Your hidden food intolerances are making you....

fat? cranky? tired? bloated? have migraines? irregular? frequently urinate? gain 5lbs overnight? The list goes on for words that can complete this sentence.  One of the most common causes for somatic complaints, although often one of the most overlooked and under diagnosed, is food intolerance.  I myself suffer from various food intolerances, which I discovered after being tested about a year ago per a good friend's recommendation (of course, she'll tell you it was after I made fun of her for being allergic to beer -- and guess who joined her in that category! Kharma?)

Here is a quiz you can use which gives a brief symptom list to see how likely it is that you have food intolerances.  I am using this website simply for the quiz, and not to promote the laboratory itself.  I have not used this particular laboratory and therefore cannot comment negatively or positively re: its procedures or accuracy.  Take the quiz here.  Food Intolerance Quiz
The lab I commonly use is the ALCAT laboratory for a few reasons.  This particular laboratory takes into consideration that not all food intolerances are immediate responses, and lets their samples react with food (and food additives, environmental chemicals, or whatever else we may be trying to test sensitivities to) for 2 full days before establishing results.  They also categorize the intolerances based on a severity scale -- from no reaction to severe intolerance -- so that the person has a good idea of which foods are the most offensive, and can manage his/her elimination diet and "cheat" items in a more beneficial way.  The test measures inflammatory responses to the introduced substances, in various forms, and does NOT test for anaphylactic-type reactions which are the immediate true "allergies" which can cause restricted breathing and even death in some people (you know, like the kid in class who couldnt be near your peanut butter cup, or the guy who became unrecognizeable after a bee sting).
Diagnosing food sensitivities/intolerances without the use of a lab is also an option, which is often much less expensive but much more labor-intensive.  This would require the use of a food journal where you record everything you eat for a 1-2 week period as well as recording your general mood and physical symptoms several times per day in an attempt to track food reactions in your body.  One of the problems with this is that food reactions can often be delayed, by as much as 36 hours for some, so it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly which foods are the offenders.  This is especially true for those who have problems with constipation, as the food will be slower to affect the digestive tract if it is not properly functioning.  However, this method also provides a good seqway for the next part of the diagnostic workup which is the elimination challenge.  Foods which seem to be particularly offensive (or are offensive for another family member or for you in the past) are to be eliminated for at least 1 month and then re-introduced into the body to see if any reaction occurs.
The good news is these intolerances do not have to be permanent, and can be eliminated if you put the effort in.  I have elminated several of my severe and moderate intolerances for over 6 months now and have successfully been able to re-introduce some (not all) of the foods back into my diet without any resulting symptoms.  You may be astonished, as I was, to see some of your favorite foods on the "severe" list, as these are often foods that you continue to crave as your body can gain a temporary "high" from ingesting them, with an eventual "low" during the reaction phase.  Once you can identify these triggers, you can decide for yourself what's best for you in the future, and might not reach for those foods once you realize how good you feel without them.

If you'd like to find out more about the ALCAT test please go to ALCAT Laboratory for details.  If any of you would like me to help you be tested, please comment on the blog.