Food Sensitivity Test Results with EverlyWell

I am thrilled today to share my Food Sensitivity Test Results in partnership with EverlyWell today! I love this company because they make tests that you can take at home, with accuracy. I always feel it’s super important to know what’s going on in your body, which is why I am thrilled that EverlyWell places the lab testing process into your hands, in the comfort of your own home! They offer tons of tests, and you conveniently take them at home, mail them out, and await your results via email! So easy! Today we are talking specifically all about Food Sensitivity testing *and* I am sharing my results!

Food Sensitivity Test Results

Overview:

EverlyWell makes at-home testing easy. You order a test online (make sure to use the discount below so you save some money!) and then it’s mailed right to your door. They send you everything you need to perform a simple blood collection at home (don’t worry, it doesn’t hurt), then you mail the sample to one of their certified labs using a pre-paid shipping label. You’ll get your results in just a matter of days! My results came back in less than 5 days.

How Accurate is the testing?

EverlyWell’s testing labs are CLIA certified and the test results are independently validated by a doctor in your state. The food sensitivity test, specifically, is based on IgG reactions, which are more likely to show up to foods that are currently in your diet. So, it’s possible that you may not see reactions to foods if you haven’t eaten them in a while. If you suspect that you’re sensitive to a food, it’s a good idea to eat it for 4 weeks before taking this blood test, so that it’s more likely to show up in your results. (If you have a noticeable reaction while eating this food, then you already have your answer and don’t need to eat it for the full 4 weeks.)

What is the difference between food sensitivities, food allergies, & food intolerances?

• A food allergy is an immune response to a specific food that triggers a histamine reaction almost immediately after the food is ingested. Food allergies can be life-threatening and include symptoms like hives, anaphylactic shock, vomiting, and swelling of the tongue and throat.
• A food intolerance results from a lack of an enzyme needed to break down a certain food and typically causes stomach upset. The most common case of this is lactose intolerance, where individuals lack the enzyme lactase used to break down the lactose in milk.
• A food sensitivity is a reaction to food that is less serious than a food allergy. It can take days for food sensitivities to cause any noticeable reactions.

Food sensitivity symptoms can include:

• Brain fog
• Acne
• Eczema
• Joint pain
• Dry and itchy skin
• Bloated stomach after eating
• Fatigue
• Reflux
• Migraines
• Diarrhea
• Dark circles under eyes
• Depression and mood swings
• Runny nose
• Headache
• Trouble sleeping

How it Works:

• Each kit’s contents are tailored to your test, and comes with everything you need to collect and send your sample. It’s super easy to follow!
• You simply package it back up and mail it with the prepaid packaging.
• You will get an email when your results are back.
• Then, their powerful results platform will provide detailed graphics explaining exactly what your results mean, and give insights on how you can take action to improve your wellness!

TIP: Follow their instructions exactly!! Make sure you drink an extra glass of water and let the blood drain to your fingertips. I did not follow these tips and had to use all 3 lancets to prick 3 different fingers to get enough blood! It wasn’t my finest moment!! But don’t worry, the pricks don’t hurt one bit.

My Functional Medicine Doctor’s Opinion:

I asked my Functional Medicine doctor his thoughts about EveryWell and he said that it’s great, and it is what he’d use too for a Food Sensitivity Panel! That made me extra excited to hear he had such good things to say.

EverlyWell works with leading specialty labs in the United States who are all CLIA certified. You can take the same test at a doctor’s office, but insurance doesn’t always cover it, so this is an affordable at-home option!

My Results:

My food sensitivity results showed 2 foods that were high reactivity, 1 that was moderate reactivity, 17 that were mild reactivity. I’ve taken tests like this before, so I was curious to see if there were similarities and differences! Let’s see what it looked like!

High Reactivity:

Moderate Reactivity:

Mild Reactivity:

What Now?

When you get your results back, you will learn IgG reactivity levels to all 96 foods tested. Next, you *can* begin an elimination diet to remove these sensitivities and reduce overall inflammation to see how your body is affected.

If you test high to foods you are eating every day, this may be a sign of leaky gut, also known as intestinal permeability. Since food isn’t designed to be outside of the intestine, your immune system will recognize it as a foreign invader, and it creates an antibody to attack the protein. These antibody reactions are what food sensitivity tests measure. If you are mainly testing high to foods that you are eating on a daily basis, removing those foods that test high can help reduce overall inflammation and help you heal your gut. At this point, you can either try the foods again and see how you react, or you can retest. If you test positive to foods you aren’t eating consistently, this can be more indicative of a true sensitivity and a food you should consider avoiding for the longer term.

My Takeaways Now That I Have My Results:

The last time I did this test, I was eating eggs daily and they were high then, but I decided I felt fine eating them and perhaps they came back high because I was eating them so much and did have leaky gut.

This time around, I have been eating way less eggs, and still highly reactive! Somewhat surprising since I don’t *feel* like I have a reaction when eating eggs. With that said, I am going to do an elimination to see if I find they affect me in some way.

As for my moderate (cottage cheese), I NEVER eat it and never have – it grosses me out honestly, so that’s no biggie! The main reason you may have some reactivity to foods that you’ve never eaten before, or haven’t had in a very long time, could be due to cross-reactivity. While this test is measuring your IgG reactivity against certain foods, sensitivities you may have to other substances can cause a cross-reactivity and yield a result you might not expect. Unexpected results can also indicate dietary exposures to certain foods you weren’t aware of previously. This includes hidden sources in pre-packaged foods or supplements. So interesting, right?

And as for the food in my mild results, they happen to be things I try to avoid. Going forward I will be more conscious of the items that were surprising to me, like cashews, sesame, black pepper, blueberry, and crab. Also coffee? FML. I am currently ignoring that one, haha.

So overall I plan to reduce most of these foods from my daily intake, but do still plan on enjoying them occasionally when I want them. I am so glad I did this test and highly recommend it. The process was super easy and I think it’s a great price point! I also think these tests would make a great gift for a loved one! I plan on sending my mom the Vitamin D + Inflammation,, and my brother the Food Sensitivity!

What Other Tests Do They Offer?

I am excited to do the Vitamin D + Inflammation, & Heavy Metal Tests next! I’ve done my Heavy Metals a few years ago through an old doctor, and in a different way, so I am definitely curious how this will go! Here are other tests that EverlyWell offers:

• Metabolism Test
• Thyroid Test
• Men’s Health Test
• Women’s Fertility Test
• Vitamin D & Inflammation Test
• Cholesterol and Lipid Test
• Heavy Metals Test
• Sleep & Stress Test

Discount For YOU:

If you’re experiencing some of the symptoms listed above and don’t quite know where to turn next, I definitely encourage you consider trying out this Food Sensitivity Test. It’s easy to complete, you get the results super quickly in an easy-to-read format, and a format to share with your doctors.

Having an idea of what your individual body is reacting to at the present time, will allow you to make the best food choices for YOUR body!

If you want to try a food sensitivity test yourself, or any of their other tests, you can use this code for a discount on your tests! Get 15% off promo code using promo code LEXI at checkout on EverlyWell.com.

This post is sponsored by EverlyWell. All thoughts and opinions are always 100% my own! I love the integrity of their products and think you’ll love them too. Thank you for continuing to support LCK and the brands I work with!