Which intolerance test to go for?

OpenToSuggestions · 1 Jan 2020 at 23:54

Hey all.
I am fairly sure I have some form of food intolerance. Online there are plenty of companies within the UK that offer an intolerance test, however the prices vary wildly from around £50 to £250.

I am leaning towards intolerancelab.co.uk.
Has anyone used one that they can recommend?

Hyburnate · 1 Jan 2020 at 23:56

Any of the hair ones are not scientific in the slightest. Several family members did them ranging from £25-£250 and all have been shot down by the GPs etc and have provided inaccurate results. YMMV

Jokester · 2 Jan 2020 at 00:00

I used testyourintolerence.co.uk

I was kind of the opinion as Hyburnate states that it was a bit snake oil, but it came back with stuff I knew I was intolerant of and highlighted a couple of other things I suspected.

Sankari · 2 Jan 2020 at 00:19

Go to a doctor and get yourself properly diagnosed with a referral to a legitimate pathology lab.

OpenToSuggestions · 2 Jan 2020 at 00:24

Evangelion said:
Go to a doctor and get yourself properly diagnosed with a referral to a legitimate pathology lab.

My GP has told me on several occasions that the NHS doesn't have intolerance tests available.

[FnG]magnolia · 2 Jan 2020 at 00:39

OpenToSuggestions said:
Hey all.
I am fairly sure I have some form of food intolerance.

Why?

(not a medical question)

Sankari · 2 Jan 2020 at 01:08

OpenToSuggestions said:
My GP has told me on several occasions that the NHS doesn't have intolerance tests available.

That's because food intolerance tests are not based on scientific evidence. They're junk. The only reliable way test for food intolerance is to monitor your diet.

Alternatively, a referral to a pathologist or an allergy clinic will determine whether or not you have a genuine food allergy (not just an intolerance).

OpenToSuggestions · 2 Jan 2020 at 01:09

[FnG]magnolia said:
Why?

(not a medical question)

Bloating discomfort mainly.

Threepwood · 2 Jan 2020 at 01:50

OpenToSuggestions said:
Bloating discomfort mainly.

Are you drinking enough water?

NVP · 2 Jan 2020 at 07:25

Evangelion said:
The only reliable way test for food intolerance is to monitor your diet.

Stop diary or switch to lactose free, see if that helps. If not, try the next one...

Threepwood · 2 Jan 2020 at 07:28

Start with drinking enough water first, dehydration leads to poor digestion.

Cadder · 9 May 2022 at 20:52

@OpenToSuggestions how did you get on? Any recommendations?

Freakbro · 10 May 2022 at 07:33

Cadder said:
@OpenToSuggestions how did you get on? Any recommendations?

The best way to go is to just monitor your intake.

I knew I had a dairy intolerance but there were other things going on too that I wasnt sure what was causing it, so I cut everything out of my diet and lived on boiled rice and chicken for a week to get to a base level. Then introduced 1 food stuff back at a time and see how I reacted.

Which then uncovered that eggs and celery were massive allergens to me.

OpenToSuggestions · 15 May 2022 at 18:36

I don't have much to add I am afraid!
I did not pay for a test in the end. I suspect it is dairy which causes some of my issues.