ALCAT Testing: An Essential Tool for Assessing Food Sensitivities
Have you ever suffered from unexplained or hard to identify health issues like fatigue, brain fog, digestive issues or joint pain? You may be sensitive to certain foods without even realizing it. ALCAT (Antigen Leukocyte Cellular Antibody Test) is a blood screening test that can help identify hidden food sensitivities and allergies that are contributing to poor health.
Our bodies were not designed to handle modern processed foods and the overuse of antibiotics and medications. This has led to a rise in digestive issues, autoimmune diseases, and other chronic conditions linked to food sensitivities. While traditional allergy tests only examine immunoglobin E (IgE) responses, ALCAT looks deeper by assessing both IgE and immunoglobin G (IgG) antibody reactions.
IgG antibodies indicate delayed, cell-mediated food sensitivities rather than immediate allergic reactions. These sensitivities can quietly cause inflammation and damage over time without obvious symptoms like rashes or swelling. By testing for both IgE and IgG responses together, ALCAT provides a more comprehensive view of how your body may be reacting to certain proteins in foods.
The ALCAT uses a blood sample to test for antibodies produced against over 200 foods, additives, and chemicals. Some of the most common sensitizing foods identified include gluten, dairy, eggs, soy, corn, and foods high in salicylates like tomatoes and citrus fruits. ALCAT results also provide numeric sensitivity values to help your functional medicine practitioner create an individualized diet plan to eliminate your most reactive foods.
Following an ALCAT-guided elimination diet for 4-6 weeks allows symptoms from sensitizing foods to clear up. You can then carefully reintroduce foods one at a time to establish true triggers. Many patients see dramatic improvements in symptoms like abdominal pain, headaches, fatigue, joint pain and skin issues once sensitizing substances are removed. By identifying and avoiding your problem foods, ALCAT screening can help you regain your health in a natural way.
In summary, ALCAT testing offers a safe, non-invasive solution for pinpointing hidden food sensitivities that could be at the root of ongoing health complaints. By getting to the underlying cause through ALCAT-guided elimination, you give your body a chance to heal itself from inflammatory triggers in your diet. Overall health and well-being are optimized when you know exactly what foods work with your unique biochemistry.
If you suffer from unknown or hard to pinpoint health issues, consider ALCAT screening with Essential Mind and Body. Contact us to discuss how ALCAT testing can help uncover hidden food sensitivities and put you on the path to wellness.
