Food Sensitivity Test Frequently Asked Questions

Know what your food triggers are with Optiway™

What is the difference between food allergy and food sensitivity?

A classic food allergy, such as a peanut or shellfish allergy, is usually characterised by an immediate and often severe reaction upon exposure to the offending food. Symptoms include sneezing, rashes, skin irritation, swelling and fatigue. Such allergic reactions usually involve IgE antibodies. Food sensitivity tends to be characterised by a delayed onset of symptoms and often involves IgG antibodies. Symptoms may occur several days after eating the offending food, making it difficult to identify the cause.

I have been avoiding a food for several months/years; will this affect my test results?

The IgG food sensitivity test is based on your immune system producing antibodies in response to you eating certain foods. If you have been avoiding a particular food, your body may be producing insufficient antibodies to be detected by the test. You may therefore show a negative response. To ensure a reliable result, you should include that food in your diet daily for at least 6 weeks before testing. However, if you know that the food concerned causes you extreme symptoms do not reintroduce that food at all.

What does U/ml mean?

U/ml stands for Units per milliliter and is a measure of concentration. All positive results on the Food Sensitivity Test report are expressed in U/ml to show the concentration of IgG antibodies in the blood.

Do I need to visit a nutritionist to discuss these results?

Once you have done the Optiway test, you will receive your personal report with foods categorized according to your tolerance levels on email. We hope that the results in your feedback report are meaningful to you having covered 222 food types and that your questions regarding what you should and should not be eating have been answered. Optimizing your nutrition is an excellent way to optimize your health.  

If you would like to discuss your results in more detail, we will gladly set up a consultation with one of our specialized dietitians, who is in a position to explain your results thoroughly and make personalized recommendations to you. This way, you will have the opportunity to discuss your unique report and nutritional needs with a dietitian in a 45-minute session, dedicated to you. Additionally, you will get bespoke advice regarding how to remove or reduce reactive foods from your diet, avoid nutrient deficiencies when eliminating reactive food, substitute with similar alternatives, strengthen your immune system and reintroduce foods responsibly.  

The consultation can be done via telephone, Zoom or Skype so that you can dedicate your time to maximizing your health from the comfort of your own home. The cost is R 750 including Vat, payable in advance. This consultation is covered by most medical aids.  

To book your consultation, kindly email info@optiway.co.za

Is it possible that I am affected by foods that do not show up in your IgG food test?

Yes - some foods may cause a classic allergic reaction involving the production of IgE antibodies. These will not be detected by any IgG food test. There are also many foods that can cause a reaction in the body without involving the immune system but produce symptoms similar to IgG reactions. For example amines in chocolate, cheese and red wine may cause migraines; some food additives such as tartrazine can cause hives, rashes, and asthma; monosodium glutamate in Chinese dishes can produce sweating and dizziness; ‘Nightshade’ alkaloids in potatoes, tomatoes, and peppers may affect the joints. Food sensitivity may also be due to a deficiency of a particular enzyme, as in lactose sensitivity. You should avoid any foods that you suspect are affecting you adversely.

If cow’s milk comes up positive, does that mean that I am lactose sensitivity?

No, not necessarily. Lactose sensitivity is the inability to digest lactose, the major sugar found in milk, and is caused by a deficiency of the enzyme lactase. Our food sensitivity test detects whether your immune system is reacting to proteins within cow's milk but does not detect the lactase enzyme and therefore cannot diagnose lactose sensitivity.

Is gluten-free the same as wheat-free?

No. A product can be wheat-free but not gluten-free and vice versa. You can buy products that are both gluten-free and wheat-free. It is important to read ingredient labels to be certain.

In this test, the gliadin (gluten) is tested independently of wheat, barley, and rye. If you test positive for gliadin, we suggest you avoid these grains (even if they show a negative response on your results) and substitute with naturally gluten-free foods such as quinoa, buckwheat, corn, and oats.

If I come up positive to wheat, does that mean I have Coeliac Disease?

No. Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disease that results in a severe reaction to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. Our wheat extract does not contain gluten and so a positive test result for wheat only indicates a sensitivity to wheat proteins, not to gluten.

Do I have to be referred by my GP before I have a food sensitivity test?

No, you can order from us directly or through your healthcare practitioner.

Isn’t it dangerous to cut out whole food groups?

You do have to be careful when changing your diet which is why we offer follow-up dietary advice from our qualified nutritionists to anyone who has taken our tests.

Are these tests suitable for children?

We do not recommend testing children under two years of age.

Do I need to have a re-test after a few months?

Most people do not need to have a re-test, but if you would like another test we usually advise a period of 12 months in between tests. If your symptoms have improved and you have been able to successfully re-introduce the foods, then a re-test is unnecessary.

My results show that wheat, cous cous and wheat bran are ‘green’ but gliadin (gluten) is in red. Should I avoid wheat as well and why?

When gliadin is in the red all wheat-based products which contain gliadin including whole wheat, wheat bran, spelt, durum wheat, couscous etc. should be avoided for the suggested three month elimination period.  This advice will also include barley and rye grains which contain gliadin.  Seek alternatives from the NORMAL list of foods in the green section such as quinoa and root vegetables and rice.

The reason gliadin can come up red whilst wheat is still normal, is because the protein structures differ.  For example: couscous is made from durum wheat but the process of producing it, in which the bran and the germ of the grain are removed leaving mainly starch (endosperm/semolina), means that results differ between the products, as the protein structure is different.

What is an antibody, and what is the difference between IgG and IgE antibodies?

An antibody is a specialised protein produced by the body’s immune system when foreign bodies (such as viruses, bacteria and toxins) enter the body. They are produced by special white blood cells called B-Lymphocytes as a defence against these foreign substances. IgE antibodies are a type of antibody mostly found in the skin, nose, lining of airways and lungs, and are usually produced in classical allergies. IgG antibodies are the type of antibodies that OptiWay tests for which are associated with food sensitivity and not allergy. It has been shown by various studies, that if foods producing high IgG levels are eliminated from the diet, the symptoms associated with these foods can be reduced.

What is IgG testing?

IgG stands for Immunoglobulin (type G). Immunoglobulins are a class of proteins that function as antibodies produced by the immune system in response to foreign bodies entering the body. There are several different types of immunoglobulins with IgA, IgE, IgG, IgM being the most well-known.

Why test for IgG antibodies to foods?

The efficacy of a diet based on the measurement of IgG antibodies specific for food components has been demonstrated in a number of conditions, both in independent studies and clinical practice. Excellent results have been obtained in patients with migraine, IBS and obesity.

Why do foods cause an IgG response?

Generally, foods are broken down during digestion into their component parts (e.g. amino acids, glycerides etc.), which usually pass harmlessly through the gut into the bloodstream. However, occasionally small fragments of partially digested or undigested foods are able to pass through the gut wall into the bloodstream where they are recognized by the immune system as being ‘foreign’. The immune system responds by making antibodies (IgG).

Do high IgG antibody levels cause symptoms?

When a food causes the body to produce high levels of IgG then these antibodies combine with the protein in the food to form an ‘antigen-antibody complex’. These immune-complexes are usually eliminated by other cells of the immune system. However, if the immune system is overloaded, these insoluble molecules can become deposited in tissues within the body, causing chronic inflammation and the subsequent production of symptoms.

Is it possible to have high IgG levels and not experience symptoms?

Yes, some people do have high IgG levels to certain foods, but do not have any symptoms at all. This is possibly due to their immune system being extremely efficient at clearing away the antigen-antibody complexes, before they have chance to be deposited in the tissues and cause a problem.

Is it possible that I am affected by foods that do not show up in my IgG food test?

Yes - some foods may cause a classic allergic reaction involving the production of IgE antibodies. These will not be detected by any IgG food test. There are also many foods that can cause a reaction in the body without involving the immune system but produce symptoms similar to IgG reactions. For example, amines in chocolate, cheese and red wine may cause migraines; some food additives such as tartrazine can cause hives, rashes and asthma; monosodium glutamate in Chinese dishes can produce sweating and dizziness; ‘Nightshade’ alkaloids in potatoes, tomatoes and peppers may affect the joints. Food sensitivity may also be due to a deficiency of a particular enzyme, as in lactose intolerance. You should avoid any foods that you suspect are affecting you adversely.

Will the Food sensitivity test/Print tests only give a result for foods in my diet?

No, the test will not only give results for foods in your diet. While it is true that certain common foods are more likely to show a positive result e.g. wheat, dairy, soya. The reason for this is that these foods are consumed on a regular basis in our diet and along with digestive issues this can increase the likelihood that the body may react to them. While an elimination diet will always be the gold standard, the benefit of doing a food sensitivity test is that it will be able to quickly show which of the foods that are eaten on a regular basis, are a potential problem. In addition, the tests are able to highlight more unusual foods which a person may not have considered removing from their diet.

Do I need to re-introduce foods before taking a Food sensitivity test – if so, how long for?

In general, we recommend that you follow your normal diet, so that the test will reflect what you usually eat. However, if you have specifically avoided a food for more than three months (e.g. cow's milk), which used to be part of your normal diet and you would like it tested, we would recommend that it is reintroduced. The recommendations are to reintroduce the food for 1 week, eating a normal portion of that food at least once daily before taking your blood sample. If symptoms occur on reintroducing the food, we recommend that you discontinue that food and conclude you are still intolerant to it.

If cow’s milk comes up positive, does that mean that I am lactose intolerant?

No, not necessarily. Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest lactose, the major sugar found in milk, and is caused by a deficiency of the enzyme lactase. Our food sensitivity test detects whether your immune system is reacting to proteins within cow's milk but does not detect the lactase enzyme and therefore, cannot diagnose lactose intolerance.

Is gluten-free the same as wheat-free?

No. A product can be wheat-free but not gluten-free and vice versa. You can buy products that are both gluten-free and wheat-free. It is important to read ingredient labels to be certain. In this test, the gliadin (gluten) is tested independently of wheat, barley and rye. If you test positive for gliadin, we suggest you avoid these grains (even if they show a negative response on your results) and substitute with naturally gluten-free foods, such as quinoa, buckwheat, corn and oats.

If I come up positive to gluten, does that mean I have coeliac disease?

No. A positive reaction to gluten on an IgG test is not confirmation of coeliac disease. Coeliac disease is an autoimmune response to gluten that is found in wheat, rye and barley. It is a life-long inflammatory condition of the intestinal tract. If you are concerned that you may have coeliac disease you must speak to your doctor.

Why does the Food Sensitivity test not test for alcohol?

IgG mediated food sensitivity is caused by antibodies directed primarily to proteins. In general, alcohol does not provoke an antibody response as they are too small to be seen by the immune system.

How does the Optiway™ Food Sensitivity test work?

Food extracts are 'printed' onto nitrocellulose 'pads'™ on a glass microscope slide, together with calibration standards and controls. A blood sample provided by the patient is diluted and dispensed onto each printed microarray. Food IgG antibodies, if present, bind to the food extracts and the results are measured by a high-resolution scanner, before being calibrated against the standards using the reporting software to give quantitative results. This software then produces a tailor-made printout of the final food IgG antibody result for each food on the requested food panel.

What should be considered before testing - What is the lower age limit for testing?

The Optiway™ policy for a lower age limit on testing for IgG food antibodies is that we do not recommend testing on children under the age of 2 years. We base this on the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition Guidelines for the Diagnosis of Coeliac Disease 2012, which states that there is a possibility of false negative results occurring in infants younger than 2 years of age. This related to the fact that the infant gut is more permeable than that of an adult coupled with immature mucosal immunity that is still in the learning and development stage.

We have used this criterion as antibody measurements in Coeliac Disease are comparable to food IgG measurements used in our food sensitivity tests. However, we are aware that there are in fact no published guidelines that specifically indicate a minimum age for testing for such IgG antibodies, for example the guidelines for testing for coeliac antibodies indicate that such testing can be performed any time after the introduction of gluten into the diet.

Therefore, where such requests are received from a statutory regulated professional the decision of when and what tests to perform will remain the responsibility of the requesting clinician.

 

 

What should be considered before testing - Is there any medication that I should avoid when taking a food sensitivity test, due to its potential effects upon the results?

Customers should avoid the use of immunosuppressant medication if possible when performing these tests, as they may have an impact upon the results

What should be considered before testing - Can I take the test if I am pregnant?

A food sensitivity test is not recommended during pregnancy due to the changes that are taking place which may affect antibody production. We do also not recommend testing during breastfeeding.

Do I have to collect the blood sample at any particular time of day?

No, samples can be collected at any time of the day.

Do I have to fill the sample tube (microvette) all the way to the white line?

Although it is advisable to completely fill the tube, a half filled microvette tube should be enough to run the test. If there are any problems with a sample, the lab will let the customer know.

Do I need to store the blood in the fridge if I’m not sending it on the sample collection day?

Yes, it does need to be stored in the fridge with the lid secured, if it is not being sent on the same day that the sample was collected.

Do I have to avoid my elevated foods for the rest of my life?

No. Once you have avoided those foods for at least 3 months, and you have noticed an improvement in your symptoms, then you can start to gradually introduce the foods back into your diet. You should introduce one food at a time, with an interval of 4 days before trying another food. If you do not notice the return of any symptoms, then you can continue to include that food in your diet on an occasional basis. You may find a food and symptom diary useful whilst re-introducing foods. If you are sure you have been avoiding the foods and address Leaky Gut and do not notice any improvement after 3 months, then you can assume that those foods are not responsible for your symptoms.

I started to avoid foods from my diet, and now I feel a lot worse, is this normal?

This is a normal reaction for many people in the first few days after excluding a food or foods, due to ‘withdrawal-type’ symptoms. It is quite common to feel worse for a few days, but this phase soon passes, and an improvement is usually noticed after a week or two.

Why do I sometimes feel better after immediately eating a food that I am supposed to avoid?

Some people find that they feel better for a short while after eating foods to which they react to however, if they continue to eat those foods, the symptoms return. Eating more of the food once again brings relief, creating a vicious cycle of addiction that is difficult to break. This can be overcome by strictly eliminating the reactive food for a minimum of 3 months.

Do I need to avoid foods from the same food family?

No, in the first instance this is not recommended. You are recommended to only avoid the foods that have come up positive on your test. It is recommended that if you want to avoid all other members of that food family, that this is carried out under the supervision of a practitioner.

I have been told to eliminate ‘x’ from my diet, but have not eaten it for years, why do I have a positive result?

This is because either a) you have eaten ‘x’ hidden in other foods (it is very important to check ingredients labels carefully); or b) you have eaten foods within the same food family or been exposed to an allergen that is similar to the antigen in the food and these can result in antibody production. This is known as cross reactions. Please contact OptiWay™  for more information on cross reactions.

I have a lot of positive results, how do I cut out everything?

If you have a lot of positive results, it can be a very daunting task trying to cut out everything whilst maintaining a nutritionally well-balanced diet. In these cases, we recommend you visit a dietitian who will help you to avoid the foods with a strong positive response, and to rotate the foods with a lower positive result.

What does it mean if I have lots of positive results?

Potentially, you may have a condition known as ‘Leaky Gut’. You should consult a registered dietitian.

What is Leaky Gut syndrome?

In some patients, inflammation or irritation of the intestinal lining allows partially digested foods to leak through gaps between cells in the intestinal wall into the bloodstream. This condition is called ‘Leaky Gut Syndrome’ and patients with this condition typically have high levels of antibodies to multiple foods.

Do I need to have a re-test after a few months?

Most people do not need to have a re-test, but you confirm that your body has been repaired. We we usually advise a period of 12 months in between tests. If your symptoms have improved and you have been able to successfully re-introduce the foods, then a re-test is unnecessary.

Is there any medication that I should avoid when taking a food sensitivity test, due to its potential effects upon the results?

The table below is designed to provide patients and practitioners with a quick guide to common medicines and how they could affect a test for food-specific IgG antibodies.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/166oEP_rX7t2d0vQcy_3i1jAxoL_fhNzJ/view?usp=sharing

Which spices are included in the Curry Mix Spices?

Coriander Seed, Cumin Seed, Onion, Salt, Chilli Powder, Fenugreek, Garlic Powder, Ginger, Paprika, Turmeric, Cinnamon, Black Pepper, Clove, Bay Leaf, Cardamom.

What type of strain of yeast do you test for?

Both Brewer’s and Baker’s yeast are Saccharomyces Cerevisiae.

I have tested positive (red) for corn (maize), but negative (green) for polenta. How should I implement it?

The fact that corn (maize) can be elevated and polenta normal can be confusing, but the reason that this can occur is due to the fact that although polenta derives from corn, the process of producing it, which involves grinding down of the dried corn kernels into cornmeal before heat treating (cooking) the mixture, actually denatures the proteins. Epitopes are the portions of an antigen that are recognised by the antibodies of the immune system and any antibodies raised to a particular protein bind precisely to specific epitopes. However, these epitopes are often not recognised when denaturing occurs and as a result, the antibodies raised to the epitopes of corn proteins cannot necessarily be specific to polenta. In practical terms however, we would recommend that if an individual has elevated IgG antibodies to corn, that they also avoid/limit polenta consumption during the elimination period. This is because, as polenta is derived from corn, it’s consumption may still continue to affect IgG antibody levels to corn itself.

If I am sensitive to milk according to my results, can I take colostrum supplements?

No, you can’t take colostrum supplements as colostrum is equally as high in casein as cow’s milk.

If I am sensitive to cow’s milk and casein (but not whey), can I have low-casein cheese, or does the cow’s milk sensitivity also excludes that?

The cow’s milk sensitivity also excludes low-casein cheese.  This is precautionary, especially if you have a particularly high elevation to both cow’s milk and casein, it would be sensible to seek alternatives for the elimination period.  Low-casein does not mean no-casein.  When you are reintroducing dairy milk products after the elimination period it may be wise to introduce low-casein products first to see if they can be tolerated before testing other dairy products.

During a retest, a few months after the first food sensitivity test and after recommendations were implemented, the second test showed unexpected results. Not only do I still show sensitivities to the same foods that showed up in the first test, but there

It is possible that in the months between the first and second reports significant changes could have happened to predispose you to a ‘leaky gut’? With this unusual outcome, it appears that damage to the integrity of the gut is allowing passage of foods into the bloodstream stimulating multiple responses.  These potential events could be for example:

  1. Stressful life events
  2. Over exercise
  3. Medications e.g., antibiotics, antacids
  4. Severe infection e.g., Covid virus which can remain in the gut for up to three months, disrupting balance
  5. Exposure to environmental toxins
  6. Poor sleep
  7. Peri menopause
If food sensitivity is tested during acute illness/cold (like Covid), does the results differ?

Out of caution we would always suggest that a client waits until the symptoms of an illness have abated and their temperature is normal.  However, as our test is specific to raised IgG antibodies to individual foods, the results should not in theory be affected. 

What is the role of food sensitivity testing in clients with auto-immune diseases since they have a highly likely chance of having chronic intestinal permeability?

An IgG food sensitivity test is highly relevant, independent of a client’s intestinal permeability, as any information that highlights which foods are stimulating an elevated immune response can be used as part of the client’s protocol.   A high number of elevated foods will emphasise the need for targeted gastro-intestinal support using dietary and supplement protocols alongside the removal and rotation of foods, which will alleviate immune activity both at the intestinal epithelial surface of the gut and in the body once digested.  Of note is that the report will also highlight which foods do not raise a response and to which the client has a NORMAL reaction, giving the practitioner useful information upon which to build a targeted dietary plan.

 

The below papers are interesting for reference:

 

Paray BA, Albeshr MF, Jan AT, Rather IA. Leaky Gut and Autoimmunity: An Intricate Balance in Individuals Health and the Diseased State. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Dec 21;21(24):9770. doi: 10.3390/ijms21249770. PMID: 33371435; PMCID: PMC7767453.  Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7767453/

 

 

Geoffrey Hardman, Gillian Hart, "Dietary advice based on food‐specific IgG results", Nutrition & Food Science, 2007 Vol. 37 Iss: 1, pp.16 - 23

PURPOSE: To provide evidence that elimination diet based on food‐specific IgG test results is an effective, reliable and valid aid to the management of chronic medical conditions. Design/methodology/approach – A postal survey, commissioned by Allergy UK, was carried out with 5,286 subjects reporting a wide range of chronic medical conditions, who had taken a food‐specific IgG enzyme‐linked immunosorbant assay blood test. Questionnaires, issued three months after the results, were analysed to investigate the effect of eliminating the foods identified by the test. To check for response bias, a separate group of patients who had not responded were interviewed by telephone. The analysis and reporting of the data was carried out at the University of York. Findings – Of patients who rigorously followed the diet 75.8 per cent had a noticeable improvement in their condition. Of patients who benefited from following the recommendations 68.2 per cent felt the benefit within three weeks. Those who reported more than one condition were more likely to report noticeable improvement. 81.5 per cent of those that dieted rigorously and reported three or more co‐morbidities showed noticeable improvement in their condition. For those who dieted rigorously and reported high benefit, 92.3 per cent noticed a return of symptoms on reintroduction of the offending foods.

Originality/value – These data provide evidence for the use of elimination diet based on food‐specific IgG blood test results as an aid to management of the symptoms of a range of chronic medical conditions

What is the difference between food intolerances, food sensitivities and food allergies?
  • Food intolerances occur when the body lacks certain enzymes or chemicals required to properly digest specific food components. One common example is lactose intolerance, where the body lacks the enzyme lactase needed to break down lactose (a sugar found in dairy products) and this is diagnosed by a genetic test. This is different to an allergy or sensitivity to dairy products.   Or gluten-intolerance, which is confirmed by testing for the HLA gene. Relatively few people at gluten intolerant, but many more are gluten ‘sensitive’. Various labs are doing genetic tests, and you can test for the HLA gene at Ampath /Lancet / Pathcare.

 

  • Food sensitivities refer to a range of adverse reactions to certain foods as measured by IgG testing. These reactions are generally milder than food allergies and intolerances. OptiWay tests for IgG reactions. 

 

  • A food allergy is an immune system response to certain proteins present in food and is measured by IgE testing. When someone with a food allergy ingests the trigger food, the immune system mistakenly identifies the protein as harmful and releases histamines and other chemicals, causing an allergic reaction. People must avoid the allergen for life. IgE tests can be requested from laboratories such as Ampath /Lancet / Pathcare and you must specify which foods you want to test for.
What are the benefits of the OPTIWAYTM Food Sensitivity Test?
  1. Expert Recommendations: Our Support Guide assists you in removing or reducing reactive foods, avoiding nutrient deficiencies, and reintroducing foods responsibly.
  2. Fast and Actionable: With accurate results tailored to you in a short period of time, you can take the guesswork out of identifying symptoms and triggers.
  3. Follow the Colours: The easy-to-follow report categorises foods into red, yellow, and green to help you optimise an eating plan.
Which type of venison do you test for?

For venison we test cervus elaphus which is Red Deer. 

How long does delivery of the Optiway kits take?

The estimated delivery times for the courier service to transport the Optiway kit are as follows:

Delivery to the Customer/Patient:

  • In Gauteng: The Optiway kit should arrive within 2-3 days.
  • In other areas of South Africa: The delivery typically takes 3-5 days.
  • Please note that these timeframes do not include weekends. Deliveries to deep rural areas might require additional time.

Return of the Optiway Kit to the Laboratory:

  • In Gauteng: The kit should reach the laboratory within 2-3 days.
  • In other areas of South Africa: The return journey usually takes 3-5 days.
  • Similar to the outbound delivery, these estimates exclude weekends.

Processing of Optiway Results:

  • Once the sample has arrived at the laboratory, it generally takes approximately 2 weeks to process and provide the Optiway results.

Keep in mind that these are estimated timeframes and actual delivery times may vary.