Blood Test for Food Sensitivity is Hokum!

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Thought about posting this in the food group but then I figured since it's not doodle related I would post it here. Although it's about people, I bet the same thing applies to dogs. I know Karen and F will appreciate this story.

 

http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/News/Health/1244503490/ID=2215254242

 

I've long suspected that this idea of food sensitivity is hokum. I had some tests done (not blood test though) from which a long list of food items that I couldn't eat was given to me. I've since decided that rather than relying on sketchy, unproven advice I'd do things the simple way and listen to my body. I know that certain foods always make me feel bad, so I try not to eat them, or eat them knowing I'm going to be feeling bad afterwards. Why spend money on tests? That's just silly.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Good points Sherri. Hokum indeed. Even the naturopath doesn't highly recommend the testing : ) People can have lactose intolerance, because thet don't have enough of an enzyme, and things which wouldn't show up on these tests. Some foods repeat on people, who knows why. We love to see hokum exposed for what it is!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Well, it's nice to finally have it verified. This is what I have found through extensive research for the past 4 years, not to mention what I have been told by two board certified veterinary specialists, one of them an immunology specialist. The blood tests are worthless. And they are even more worthless for dogs than people, because "the markers" in dogs are different. (Don't ask me what that means.)

Recently, I told both JD's specialists that I would be willing to throw away $500 (yes, that's what it costs)  for the Liquid Gold blood test to see if it could possibly shed any light on what foods may trigger JD's IBD, and they both said they simply will not do them, because they are so inaccurate. If anything , it would make the issue of treating him more confusing.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Good info Sherri.  I agree that listening to one's own body is the best way to determine if they are reacting to a certain food, be it an allergy or sensitivity. However, many people are not really in tune to and aware of what their bodies are telling them. So could miss the signals. Also, people normally don't eat just one food at a time so it can be difficult to determine which food actually caused the reaction. In that case I think an elimination diet would probably work with slowly adding different foods back into the diet and monitoring for reaction.

So currently what is the best test for allergies. I had skin testing, like a scratch type test done years ago. Are these valid? In that case I didn't react to any tree/grass type allergens but I can tell you that maple about knocks me off my feet! So I wasn't too impressed with those either. :(   Can one be scratch tested for foods?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

No scratch testing for foods that I have found. Wish there was.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Yea me too. but they say that true food allergies are obvious. You get a rash and swelling and you have trouble breathing and your throat closes in. Sensititivities are different, and this news story says that some folks don't even think such a thing exists. I don't know about that though, I know some foods always leave me feeling bad.

[Adina P]

A lot of people with Celiac disease (allergy to gluten) aren't always aware they have it as it doesn't manifest into immediate symptoms all the time and because gluten is so ubiquitous.  I, for one, unless the food was causing a rash or severe allergic reaction (like anaphylaxis) or really bad symptoms would probably keep eating something I loved =)