Up to 8 out of 10 people in the United States may have at least one food intolerance. People often suspect that they have a food intolerance based on how they feel after eating certain items, but have never really had a way to confirm their suspicions. Instead of avoiding foods that may cause difficult symptoms, the ALCAT blood test offers an alternative. It can identify specific food and chemical intolerance within the body.
Why is it important to find the specific items that have an intolerance? Food intolerance can lead to many severe health complications. The most common side effect of food intolerance is actually obesity. Because the foods are difficult for the body to digest, most of the nutrition content is absorbed as fat because it’s easier for the body to process the fuel that way and then convert it into usable energy later on.
Migraines, aching joints, skin disorders, and even chronic feelings of fatigue can all be caused by a food intolerance. Even behavioral issues have been linked to food intolerance in specific cases. Because food intolerance is even more common than an allergy, the ALCAT blood test is often ordered to determine an underlying cause to bothersome symptoms that don’t seem to go away after lifestyle changes, food journaling, and avoidance are all tried.
There Are Several Different Versions of the ALCAT Blood Test
Depending on a patient’s unique health history, a specific ALCAT blood test will be ordered. It can come in various combinations, including vegetarian panels, herbal panels from male and female plants, and even food additives. For most people, a doctor will order the specific test that identifies with their lifestyle and habits.
If there isn’t a known food intolerance or the bothersome symptoms seem to be getting worse, then the Platinum Comprehensive Wellness blood test will often be ordered. It is the most comprehensive test of all the ALCAT blood tests and will determine food and chemical insensitivity in a wide variety of categories, including the following.
1. 200 different common food items.
2. 50 functional foods and medicinal herbs.
3. 21 different molds.
4. 20 different food additives, including food coloring.
5. 20 medications, including antibiotics and anti-inflammatory products.
6. 10 common environmental chemicals.
From the comprehensive blood tests, various levels of testing can also be ordered if certain items can be ruled out. The Comprehensive Wellness 1 ALCAT blood test, for example, removes the functional foods and medications categories. The #2 test will only measure the food panel and the food additives. This gives patients and doctors the flexibility to order the right test at the right price to confirm a diagnosis.
It will take up to 5 business days for results to be posted on the internet. If you receive results that have asterisks by the result, then it means there is a mild intolerance in place. Any items with a blue box should be immediately removed from a person’s lifestyle because it negatively interacts with other foods.
Negative results indicate there is no intolerance present. Allergies will often appear as a negative result because the ALCAT blood test does not measure for histamine levels.
What You Need To Know About the ALCAT Blood Test
The ALCAT blood test is not covered by most health insurance plans. The testing company does not accept HMO insurance, Medicare/Medicaid, Aetna, or FEP. Insurance verification is offered for free for those who are thinking about having this blood test done.
Fasting is not required for the ALCAT blood test, but there are a number of medication restrictions that are in place. Patients are asked to refrain from taking anti-histamine medications for at least 72 hours before the test. Up to 7 days of wait time may be required after taking steroids and antibiotics. Vitamin C levels will need to be reduced to 2,500 mg for 48 hours before the blood test. These are all required to obtain accurate results.
The cost per blood draw is $50 for those who need to use a walk-in lab or a mobile service provided by ALCAT. In North America, there may be additional regional fees on top of this base fee. There is also a $50 fee on all canceled orders. This test can be privately ordered, but private orders may not be covered by insurance.
Food intolerance is very common in the population today. The ALCAT blood test will let people know what their intolerances happen to be so they can be avoided. In return, the health consequences of being exposed to those food items or chemicals can be reduced.