBA test that you run to determine baseline gut health assessment?
Hi Erik, We recommend searching the Institute for Functional Medicine site for a reputable practitioner in your area that can order the test for you: https://www.functionalmedicine.org/practitioner_search.aspx?id=117. Hope that helps!
I am confused! I have had two skin prick tests over the years. One showed a few specific allergies to foods (wheat, milk, etc). The other doctor years later said I am allergic to everything. In the last six years I have had five IgG4 blood tests, which showed allergies or sensitive to wheat, gluten, eggs, dairy, and many others. In doing research on the validity of the IgG4 blood tests, most reports say these tests are not valid, with long explanations I don’t understand. Also, I have reactions to some foods that neither of the type of tests shows. I’m trying to figure out if I should go with the findings of previous blood tests, take one more test, or ignore the tests and just do an elimination diet. Any comments?
Hi D.L., You might be interested in pursuing the Alcat Test which measures food/immune reactions. The difference between the Alcat Test and IgG antibody testing: Food and Chemical sensitivities are mediated by multiple pathogenic mechanisms. Thus it looks for resulting inflammation activations rather than allergies. Your “allergic to everything” state could effectively calm down by implementing Gut Thrive in 5 because the intestinal bacteria play a huge role in the immune response cascades and GT5 is something that helps improve such sensitivities. Here’s a link if you’re interested in checking it out. https://thewholejourney.com/programs/gut-thrive/gt-enroll-now/?cfid=3.
You most likely have leaky gut which means that you will test as intolerant to many things. The intolerance to foods is the symptom, not the cause. Overuse of antibiotics, prescription drugs, high stress levels or bad diet can cause this. Look into it. You have to address your gut health and then your food intolerances will clear up. You may have to remove the foods that are stressing your system in the meantime though. I’d suggest seeing a Nutritionist. Good luck.
You better eat a food at a time n check your self which one is allergy for you and better to avoid that food.
What is the IBA and how is it done? Who can do it? Is it a program you buy or a test that is run? If it is a test, how do I find out if a local doctor can do it?
Hi Kimberly, In the blog Christa explains the IBA (intestinal barrier assessment). We recommend searching the Institute for Functional Medicine site for a reputable practitioner in your area: https://www.functionalmedicine.org/practitioner_search.aspx?id=117. Hope that helps!
My 17-month year old son tested positive for all grain on IGE but has no hives or reactions when consumed, and the prick test was negative. So, I’m wondering if we truly need to avoid these grains? Should we also ask the Dr to do an IGG?
Hi Heather, Chances are you need to do more testing as results can vary by test and by lab. Please visit http://www.thedr.com – he has plenty of great testing info on his website.
Hi I am trying to find out the difference between beef lgE and beef lgG? Can you advise if you test positive against leE and negative for leG can you not eat beef
Hi Joanne, Was the IgE test that came back positive mediated (immediate) reaction or non–IgE-mediated (delayed) or mixed reaction? Do you get any of these symptoms after eating beef? flushing, itchy skin, wheezing, vomiting, throat swelling, and even anaphylaxis. If so, you cannot eat beef because the interaction of allergens with IgE located on mast cells is causing the release of inflammatory chemicals like histamine and leukotriene, triggering the an allergic response which is typically skin related but may be anaphylactic (incredibly serious) as well. Either way if you get any of these reactions to eating beef, stay away from it. If you do not get any reaction, then retest IgE with a different lab company to see if you got a false positive. Same goes for the IgG test. You’ll want to know the quality of the antigen they are using to test for this as well and how it differs from the original tests. Best of luck!
“The complete elimination of IgG positive foods may bring about important improvements in symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, autism, AD (H) D, cystic fibrosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and epilepsy as demonstrated in numerous clinical studies.”
This is a bold claim. I would love to read these studies if they are available….
Those studies might be in the links provided at the end of the article under Resources. I know a couple of them were on the NIH website.
Can anyone help? My son had an abnormal Wheat grain IGE value along with high levels of Immunoglobulins GAM IGA an high albumin levels. HE has experienced horrible abdominal pain, constant diarrhea, vomiting, loss of weight. What can be the cause because doctors have not given any answers?
Hey Brian, the cause of this could be a severe sensitivity to gluten or sounds like potential Celiac Disease. I would ask your doctor to test your son for Celiac. Here is an interview it with Dr. Tom O’Bryan where he breaks down gluten testing. http://thewholejourney.com/is-gluten-really-that-bad-for-you/ You can find a Certified Gluten Practitioner via his website at thedr.com. Wishing you luck. You can reverse this and heal your son’s gut. We have a free videos that explains it all as well here: http://thewholejourney.com/gt5/
Thanks Christa, I appreciate it very much.
You’re welcome, Brian. Thanks for your kind words 🙂
He will have to be eating gluten for the celiac test to work.
Celiac? Chrones?
MY SCALP IS INFLAMED, DERMATOLOGIST THINKS IT MAY BE DUE TO ALLERGIES. IT IS ALSO CAUSING HAIR LOSS.
sounds like a thyroid issue
which could be caused by gluten intolerance
I had something similar. The dermatologist said it was inflammation and prescribed an antiinflammatory. I decided to try changing shampoo and conditioner to less toxic ones. I began with Burt’s Bees’. All the symptoms improved and disappeared eventually. Check ALL your hair/ beauty products (hair color, soap, lotions, toothpaste, etc…) for toxicity in Environmental Working Group’s site (Skin Deep Cosmetics Database). (Maybe you have already corrected this issue by now).
35 year old male, in good health has an elevated serum iron count as well as elevated CEA. As a child & young adult severe allergy to cats but for the past 10 years has been living with cats & allergy is not evident. Did he develop antibodies to the cats & now showing up in abnormal blood values? Animal antigens?
So my IGe showed many food allergens. First Dr said stay away from these foods. Second Dr (allergist) said that Mds don’t recognize IGe food allergies as actual allergies???? He said you’re not really allergic. Third Dr. (Reumotologist) agreed with first Dr. I’m throughly confused.
Most doctors use the word “allergies” for a specific kind of reaction in the body and therefore don’t consider food “sensitivities” to be an “allergy.” That doesn’t mean food and chemical sensitivities are not a problem! Back when I was treated for food and chemical sensitivities you needed to find a someone who was a “Clinical Ecologist” to get adequate treatment for sensitivities. Much of the medical establishment doesn’t believe there is scientific evidence to support the idea of sensitivities, but I was greatly help by that approach.
This is such a frustration. My son is clearly “allergic” to dairy but the doctor won’t call it an allergy because the prick test didn’t show it.
I’d love to have the IBA test run on myself. Is this a standard test that can be requested locally? I’ve had a few food-dependent exercise induced anaphalactic events and have been to see allergy and immunology specialists all over the USA. Doctors at the Mayo Clinic found that I have IgE allergies (level 2) to over 70 foods. And IgE (level 1) to 65. A few years have passed since my first anaphylactic event and recently i found that i’ve been carrying giardia around for who-knows-how-long (at least 4 years).After researching parasites and allergy, i’ve found a connection… So, i’m assuming that the giardia infection had something to do with my collection of food allergies. Thus, i’d love to see what the results of the IBA test would be. I’m willing to travel. Please advise.
Hi Valerie, Have you looked into our Gut Thrive in 5 program? You have been through a lot. I don’t know your age, but I can imagine the amount of suffering you’ve endured from an intense protozoal and bacterial infection. I am so glad you found us because I am 90% sure that our Gut Thrive in Five program will take care of the pathogenic and inflammatory overload on your body, heal your gut and immune system from the damage and teach/train it to recognize and remove foreign invaders and remove them before they do damage in the future. Once you’re inside our Gut Thrive program, you’ll take our assessment – this assessment is highly sophisticated to trump lab work and treat the person not the lab results. It was developed with two years of clinical patients before and after lab work. You’ll take it and it will figure out if the protozoal infection allowed the bacterial invasion to usurp the immune system or if it was vice versa – this will put you in one of four categories and determine the root cause pathogen causing your issues – be it protozoal or bacterial. Once that’s determined, your Gut Thrive track will appropriately be customized for your success. Keep in mind that our program does not focus on only one pathogen, but rather a root cause pathogen and then we concurrently address ALL of others at the same time, just in a customized way. I think it’s serendipity that you found us and that GT5 is 100% the right path for you. Hope that helps and good luck. We can get you feeling better! Also, we extended our Black Friday sale through the end of the day and all programs, including Gut Thrive in 5 are 40% off. To learn more please go to http://gutthrivein5.com/enroll-today/?cfid=3S. Thank you! Stacey, TWJ Team Member p.s. The intestinal permeability assessment is a urine test that your doctor can order.
Do you know of any doctors that are in the Houston area? My daughter has PCOS and is struggling. I would love someone to help her and knows NAET and MTHFR genetic mutation.
Hi Grace, Contact Dr. Jack Tips at http://www.wellnesswiz.com and he can conduct a consultation over the phone or via Skype.~Stacey, TWJ Team Member
Homoeopathy is best for PCOD.
Dr. Peter Osborne is in Sugar Land and is awesome! He doesn’t do NAET but knows MTHFR and is a functional medicine practitioner, chiropractor and nutritionist. He has helped me and is now helping my 79yo mother. My 23yo daughter also has PCOS (very mild) but has always eaten healthy and grain free (for a while) as long as she’s at home. She has also used essential oils that seem to help. If I could just get her to follow mommy’s protocol and heal her gut/get rid of yeast she could get rid of it. 🙂 I have no doubt!
i hav done igg test n it show 989 doctor told me to avoide foods but i dont know which food cause me allergy other than itching and hives m not getting any allergic reaction but full body itching and hives all the time. since last 1 week i completely change my diet plan i mean i avode all the things which i used to eat before test.. but still m not getting any result…???? what should i do.. near my area i dn hav any good hospital to test food allergy… any suggestion.. plz….. thank u
Hi Nawaraj, It sounds like you could really benefit from our Gut Thrive in 5 program. To learn all about the program and how it can help you rejuvenate your gut microbiome and reduce your food sensitivities please go to http://www.gutthrivein5.com.~Stacey, TWJ Team Member
you can consult a nearby homoeopath and the problem will be cleared for ever.
Hello I am not sure if anyone is still responding to these commetns but I recently had the blood RAST allergy test and I’m trying to figure out what my results mean. When I look at the part of the results that say “out of range” They are foods that say IGG so from what I was reading above was this not an “allergy” test but a food sensitivity test? One example was avocado… I experience a swelling in my throat not to the point that I can’t breath but I can tell it’s swollen almost like I’m extremely full.. so that is why I was tested for this particular food… anyway on the results it says Allergen Avocado IGG 8.2 H Does this mean I just have a food sensitivity to avocado or am I allergic to them? So confusing!
If you are symptomatic enough to have swelling that is likely a food allergy and you need to go to an allergist for the skin test to confirm. You should not eat it again until you see a doctor.
Hi Christa!
Which of these labs provide accurate food intolerance testing? Cyrex, Genova, ImmunoLabs or Alcat, Do you recommend stool testing over food intolerance test? I have high tpo antibodies hashimoto and need to get down to the bottom of this.
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So my IgE came back with several “Severe” results to eggs. cow dairy, pineapple, banana…but I’ve never had a physical reaction externally such as hives, itching, anaphylactic; things I get from being around cats but experienced (congestion, fatigue, jaundice and bloating finally led me to have this test done. I was having eggs everyday on paleo) – symptoms I believe stem from the gut. Is this normal too?
Hi Monica Morrison Williams, The degree and severity of symptoms vary greatly because of the genetic makeup of the individual so “normal” can be hard to define. If you want to heal from the root cause please follow this link to a video where Christa explainis the vital importance of gut health:
http://www.gutthrivein5.com/freeguthealth/
Hi, thanks for this article.
Can an IgG reaction “evolve” into an IgE reaction if a person gets exposed too much or in some specific conditions? Just curious to know if an intolerance to some food can later become an allergy in some conditions, or if they are entire different reactions.
Thanks again!
If a person have several intolerances (severe, moderate, and mild) on the ALCAT test, and suggestive of leaky gut, do they have to remove ALL categories of foods in order to have the gut heal. Or, can is it possible to heal with just removing the severe category?
For me – after dealing holistically – impressively and mostly successfully with a painful auto-immune disease called Interstitial Cystitis and then GERD – I simply could not overcome my energy drain. I’d considered it my “normal” for so many years, blamed Hashimotos and Adrenal Exhaustion, my age…and then, finally, took the Cyrex Array 4 – Gluten cross-reaction test. There, I discovered my sensitivities to potato and corn. I had been eating potato instead of grains – so, I stopped potato – and felt only mildly better. I eat NO corn, so couldn’t figure out why it was so high on the test results. Then I realized – the Chinese herbals I’d been taking for years in my IC treatment with a Chinese Medical Dr. are all created with cornstarch. The other supplements I was taking are all also created with “starch,” cornstarch, maltodextrin, dextrose – some corn derivative. The day I stopped taking them – I could feel the change. My thyroid numbers improved drastically within two weeks. My energy changed dramatically. I’m not saying I’m the “rule” – and yet, there must be many out there like me, whose body thinks corn and potato or other foods are gluten, and then attacks my thyroid (whose molecular structure is similar to gluten and gluten-cross-reaction triggers).
I remembered weeks and months in the past when I felt dramatically better – and put it all together. During those times I wasn’t taking either Juice Plus (has oat bran) or any Chinese herbals. So – for me, it was corn instigating auto-immune attacks on my thyroid.
Hope this helps someone else…Rori
Hi Rori, this is so important! Hidden sources of starch and sugar like those used to preserve and package supplements DO cause just as much trouble as eating the irritating and inflaming food. But there is good news: there are brands of both Chinese and Ayurvedic herbal products that are careful to have no potato, corn, or other starch or filler added to their products. A caring and responsible practitioner will be able to source those for you once they realize your position. All supplements and herbal manufactures are not created equal! The higher quality products are more expensive but they clearly label what they don’t include — and they are worth it. Don’t throw the baby (the herbs) out with the bathwater (starch filler)! Thanks so much for sharing this. Erika Fayina Marie, LAc., Chiyu Center
What does the IBA consist of? I absolutely would love to get this test on my husband. He is allergic to 98 different foods. There are only a handful of foods that he is not allergic to. Sounds to me, this leaky gut could be the reason for so many food allergies. Our doctor said she didn’t know what to tell us after the allergy testing. So an answer to his GI problems would be nice!
When testing for IgE and IgG, is it necessary to be eating the foods you are being tested for?
Is IgG and IgG4 the same?
Are serum blood tests accurate?
Good question? I did notice that I had sensitivities on the ALCAT test to foods I never eat though.
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Hi, thank you for your thorough explanation. My 3 year old daughter has had eczema on and off since infancy. The last two years it has gotten extremely bad around March. Last year we did NAET and then she was clear for about 8 months, now it’s back and worse than ever before. Which test would you recommend, IgG or IgE? She has been off gluten, eggs and dairy for over 2 weeks and we’ve seen no change, if anything, it’s gotten worse. Trying to figure out our next steps. Any input is appreciated. Thank you!
I’ve always wondered how NAET works without healing the gut.
You make no comment on NAET (Nambudripad Allergy Elimination Technique). Your thoughts?
Hi Sandy- Thank you for the kind comments and information. So glad you have found practitioners that are listening and getting to the root cause of your issues. Good luck on your journey!
Christa,
I found the information on your website very helpful. I have had a both the IgE and IGg tests. Not true allergies but the IGg was crazy. Out of 96 foods tested, 94 showed signs of sensitivity. Luckily I am working with Doctors that will help me. I have been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and leaky gut. No surprise to me as I have been telling doctors for over 10 years that I do not feel well. I wish they all knew about your website an took interest in really helping. Thank you for the information. Innovative Medical Solutions, an alternative to traditional doctors, was the only place that actually confirmed that I had issues and is now addressing them with me. Thanks again, Sandy
Hi Daniela! Thanks for the great question. Anyone with leaky gut should be tested for food sensitivities, not food allergies, but sensitivities. All of our referral partners would be able to order those tests for you. I included the list here:
Marc Sklar, Reproductive Wellness Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine
Marc and I have successfully teamed up on several cases of women struggling with infertility, PCOS, and other tough hormonal imbalances. Marc runs many of the same tests that we used to run (including neurotransmitter testing) and follows a similar process. He is wonderful at getting to the root cause, cares deeply, and is a great, supportive practitioner. He is also familiar with the MTHFR genetic mutation and knows how to treat it successfully. Marc has two locations in San Diego and one in Temecula but also works remotely worldwide. He does not focus as much on diet as a nutritionist would, so perhaps working concurrently with him and a nutritionist would be a good approach.
Jeanne Rubin, East West Healing and Performance
Jeanne’s specialties are with thyroid and adrenal disorders resulting from metabolic devastation caused by prolonged, chronic stress. She used to run labs and use supplements, but her practice no longer involves either except for perhaps a few minor supplements. I have worked with her myself as a private client and benefited greatly. She is well versed in many long-term and severe health issues and how to reverse them. Jeanne addresses the whole person and meets people where they are. In that way, she is a wonderful counselor. Her program requires extreme personal accountability with food and an almost single focus on healing for at least the first month, but the benefits will be felt if you are caught in that tired-but-wired, exhaustion, depression, anxiety, and insomnia cycle.
Jeanne is a big fan of Ray Peat’s work and embraces the dietary theory of “animals, roots, and fruits” to stabilize the body which, in turn, shuts off the stress response to incite full healing. She counsels remotely via Skype within the context of a six-month program.
Emily Potter, NourishMint Wellness
Emily is a clinical nutritionist and holistic health counselor. I have trained her extensively for two years, and she has worked with The Whole Journey seeing private and group clients for 3 years. Emily is great with adrenal fatigue and digestive wellness as well as lifestyle upgrades, slowing down, sustainable stress management, and nutrition for children and babies. She carries two of the same supplement lines that we carried at TWJ and runs Biohealth labwork but not Pharmasan (neurostransmitter testing). She consults in person in Encinitas, CA and via phone and Skype worldwide. Emily’s email is [email protected].
Kim Schuette, Biodynamic Wellness
Kim Schuette is a fantastic, highly knowledgeable practitioner with decades of experience with the most complicated of conditions. Her specialty is digestive health as she is a GAPS diet practitioner, but she is also wonderful with fertility, hormonal imbalances, genetic mutations, and a host of other complicated health disorders. Kim is a big Weston A. Price practitioner, so she wouldn’t be your first choice if you are a vegetarian. Outside of that, I cannot say enough about how lovely, caring, and truly passionate Kim is about helping people heal through nutrient-dense food and lifestyle adjustments. Biodynamic also focuses on the mental and emotional aspects of wellness that affect the physical body. Kim works remotely with clients via Skype and the phone.
Dr. Benjo Masilungan, MD
509 S. Cedros Avenue, Solana Beach CA 92075
(858) 350-4414
Dr. Benjo is a functional medicine doctor and has 25 years of experience with herbs and nutrition therapy. He is a wonderful person to work with as your primary care doctor and a great guide for learning how to do the least damage with pharmaceuticals if you need to be on them. While he is well versed in all health issues, his specialty is functional primary care, endocrinology, Parkinson’s, dementia, and MS. He is also familiar with the MTHFR genetic mutation and knows how to treat it successfully with high doses of methylated folate and glutathione IVs. Dr. Benjo’s rate is a flat fee of $200/hour. He will accept the transfer of our files and is a very caring practitioner who will spend a solid hour with you each time. He does not, however, work remotely with patients. They must come to his office for in-person visits.
Dr. Jon Dunn, ND
Naturopathic Health Care, Inc.
(760) 341-6502
Dr. Dunn is a caring, competent naturopathic physician who does not embody the quick fix, but he employs rather thoughtful detective work to get to the root of a person’s ailment. He empowers his patients to understand what is going on in their body so that they have the skills to keep themselves in balance. He specializes in Individualized Treatment Plans. He has decades of experience and utilizes the integrated use of natural medicines including:
Bio-identical Hormones
Therapeutic Nutrition
Natural Supplements
Botanical Medicine
Homeopathy
Lifestyle Counseling
Cancer Co-management
His practice is located in Palm Desert, but he works remotely with clients via the phone as well.
For an additional list of integrative medical doctors in many specialties, please visit http://thewholejourney.com/twj-resources.
Christa, how do you get the testing for leaky gut?
Do you have a test preference. I’ve dealt with two different practitioners – one says cyrex is the only way to go and the other says alcat. Very confusing.
Hi Traci – The BioHealth 304 lab can be used to check intestinal barrier function. This only requires a single saliva sample.
How is the IBA administered?
Hi Birdee – if it is not too restrictive I would remove them from your diet for 90 days. As we heal the gut, sensitivities can change, so at that point you might be able to add them back in. Make sure to add them back in one at a time and note how you feel.
What levels should we take seriously? If your scoring units for IgE and IgG are low or mild levels is this enough to remove them from your diet? Thanks for your wonderful explanation.
My immiunoglobulin E test
Results. Serum IgE level. 1234.00 IU/mL
Can you comment?
We had IgG finger test completed,the results showed almost no reactions, yet behavior, grades, sinus, improved when off gluten and dairy. So confusing, as no reaction to gluten. Could it be that the body was clean from these, therefore it didn’t even show up.
We have an appointment scheduled to review results, however I feel a bit ignorant and would like to understand the questions to ask, when I go to the appointment
Thank you for educating the public.
Funny, I’ve never, in the 11 years I’ve known I am sensitive to grains, tested sensitive to any of them (even when I was eating them). Wheat makes me get itchy blisters on my hands and others either make my eyes itch or give me a really foggy brain. I don’t get it either. I did find out I have a genetic sensitivity to grains according to my functional med doc.
VERY HELPFUL INFORMATION FOR NON DOCTORS WHO ARE CARRYING STUDIES.
Hi Erica,
You shouldn’t need IgE testing after IgG because IgE food sensitivities develop within 4 hours after eating the food, so you would likely already know about them. Here is a link to an article about that to help clarify. Thank you for reading our blogs.
if i had an iGg test and found about 35 foods that are triggers, do i still need to get an IgE? WOuld there be some foods that are positive IgE but not IgG?
above comment documented in;
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1398-9995.2004.00495.x/full
Issue Allergy
Volume 59, Issue 8, pages 806–808, August 2004
Food-specific IgG4 does not indicate (imminent) food allergy or intolerance, but rather a physiological response of the immune system after exposition to food components. Therefore, testing of IgG4 to foods is considered as irrelevant for the laboratory work-up of food allergy or intolerance and should not be performed in case of food-related complaints. Skin testing (IgE response) still is the best way to detect food allergies and sensitivities.
Hi Amelia,
You are right that food sensitivity testing is not covered on the majority of food panels. Our take is that the body should NOT build up antibodies in response to food and when it does, the immune system is being taxed. Even if those foods are not true sensitivities, it is an indication that food particles/antigens (to oversimplify it) are unnecessarily adding to the burden of the spleen to clear out inappropriate matters from the blood stream – which is an indication of weak intestinal barrier.
I have read where IgG is in allergic and non allergic people and that it is a normal response to foods period. So how is this beneficial ? I have also heard that some insurance companies won’t pay for IgG food RAST. Aetna being one. Please respond back. Thank you!
Millie,LVN,RN student
Thank you for that very helpful information!