Bloating — we’ve all been there! Not only is it extremely unpleasant, it can sometimes be pretty painful. But for some, it can happen so often that our health and wellbeing are actually affected. Food intolerances are probably one of the most common causes of the dreaded chronic bloat.
How does a food intolerance manifest itself?
The body doesn’t deal with certain foods well. After eating food that our body can’t tolerate, physical symptoms occur and these symptoms are different for everyone. Typically, though, they include the usual digestive complaints, such as a bloated stomach, constipation, nausea, diarrhoea, stomach pain or nausea.
What types of food intolerances are there?
If your body has trouble digesting certain foods, chances are, you either have a food intolerance or food allergy.
You’ve probably heard of the common food intolerances. These include lactose, gluten, fructose, histamine and glutamate. Sometimes, the body cannot properly digest or absorb these substances due to a lack of enzymes — instead, it breaks them down into components that harm the body, forming an intolerance.
In a food allergy, the body has an allergic reaction to certain foods — similar to something like a pollen allergy. The immune system reacts hypersensitively to substances that are actually not harmful to us, forming so-called IGE antibodies that can be detected in the blood. Symptoms can range from itching in the mouth to anaphylactic shock.
In addition, there are said to be foods that can also cause intolerances, but are detected by other antibodies from a blood test (at Lykon, this test is called “myNutrition”, but other companies also offer it). These intolerances are called IgG4-mediated intolerances. Research on this is divided and based on the assumption that complaints are associated with a high concentration of IgG4 in the body. However, several German allergy associations, including the German Society for Allergology and Clinical Immunology, declare this type of food intolerance testing to be inappropriate.
Therefore, tests that can demonstrably analyze food intolerances are more suitable. But how do you recognise such a food intolerance test?
What is a food intolerance test?
As diverse as food intolerances are, so are the test procedures. For intolerances such as lactose or fructose, for example, testing is done via a breath test at the doctor’s office. Similarly, gluten intolerances should be diagnosed via professional blood work. Allergies to certain foods can also be determined via the blood — either at the doctor’s office, or by testing at home.
Where can I get tested for a food intolerance?
Anyone who suspects they have an intolerance, such as celiac disease, or has other concerns about their gut health should definitely see a doctor! What many also do not know: You can also have food allergies tested by a doctor or allergist via blood work — many health insurance companies will even cover the costs if you have a suspicion. If you want to skip the trip to the doctor (or like me, you just don’t like to go to the doctor), you can also order an allergy test on the Internet (for example, a test from Lykon) at your own expense. The advantages of an at-home test kit? The results come very quickly and can be accessed online (again and again).
This is what my Lykon test looks like
Yes, I also have a bloated belly from time to time — despite a predominantly healthy diet and a lot of exercise. Since I had already ruled out an intolerance — I had this tested by a doctor years ago — I decided to take the scientifically based allergy test that Lykon offers. With “myAllergies”, the antibody response to 21 foods that frequently trigger a food allergy is tested via a blood test.
What is included in the test package?
When the test package arrived, I got started right away. First, I registered on the Lykon portal as described in the enclosed instructions. I also entered the test ID that is included in my test package. The package also contains the lancets, disinfectant wipes, plasters, two small tubes and a return envelope.
The dreaded blood draw
After I got all set up, next came the rather unpleasant part. In order to perform the allergy test, I had to draw my own blood. Did I mention that I shy away from needles and doctors? But, luckily, the specification looked rather humane, as did the small tube that had to be filled.