12 Apr Best Food Sensitivity Test + Why
You see a lot of food sensitivity tests on the market, but you are completely lost on which is the best food sensitivity test! We get it! It’s confusing to not understand what to look for in food sensitivity testing + the science behind it.
While we won’t mention any particular company names, I will say “IgG tests”, which is MAJORITY of food sensitivity testing on the market. The company that we use is called MRT. So, let’s dive into what food sensitivities actually mean and the difference between the food sensitivity test we do + the other tests (IgG testing).
What Are Food Sensitivities
To start off, food sensitivities are NOT food allergies! These are different! Food sensitivities are when foods trigger the immune system to release mediators. Mediators are chemicals like histamine, cytokines, prostaglandins, etc. These chemicals are what creates inflammation and what causes symptoms!
Now that you understand that aspect, how does this relate to testing?
Why IgG Testing For Food Sensitivity Tests Are Unreliable
IgG testing is a common test to test for food sensitivities + you can think of IgG as the “middle man” of the reaction. In these common tests, if your IgG is high, they say this means that you are sensitive to a food. But, the thing is that an increased level of IgG after you eat a food DOES NOT mean that you’ll release those inflammatory mediators. If you don’t release those inflammatory mediators, then you don’t get symptoms.
The food sensitivity test we do, MRT, is an endpoint test. Basically what this mean is that we aren’t testing the “middle man”. We are testing the endpoint of the reaction – the MEDIATORS! The MRT measures the changes in liquids to solids after your blood has been exposed to the food it’s being tested for. This is able to show all the reactions that is done by your immune cells.
Why MRT Endpoint Testing Is Ideal
There is another type of food hypersensitivity called Type 4. This sensitivity DOES NOT INVOLVE ANY IMMUNOGLOBULINS. So, it has nothing to do with IgG, so these hypersensitivities are missed with IgG testing. Type 4 is a cellular response, so it involves T cells and macrophages.
This is really important to grasp because who wants to a take a food sensitivity test (no matter if it’s cheap) + still be unsure of results? No one. This is why we believe the MRT to be the best food sensitivity test on the market.
Another perk of the MRT is that it’s able to look at food chemicals – things like caffeine or solanine. Usually food chemicals are dose dependent, so you can be okay with the coffee bean itself, but if you’re sensitive to caffeine, this means you can’t just have all the coffee in the world. There is usually a sweet spot you need to stay within range, so you aren’t triggering inflammation.
Ready To Take Next Steps With The Best Food Sensitivity Test
Hopefully, you understand what the best food sensitivity test on the market is + you can ignore all the other marketing from companies! If you are wanting to get this test ordered + work with us on these, head over to our Services page to request your free appointment!
Side note: Food sensitivity testing isn’t always the first test that I recommend. It depends on your health situation, but if you’re on a budget + want to start slowly with these types of tests, sometimes working on the root cause (like gut health for example) will be better in the long run!
