igG Food Sensitivity Tests

JanetMarie

Almost Self-Reliant
Joined
Jun 29, 2018
Messages
548
Reaction score
1,078
Points
192
Location
SW Michigan
Being on a Self Sufficient thread I'm sure some of you have heard of food sensitivity testing. If not, a brief summary is that the body's igG (immunoglobulins) cells supposedly are raised in an individual who is sensitive to certain food. The lower numbers, of course, are less reactive foods. The test is done by blood draw. I had the test done a little over two months ago.

As I've been more careful about getting more nutrition in the food I eat, it seems that I can now eat some of the foods that I had been reacting to. However, when I was very reactive I reacted to everything I ate, some items more than others.

Also, I was diagnosed with leaky gut. I was prescribed SBI Protect, which contains 1.2 grams of immunoglobulin G (igGs). So, in order to protect my gut I needed more immunoglobulins, but the reactive foods trigger the body to supposedly create too much immunoglobulin G? Hmmm...

Some of the testing, I believe, was accurate, or coincidence. Since I was eating too much homemade bread, and peanut butter, which both are high in lectins, which can trigger the immune system and raise histamine.

Don't waste your money on this type of test, instead do your own testing at home, by eliminating suspected food. Go on a very restricted diet for a while, get some gut healing or re-building done, take probiotics, do some fasting, or restricted caloric intake, then when feeling better introduce some of your favorite food back into your diet, and note how you feel. That is a more accurate way of testing. Then you won't be eliminating some foods that are healthy, because of a test.

I had a comprehensive wheat zoomer done, and supposedly very reactive to the gluten, and also non-gluten parts of the wheat, which I believe is accurate (or coincidence) as I was eating too much wheat at the time (in the form of yummy homemade bread)!

I'm not disappointed that I spent the money on the testing, because I'm more informed.

I'm happy that I can eat homemade pizza again! However, it will be infrequently.

Here's an article that explains the igG food response in the body:

 

FarmerJamie

Mr. Sensitive
Joined
Dec 22, 2010
Messages
9,343
Reaction score
15,969
Points
393
The wife has igg issues. We thought it was gluten also causing the gastro issues. After years of effort, we have determined its a sulfite allergy issue. We were scratching our heads why similar products affected her in wildly different ways. I have become very adept at reading labels
 

tortoise

Wild Hare
Joined
Nov 8, 2009
Messages
8,419
Reaction score
15,104
Points
397
Location
USDA Zone 3b/4a
I am very interested in IgG testing but haven't had it done. I have gong the elimination diet route. I made so many mistakes during elimination diets! I underestimated the effects of food additives. Even when I thought I was on a severely restricted elimination and testing only one new food at a time, I was still consuming my trigger foods in the form of food additives. It messed up my elimination diet results for years. I made a lot of assumptions.

  • During the elimination diets I was taking supplements that had my trigger in the inactive ingredients. I was adding MCT oil to my smoothies, so I was getting trigger food (coconut and palm) every day.
  • I had a bad reaction to macaroon cookies. I assumed it was from egg since egg was on the list of common allergens my doctor gave me and coconut was promoted in the diet my doctor recommended. Turns out I tolerate egg well but react to coconut. 🤦‍♀️
  • I had a bad reaction to hot cocoa. I was confused because I tolerated chocolate milk fine and isn't hot cocoa just hot chocolate milk? The hot cocoa mix contained significant amounts of coconut and palm ingredients. 🤦‍♀️
I would like to see if IgG testing confirms what I've found with elimination diets, but it's not really worth the $ to me
 
Last edited:

flowerbug

Super Self-Sufficient
Joined
Oct 24, 2019
Messages
6,169
Reaction score
11,720
Points
297
Location
mid-Michigan, USoA
A good result from the testing is changing and adding some foods that I wasn't eating before, such as seaweed, and two types of beans. As long as the beans are prepared the right way, I do alright with them!

curious about right way as i don't have any issues with beans at all.
 

Trying2keepitReal

Almost Self-Reliant
Joined
Oct 14, 2021
Messages
2,011
Reaction score
5,072
Points
195
Location
USDA growing zone 4a/4b
bringing this thread back as I have some questions. I need to figure out what is going on with my gut! I had my gallbladder out 16 months ago and thought that the problems would end but they haven't. So now I need to figure out what is going on. I have had numerous tests done and they can't find anything beyond a moderate case of gastritis. So if I start the elimination diet, how do I do this? What can I eat? Where do I start? I feel like I have tried in the past to eliminate stuff, but I don't start at square one. My weakness is anything sweet, so I try not to keep anything in the house, but with kids it is hard especially when the 16 year old likes to bake :) Thanks for the help and suggestions.
 

FarmerJamie

Mr. Sensitive
Joined
Dec 22, 2010
Messages
9,343
Reaction score
15,969
Points
393
bringing this thread back as I have some questions. I need to figure out what is going on with my gut! I had my gallbladder out 16 months ago and thought that the problems would end but they haven't. So now I need to figure out what is going on. I have had numerous tests done and they can't find anything beyond a moderate case of gastritis. So if I start the elimination diet, how do I do this? What can I eat? Where do I start? I feel like I have tried in the past to eliminate stuff, but I don't start at square one. My weakness is anything sweet, so I try not to keep anything in the house, but with kids it is hard especially when the 16 year old likes to bake :) Thanks for the help and suggestions.
Glad you opened this back up. Since last we posted, the wife is doing better in general. We ate out Sunday and she had issues, but could be kidney stone related.
 

Trying2keepitReal

Almost Self-Reliant
Joined
Oct 14, 2021
Messages
2,011
Reaction score
5,072
Points
195
Location
USDA growing zone 4a/4b
Glad you opened this back up. Since last we posted, the wife is doing better in general. We ate out Sunday and she had issues, but could be kidney stone related.
Glad to hear that she is doing better. I feel like I have good days and then BAM one day brings me down and out for a week of just not feeling good.
 

tortoise

Wild Hare
Joined
Nov 8, 2009
Messages
8,419
Reaction score
15,104
Points
397
Location
USDA Zone 3b/4a
bringing this thread back as I have some questions. I need to figure out what is going on with my gut! I had my gallbladder out 16 months ago and thought that the problems would end but they haven't. So now I need to figure out what is going on. I have had numerous tests done and they can't find anything beyond a moderate case of gastritis. So if I start the elimination diet, how do I do this? What can I eat? Where do I start? I feel like I have tried in the past to eliminate stuff, but I don't start at square one. My weakness is anything sweet, so I try not to keep anything in the house, but with kids it is hard especially when the 16 year old likes to bake :) Thanks for the help and suggestions.
Eat one food that you assume is safe until symptoms stop. Then add one more food per week. If symptoms return you have a suspected unsafe food.

If you use foods with combinations of ingredients, you can add more foods more quickly, but you can also confuse yourself and make mistakes like I did.

Group your elimination/challenges by type. If you tolerate wheat, do you tolerate other gluten grains? Do you tolerate other fructan foods? Do you tolerate all grains? Common groups are FODMAPs, histamine, oxalates.

If you are looking for a way to eat when you are done, I recommend Wahl's Protocol. When a dozen different doctors write about the ideal diet for their specific interest, and all those diets are nearly identical, they've got to be on the right track. Wahl's Protocol has the most research behind it and the books are very accessible for non-nerds. The logic is explained without excess science. It also aligns with the paleo story - and a story helps us adopt a way of eating.

Watch out for food additives! Do not assume they are safe or that they dont affect an elimination diet!
 

Latest posts

Top