Your Guide on Getting Tested for Food Allergies
Food allergies are fairly common in the United States, with 6% of adults and 8% of children suffering from one, according to the CDC. Of children who suffer from an allergy, 40% of them suffer from multiple while 42% experience severe reactions when exposed to allergens.
While many people who live with food allergies may suffer life-threatening consequences from consuming foods containing an allergen, many people only deal with minor symptoms. These more minor symptoms may go unnoticed because the person suffering from the allergy has nothing to compare the symptoms against – for example, how are you supposed to know that eating gluten is what causes your headaches and not something else if you haven’t previously eliminated gluten from your diet for a prolonged period of time?
In fact, 48% of adults who suffer from a food allergy only begin experiencing symptoms after reaching adulthood.
In this blog, we’re going to discuss the importance of getting allergy tested and how best to go about getting tested.
Who Should Get Tested for Allergies?
Anyone who suffers a severe, life-threatening reaction from consuming a food, beverage, or medication should immediately get tested for allergies.
Beyond that, you should get tested for allergies after experiencing symptoms that bother you, such as:
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Itching
- Swelling (especially of the face, lips, tongue, and throat)
- Wheezing or shortness of breath
- Nasal congestion or a runny nose
- Sneezing
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Fainting
- Frequent headaches or migraines
- "Brain fog" (difficulty thinking clearly)
- Fatigue
Since many of these symptoms can occur for reasons outside of allergies, getting allergy-tested can help you determine what the root cause of your symptoms might be. If an allergy is what’s causing your issues, simply eliminating that food from your diet can dramatically improve your overall quality of life.
How to Get Tested for Food Allergies
To get tested for food allergies, make an appointment with your doctor or allergist. Your healthcare professional will determine the best method for testing you for food allergies, which may include:
Elimination Diet
An elimination diet is a common method for allergy testing, in which you will be asked to eliminate and then gradually re-introduce possible allergens from your diet to see how your body reacts to the changes.
The elimination diet for allergy testing allows you to experience dietary changes in real time so you can better understand what your body does and doesn’t react well to.
Blood Test
An allergy blood test, also known as a specific IgE blood test or immunoassay, measures the levels of specific antibodies called immunoglobulin E (IgE) in the blood. These antibodies are produced by the immune system in response to an allergen.
Blood tests are a convenient option because they require just a single blood drawing to determine mostly accurate results.
Skin Test
There are several different types of skin tests for allergies, including:
1. Skin Prick Test (SPT)
During a skin prick test, a small amount of an allergen extract is placed on the skin, usually on the forearm or back, which is then lightly pricked to allow the allergen to enter the outer layer of the skin. If the patient is allergic to the allergen, the skin will raise into a red, slightly itchy bump (similar to a mosquito bite).
This test is useful because it can be used to measure multiple allergens at once.
2. Intradermal Test
An intradermal test is similar to a skin prick test, with the difference being that the allergen is injected directly into the skin rather than pricked into the surface-level of the skin. This test can lead to more precise results but also carries a higher risk of false positives.
3. Patch Test
With a patch test, a patch containing small doses of different allergens is applied to the back for 48 hours. Afterwards, the patches are removed and examined for any reaction on the skin. This can be useful for understanding delayed reactions to allergens and contact dermatitis.
What Foods are Tested in an Allergy Testing?
The foods tested may differ depending on your medical history, genetics, and common foods that you may or may not include in your diet.
Commonly-tested foods include all of the nine major food allergens:
- Dairy
- Eggs
- Peanuts
- Tree nuts
- Soy
- Gluten
- Fish
- Shellfish
- Sesame
Additional foods that are sometimes tested include:
- Corn
- Chocolate
- Chicken
- Beef
- Pork
- Fruits (such as apples, bananas, peaches, and strawberries)
- Vegetables (such as tomatoes, potatoes, and carrots)
- Legumes (other than soy and peanuts, such as lentils and peas)
- Spices (such as mustard and garlic)
Can People Outgrow Allergies?
You may have noticed in our statistic above that a higher percentage of children suffer from food allergies than adults. This is because many children outgrow their allergies over time due to a number of possible factors, such as:
- Immune system maturation
- Changes in gut mycobacterium
- Tolerance development
- Genetic factors
- Environmental changes
Because of this, it’s wise to make regular visits to the allergist, even after initial diagnosis, to see if any changes have occurred – particularly in children. Adults can outgrow allergies too, though it is less common for this to happen than with children.
Allergy-free Baked Goods in Northern Virginia
Looking for delicious, allergy-friendly baked goods that are available in Northern Virginia or can be shipped nationwide? Check out The Difference Baker, the only certified commercial kitchen that is also approved to be a commissary kitchen in the United States! With locations in Ashburn, VA and Fairfax, VA, we offer cookies, cakes, pies, donuts, and more that can be enjoyed free from most common food allergens. Many of our products are also vegan and keto!