Allergy and food sensitivity testing

Allergy/food sensitivity testing

Many people today find that they suffer from an allergy or intolerance to foods, additives or substances in their environment. This may be because our diet has changed significantly in the last few decades with more foods available and increased amounts of chemicals being used in their production and storage.

A simple ham salad sandwich might include wheat, yeast, sugar, vegetable oil, salt, soya, ham, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, emulsifiers, preservatives, colourings and stabilisers and that’s without looking at different types of bread, adding any relish or including the bag of crisps, chocolate bar and fizzy drink that you might have at the same time!

The number of ingredients included in even simple snacks and meals makes it difficult for people to work out what may be affecting them. Also, as it can take up to 2-3 days for symptoms to show, there will be many complex meals taken in the intervening period.

This is why many people find that allergy/food sensitivity testing a more thorough, precise approach to looking at what may be affecting them.

Some indications of food sensitivity include persistent symptoms such as:

• low energy	• prolonged nausea
• irritability	• constipation or diarrhoea
• headaches/migraines	• skin rashes
• an unpleasant taste in the mouth	• congested sinuses
• bloating or stomach cramps	• frequent sneezing
• excessive belching or flatulence	• watery or red eyes

Christine uses a Vega machine to assess reactions to substances suspected of causing health disturbances. Vega testing involves you holding an electrode connected to the machine whilst test substances are placed in the machine. Your reaction to the test substance is assessed by using a stylus on an acupuncture point on the hand or toe. There is no requirement for blood tests or needles and the process is in no way intrusive or uncomfortable.

Clients are also welcome to bring along any foods or other substances suspected of causing problems.

What tests are available?

Basic Vega Test

The Basic Vega Test is for up 245 different food substances however, some people notice that their symptoms are related to particular brands of foods, drinks etc and if this is the case you are welcome to bring along any store cupboard ingredients suspected of causing problems in glass or plastic containers. It would also be helpful if you could bring the original packaging in order that the ingredients can be assessed.

Additional Tests

Environmental substances
This test looks for sensitivities to 53 environmental substances including pollens, fabrics, animal hair, dust etc.

E-numbers
This test looks for sensitivities to 64 E-numbers including colouring, preservatives, sweeteners, stabilisers, antioxidants, flavour enhancers etc.

Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies
This test looks for deficiencies in 19 vitamins and 15 minerals.

Hormone Deficiencies
This test looks for deficiencies in 30 hormones.

Organ Imbalances
This test looks for imbalances in 72 different parts of the body including heart, lungs, liver, pancreas, stomach, intestines, reproductive organs, some blood vessels and nerves and some parts of the brain.

What happens next?

It may be recommended that substances found to be problematic during the test be eliminated from the diet for a time in order to allow the body time to recover. Once symptoms have subsided, the food can be gradually re-introduced whilst monitoring tolerance levels. A follow-up test is recommended after 4-6 weeks to ascertain whether the sensitivity has subsided enough for the product to be re-introduced.

After following this regime I have found that many people are successfully able to re-introduce the identified foods back into their diet and they report better energy levels, sleep quality, skin condition and weight loss as well as improvements in their original symptoms.