Test Measures Your Sensitivity to Foods

HOUSTON - We've all heard about food allergies that can make someone swell, cause hives, or even be life-threatening, but doctors say food "sensitivities" silently happen to most of us.

It can cause hundreds of ailments.

Several tests are available to help test for food sensitivities. A DNA swab of the cheek can check for gluten intolerance, which an estimated 30 percent of Americans suffer from.

ALCAT is a blood test that can test for food sensitivities.

A local Internal Medicine physician, Dr. Don Ford, tells us this test is usually correct two-thirds of the time. He offers it to his patients, because he believes it's a valuable tool for his them.

We followed two women from the Houston area who were both gluten intolerant. One is also sensitive to things like beef and black pepper, the other is sensitive to eggs.

By eliminating these foods, they each lost 50-pounds. They no longer have symptoms ranging from migraines to arthritis, stomach problems, fatigue, and skin rashes.

Some health insurance companies will pay for different types of food sensitivity screenings. The ALCAT is typically out-of-pocket, but some insurance companies will reimburse a portion of the costs.

Here's an example of ALCAT's costs:

50-food panel test = $250
100-food panel test = $350
150-food panel test = $475
200 food panel test = $595

You can go to ALCAT's web site, to find out more about common symptoms of food and chemical sensitivity or intolerance.
Some of those include: Migraines, Chronic Fatigue, Irritible Bowel Syndrome, Hyperactivity Disorder, Eczema, Psoriasis, Acne, Asthma, Weight gain and obesity, Arthritis, and Fibromyalgia.

Dr. Don Ford with Internal Medicine Associates of Sugar Land tells us, "you can see how much it tremendously impacts someone's life just to change their diet for them, and when they see that impact themselves - they're more motivated to continue it, unlike most diets that people go on for weight loss, quit, and lose their motivation!"

You can find out more information from him by calling
281-494-4004 or logging onto: www.imasl.info.

We also spoke with Dr. Peter Osborne, who is the only Board Certified doctor of clinical nutrition in Fort Bend County. He believes fewer people would be on prescription medications, if they found out which foods they are sensitive to.

He can be contacted at 281-240-2229 or www.TownCenterWellness.com.

Dr. Osborne gave us some research that shows an estimated 30 percent of Americans are sensitive to gluten, which comes in the forms of grains, barley, and rye.

It can be found in items like beer, bread, dressings, medications, cereals, marinades, pasta, vitamins, even in cosmetics.

To learn about food allergy tests, visit the ALCAT Worldwide Website .