A Primer on Inflammation and Food Allergies vs. Intolerances
Inflammation is the body’s natural response to unwanted invaders and pathogenic substances, which affects the immune system. A fascinating aspect about inflammation is that each person has his or her own unique capacity to combat inflammation – the same way that each person’s DNA and fingerprints are unique!
The food we eat has a profound effect on the the inflammatory response in our body and the efficiency of our immune system. A food allergy is an IgE immune response to a food and can be life threatening. On the other hand, a food intolerance typically causes a delayed, chronic, low-grade inflammatory response and can be difficult to detect with a food elimination diet. It is estimated that food intolerances affect over 80% of the American population, whereas less than 5% have a “true” IgE food allergy, marked by immediate symptoms.
Inflammation is the body’s natural response to unwanted invaders and pathogenic substances, which affects the immune system. A fascinating aspect about inflammation is that each person has his or her own unique capacity to combat inflammation – the same way that each person’s DNA and fingerprints are unique!
The food we eat has a profound effect on the the inflammatory response in our body and the efficiency of our immune system. A food allergy is an IgE immune response to a food and can be life threatening. On the other hand, a food intolerance typically causes a delayed, chronic, low-grade inflammatory response and can be difficult to detect with a food elimination diet. It is estimated that food intolerances affect over 80% of the American population, whereas less than 5% have a “true” IgE food allergy, marked by immediate symptoms.
| My Experience For the first half of 2014, I struggled with severe, unexplainable fatigue. I had extensive blood work done, as well as a thorough physical by my physician. My vitamin D, iron, folate, vitamin B6 and B12 levels came back “normal” but my energy was not. I would sleep 9-10 hours each night and still couldn’t make it throughout the day without taking a nap. My brain was in a continuous fog that wouldn’t go away. One day last summer, I decided to go on a leisure bike ride, in hopes it would rejuvenate my energy by getting extra oxygen and blood flow to my brain. 25 minutes after riding at a very low-key effort, an overwhelming surge of fatigue overcame me, forcing me to stop. I found a quiet cul-de-sac and laid down on the pavement, wondering how I was going to make it back home. I then knew I had to figure out what was going on with my body. |  In addition to the severe intolerance foods listed in the red column, whey is listed in the lower left-hand corner (blue and white area). |
I first heard about the ALCAT test from a friend who had the test done in 2013, so I called her and asked if she thought having the test done would be helpful. She replied, “If you have it done, you won’t regret it.” I am very glad I followed her advice! The ALCAT test identified which foods my immune system was intolerant to, and after eliminating these foods from my diet, my fatigue vanished! I knew this was not a placebo effect and this tool would help me help others pinpoint problematic foods for them, so I decided to become an ALCAT provider.
The Testing Mechanism
The ALCAT test is a blood test that detects the response of your white blood cells when exposed to particular food antigens to identify your personal food intolerances. Specifically, it measures the changes in size and volume of your WBCs, which indicates a cellular inflammatory response. The reactive WBCs release chemical mediators that result in chronic, low-grade inflammation.
The ALCAT test is a blood test that detects the response of your white blood cells when exposed to particular food antigens to identify your personal food intolerances. Specifically, it measures the changes in size and volume of your WBCs, which indicates a cellular inflammatory response. The reactive WBCs release chemical mediators that result in chronic, low-grade inflammation.
Photo courtesy of Cell Science Systems, provider of the ALCAT test for food intolerances.
A Sample of Conditions Influenced by Chronic Inflammation:
- Migraine headaches
- Most “syndromes” – Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Fibromyalgia Syndrome, and more
- Arthritis
- Difficulty maintaining a healthy weight
- Skin disorders – Acne, Eczema, Psoriasis
- Respiratory disorders, such as Asthma
- Delayed exercise recovery
- Insomnia
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease – Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn’s Disease
- Premature aging
- ADHD
- Infertility
- GERD
- Emotional/mental conditions – Brain “Fog”, Depression, Anxiety, Irritability, Poor Concentration
- Any chronic, inflammatory-related condition
Will the ALCAT test help me?
If you:
If you:
- Have one or more chronic conditions (such those listed above),
- Do not feel healthy despite making healthy lifestyle choices, or
- Have had a traditional IgE test done, but the results provided little to no relief, then having the ALCAT test done would be extremely advantageous.
Note the discrepancy between the underlined foods – milk, wheat, corn and shrimp – which were positive intolerances by my ALCAT test, but negative by my IgE food allergy test. Only 1 month spanned between the timing of these 2 tests. The IgE allergy test did not reveal my food intolerances.
The truth is that the majority of people can benefit from having the ALCAT test done since 80% of Americans have food intolerances. The ALCAT test offers a personalized roadmap to help you capitalize on your health with targeted nutrition therapy! Contact me if you are interested in this very useful tool.
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