What is an allergy?
An allergy is a reaction to a substance that is inhaled, eaten or touched. The body’s immune system treats a normal substance as though it is an enemy and therefore can react aggressively.
What is food intolerance?
Food intolerance is a delayed reaction to a food, beverage or additive that does not involve the immune system. Symptoms can be similar to that of an allergy.
For detailed information on the difference between the two, refer to the Food Intolerance Network's Introduction to food intolerance
Allergy Testing
Have a complete medical check-up with your doctor.
Have allergy skin tests for food or inhaled allergens.
Have RAST blood tests for further evidence of a food allergy.
Have blood tests recommended by Dr. Rodney Ford if your symptoms indicate you may be gluten intolerant.
If you are on steroid medication which interferes with allergy skin tests, your doctor can order RAST blood tests.
Allergy test results
The lab technicians will not interpret allergy skin test results. Your doctor will do this for you. Allergy tests give an indication as to what you are allergic to but these results are not black and white. They must be looked at alongside your health history.
Gluten intolerance blood tests can be interpreted by Dr. Rodney Ford for a small fee. Go to his website for details.
A negative blood test for coeliac disease means you are not a coeliac, but you could still be gluten-intolerant. Go to Dr. Rodney Ford’s website and find out about the other blood tests available.
If the food allergy tests are negative and the tests for gluten intolerance are also negative, you may be intolerant to a food other than gluten. An elimination diet may be necessary.
Always talk to your doctor about an elimination diet before you begin. A food challenge following an elimination diet can be dangerous for those with conditions such as asthma, high blood pressure and epilepsy. It can also be dangerous for those who are allergic.
Elimination diets are used for detecting food intolerance.
They are NOT used for allergy testing because a food challenge could cause a life-threatening reaction. There are a number of elimination diets available.
It’s important to choose the diet that’s right for you.
We can suggest which elimination diet you could try.
The diet must be done strictly. It will take two to three weeks.
An allergy is a reaction to a substance that is inhaled, eaten or touched. The body’s immune system treats a normal substance as though it is an enemy and therefore can react aggressively.
What is food intolerance?
Food intolerance is a delayed reaction to a food, beverage or additive that does not involve the immune system. Symptoms can be similar to that of an allergy.
For detailed information on the difference between the two, refer to the Food Intolerance Network's Introduction to food intolerance
Allergy Testing
Have a complete medical check-up with your doctor.
Have allergy skin tests for food or inhaled allergens.
Have RAST blood tests for further evidence of a food allergy.
Have blood tests recommended by Dr. Rodney Ford if your symptoms indicate you may be gluten intolerant.
If you are on steroid medication which interferes with allergy skin tests, your doctor can order RAST blood tests.
Allergy test results
The lab technicians will not interpret allergy skin test results. Your doctor will do this for you. Allergy tests give an indication as to what you are allergic to but these results are not black and white. They must be looked at alongside your health history.
Gluten intolerance blood tests can be interpreted by Dr. Rodney Ford for a small fee. Go to his website for details.
A negative blood test for coeliac disease means you are not a coeliac, but you could still be gluten-intolerant. Go to Dr. Rodney Ford’s website and find out about the other blood tests available.
If the food allergy tests are negative and the tests for gluten intolerance are also negative, you may be intolerant to a food other than gluten. An elimination diet may be necessary.
Always talk to your doctor about an elimination diet before you begin. A food challenge following an elimination diet can be dangerous for those with conditions such as asthma, high blood pressure and epilepsy. It can also be dangerous for those who are allergic.
Elimination diets are used for detecting food intolerance.
They are NOT used for allergy testing because a food challenge could cause a life-threatening reaction. There are a number of elimination diets available.
It’s important to choose the diet that’s right for you.
We can suggest which elimination diet you could try.
The diet must be done strictly. It will take two to three weeks.