RMA food
sensitivity testing

what is a food sensitivity?

Food sensitivities, unlike food allergies, involve a delayed reaction to certain foods that can lead to a range of symptoms such as digestive discomfort, headaches, fatigue, and skin issues. These reactions occur when the immune system or digestive system has difficulty processing specific ingredients, often leading to chronic inflammation or discomfort. Knowing the difference between a food allergy and a food sensitivity is important:

  • an immediate, sometimes severe immune reaction

  • hives, swelling, or difficulty breathing

  • caused by IgE antibodies

  • symptom onset within minutes of eating the food

  • can be life-threatening

Food Allergy

  • a delayed, mild to moderate immune response

  • many varied symptoms

  • caused by IgG antibodies

  • symptom onset hours or even days after eating

  • usually less severe than allergies

Food Sensitivity

Identifying food sensitivities can be challenging because symptoms may not appear immediately after eating the offending food. Symptoms of food sensitivity may include:

understanding antibodies

Food sensitivity typically takes months to develop and is triggered by IgG antibodies while a food allergy is immediate and caused by caused by IgE antibodies.

The release of IgG antibodies to specific foods is considered normal. Cells called macrophages typically remove these complexes; however, when many antigen-antibody complexes are present, macrophages may not be able to remove them all. The complexes that are left behind deposit in tissue and release substances that promote inflammation.

  • IgE: Allergic Reaction
    Mast cells ‘recognize’ the food allergen and release histamine and other substances that may cause hives, difficulty breathing, low blood pressure and anaphylaxis.

    IgG: Sensitivity
    An immune complex forms between food antigen and IgG antibody. Complexes that are not removed by the body deposit in tissue, causing inflammation.

  • IgE: Allergic Reaction
    Symptoms appear quickly, usually within minutes of eating the food allergen.

    IgG: Sensitivity
    Symptoms are slow to appear, and it may be months before they are apparent.

  • IgE: Allergic Reaction
    Symptoms usually last no more than a few hours.

    IgG: Sensitivity
    Inflammation caused by IgG reactions can persist for weeks or months.

  • IgE: Allergic Reaction
    Any food could potentially trigger a food allergy.

    IgG: Sensitivity
    Food sensitivities are usually caused by foods eaten regularly.

  • IgE: Allergic Reaction
    Even a small amount of food can trigger a food allergy.

    IgG: Sensitivity
    Eating more of a reactive food means more immune complexes will be formed

  • IgE: Allergic Reaction
    People often know which food triggered the allergy.

    IgG: Sensitivity
    People are usually are not aware of the foods they have sensitivities to.

  • IgE: Allergic Reaction
    Food allergies can last a lifetime, or may go away spontaneously.

    IgG: Sensitivity
    Symptoms may continue for months after the reactive food has been eliminated from the diet.

types of tests

  • RMA FST™ Basic

    The Basic panel tests for 125 foods, including the most common food sensitivities in all categories: milk (cow, goat and sheep), eggs, corn and wheat.

  • RMA FST™ Enhanced

    The Enhanced panel tests for 222 different foods including all foods from the Basic panel, in addition to 80+ foods not available in the Basic panel.

    Most patients opt for the Enhanced Panel.

  • RMA FST™ Vegetarian

    The Vegetarian panel tests over 160 different foods including all of the vegetarian foods offered in the Enhanced panel, but excluding fish/seafood and meat.

how it works

RMA FST IgG Food Sensitivity analysis is conducted via a blood test. We can perform your blood draw at any True Balance location, or an RMA kit can be purchased for you to collect blood at home with a finger poke. Both methods are equally effective, though some clients prefer to have our team assist them. All kits are then mailed out, with results available 2-3 weeks after your sample arrives at the RMA laboratory. 

Antibody levels are measured via an ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) microarray method. For an ELISA test, food antigens must first be chemically bonded to a site within a gel pad. Each of these sites has the antigens of one specific food. More than 220 foods can be tested on a single gel pad for any given patient. A measured amount of the patient’s blood serum is placed on the pad and then treated with a series of chemical solutions. Eventually a colour develops at each site and the intensity of the colour is measured by a high-resolution scanner. The intensity of the colour is proportionate to the amount of antibody in the blood specific to that food antigen.

after your test

You underwent testing to confirm your suspicions of food sensitivities - now what? Once we receive your results we will email you a copy, along with the steps we recommend you take to heal your gut.

For an additional fee, we recommend you book a review appointment with our Certified Nutritional Practitioners to go over your results in detail. This 30 minute appointment helps you follow up on your food sensitivities and make improvements to your daily routine to effectively eliminate foods that may be causing irritation. This appointment includes:

  • Your Certified Nutritional Practitioner will provide you with a grocery list of the foods you can consume and fit well into your diet.

  • A two-week meal plan of the foods that should be incorporated into your new, food sensitivity free diet. No meals are repeated in this plan so you can enjoy a variety of foods that will avoid your sensitivities.

  • A revised Elimination Diet (will be based on individual needs) to help you avoid sensitivities while your body repairs.

  • A review of the Gut Restoration Protocol and guidance on how to best heal your gut from your Certified Nutritional Practitioner

  • Recommendations for supplementation to support your body through the process.

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