How to Know if You Have a Food Allergy
Food allergen symptoms present themselves when your immune system tells your body that something isn’t right. Everyone is different, but when you have a food allergy, it’s your body’s way of saying it can’t ingest something properly. Scientifically speaking, “food allergens are proteins in foods that create an immune response in sensitive individuals.”1 Aside from dangerous allergen responses like anaphylactic shock, your body can react by showing symptoms like hives, itching, IBS, migraines, headaches, joint pain, skin and respiratory problems, ADD/hyperactivity, fatigue, weight issues, and more. People tend to write these off as general problems and oftentimes don’t look into them any further. Besides, many of these symptoms are general and can be caused by any number of things. However, by undergoing food allergy testing, you’ll be able to get to the bottom of your symptoms and identify any food allergies you didn’t know you had. The best food allergy test available is the ELISA test.
What is the ELISA Test?
The Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) test is a test that measures certain antibodies in your blood.2 These antibodies are proteins that your body produces in response to harmful substances called antigens.2 If you’re allergic to a certain food, your body will produce allergen-specific antibodies as a response in an attempt to fight them off.3 The ELISA test, when used to determine food allergies, measures these antibodies so you can better understand how your body reacts.
For food allergens specifically, a sandwich ELISA format is utilized. This format involves coating allergen-specific antibodies onto the surface of microwells and a blocking agent, which is then manipulated in a controlled environment to test and analyze the reaction.3 It’s an in-depth process, but it provides patients with extremely accurate results so that they can better understand their food allergies and how a food allergy affects their bodies.
For the ELISA test, you will need to provide a blood sample for analysis. This is collected the same way as any other blood sample and is a relatively painless process. Your blood sample is analyzed by a lab and the results will be sent back to your doctor.
How Could You Benefit from the ELISA Test?
If you’re having a hard time losing weight and keeping it off, the ELISA test is a great way to get a better understanding of your diet and how certain foods affect you. In fact, roughly 98% of people who followed the ELISA Rotation Diet either lost weight or improved their body mass index. The ELISA test gives you fast, simple results that can help you better understand your body and pinpoint any foods that are causing you to suffer.
Getting an ELISA test sounds complicated, but it’s simple and straightforward for patients. If you notice any signs or symptoms of an allergic reaction after eating, or if you’re interested in finding out if you have a food allergy, contact the professionals at AZ Chiropractic today. We offer ELISA testing, among other treatment options for gastrointestinal conditions such as SIBO, leaky gut, and food allergies. All of our doctors are highly trained and dedicated to improving our patients’ quality of life using naturopathic medicine and procedures. To learn more, or to schedule a free consultation, give us a call today at 480-899-9923.