I've got the results back for the ELISA food intolerance blood test - these guys work fast!
The results they send you basically split foods into one of three categories, colour-coded red, amber or green to show which foods you should avoid (red), which are borderline (amber), and which can be eaten freely (green). They also tell you, for the 'avoid' foods only, exactly what level of antibodies were found, with the higher the number the more significant the reaction.
My 'avoid' foods are: soya bean (15), rye (18), barley (14), wheat (14), rice (13), cow's milk (99), egg white (35), goat's milk (29), egg yolk (13), cola nut (65), pear (18) and brazil nut (13). I also have borderline results for corn, peppercorn, coffee, grapefruit, almonds and cashew nuts.
So, what does this mean? Well, obviously the first thing it means is that I should stop drinking cow's milk right this second - I got a '99' for cow's milk, far higher than every other result, so that one may well be causing a problem. This means giving up cheese, yoghurt etc but it's not the end of the world.
The second thing is that although these results are useful on their own I'm glad I'm doing these tests with the help of a nutritionist - what on earth is a cola nut when it's at home? And do I avoid all the borderline foods as well or can I eat these occasionally?
Anyway, although the milk thing is gonna be a pain, I'm quite happy with these results. I was a little worried that they wouldn't come up with something that made sense - that they might just say that I was most sensitive to foods which I eat everyday, and less sensitive to foods that I eat less often, which would seem to negate the usefulness of the test. That's not the case though - I eat bananas and oranges every day but there's no reaction at all to them.
The other thing I was worried about was that the test might come up with something completely obscure like 'avocados' which I never eat anyway, and it hasn't done that either. So, just on the basis of a 'logic' analysis, there's no reason why these results can't be perfectly accurate.
(PS: If anyone's wondering why I came up reactive to wheat and gluten-stuff when I've been on a gluten-free diet for years, I did eat a couple of sandwiches a few weeks before I took the test, just to see what would happen...and if those two sandwiches were enough to show up then I imagine I should probably stick to the gluten-free thing...)
Hey Sophie,
Good news about the test results, if you're like me you will want to do ANYTHING to get rid of symptoms, and it's not that hard when you get used to it. I don't eat dairy, oats, corn (lots of stuff has maize starch in) wheat, gluten, carrot, garlic, and i rotate egg white and vanilla. If you need any help with this stuff please let me know as I've been doing a lot of research on it for the last 6 months.
The milk thing makes sense - there's a lot of evidence to suggest that humans shouldn't really be eating milk products after weaning anyway... I can send you that if you're interested?
Re the reaction to wheat and gluten - I don't think you need to have eaten the food before testing. They mix your blood with the protein of the food they're testing in the lab to see a reaction.
Hope this helps,
Best of luck with the diet. I'm sure you'll see results soon.
x
Hi Pinky - thanks for your comments, I'll check that website and info out. The only thing I'm really puzzled about is breakfast - what do dairy-free, gluten-free people eat for breakfast?!
The notes from the lab said that if you hadn't eat a food for more than six months it might not show up on the test, so that's why I ate the sandwiches, although I don't know if two sandwiches are enough to affect the results...
Hi Sophie, I've also taken the ELISA food intolerance test and I am waiting for the test results with baited breath!
It's interesting what you said about the level of antibodies for each avoid product. I'm definitely expecting a high result for cow's milk and wheat/gluten. Personal experience has taught me to keep these products to a minimum. I did increase both these products before doing the test though, as the literature did state that if you have eliminated a food from your diet for a month or more it may not show up in the test.
So, while they don't advise people to start eating a food they know causes a reaction, I think most people would have 'a little' to ensure they get the most accurate results.
I think 2 sandwiches probably was enough to effect the result in your case!
With regard to breakfast, I eat a porridge I buy from Tesco from the Free-from section. Unfortunately, I can't remember the name as I emptied the box into a container. Small orange packet. I'll look it up later and post another message.
Anyway, you can make it with water in the microwave. The first couple of times you eat it you'll really wish you had made it with milk. But, I love it now and would not have any other breakfast.
Take care
Ellie
Hi Sophie
The name of the cereal I was referring to is BARKAT. It's not a Tesco product, so you should be able to get it from any health food shop etc.
Ellie
Where can I get this test done?
Hey guys, I have been on elimination diets for quite a few years now always battling with the hidden effects of food intolerances but I never knew what foods are really the problem. I have just recieved my official test results which have really caused a great deal of releif for me. Cows milk is a major problem as well as wheat and cola nut. (Barley, pineapple and kidney beans should also be avoided). I really need to know what foods cola nut is found in. If you guys have a website or any info, I will be forever greatful!
Elle