Unfortunately, many people use the terms “food intolerance” when they mean “food allergy” and vice versa. But to use these terms interchangeably is incorrect because, in fact they are very different conditions. A food intolerance is a temporary reaction to a food which causes mild symptoms such as bloating, weight gain, skin breakouts, IBS or other common gut health issues like constipation, gas and cramping. A medical allergy is a much more serious condition with serious medical implications which may or may not include swelling of the face or throat (anaphylaxis). An allergy will usually come on within minutes of exposure to the allergen, and may require hospitalisation, where food intolerances do not always cause symptoms immediately which is one reason they can be extremely hard to identify. Substances that trigger allergic reactions are known as allergens, but unfortunately many food intolerance testing clinics refer to their test as an allergy test, which it is not. An allergy can only be diagnosed by a medical doctor and needs to be taken very seriously since anaphylaxis usually develops within minutes of contact with an allergen, but sometimes the reaction can happen up to 4 hours later, and can cause death. Even a small amount of contact with an allergen food can cause the symptoms where food intolerances are certainly not likely to cause death, and will usually clear up by avoidance of that food for approximately three months. Allergens, on the other hand, should be avoided for life.
What foods does the Bioscan Food Intolerance Test, test for?The BioScan tests for food imbalances. A food intolerance may be linked to a temporary imbalance which may come back into balance by avoiding that food temporarily. Such food imbalances are often the cause of underlying food intolerances. The food intolerance test offered at Dublin Vitality Centre may therefore help identify such imbalances and is a useful guide for those planning to trial eliminate foods in the hope of removing food intolerances. By removing those imbalanced foods, and substituting such foods for no longer than three months, food intolerance symptoms generally clear up . If symptoms do not improve, it would be recommended to see a doctor.
Do you offer food allergy testing?
No. At Dublin Vitality Centre, we do not offer allergy tests because such tests required a medical diagnosis, and should only be conducted by a medical doctor under supervised conditions, one who is a trained allergist. Only a medic in a registered hospital setting should handle blood samples, and offer labwork results because only a medic is qualified to offer a diagnoses. Only a trained doctor should diagnose any condition, including an allergy. Always ask your physician before undergoing food intolerance testing, or before making changes to your diet based on any food test results offered.
