Questions on food reactions

• Why should I test myself for food reactions?

  Many people suffer from food allergies and intolerances — often without knowing it. In some cases, symptoms in everyday life are difficult to trace to a specific food, and in the case of intolerances reactions can also be significantly delayed. A food reaction test provides valuable information about which foods might be intolerable.

• How does the test work?

  For the Food Reaction Test, a lancet is used to take a small blood sample from your fingertip. A few drops of blood are applied to a dry blood card, which is then sent by prepaid return envelope to a certified lab. The lab then analyzes how high the concentration of certain IgE and IgG4 antibodies are in your blood.

• What do the results tell me?

  The results report for the Food Reaction Test shows which foods trigger higher amounts of IgE and IgG4 antibodies in the blood. This test will test your body's response to the foods responsible for an allergy or intolerance in about 95 percent of all cases.
  
  A table will show how sensitive you are to the different foods—if there are too many of the food-targeted IgE antibodies in your blood. This level of sensitization indicates the potential of your immune system to react to that food with an allergic reaction.
  
  The other table shows how pronounced the level of IgG4 in your blood in response to the respective food is. A moderate or severe response may indicate an IgG4-mediated intolerance.
  
  Important: The Food Reaction Test cannot be used to conclude any other intolerances! To detect intolerances to lactose, fructose, sorbitol, histamine or gluten, for example, other tests are needed.

• What recommendations will I be given after the Food Reaction Test?

  Neither the IgE nor the IgG4 levels are in themselves a diagnosis. In both cases, increased levels may not be associated with any symptoms. That's why the results report provides tips to help you further investigate which foods you can and can not tolerate with the help of a targeted avoidance or elimination diet.
  
  You will also receive recommendations on how to deal with any identified allergies and intolerances, and how to balance your diet despite your food reactions and intolerances.

• What happens with a food allergy?

  In a food allergy, the complaints usually occur shortly after eating. In particular, nuts, soy and animal foods such as milk, egg and shellfish can also induce dangerous allergic shock reactions (anaphylactic shock), in which a sudden drop in blood pressure can lead to fainting and, in rare cases, death.
  
  Typical symptoms of food allergy:
  - skin rashes
  - gastrointestinal discomfort such as diarrhoea and abdominal pain
  - palatal itching and furry tongue
  - breathing difficulties extending to allergic asthma

• Which foods often trigger food allergies?

  More than 170 different foods can be responsible for allergies and intolerances. However, there are some foods that are by far the most common triggers. These include:
  - cow's milk and egg
  - legumes (especially peanuts and soya)
  - shelled fruits (especially nuts)
  - wheat
  - fish and shellfish
  
  Somewhat rarer are allergies to various types of fruit, vegetables and spices.
  
  Most food allergies begin in childhood. Allergies to cow's milk, eggs, wheat and soy often recede in adolescence, while allergies to nuts, fish and shellfish often persist for the rest of an individual’s life.

• What happens with a food intolerance?

  Intolerances are often expressed hours or even days after eating the food in question.
  
  Possible symptoms of intolerance:
  - gastrointestinal discomfort, especially bloating
  - headache and migraine
  - fatigue
  -whistling breath sounds and runny nose
  -rashes

• What should I do about food allergies and intolerances?

  There is no treatment which can cure a food allergy. IgG4-mediated intolerance may be resisted if you have avoided the trigger for a while.
  
  The only effective way to combat food allergies and intolerances is to identify any food reactions and avoid those foods.
  
  In a food allergy, medications (antihistamines) can relieve the symptoms in the short term after you have eaten an allergen. People who have particularly severe allergic reactions often carry an anaphylaxis emergency kit with an adrenaline injector to prepare them for any anaphylactic shocks.