Food Detective Test

FOOD DETECTIVE™ IS QUICK AND EASY TO USE

Food Detective™ is a blood test for food antibodies (IgG) that can be conveniently used in the clinic of a health professional. You don’t have to send off a sample and wait weeks to receive results from a testing laboratory.

Food Detective™ tests for reactions to 59 commonly eaten foods. To conduct the test you take a small blood sample from a finger-prick, dilute it and add it to the Food Detective™ testing tray (containing small spots of food protein extracts).

In subsequent steps, the use of detector and developer solutions identify the presence of food antibodies through the appearance of one or more blue spots on the tray. Reference to the food layout plan, enclosed within the instructions, allows you to identify any foods to which you may have an intolerance.

Alt Text
Alt Text

Using your test results

With the information you obtained from your Food Detective™ Test, you can make some changes to your eating patterns. If your test showed any positive reactions, it means that you have an elevated antibody reaction to that particular food.
Reactions can be mild, moderate or strong.
It is advisable to eliminate any foods that have shown a mild, moderate or strong reaction, for at least 3 months.

If you have a lot of positive results, then you might find it too challenging to eliminate all of the foods at once, and therefore you may find it easier to:

  • Avoid the foods with a moderate and strong reaction
  • To rotate the foods showing a mild reaction

To rotate foods, you need to eat them no more than once every 4 days. For example, to rotate wheat, you could have wheat bread on day 1; oat cakes on day 2; corn bread on day 3; rye bread on day 4; pasta on day 5 etc.

Some people feel worse for a few days when they eliminate a food and although it can be difficult to give up certain foods, you need to persevere. Substitute your reactive food with other foods which have not shown a reaction (ideas for food substitutions can be found later in this booklet).
Trying out new foods may help to decrease cravings and add pleasure to your eating. The majority of people find symptom relief within one to three months after cutting out the foods to which they show a food antibody reaction.

Before changing your diet

Nutrition and health go hand in hand and there are some standard rules you should follow before you change your dietary regime.

  • If you have a medical condition, are pregnant or on medication, it is advisable to discuss your proposed dietary change with a health professional eg. a doctor, nutritionist or dietician.
Alt Text
  • If you have previously been diagnosed with IgE food allergy then you should continue to avoid this food (s) even if the food is negative on your Food DetectiveTM test. This also applies if you are lactose intolerant and need to limit dairy consumption, or if you are sensitive to compounds found in foods such as nitrates, sulphates or histamine.
  • Plan and organise your meals in advance as much as possible. By collecting recipe ideas using your non-reactive foods and shopping ahead you are less likely to struggle with what to eat.
  • Know the range of foods you can eat. While you may be intolerant to a few foods, there will be many unreactive foods that you should be free to eat. Rather than concentrate on what you can’t eat, it is often more positive to concentrate on all the good things you can eat.
  • When eliminating a food from your diet, try to replace with another food from that food group which does not show a reaction.
  • Recognise what food products contain your reactive foods. Many ready-made meals and sauces contain a variety of ingredients that you may not have necessarily associated with the product, so it is important to always check the labels.
  • It is very important to maintain a healthy, nutritious diet. By eating a variety of foods you will obtain a wide range of nutrients and will reduce the risk of further intolerances.

The importance of a healthy, nutritious diet

Your diet has a direct effect on your health. Eating a balanced diet is recommended as it can help to prevent disease.
A balanced diet will include a regular supply of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals.

Proteins

Proteins are the building blocks of health, and are essential for tissue growth and repair. They play a vital role in virtually every process in the body such as muscle contraction, enzyme production, immune protection, skin and bone health.
Protein can also provide a source of energy. While some protein is present in everything we eat, meat, fish, poultry, eggs, soya, pulses, nuts and dairy products are rich sources of protein.

Fats

Fats are involved in many body processes and are essential for maintaining cell walls and nerve tissue. They are also a good source of energy and help to absorb certain vitamins. Although fats are important in our diet, it is necessary to eat the right types of fat.
The different types of fats are:

  • Poly-unsaturated fats

    Found in sunflower oil, corn oil and groundnut oil, nuts, seeds, avocados and oily fish.

  • Mono-unsaturated fats

    Found in olive and rapeseed oil.

  • Saturated fats

    Found in red meats, sausages, butter, cheese, cream, palm oil and coconut oil.

  • Trans fats

    Found in cakes, biscuits, fast foods and pastry. These are vegetable fats altered during processing.

FD

The healthy choice is to increase your intake of mono and cold-pressed polyunsaturated Fats and to reduce the intake of saturated and trans fats.
Saturated and trans fats tend to increase the risk of heart disease, whereas the unsaturated fats help to prevent heart disease.
The unsaturated fats are also a good source of essential fatty acids which the body cannot make itself.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrate is the collective term for the wide range of starches and sugars in our diet. They are a principal source of energy due to their rapid release and use by the body.

The different types of carbohydrates are:

  • Complex carbohydrates

    or natural starches which are found in wholegrains, vegetables, fruits and pulses. These are broken down slowly by the body and provide a controlled, even energy source. They contain high levels of nutrients and fiber and are beneficial for healthy digestion, lower blood cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of cancers.

  • Simple carbohydrates

    or sugars are found in honey, molasses, fruits and fruit juices. These may cause your blood sugar levels to rise and fall rapidly, but this can be controlled if they are combined with complex carbohydrates or protein.

  • Refined carbohydrates

    are processed commercially and lose many of their nutrients. They may also cause blood sugar levels to rise and fall rapidly. These can be found in table sugar, sweeteners, sweets, corn syrup, processed cereals, cakes, biscuits, pizzas and soft drinks. These should be kept to an absolute minimum.

Vitamins and minerals

Vitamins and minerals are dietary substances that are essential for normal body function, ranging from energy production, growth and tissue repair, hormone balance, to skin and nerve health. They are required in small amounts but in the correct balance which can usually be achieved by eating a healthy nutritious diet.
This means that you should eat a wide variety of fresh foods on a daily basis, including wholefoods, grains, fruits and vegetables for an adequate supply.
The vitamin and mineral content of foods can be affected by how fresh the food is, where it was grown and stored, and how it is cooked. The best advice is to eat locally produced fresh organic food as much as possible and not to over cook it.

You could be intolerant to your food … Find out, test yourself today!

Contact us