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Tag: Allergy Testing

5 ways allergy testing can help you start eating clean

Posted on by Donna Mastriani

Everybody in the UK is wanting to start to eat clean and get healthier. Of course this is always harder than it sounds, unless you have discovered food allergy testing. If you find yourself unable to exercise or simply do not have the time, then eating clean is more important than ever.

1) Food allergy testing can set you on your way

Clean eating is when someone sets out a new diet which allows them to eat healthily and lose weight, as well as flush toxins out of their body. While many people turn to juice cleanses in an attempt to eat clean, food allergy testing can set you on your way. By highlighting what foods you need to avoid, you will feel happier as your symptoms begin to disappear and your diet becomes cleaner. Many people find this lifestyle easy to follow, but only after afood allergy test.

2) Encourage you to eliminate processed foods

Whilst processed foods do conflict with clean eating, many people cannot resist the lure of chucking something in the microwave and looking for a quick fix for their hunger. However, with food allergy testing, you can learn exactly how bad processed foods might be. A food allergy test could be exactly what you NEED!

3) Help you to avoid oils and spreads

Yep, you might be disappointed to learn that veggie oils and margarines aren’t healthy, especially if you have an allergy to these food items. Containing higher levels of acid there are some items which you just must avoid, particularly if you have a food intolerance. If you are looking to go clean and eat healthy, look at what items you have an allergy to.

4) Eye-Opening Results

Have you ever woken up in the morning and just thought: “I’m never drinking again.” This doesn’t necessarily mean it is because you have drunk too much, but an alcohol allergy or an alcohol intolerance is actually a thing. Food allergy testing can help you identify if you are allergic to any ingredients in alcohol. Don’t put your headaches down to a hangover, it could be due to a food intolerance.

5) Resist the temptation to snack

Food allergy testing can help you to resist the temptation to snack. It can help you to resist the temptation to snack on some foods which have highlighted an allergy. Drinking water will also help you resist the allure of said snacks, some of which are hidden in the cupboards.

Find out more about food allergy testing and symptoms from our website: www.lifelabtesting.com.

What’s new in allergy testing?

Posted on by Kate Young

Allergy testing is becoming increasingly important across the UK as there are people waking up every day feeling sluggish, fatigued or blotchy. The good news is that people are coming up with new ways to avoid their symptoms, and allergy testing is at the forefront of this allergy movement. Check out all the latest news and information about allergies below:

Contagious allergies

READ: Lifelab Testing understands that a woman has been branded ‘contagious’ for a mystery allergy which causes her body to break out in hives every day. The woman, from Ireland, has been diagnosed with chronic idiopathic urticaria. This is a skin condition which often has an unknown cause. A lot of people have undiagnosed allergies, but that is because they have not considered allergy testing. You can order yours here.

When small red patches appeared on her skin two years ago, Miss Campbell thought it must have been caused by her washing detergent. But over time, the patches worsened and became more recurrent, developing into large ring-shaped welts that are burning and itchy… ? If you recognise any of these symptoms, then it is likely that you have an allergy, and this is something that you need to look out for.

If you have ever seen anything like this, let us know via our Facebook page!

Travelling with food allergies

READ: With the holiday season rolling around, lots of people are wanting to go on their holidays, which will involve travelling. Fortunately, airline companies are beginning to realise the serious nature of the symptoms that allergies can cause. Some symptoms are even considered to be life-threatening.

EasyJet said this:

“The safety and welfare of all of our customers and crew is our highest priority, so we have a number of procedures in place to assist customers travelling with a nut allergy.”

Before you go on your holidays, make sure you consider allergy testing, as this could affect your allergy symptoms.

Allergy Testing can be of real benefit

READ: “Food allergies are unforgiving. You cannot make a mistake. You cannot slip up and accidentally eat something unsafe without suffering the consequences.”

These are the hard truths written by freelance journalist Beth Mahoney, take a look at this fantastic blog in the Metro recently! Want to discover your hidden allergies and intolerances? Why not try one of our easy to use at-home kits.

For more information on purchasing your allergy testing kits, or if you suspect that you have an intolerance, then order your test today.

Do you know the difference between a food allergy and a food intolerance?

Posted on by Donna Mastriani

A food allergy and a food intolerance are often thrown around in the same conversation and are thought to be the same thing when this couldn’t be further from the truth. An allergy is an entirely different condition to an intolerance and we’re here to clarify the difference for you. As well as being two different conditions, there are a lot of ‘untruths’ lying around regarding each term such as ‘an allergy can be cured if the food is removed for a period of time’ or ‘an allergy can be created by regular consumption of a food’. 

What is a food allergy?

A food allergy, when occurring, creates an immune reaction within the body. This is usually caused by the protein of an allergen entering the bloodstream. This tends to happen more often at a younger age as the lining of the gut isn’t yet fully developed. When you are exposed to the allergen, whether you have ingested, inhaled or touched the item, an IgE immune response is released as the body now sees the allergen as a threat. This release histamine and symptoms that can occur immediately or up to a couple of hours later.

Symptoms of an allergy can be;

Symptoms are completely individual and can differ from person to person, however, in the worst-case scenario, anaphylactic shock can occur in which an EpiPen needs to be administered as well as seeking urgent medical attention. It is important that you know what to do in a situation where someone is suffering an allergic reaction as it has the potential of being life-threatening. If diagnosed with an allergy through an allergy test or an experience with a reaction, you need to do all you can to constantly avoid these items. 

What is a food intolerance?

A food intolerance, such as lactose intolerance, occurs when an individual’s gut lacks the correct digestive enzymes to break down the foods. In this case, we are going to look at immune-mediated intolerances which is a reaction to IgG antibodies. There are four types of IgG antibodies – IgG₁, IgG₂, IgG₃ and IgG₄. IgG₁ is a first responder to a reaction, however, if a reaction continues to happen to a food item because we are continually exposed to an allergen, we begin to produce IgG₄ antibodies. IgG₂ and IgG₃ antibodies are not produced in response to a food item which is why at Lifelab Testing, we find IgG₄the most relevant antibody for testing food intolerances. 

Symptoms to a food intolerance can occur up to 72 hours after the food item has been consumed. Symptoms include;

• Bloating and cramps.

• Flatulence.

• Changes in bowel movements.

• Fatigue.

• Headaches.

• Fogginess.

Symptoms of an intolerance may only occur if you have eaten a large amount of the food. We can reduce symptoms of an intolerance by adjusting our diet to remove all the trigger items and then reintroducing the items after 6-8 weeks of not having consumed them. This is known as an elimination diet. 

How can you discover your allergies and intolerances?

The answer is simple, a Lifelab Testing kit. Having one of our at-home blood testing kits delivered straight to your door means that you can begin your journey to health from the comfort of your own home. A small blood sample could change your life and relieve you of your symptoms when tested in our laboratory. From as little as £74.99, you can order one of our fantastic tests and discover whether you are suffering from a food allergy or food intolerance.

What Exactly Is An Allergy?

Posted on by Donna Mastriani

We’ve all heard people talking about having ‘allergies’. It’s quite a common thing in the modern age, but the true definition of what an allergy actually is, is lost on many. So, in an attempt to address that in some small way, we look now at the paradigm of allergies in closer detail.

According to Dictionary.com, an allergy is:

“An abnormal reaction of the body to a previously encountered allergen introduced by inhalation, ingestion, injection, or skin contact”

Essentially, an allergy is the body’s reaction to something it comes into contact with via ingestion, breathing or touching. One of the main variables in the equation is exactly what causes the reaction and there are lots of things that can trigger an attack.

The Symptoms

An allergic reaction can be as mild as a runny nose and as severe as anaphylactic shock, which can be potentially life threatening. There are many different grades of allergic reaction.

Mild reactions tend to affect very localised areas of the body and can result in irritation to soft tissue around the eyes, nose and mouth.

Moderate reactions however, can be transmitted to other parts of the body and can involve respiratory distress.

Severe reactions are quite rare and can be very sudden. The symptoms are much more acute and can develop into serious cramping, vomiting and abdominal pain. It can also include swelling, which can be a serious complication when it’s in the throat. Anaphylaxis, the most severe symptom, comes with muscle spasms, dizziness and a sharp drop in blood pressure.

Types of Allergies

Another variable is exactly what the source of the allergy is. There are quite a number of kinds of allergy, so it’s important to know which you have.

Foods

There are unfortunately, many foods that can trigger an allergic reaction, but they tend to be from the same type of proteins found in wheat, milk, eggs and nuts, as well as shellfish, beans, corn and some berries. This type of reaction usually presents as coughing, itchy eyes, stomach cramps and gastric distress. Some reactions can be more severe and potentially dangerous, meaning knowledge of your own triggers is imperative.

Drugs

An allergy to drugs can occur when antibiotics are administered or when sulfa drugs (used to treat a host of ailments, including arthritis) are given.

Skin Contact

Issues like eczema and dermatitis occur when the skin comes directly into contact with an allergen. It can be a rash caused by a change in washing powder or more serious hives and swelling of various parts of the body, and can be brought on by pets, pollen and even stress.

Knowledge is Power

Knowing what triggers an allergy is as important as knowing how to treat one. It means that you can take steps to avoid whatever it is. It could be pollen causing you problems or mould or even dust in the air (which you can never eliminate completely), but the culprit can just as easily be a foodstuff, which is far easier to keep your distance from.

Plainly put, knowledge is power. Identifying substances your body can’t deal with very well, is the only quick way to eliminate the cause and start enjoying an allergy free life.

How do you find out for sure?

At Lifelabtesting.com, we perform comprehensive testing and blood testing to really get to the heart of the problem and it doesn’t cost the earth either. From as little as £75, we will produce a medically approved report on over 25 different possible allergens.

A small price to pay when compared against a lifetime of suffering the negative effects of allergic reactions. Visit http://www.lifelabtesting.com to find out more or to have a ‘live chat’ with one of our team.