Food Intolerance Testing Click on one of the options below to be brought directly to the Lorisian Testing page to see each food that will be tested Option 1 – Lorisian 100 – 100 foods tested – €249 Option 2 – Lorisian 150 Plus – Over 150 foods tested – €350 Option 3 – Lorisian 200 Plus – Over 200 foods tested – €399 Option 4 – Lorisian Homocysteine Test– €175 Please email hannah@whyweightireland.ie for more information and for private bookings. Our food intolerance testing service can be completed on anyone over 2 years of age. If foods are not currently being eaten they may not show up on the test. (This will affect the test as you need to be eating the food to ensure the antibody is present) If you have a blood borne disease such as Hepatitis or HIV, Lorisian will not test these samples. If you are taking any medication such as steroids or immunosuppressants, this can affect the test – we need to know how long you have been taking the medication and at what dosage. Please click here to read more about taking steroids or immunosuppressants and our food tolerance test. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, Lorisian will not test these samples. An Explanation of Food Intolerance What is the difference between allergy and intolerance? The term ‘food intolerance’ and ‘food allergy’ are often confused and are two very different things. Genuine food allergy is relatively rare. Only about 2% of the adult population are affected. A food allergy is a swift response by the body’s immune system to a specific food. In this type of reaction, the body’s immune system mistakes a food for an ‘invader’ which often results in a rapid allergic reaction often within minutes, but generally within a maximum of two hours. This type of allergic reaction is commonly associated reactions to peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs and seafood. Food intolerance is quite different to food allergy and whilst the symptoms can impact the person’s quality of life they are not life threatening. Food intolerances are much more common than food allergies. When foods and drinks are digested the proteins within them are broken down into smaller fragments for easy absorption into the body. Larger fragments can pass through without breaking down, and sometimes the body reacts by attacking them using antibodies called Immunoglobulin G’s (IgG). A recent study* has shown that those who eliminated trigger foods based on food-specific IgG test results had reductions in weight, body mass index, waist and hip circumference and improvements in all indicators of quality of life that were measured. The quality of life indicators included physical and emotional wellbeing, mental health, social life, pain levels and vitality. *Lewis J et al, 2012: Eliminating Immunologically-Reactive Foods from the Diet and its Effect on Body Composition and Quality of Life in Overweight Persons. Journal Obesity & Weight loss Therapy 2:1 Intolerance Vs Allergy Food Intolerance Food Allergy Reactions up to 72 hours after eating Immediate reactions (2 hours or less) Multiple foods can be involved Rarely more than 1 to 2 foods Any organ system can be affected Primarily skin, airways and digestive system Very common Trace amounts of foods can cause reactions Difficult to self-diagnose Caused by raised IgE antibody Symptoms can clear after avoidance (3-6 months) Lifelong Symptoms of food intolerance Food intolerance† is a condition with a wide range of symptoms including: including gut symptoms, bloating, migraines, low mood, weight gain, fatigue and skin problems. Abdominal Pain Aches and Pains Acne Bloating Constipation Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Diarrhoea Dizziness Eczema Fatigue Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Itching Fluid Retention Headaches Hyperactivity Migraine Nausea Rashes Rhinitis Sinusitis Stomach Cramps Tension Tiredness Urticaria Weight loss/Weight Gain Wheezing Symptoms of food intolerance can take up to 72 hours to appear after eating the trigger food or group of foods. On average people who suffer from food intolerances usually have between 4 and 8 trigger foods. Many people suffer for years, having formed a coping mechanism to deal with the symptoms but being unable to enjoy a normal work and home life. Many people don’t realise that there are easy steps to take that could resolve their condition. Using the Lorisian range of tests is another way of extending the fantastic service that we provide to our customers. Why Weight Ireland can help you provide a fast track or starting point for an elimination diet to help you optimise your health and wellbeing. †Food intolerance symptoms must always be checked out by a Medical Professional. If you have been to see a Medical Professional but have not been given a diagnosis for your symptoms then you may be suffering from food intolerance.