Results & Questions

 

Do they have to avoid reactive foods for the rest of their life?

No. Once they have avoided those foods for at least 3 months, and they have noticed an improvement in the symptoms, then they can start to gradually introduce the foods back into their diet. They should introduce one food at a time, with an interval of 4 days before trying another food. If they do not notice the return of any symptoms, then they can continue to include that food in their diet on an occasional basis.

 

How long do they have to avoid these foods?

It is recommended that they should avoid any food with a high IgG level for a minimum of 3 months. If they do not notice any improvement after this period of time, then they can assume that this food is not responsible for the symptoms.

 

If they avoid foods that show a high IgG reading, how long will it take before the IgG level returns to a normal level?

Over time, the concentration of IgG antibodies to that particular food will gradually decrease. The half life of IgG in the blood stream is approximately 23 days. However, antigens that have been stored in the liver may be slowly released over several months, resulting in some persistent antibody production. The levels, however, will decline gradually, barring any new exposure.

 

They started to avoid foods from their diet, and now they 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.

 

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

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