Allergies and intolerances are becoming increasingly prominent in modern society, due to changes in diet, overindulgence and more combinations of foods. Thankfully, our range of expert lab technicians has worked around the clock to create an intolerance test which we are incredibly proud of. These intolerance tests will continue to change the lives of people around the world who are continuing to suffer from intolerance symptoms, including headaches, fatigue, and a bloated stomach.

Knowing the difference between allergies and intolerances

According to Pawankar et al. (2013), approximately 1-2% of adults within the Ireland have a food allergy and between 5-8% of children. It is important to identify the difference between an allergy and intolerance, as the terms are often used to describe the same symptoms, but they are in fact completely different. An allergy is life-threatening and an intolerance test will not identify an allergy, or provide you with any information on how to fix it. An intolerance can affect your work and social life as you battle against symptoms like headaches, a bloated stomach, or other stomach issues like constipation and diarrhea. If you recognise any of these symptoms then we strongly recommend that you order an intolerance test here. If you suspect that you may have an allergy, then please consult a GP immediately.

What effect can allergies have on your mindset?

Allergy symptoms occur almost immediately after the offending item is congested. It is important if you have an allergic reaction that you know, or someone close to you knows what to do. This is because non-treatment in an allergic reaction can lead to more severe reactions like anaphylaxis shock. Even though they are life-threatening, when managed in the right way, allergies can be dealt with as long as you watch what foods you are eating. Please do consult a health professional or a doctor if you suspect that you have an allergy right away.

The labelling of ingredients on food items and products is important as mislabelling of products can lead to very serious consequences. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is responsible for monitoring and assessing food allergens across Europe and they believe it to be incredibly important that certain foods are labelled as they are the most popular items which the population has an allergy or intolerance to.

Allergy or Intolerance?

An allergy is the body’s immune system responding to what would normally be considered a harmless substance. These substances include pollen, food, mould, pets’ hair, insects, medicine and even house dust mites! If you come into contact with many of these items then you should consider speaking to a Doctor. If your symptoms are occurring up to 72 hours later and do not seem to be as severe, then you may have a food intolerance. You can find out by ordering a food intolerance test here.

According to the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI), up to 20% of patients with allergies struggle daily with the fear of a possible asthma attack or anaphylactic shock. Essentially, food allergies are a chronic condition and can often be hereditary, meaning a parent who has an allergy to shellfish could pass that allergy on to their children. Recent articles have highlighted that although children often develop an allergy at a young age, more middle-aged women have begun to develop certain allergies during menopause.

Why should you order an intolerance test?

If you have been struggling with symptoms like a bloated stomach, a headache or even a constant runny nose, then it may not simply just be a coincidence. It could be an allergy or an intolerance. If an allergy has bee ruled out then you can identify what is causing your symptoms by ordering an intolerance test. Analysing up to 975 items, our variety of intolerance tests help you to learn what food items and non-food items are causing you an issue.