02/08/2024
There are so many products on market - particularly IgG tests - which claim to give a quick, affordable answer to allergies or intolerances.
The trouble is, they don't work.
These 'alternative tests' have no scientific validity, and are not capable of accurately diagnosing the problem.
You may wonder - ok they don't work, but is there a harm?
And the answer, sadly, is yes - they can be quite harmful. When a patient arranges a food allergy/intolerance test for themselves, or their child, and the results come back warning them to avoid X, Y or Z food groups, patients often embark or strict elimination diets in their quest for better health.
The trouble with eliminating multiple food groups from your diet (particularly with children) is that it can lead to nutritional deficiencies. This can cause bone density problems, malnutrition or even long-forgotten problems like scurvy!
Furthermore, once a food has been eliminated from your diet, it can be more tricky and troublesome to reintroduce as your body's tolerance to that food will have reduced. This can actually put you at a higher risk of having a reaction.
Elimination diets should not be completely dismissed, and they can be a useful tool for healthcare professionals. However, it is so important to have proper guidance from a specialist rather than attempting a DIY approach.
A healthy, balanced diet is so important. Don't let unproven, unreliable tests get in the way of that.
