Vibrant Wellness Food Sensitivity Complete Review
Have you ever wondered what foods you might be reacting to?
Doing an elimination diet is one way of finding out, but it can be difficult to do, especially for kids or anyone with a busy lifestyle.
The Vibrant Wellness Food Sensitivity Complete test has emerged as a comprehensive tool to provide a detailed analysis of how your immune system responds to various foods and food additives.
By measuring sensitivities to 209 common foods and 57 additives through IgG and IgA immunoglobulins, the test can reveal potential sources of chronic inflammation and gastrointestinal issues.
This test helps to take out the guesswork and uncover the trigger behind a wide range of health issues.
Key TakeawaysThe Vibrant Wellness test identifies individual food sensitivities and intolerances.The Food Sensitivity Complete can also help assess your reaction to 57 common food additives.It helps in customizing diets to improve health and alleviate food-related symptoms.The test enhances understanding of one’s unique nutritional needs for better lifestyle choices.
Table Of Contents
Understanding Food Sensitivities
Understanding food sensitivities is crucial as they can significantly impact one’s health. Food sensitivities involve an abnormal response to certain foods and can lead to symptoms that detrimentally affect daily living.
This section delves into the subtleties of food sensitivities, including the detection of triggers through Vibrant Wellness’ comprehensive testing and discerning the difference between sensitivities and allergies.
IgG (Immunoglobulin G) and IgA (Immunoglobulin A) food reactions are different types of immune responses that the body may have to certain foods. Each type of reaction involves a different class of immunoglobulins, which are antibodies that play critical roles in the body’s immune system. Understanding the differences between IgG and IgA food reactions can be important for identifying and managing food sensitivities or allergies.
IgG Food Reaction
- Type of Response: IgG food reactions are often referred to as food sensitivities or intolerances. Unlike immediate allergic reactions, IgG reactions are delayed, meaning symptoms may appear hours or even days after consuming the offending food.
- Mechanism: When certain foods are consumed, the body may perceive them as threats and produce IgG antibodies against them. These antibodies can form immune complexes with the food antigens, which may deposit in tissues and trigger inflammation.
- Symptoms: Symptoms can be diverse and may include headaches, joint pain, gastrointestinal issues, skin conditions, and fatigue. The delayed nature of the reaction makes it harder to identify the offending food.
- Testing and Diagnosis: IgG food sensitivity testing usually involves blood tests that measure the levels of IgG antibodies in response to various foods. However, the clinical relevance of IgG food sensitivity testing is debated among experts, this is why we also test for IgA reactions.
IgA Food Reaction
- Type of Response: IgA reactions are primarily associated with mucosal immunity, which is the immune function in areas of the body such as the gut, respiratory tract, and saliva. IgA plays a crucial role in the first line of defense against pathogens entering through these routes.
- Mechanism: When the mucosal immune system encounters certain foods, it may produce IgA antibodies as a protective response. Elevated levels of specific IgA antibodies against certain foods may indicate an immune response or sensitivity.
- Symptoms: IgA reactions are often associated with gastrointestinal symptoms and are a key factor in conditions such as Celiac Disease, where IgA antibodies target gluten. Symptoms can include abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, and malabsorption.
- Testing and Diagnosis: Testing for IgA reactions may involve measuring the levels of specific IgA antibodies in blood or stool. IgA testing is particularly important in diagnosing conditions like Celiac Disease.
Differences Between Sensitivities and Allergies
While both involve the immune system, food sensitivities, and food allergies are distinctly different.
Food allergies trigger an immediate and potentially severe reaction, often involving IgE antibodies.
In contrast, food sensitivities are usually less severe, may result in delayed reactions, and do not always implicate these antibodies, affecting a different part of the immune response.
Common Triggers Of Food Sensitivities
Food sensitivities often stem from the immune response to particular common foods or additives. These can include dairy, gluten, and food additives such as preservatives, artificial sweeteners, and flavor enhancers.
Regular consumption of Western diets can lead to exposure to potential triggers such as emulsifiers, food dyes, and pesticides, necessitating their identification through dietary analysis and testing.
Factors Increasing Sensitivity Risks
Several factors can elevate the risk of developing food sensitivities. These include genetics, diseases that compromise the gut wall, and the use of medications like anti-inflammatories, steroids, immunosuppressive medications, biologic agents, and immunomodulating medications.
An individual’s environment and exposure to certain chemicals or additives can also heighten sensitivity risks.
This is where the Vibrant Wellness Gut Zoomer and Environmental Toxin test can be helpful.
Environmental toxins like Glyphosate which are commonly used as a herbicide have been shown to contribute to a wide range of health issues, including gut health.
The Significance Of Additives In Food Sensitivity
Food additives, which are prevalent in the widespread Western diet, contribute significantly to sensitivity reactions.
Artificial sweeteners, preservatives, emulsifiers, and food dyes are common culprits, and studies have linked them to adverse health effects, including food sensitivities and their role in chronic inflammation and altered gut health.
Everyone reacts differently to food additives, for some people, they may not be an issue, but for others, they may trigger skin reactions or ADHD symptoms.
Who Will Benefit from Food Sensitivity Complete Testing?
The Food Sensitivity Complete panel assesses sensitivity to 209 common foods in the Western diet and food additives such as preservatives, artificial sweeteners, emulsifiers, food dyes, and pesticides like glyphosate, which can cause chronic inflammation and increased intestinal permeability (leaky gut).
If you are diagnosed with or suspect intestinal permeability, autoimmune disorders, or chronic inflammation you may benefit from this panel.
Symptoms of Food Sensitivities Include:
- Gas
- Bloating
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Headaches
- Brain fog
- Rashes, such as eczema
- Nausea and vomiting
- Skin itchiness and redness
- Chronic cough and wheeze
- Musculoskeletal joint pain
- Muscle stiffness and swelling
Who Should Not Do Food Intolerance Testing?
If you are experiencing a lot of the symptoms in the list above they could be related to food intolerances, but they can also be caused by a number of other gut problems like pathogenic bacteria or parasites, candida, or simply lacking specific species of beneficial bacteria.
Or if your health has been fine for many years and these symptoms have only suddenly appeared in the previous couple of months.
If you have not done an advanced stool test like the Vibrant Wellness Gut Zoomer test I would recommend either doing this before food intolerance testing or at the same time.
It is possible that your immune system has suddenly started to react to foods, but the Gut Zoomer test will help to identify “why” and if we treat the underlying problem then you should be able to add reactive foods back into your diet.
Which Foods Are Tested in the Food Sensitivity Complete Test?
Vibrant Wellness Food Sensitivity Complete panel plays a fundamental role in diagnosing food sensitivities accurately. It assesses sensitivities to over 209 different foods and 57 food additives through detailed testing of immunoglobulins such as IgG and IgA, which are indicators of the immune system’s response to specific food allergens.
Vibrant Wellness Comprehensive Test Kit
The Vibrant Wellness Food Sensitivity Complete Test Kit will give you insights into how your body reacts to various food items and additives. This evaluation aids in identifying sensitivities that may affect overall health and well-being.
Components of the Test Kit
The test kit is designed to identify sensitivity to over 200 common foods and additives, from preservatives to artificial sweeteners. It includes all necessary components for sample collection: tubes for the blood draw, ice packs to keep the sample stable during shipping, and detailed requisition forms to be filled out by the healthcare provider or patient.
Sample Collection Process
The sample type for this test is blood, which can be collected by a professional phlebotomist at a collection location or you can get a Dried Blood Spot (DBS) collection kit.
The DBS option is my preferred option as the blood sample can be done at home and saves the extra expense of paying to get the blood draw for a pathology lab.
The dried blood spot collection kits can also be shipped worldwide, so if you are not in the U.S. and looking for detailed testing this is a good option.
Fasting is not required before the blood test. Patients must follow instructions carefully to prepare for the sample collection and shipping back to the lab.
Understanding Your Test Results
Results are communicated directly to the ordering healthcare provider through a secure portal.
If you order through Planet Naturopath once the results are ready we will send you a copy and you will have the option of scheduling a consultation.
The consultation will help you with a diagnosis and treatment plan.
Results highlight specific foods that may need to be excluded from the diet for improved well-being, including potential neurological symptoms associated with food sensitivities.
Depending on the results the elimination of foods may only be short-term while we heal the gut, or with both high IgA and IgG results long-term elimination or minimizing intake may be important for you.
Shipping and Handling Procedures
Once the sample is collected, it should be shipped immediately using the provided materials.
The kit contains pre-paid express shipping materials to ensure the sample reaches Vibrant Wellness laboratories without any delays. The samples are kept at a stable temperature with provided ice packs and delivered in a timely manner to the testing facility.
Dietary Management and Lifestyle
Effective dietary management and lifestyle adjustments are essential for individuals with food sensitivities. They play a crucial role in reducing symptoms and optimizing health. Working closely with a healthcare provider ensures accurate identification of problem foods and guides their safe removal and substitution.
Avoiding Reactive Foods
After testing with tools like the Vibrant Wellness Food Sensitivity Complete panel, which assesses sensitivity to a wide spectrum of foods, it’s vital to eliminate identified high-reactive foods from one’s diet.
Common culprits include dairy, wheat, soy, eggs, nuts, fish, and shellfish. Avoidance should be thorough and meticulous since even traces of these foods can provoke a response.
Especially with foods like wheat, dairy, soy, and eggs which are common causes of food intolerances.
If you have also done the Gut Zoomer test and intestinal permeability or dysbiosis has been identified this should also be addressed as an underlying trigger that caused the antibody response to foods.
Replacement and Alternatives
Once reactive foods are identified, replacements and alternatives can help maintain a balanced diet without compromising nutritional value. For example, milk alternatives such as almond or oat milk can substitute for dairy, while gluten-free grains like quinoa can replace wheat.
The key is to ensure these substitutions provide similar health benefits to their counterparts.
Frequently Asked Questions
This section addresses common inquiries regarding the Vibrant Wellness Food Sensitivity Complete panel and its role in assessing food sensitivities and food additive reactions.
What are the differences between food sensitivity, food allergy, and food intolerance?
Food sensitivity and food allergies are immune responses to food proteins, but sensitivity typically involves a delayed IgG response, whereas an allergy involves an immediate IgE response. Food intolerance, on the other hand, occurs due to the body’s inability to digest certain substances and does not involve the immune system.
How accurate are the results from the Vibrant Wellness Food Sensitivity tests in identifying food sensitivities?
The Vibrant Wellness Food Sensitivity tests are designed to measure antibodies to common foods with a focus on accuracy. However, individual reactions to foods may vary, and the presence of antibodies indicates sensitivity but not necessarily an allergy.
The Vibrant Wellness Lab a CLIA-Certified Laboratory and their proprietary technology as been assessed for accuracy and reproducibility.
What types of food additives are tested in the Vibrant Wellness Food Sensitivity Complete panel?
The Vibrant Wellness Food Sensitivity Complete panel tests for sensitivity to various food additives, including preservatives, artificial sweeteners, emulsifiers, food dyes, and pesticides.
How does the Vibrant Wellness Food Sensitivity Complete panel compare to other food sensitivity tests on the market?
The Vibrant Wellness panel is comprehensive, assessing sensitivity to 209 common foods and a range of food additives. This broad spectrum testing covers most commonly consumed foods, a sample copy of the report can be downloaded.
Can the Gut Zoomer Test by Vibrant Wellness help identify the root cause of food sensitivities?
Yes, this is an important test to do either before doing food sensitivity testing or at the same time. It is one thing to find out you have food sensitivities but the Gut Zoomer can help to understand the cause if it is related to dysbiosis or leaky gut.
What steps should I take after receiving my results from the Vibrant Wellness Food Sensitivity test?
It is recommended to consult with a healthcare practitioner who is experienced with this type of testing to interpret the results and develop a plan that may include dietary modifications and further assessment or testing based on individual health needs.
Does the Food Intolerance Complete Test assess my Genetic Risk For Food Intolerances?
No, the Food Intolerance test shows the foods you are reacting to right now, if you want to know your genetic susceptibility to gluten or celiac disease, dairy, lactose or general genetic risk for food allergies I recommend the SelfDecode DNA Test.
Consultations are available at Planet Naturopath.
Recommended Tests
At Planet Naturopath we offer a wide range of functional medicine testing to help you get to the root cause of your health concerns, or simply help you optimize your health.
All Tests Available page for the full list of available testing options.
Food Sensitivity Complete
The Food Sensitivity Complete bundle assesses the most common foods and food additives available, with 209 foods and 57 food additives tested. Non-food-based additives include difficult to detect ingredients such as preservatives, artificial sweeteners, emulsifiers, food dyes, and even pesticides.
Gut Zoomer + Wheat Zoomer
The Gut Zoomer panel is a detailed analysis of gut health, assessing pathogens, beneficial bacteria, and intestinal health markers for inflammation and absorption.
The Wheat Zoomer helps with understanding your reaction to wheat, but even more importantly it identifies leaky gut, high levels of lipopolysaccharides as these are associated with brain health.
Total Tox Burden
Environmental toxins can wreak havoc on our bodies and lead to inflammation, chronic illness, and more. Environmental Toxins from Vibrant Wellness uses the most advanced technology available to assess 39 different markers and see if excessive environmental toxin exposure is at the root of your symptoms.
This test also measures heavy metal levels and mycotoxins as mold toxicity can cause neurological symptoms.
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