At Makewell we know that both allergies and food intolerances can significantly impact your daily life, causing multiple symptoms from mild discomfort to life-threatening allergic reactions.
If you are unsure what is causing your symptoms, a test to check for allergies and food intolerance can help you to pin-point the cause and improve your quality of life.
Helen, our Director of Nursing and Quality, explains the tests available at Makewell.
Tests Available at Makewell Clinic:
• Food & Environmental Allergy Test
• Food Intolerance Test
• Junior Food Intolerance Test (age 2 – 17).
• We can also request bespoke tests for specific allergens from our partner laboratories.
Is there a difference between allergy and food intolerance?
Allergy and food intolerance are two different types of reactions your body can have to certain foods and allergens. These reactions involve different mechanisms and symptoms.
Allergy:
Allergies involve the immune system’s response to a specific food protein or substance. The immune system identifies the protein as a threat and produces (IgE) antibodies to fight it.
The IgE antibodies bind to immune cells. When the same allergen re-enters the body, it triggers the release of various chemicals, such as histamine, leukotrienes, and cytokines causing the symptoms of an allergic reaction. The symptoms are essentially the body’s way of trying to remove the allergen.
The release of these chemicals and the subsequent physiological responses result in the symptoms experienced during an allergic reaction. The severity of the symptoms can vary based on the individual’s sensitivity to the allergen and the extent of the immune response.
• Symptoms: Allergic reactions can range from mild (such as hives, itching, or nasal congestion) to severe and life-threatening (anaphylaxis).
• Onset: Symptoms usually occur rapidly after exposure to the allergen.
• Triggers: Allergies are triggered by even tiny amounts of the allergen.
• Develops: can be developed from infancy
• Lasts: allergies usually persist throughout life.
Food Intolerance:
Physical reactions to certain foods are common, but most are caused by a food intolerance or food sensitivity, rather than a food allergy.
Food intolerance doesn’t involve the immune system; instead, it’s typically due to the body’s difficulty in digesting or processing a particular food component. For instance, lactose intolerance occurs due to a lack of the enzyme lactase, needed to break down lactose (a sugar found in dairy products). High levels of IgG antibodies against specific foods might indicate a potential food sensitivity or intolerance rather than a true allergy.
• Symptoms: Symptoms of food intolerance are usually less severe than allergies but can still be deeply unpleasant and can affect your health and wellbeing. Typical symptoms can include bloating, gas, stomach pain, and diarrhoea.
• Onset: Symptoms are typically delayed and can occur several hours after consuming the problematic food.
• Threshold: Food intolerances often have a threshold, meaning symptoms might not occur unless a certain quantity of the food is consumed.
• Develops: symptoms of food intolerance can start at any age,
• Lasts: symptoms can clear up after avoidance of offending foods.
The severity of symptoms for both allergy and intolerances can vary from person to person and from one allergen to another. Some individuals might experience mild symptoms, while others may have severe reactions that necessitate immediate medical attention. If you suspect an allergy, it’s important to investigate your symptoms. Understanding if you have an intolerance or sensitivity to certain foods, can help you to understand how to adjust your diet to reduce your unpleasant symptoms.
Symptoms of food intolerance:
Symptoms of food intolerance can vary depending upon the specific intolerance and the amount of the food consumed. Symptoms often affect the digestive system and can include:
1. Digestive Issues:
• Bloating: Feeling full and tight in the abdomen due to gas accumulation.
• Gas: Excessive gas production leading to flatulence.
• Abdominal Pain: Discomfort or cramping in the stomach region.
• Diarrhoea: Loose or watery stools after consuming the food trigger.
• Nausea: Feeling queasy or experiencing an urge to vomit after eating certain foods.
2. Other Potential Symptoms:
• Headaches: Some individuals may experience headaches or migraines as a result of certain food intolerances.
• Skin Problems: Skin conditions like eczema or rashes might be triggered in some cases.
• Fatigue: Feeling tired or lethargic after consuming certain foods.
It’s important to note that food intolerances typically don’t involve the immune system, so they are not life-threatening. Symptoms may be milder and usually delayed compared to allergic reactions, which involve the immune system’s response.
Nonetheless food intolerance can still affect your quality of life and make a significant difference to your energy levels. Our easy tests can help give you some answers.
Symptoms of Allergy:
Food allergies can trigger a wide range of symptoms, from mild to life-threatening. These symptoms usually occur within 2 hours of exposure to the food or allergen. Common symptoms include:
Skin Reactions: Hives, eczema, swelling:
Respiratory Symptoms: Wheezing, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, coughing or chest tightness.
Gastrointestinal Issues: Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea.
Cardiovascular Symptoms: Low blood pressure, light-headedness, Increased heart rate.
Anaphylaxis (Severe, Life-Threatening Reaction):
A combination of severe symptoms: Difficulty breathing, a drop in blood pressure, loss of consciousness, and in some cases, a total body reaction, which can be life-threatening if not treated promptly with epinephrine (adrenaline). Call 999 and ask for help immediately, if you suspect someone has anaphylaxis.
Allergy and Food Intolerance tests at Makewell Clinic:
If you are unsure what is causing your reactions, our tests can help to pinpoint the cause of your symptoms.
You will receive a comprehensive easy to read report in traffic light format a few days after your blood test.
Food & Environmental Allergy Test – Adults:
To test for IgE antibodies that cause allergic reactions.
Foods
Egg white, Milk, Cod, Salmon, Crab, Shrimp, Meat mix, Wheat, Rice, Soy, Potato, Peanut, Hazelnut, Almond, Tomato, Carrot, Orange, Strawberry, Apple and Peach,
Environmental
Birch, Hazelnut, pollen, Olive, Cypress, Ash, European Timothy grass, Rye, Bermuda grass, Bahia grass, Common ragweed, Mugwort, English plantain, Cat dander, Horse dander, Dog dander, House dust mites, Cockroach and Cladosporium.
Premium Food Intolerance Test – Adults:
Our most comprehensive food and drink intolerance* test to find out whether you have an intolerance to 200 food and drink ingredients.
Key ingredients
Almond, Beef, Coffee, Cow’s Milk, Egg White, Egg Yolk, Gluten, Oat, Peanut, Pork, Tea, Wheat, Yeast.
Fish/Shellfish
Abalone/Cuttlefish, Anchovy, Crustacean mix, Cuttlefish, Eel, Mollusc Mix, Oily Fish Mix, Plaice/Sole, Salmon/Trout, Sardines, Tuna, Vendace, White Fish Mix.
Grains
Barley/Malt, Corn, Dinkel, Flour, Gluten, Hops, Millet, Oat, Quinoa, Rice, Rye, Wheat, Wheatgrass.
Nuts and Plants
Agave, Arugula, Almond, Aloe Vera, Bamboo, Brazil Nut, Carob, Cashew Nut, Chia Seed, Chickpea, Cocoa Bean, Cola, Nut, Flax/Linseed, Hazelnut, Hemp, Lotus Root, Nettle Leaves, Okra, Peanut, Rapeseed, Sesame Seed, Seaweed, Spirulina, Sunflower Seed, Tamarind, Walnut.
Drinks
Acai Berry, Chamomile, Coffee, Cow’s Milk, Dandelion Root/Burdock Root, Elderberry, Elderflower Mix, Ginseng, Goat’s Milk, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Concord Malbec, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah/Shiraz, White Zinfandel/Red Zinfandel Mix, Green Tea, Guarana, Hibiscus, Rooibos, Rosehip, Sheep’s Milk, Tea.
Fruit
Apple, Apricot, Avocado, Banana, Bilberry, Blackberry, Blackcurrant, Blueberry, Boysenberry, Cherry, Cloudberry, Coconut, Cranberry, Cucumber, Grape, Grapefruit, Kiwi, Lemon, Lime, Lingonberry, Lychee, Mango, Melon Mix, Mulberry, Olive, Orange, Papaya, Peach, Pear, Pineapple, Plantain, Pomegranate, Prune, Pumpkin, Raspberry, Strawberry, Tamarind, Tomato.
Herbs and spices
Agar Agar, Aniseed, Cardamom/Bay Leaf, Chilli Pepper, Cassia, Cinnamon/Clove, Coriander/Cumin/Dill Curry Leaves/Curry Powder, Garlic, Ginger, Jasmine, Juniper berry, Lemongrass, Mint Mix, Mustard Seed, Nutmeg/Peppercorn Peppers (Capsicum)/Paprika, Parsley, Turmeric.
Meat
Beef, Chicken, Duck, Goat, Lamb, Pheasant, Pork, Turkey.
Vegetables
Asparagus, Aubergine, Bean sprouts, Beetroot, Bok choi, Carrot, Celery, Haricot Bean, Kidney Bean, Lentils, Lettuce, Mushroom, Mustard Mix, Onion, Parsnip, Pea, Peppers (Capsicum), Potato, Rhubarb, Seaweed, Soybean, Spinach, String Bean, Swede, Sweet Potato, Turnip, Water Chestnut.
Junior Food Intolerance Test:
Key Ingredients
Almond Beef Coffee Cow’s Milk Egg White Egg Yolk Oat Peanut Pork Tea Tomato Yeast
Drinks
Coffee Tea Cow’s milk
Fish
Crustacean mix Mollusc Mix Oily Fish Mix Plaice/Sole Salmon/Trout Tuna White Fish Mix
Fruit
Apple Apricot Avocado Banana Blackberry Blackcurrant Cherry Coconut Cranberry Cucumber Grape Grapefruit Kiwi Lemon Lime Melon Mix Olive Orange Peach Pear Pineapple Raspberry Strawberry Tomato
Vegetables
Asparagus Aubergine Carrot Celery Garlic Haricot Bean Kidney Bean Lentils Lettuce Mushroom Mustard Mix Onion Pea Peppers (Capsicum) Potato Rhubarb Soybean Spinach String Bean
Grains
Barley Corn (Maize) Gliadin (Gluten) Hops Millet Oat Rice Rye Wheat
Herbs and Spices
Chilli Pepper Cinnamon/Clove Coriander/Cumin/Dill Ginger Mint Mix Mustard Seed Nutmeg/Peppercorn Peppers (Capsicum)/Paprika Parsley
Meat
Beef Chicken Duck Lamb Pork Turkey
Nuts and Plants
Almond Brazil nut Carob Cashew nut Cocoa Bean Cola Nut Hazelnut Peanut Sesame Seed Sunflower Seed Walnut
Invest in your well-being today at Makewell Health and Wellness Clinic.