Food sensitivity testing is one of those things that most people do not do. Having now been tested, the phrase “ignorance is bliss” now comes to mind. It sounds interesting, but the results may disappoint, and unless you are having major GI issues, the motivation is simply not there. However, for those of us seeking optimal health and a fountain of youth, food sensitivity testing is one of those things you should do. Knowing what you should and should not eat for your body to function as efficiently as possible and in avoidance of illness prevention, is a must. Further, such a test provides insights on how well your body is working (or not working). The goal behind any such testing is to make changes based on the results. If you do not plan on making any changes, embarking on any kind of testing is a complete waste.
As a household, we were already eating organic, non-GMO, whole foods and better-for-you processed foods. However, we were curious if we were eating the right foods and whether there were any foods that we shouldn’t eat. The reason behind this curiosity was immune system related. My kids (11 and 13) and I would get sick several times a year which is too much IMO. With that in mind, our entire household utilized the food sensitivity test from US BioTek Laboratories and now my kids and I are working on repairing our guts while eating very differently. My husband lucked out and is only sensitive to almonds and crab… However, since we buy food for everyone, he gets to be on the food journey as well. It’s a challenge and can be extremely annoying at times, but we are doing it. We are on a food journey, discovering new products, and trying every gluten free bread on the market that has decent ingredients along the way. The main problem is that there are so many products with garbage ingredients. While I already read nutrition labels, the new review is on another level. Quality products do exist, they are just harder to find and they typically cost a lot more…
Of course we are talking about processed foods which ideally your diet is not filled with. However, with kids, it is nearly impossible to avoid processed food all together. To date, we have found a decent amount of success in finding some really great products. Bread has been the most challenging, and reviews cannot be trusted, so it is a matter of trial and error.
Most people never test themselves and go through life eating whatever they desire. That is an easier route for sure. We chose to go down this road since the gut is the center of our health. If the gut is out of whack, other things will be too. It is difficult to have a very strong immune system if your gut is constantly battling foods you shouldn’t be eating. The jury is still out, but if you are going to take the plunge and get tested, it is more “fun” to do it with the people you eat most of your meals with.