Get tested for intolerances: The complete guide
Do you often feel tired, bloated, or is your skin acting up after eating? Such symptoms are not imagined but clear signals from your body. Often, these are not classic allergies, but rather unrecognized food intolerances. The first step to regaining a better quality of life is to get tested for these intolerances.
Is a bloated stomach and fatigue caused by an intolerance?
Perhaps you know the feeling: Lunch was delicious, but shortly afterwards your stomach rumbles, in the afternoon you are overcome by leaden fatigue, or your skin suddenly reacts with itching. Many attribute such complaints to everyday stress or a "bad" meal. But often there is more behind it – namely, a specific reaction of your body to certain foods.
You should take these signals seriously. Instead of accepting them and struggling through the day, you can pinpoint the cause.
Typical symptoms that may indicate an intolerance
The insidious thing about intolerances is that their symptoms often appear insidiously and with a significant delay – in stark contrast to allergies, which usually trigger immediate and severe reactions. This makes it incredibly difficult to identify the culprit yourself in your daily diet.
Look out for these common signs:
- Digestive problems: A constant bloated stomach, feeling of fullness, diarrhea, or constipation.
- Persistent fatigue: You often feel tired and low on energy, especially after eating. You can read more about this in our article on the causes of chronic fatigue.
- Skin changes: Unexplained rashes, acne, eczema, or itching.
- Headaches and migraines: Recurrent headaches for which there is no other plausible explanation.
This list shows how differently the body can react. What causes stomach pain in one person can cause skin problems in another. The common denominator is often a food that your body cannot process properly.
You are not alone with your complaints
Food intolerances are no longer a niche phenomenon. Did you know that around 18% of Germans are affected, while true allergies only occur in about 4%? These figures show how many people are looking for answers to their diffuse health problems.
Your body sends you signals. An intolerance test is the first proactive step to take responsibility for your health and better understand your body's language.
Getting to the bottom of the causes is the key to more well-being. Instead of being in the dark and arbitrarily eliminating foods, a targeted blood test, such as the mybody-x intolerance test, can finally provide clarity.
Such a test precisely analyzes how your immune system reacts to a variety of foods. The result is like a personal roadmap that shows you exactly which foods you should temporarily avoid to specifically adjust your diet and bring more ease back into your life.
What test methods are available for intolerances?
If you notice that your body reacts with discomfort to certain foods, you face an important question: How do I find out what's behind it? There are various ways to get tested for intolerances, and each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. The right choice depends entirely on your symptoms and your personal situation.
Imagine the different tests as tools: You need a hammer for a nail, a screwdriver for a screw. Similarly, a specific test is perfect for one type of intolerance, but hardly meaningful for another.
Medical tests for specific suspicions
If you suspect you suffer from a classic intolerance like lactose, fructose, or sorbitol intolerance, your general practitioner or a specialist is usually the first point of contact. Very specific procedures are used here.
One of the best-known tests is the H2 breath test. The principle is simple: You drink a solution with a high dose of the suspected sugar, for example, lactose. If your small intestine cannot process this sugar properly, it moves into the large intestine. There, bacteria break it down and produce hydrogen (H2). This enters your lungs via your blood and can be measured in your exhaled breath. If the H2 value rises significantly, the case is pretty clear.
- Advantages: This procedure is the gold standard for diagnosing carbohydrate intolerances and provides clear results when performed correctly.
- Disadvantages: The test can trigger precisely the symptoms you want to avoid – bloating, abdominal cramps – and you have to spend several hours in the doctor's office. In addition, only one substance is tested at a time.
If a true food allergy is suspected, which manifests itself immediately (type I allergy), an IgE blood test or a prick test on the skin may be considered. These tests look for specific IgE antibodies responsible for rapid and often severe reactions such as swelling or shortness of breath.
Modern blood tests for tracking down causes
But what if the symptoms appear hours or even days after eating? Chronic fatigue, skin problems, or a constant bloated stomach are typical examples. This is where so-called IgG blood tests come into play, such as those offered by mybody-x. These analyze whether your immune system reacts to a variety of foods by forming IgG antibodies.
An elevated IgG level is not an allergy in the classic sense. Rather, it indicates that your body is "fighting" with a food. This can lead to subtle, chronic inflammations, which in turn cause your symptoms.
Such tests are incredibly valuable if you suffer from diffuse symptoms and simply can't identify the trigger. They scan a wide range of foods at once and provide you with a clear, prioritized list. Learn more about how to detect intolerances in our in-depth article.
Further diagnostic approaches
In addition to breath and blood tests, there are other approaches that can help you gain clarity.
- Stool analyses: These can provide information about the composition of your gut flora (microbiome), inflammatory markers, or general digestive performance. An imbalance of gut bacteria, also known as dysbiosis, can promote or aggravate intolerances.
- Elimination diet: This is the supreme discipline in practice. Based on a test result or a strong suspicion, you consistently avoid potentially problematic foods for a certain period (usually 4-6 weeks). If your symptoms significantly improve during this time, it is a strong indication. Afterwards, you reintroduce the foods individually and carefully observe your body's reaction.
Of course, an elimination diet is elaborate. But it is also extremely insightful. An IgG test, like the one from mybody-x, provides you with the perfect basis for it. Instead of fumbling in the dark, you know exactly which foods you should temporarily omit. This makes the whole process much more efficient and the chances of success much higher.
Test your intolerances easily from home with mybody®x
Honestly: Who wants to deal with crowded waiting rooms and unclear statements when their stomach is bothering them? The thought of arranging a doctor's appointment, only to potentially go home without a concrete result, deters many from addressing their complaints. But there's a much more convenient solution: You can get tested for your intolerances, all from the comfort of your own home.
With a blood test from mybody®x, you take control yourself – discreetly, without waiting times, and precisely when it suits you. The entire process takes place in your familiar surroundings. This not only saves a lot of time but also a lot of nerves.
Your test kit comes directly to your home
As soon as you have ordered your test, we will send you a small package. Inside, you will find everything you need for the sample. Don't worry, you don't have to be a medical professional – every step is simple and easy to understand.
The mybody®x test kit contains everything you need:
- An illustrated guide that takes you through the process step-by-step.
- Two small lancets for a gentle prick of the fingertip.
- A sample tube to collect the few drops of blood.
- Disinfectant wipe and plaster for a clean process.
