Food Allergy Testing Vancouver & Burnaby | Dr. Jiwani, Naturopathic Physician

Are you searching for Allergy Testing Vancouver & Burnaby? Or Allergy Testing Surrey? Many people have typical allergic symptoms, and google “Allergies Naturopath” to seek help when their doctors cannot find the answers, or the medications stop working or have uncomfortable side effects. This is where Food Allergy Testing may provide answers to determine the underlying cause(s) of your conditions.

If you notice symptoms after ingesting or coming into physical contact with something, you may have a related allergy. Contact Dr. Jiwani, Naturopathic Physician for comprehensive allergy testing, as she has been trusted by thousands of patients over 25 years of practice. Dr. Jiwani is a licensed naturopathic physician with pharmaceutical prescribing authority, and is proud to offer a vast array of naturopathic medical services to those in and around Vancouver & Burnaby, including Richmond, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, North Vancouver and West Vancouver.

There are various types of Food Allergy Testing, however blood testing is not commonly done due to lack of coverage in Canada’s healthcare system. Most people think that Food Allergy Testing need only been done if the reaction is a sudden, throat-closing type of reaction. Actually, 80-90% of allergic reactions in the body are not immediate. In fact, almost 33% of the industrialized world suffers from Allergies. Food Allergies have been self-reported by 2.5 million Canadians & 15 million Americans. Research reviews have highlighted this alarming prevalence of food allergies in 15-20% of babies (Ho et al. 2014). This makes food allergies a growing concern in our healthcare system, as they are quickly undermining our health. Contact Dr. Jiwani to be your Allergies Naturopath!

Food Allergy Testing Vancouver & Burnaby Because the Immunity is Overreacting

Food Allergy Testing Vancouver & Burnaby detects foods that cause an overreaction of a normal immune response. Your immunity is a powerful, intricate system that protects you from foreign invaders, while also repairing cancer cells. Your immunity combats bacteria, viruses & fungi that cause sickness & infection. In fact, the strength of your immunity reflects your vulnerability to infection.

Food Allergy Testing Vancouver & Burnaby as Not All Allergies Are Equal

There are different types of allergic reactions. Developed or acquired allergies may occur from constantly eating the same foods. Completely avoiding the food for a time, however, may allow the immune system to forget that it’s allergic. Thereafter, occasionally eating that food may be okay. Allergies that you are born with, are fixed immediate reactions that occur whenever the food is eaten, no matter how long you’ve avoided it for.

Rectify Immune Dysfunction with Food Allergy Testing Vancouver & Burnaby

When food or environmental substances enter your body, a hyperactive immunity will cause an allergic reaction. People with allergies have hyperactive immune systems that produce exaggerated responses to something a healthy person would not react to.  It is important to understand that if you have developed food allergies, it means that this hyperactive immunity may eventually cause symptoms and/or chronic health conditions.

Food Allergy Testing Vancouver & Burnaby to Unlock the Mystery of Many Health Conditions 

Food allergies affect many people at some point in their life. The solution to achieving optimal health lies in acknowledging the link between diet and disease. Unfortunately, conventional medicine often does not support this theory. People may or may not notice when a symptom occurs after eating.  Figuring out which food is the culprit becomes challenging when we consider how complex our diets are. What with processed foods having dozens of ingredients, and the introduction of food additives, labels have become scary and difficult to understand. As such, figuring out your food allergies becomes nearly impossible when differing allergic pathways occur causing immediate, delayed & cumulative reactions. This is why Food Allergy Testing Vancouver & Burnaby is so imperative to resolve your symptoms and improve chronic health conditions.

Heal Leaky Gut Syndrome with Food Allergy Testing Vancouver & Burnaby

Developed food allergies can occur from eating the same foods, poor digestion and weakened integrity of the intestinal barrier, known as Leaky Gut Syndrome. It is now understood that poor digestion of proteins may cause large, undigested particles to escape through the leaky gut into the bloodstream. Your immunity, in turn, sees this as an attack and launches an allergic reaction. Not that the food is “bad” for you, but rather the food particles are larger than they should be. The food-allergic reaction can affect any site in the body as it occurs in the bloodstream, including skin, joints, bowels & brain, and in those predisposed, can trigger the expression of Autoimmune Diseases. The inflammation from your food allergies can worsen Leaky Gut Syndrome leading to Intestinal Dysbiosis creating a vicious cycle of damage. This may continue unchecked potentially worsening until the problematic foods are eliminated and the leaky gut is repaired.

Surprising Symptoms that May Benefit From Food Allergy Testing Vancouver & Burnaby

Most allergic reactions are the acquired type. These occur in the bloodstream rather than the mucous membranes, so the symptoms are more vague and delayed in effect. Some people suffer from symptoms that don’t affect others due to their genetics. There are many surprising symptoms associated with Food Allergies including:

• Digestive Disturbances from gut inflammation manifesting as diarrhea, constipation, gas, bloating, heartburn, acid reflux, ulcers, canker sores & abdominal pain

• Skin Inflammation such as Hives (Urticaria), Eczema, Dermatitis, Psoriasis, Scleroderma

• Atopic (Allergic) Conditions such Anaphylaxis, Hives (Urticaria), Eczema, Asthma, Migraine Headaches, Allergic Rhinitis, Chronic Sinusitis, Recurrent Sinusitis (Infections), and Angioedema (Swelling of the Eyes & Face)

• Weight Gain & Water Retention as the inflammation triggers stress hormones to increase fat storing through increasing the insulin hormone

• Fatigue & Lethargy from various reasons ultimately caused by food allergies affecting:

• • Malabsorption of Nutrients from Leaky Gut
  • Thyroid Dysfunction or Autoimmune Thyroid
  • Diabetes
  • Sleep Apnea
  • Anemia from B12 and/or IRON Deficiency
  • Vitamin D Deficiency

• Muscle, Joint Pains and Stiffness through inflammation of the muscles and/or joints destroying cartilage causing Arthritis and Osteoarthritis

• Mental and Emotional Afflictions as the food allergies impair the balance of many different hormones including thyroid, cortisol & serotonin. As a result, mood swings, poor sleep, anxiety, depression, food cravings, poor concentration & memory, brain fog, fatigue & hyperactivity may occur.

• Chronically Swollen Glands as food allergies stimulate an immune & inflammatory response. When this constantly occurs, it can lead to chronically swollen lymph nodes. This is a sign of an  exhausted overworked immune system.

• Heart Symptoms as food allergies can cause alterations in blood flow & heart rhythms causing atrial fibrillation, arrhythmias, high blood pressure & heart palpitations.

• Autoimmune Diseases (Alopecia, Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), Autoimmune Thyroid (Graves / Hashimoto’s), Celiac, Crohn’s or Ulcerative Colitis, Diabetes Type I, Lichen Planus / Sclerosis, Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Psoriasis, Psoriatic Arthritis,Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Sarcoidosis, Vitiligo)

• Immune Dysfunction depending on your genetics:
• • Recurring Infections
  • Environmental and/or Seasonal Allergies
  • Autoimmunity wherein the body self-destructs via damaging inflammation to various tissues including joints, thyroid, skin, hair, liver, kidneys, muscles, spine, stomach and lungs.

Food Allergy Testing Vancouver & Burnaby Ideal for Many Researched Conditions 

Decades of research show food allergies are causative for many conditions, including:

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Arthritis
• Asthma
• Autism (ASD)
• Autoimmune Diseases
• Bedwetting (Enuresis)
• Canker Sores (Aphthous Ulcers)
• Chronic Fatigue
• Colitis
• Cystic Fibrosis
• Recurrent Ear Infections
• Eczema
• Fibromyalgia
• Gallbladder Disease
• Hay Fever
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Kidney Disease
• Migraines
• Psoriasis
• Thyroid Dysfunction

If you suffer from these symptoms or conditions, you may want to call or email Dr. Jiwani, ND to inquire about Food Allergy Testing Vancouver & Burnaby.

Not All Food Allergy Testing are Created Equal

Diagnosis of food allergies can be determined using various methods and some are much better than others. Lab methods attempt to measure antibody levels whereas clinical tests challenge patients with suspected allergens and watch for reactions. Apart from the Skin Prick Test and the Vega Test (an electro-diagnostic method banned in the US), there stands a state of the art technology called the ELISA test (Enzyme Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay) used for Food Allergy Blood Testing. This type of technology (ELISA) is also used to diagnose Pregnancy, HIV & Hepatitis.

Common Allergy / Sensitivity Tests Performed by Physicians / Naturopathic Doctors

Skin Prick Test:

ISSUES:  Can be painful; Limited to only immediate reactions, which is a problem as most reactions are delayed, Dangerous in patients with life-threatening reactions; Inaccurate in those with sensitive, hyper-reactive skin, leading to false positives.

RAST Blood Test:

ISSUES:  Limited to only immediate reactions, which is a problem as most reactions are delayed; Limited number of foods tested because it is very expensive and the government does not want to pay much.

Food Challenge Test:

ISSUES:  Dangerous in some patients; does not test for delayed reactions; very hard to know if multiple allergies exist; very hard to follow strict diet to determine if allergy (new food introduction) exists.

VEGA Test:

Testing using a machine that measures the resistance between the skin contacting the hand electrode (metal handle) and the skin touching a measuring handle.

Practitioner doing the test can affect the result as the harder the skin was pressed by the probe, the higher the meter reading. Testing must be repeated every few months, making it an expensive form of testing. Unreliable results.

Many US states considered the VEGA test illegal. Several medical associations have advised against their use, including the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, the Australian College of Allergy, the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and the Allergy Society of South Africa.

In 1990 a medical practitioner was censured by the Medical Practitioners Disciplinary Committee in New Zealand for using a Vega machine. Another practitioner was censured by the Discipline Committee of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario in 1999 for having “failed to meet the standard of practice” in his use of the Vega machine in diagnosis. Reviews of the available evidence in the medical literature indicate that electrodermal testing, such as that performed with a Vega machine, is ineffective at diagnosing allergies and recommend that it not be used.

STUDY:

BBC looked into VEGA testing at different locations in the UK, and the results varied amongst the testing locations. This lack of reproducibility is exactly what discredits this test method, and why the FDA has banned the importation of these VEGA testing devices into the United States. The results are misleading as the patient feels they have a diagnosis.

STUDY: 

The British Journal of Medicine published a double blind study comparing its results from a VEGA testing device with those of Skin Prick testing in 30 patients. Half of these patients had already been positively reactive for allergy to cat dander & house dust mites. Conclusively, VEGA testing did NOT correlate with Skin Prick testing. (Lewis GT et al. 2001)

Lewis GT and others. Is electrodermal testing as effective as skin prick tests for diagnosing allergies? A double blind, randomized block design study. British Journal of Medicine 322: 131-134, 2001

ELISA Blood Testing:

ELISA Blood Testing is also known as antigen blood analysis. ELISA detects particular antibodies in the blood, and is a very common form of medical testing. Enzyme Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA) testing is used to diagnose Mono (Epstein-Barr virus), Malaria, Lyme disease, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B, E.coli poisoning, AIDS (HIV), West Nile Virus, Influenza, Anemia, Chagas Disease, Ebola, Parasites, Home Pregnancy and Food Allergens in the Food Industry.

Dr. Jiwani’s Approach is ELISA Food Allergy Blood Testing:

Dr. Jiwani’s preferred method of Food Allergy Testing is ELISA Blood testing or Antigen Blood analysis. This state of the art technology, using Enzyme Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA), requires a two vial blood sample drawn from the patient, and is sent to a CLIA registered lab in the United States. Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) are US federal regulatory standards that apply to all clinical lab testing done on humans in the US.

The CLIA registered lab tests for various antibody food allergy reactions on up to 240 foods, producing accurate and reproducible results, confirmed with duplicate testing. Dr. Jiwani, ND approves how the results are presented, as the levels of various antibody reactions (IgE, IgG & IgA) can be measured and shown in a bar graph format. Although few US labs do the ELISA testing, most are not regulated, and do not perform duplicate testing to validate how accurate the testing is.

These other labs, offering cheaper blood tests, show only a combined antibody result, instead of differentiating the various antibodies. It is crucial to report these different antibody levels as each antibody has a different affect in the body. IgE antibodies show allergies that are permanent whereas IgG & IgA show allergies that have been developed, and may go away with avoiding the food for a long enough time. This information is critical for Dr. Jiwani, ND to share with her patients, which is why she uses a specific regulated US lab for food allergy blood testing. This lab does the testing once, and then they repeat the test again, to ensure the results are near identical. If the results are not statistically similar, the patient sample is tested again.

Food Allergy Testing Vancouver & Burnaby from a Naturopathic Physician

The ELISA Food Allergy Testing is a blood test available from Dr. Jiwani, Naturopathic Physician. It involves a blood sample drawn from the patient. The patient’s blood is processed to isolate the serum (yellow part that contains antibodies) and incubated in a test tube with a food antigen. The ELISA technique is used to measure two different antibodies produced when the food is exposed to the patients’ blood. Antibodies are measured on up to 240 Foods, and reflect allergic reaction with more antibodies produced. Two different antibodies, reported separately, are important to determine whether the allergy is an immediate, born with allergy versus a developed, delayed reaction allergy. 

Dr. Jiwani, ND has been using the same US lab for 23 years, as they are government regulated, with CLIA certification. Most critically, Dr. Jiwani uses this lab only as they perform duplicate testing to ensure accurate and reproducible results. Test reproducibility is everything to ensure that the test results that your treatment protocol is based on, are scientifically precise. 

Ultimately, Food Allergy Testing Vancouver & Burnaby needs to be done by Dr. Jiwani, Licensed Naturopathic Physician to help you identify your specific food allergies, and implement a nutritionally balanced, modified diet to treat the underlying causes of your health concerns. Call or Email now to book your FREE initial consultation (approximately 30 minutes) to discuss your health concerns, and review if testing is appropriate for you.

Your Expert Allergy Testing Naturopathic Physician

Dr. Jiwani, ND has been practicing since 1997 helping patients with Autoimmune Diseases, Allergies, Weight Loss, Hair Loss, Food Allergies, Prolotherapy Ozone for Regenerative Joint Injections, Lipodissolve Mesotherapy for Fat Reduction & Body Contouring, Hormone Balance including Thyroid Health, Bio-Identical Hormone Therapy, Cosmetic Wrinkle Injections & Therapeutic Neuromodulators, and Injectable Natural Dermal Fillers. Dr. Jiwani has been injecting since 2007, and is certified for Lipodissolve Mesotherapy, trained by the actual pioneers from Brazil and France. Although Dr. Jiwani is an Allergies Naturopath, she cultivates an eclectic practice utilizing Clinical & Intravenous Nutrition, Intravenous Chelation Therapy, Acupuncture, Homeopathy, Botanical (Herbal) Medicine, Dietary and Lifestyle Counselling, Prolotherapy & Ozone Joint Injections, and Aesthetic Medicine including Lipodissolve Mesotherapy, Neuromodulator Wrinkle Injections and Injectable Natural Dermal Fillers.

Regain your optimal health today! If you have any questions about the naturopathic services offered and their prices, or if you have any other questions, explore our website. You can also contact us today by emailing us at [email protected] or calling 604.679.9988.

Related:  9 Surprising Symptoms Of Food Allergies

Related:  Leaky Gut Syndrome: Science, Symptoms & Solutions

Dr. Jiwani Naturopathic Vancouver & Burnaby: Services & Conditions Treated

• Women’s, Men’s & Children’s Health
• Food Allergy Blood Testing 
• Aesthetic Medicine: Cosmetic Wrinkle Injections & Injectable Natural Fillers
• Therapeutic Botox for Excessive Sweating, Migraine Headaches, TMJ Syndrome
• Lipodissolve Mesotherapy for Cellulite, Stubborn Fat Reduction & Body Contouring
• IV Vitamin & Chelation Therapy
• Prolotherapy Ozone Injections for Regenerative Connective Tissue Treatment
• Cancer Treatment & Recovery
• Acupuncture
• Autoimmune Diseases, Low Immunity
• Anxiety, Depression, Sleep Problems
• Rashes, Eczema, Psoriasis, Hives, Acne
• Heartburn, Indigestion, Constipation
• Crohn’s, Ulcerative Colitis, Celiac Disease
• Weight Gain/Loss, Diabetes
• Arthritis, Gout, Ankylosing Spondylitis
• Thyroid Issues, Hashimoto’s Hypothyroid, Grave’s Hyperthyroid
• Hair Loss, Alopecia
• Heart Disease, Pressure & Cholesterol
• ADHD Hyperactivity, Autism Spectrum Disorder ASD 
• Allergies, Asthma, Migraines
• Hormonal Imbalance
• Menopause, PMS, Infertility

Get Naturopathic with Dr. Jiwani:  Call 604.679.9988

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