Food sensitivity testing can help uncover your bodies immune reactions to certain foods. There are a wide variety of immunoglobulins, including IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG and IgM, and leukocytes including monocytes, lymphocytes, eosinophils, basophils and neutrophils in the human body. They each have their own functions, locations and abilities to deal with molecules that the body deems a threat. IgA, IgE and IgG antibodies as well as leukocytes can attach to food molecules to create an immune response. They each create very different reactions, so food sensitivity testing can help narrow down potential culprits.

IgE Reactions

IgE reactions are true food allergies. These reactions happen within seconds or minutes of eating a reactive food which generally makes them fairly easy to identify. For this reason, IgE reactions are considered immediate allergic reactions. Symptoms include skin reactions such as itching or hives, swelling, difficulty breathing and can be life threatening if anaphylactic.

IgG Reactions

IgG reactions on the other hand are considered food sensitivities. These reactions can take up to 72 hours, or three days, for symptoms to appear. This can make these reactions to food difficult to identify. When our bodies attach IgG antibodies to food and cannot eliminate them quickly enough, it gets into body tissue. Once in the tissue, they cause inflammation which can result in a wide variety of symptom. These include things such as digestive upset, skin reactions, migraines, fatigue and increased weight. For more information visit Rocky Mountain Analytical

IgA Reactions

IgA reactions are also considered food sensitivities. These reactions also cause inflammation in the body, but tend to affect only the lining of our digestive tract. IgA reactions tend to happen when there is already damage to the lining, or mucous membrane, in our digestive tract. Therefore positive results tend to indicate that there is damage in our digestive tract, as in Inflammatory Bowel Disease or Leaky Gut.

Alcat Test

The Alcat Test measures immune reactions to food by testing white blood cell, or leukocyte, reactions to individual foods and chemicals. Testing leukocytes is another way to determine which foods are causing inflammation in your body. This method of testing does not rely on a single antibody reaction, but rather uses a cellular approach. Therefore this test can detect inflammation which could have been produced in various different ways, including immunological, toxic or pharmacological. For more information visit Cell Science Systems.