food intolerance testing southfield

“Sensitive Stomach?” You Can Still Enjoy the Holidays with Food Intolerance Testing

Food Intolerance Testing Offers a Holiday Without Tummy Troubles

Pumpkin pie, turkey with stuffing and gravy, yams smothered in brown sugar and marshmallows, eggnog, candy canes  … whatever your family traditions, the holiday season is synonymous with delicious and often decadent food. But while the holiday season brings joy through festive gatherings and sumptuous meals, for many people it also brings anxiety about potential digestive discomfort. For many people, bloating, nausea, stomach cramps, gas, and diarrhea can put a significant damper on holiday celebrations.

If you are one of these people who suffer from a “sensitive stomach,” you are not alone. According to recent studies, up to 80% of the population experiences some form of food intolerance, yet many continue to suffer unnecessarily, without proper diagnosis. But having a sensitive stomach does not mean you have to avoid everything you love to eat.

The good news is that knowing specifically what you can eat – and what you should avoid – can ensure you enjoy the holidays without the discomfort and embarrassment of intestinal problems! This is done through “food intolerance testing.” Dr. Nishath Hakim at Prosperity Health in the Southfield area offers comprehensive food intolerance testing to help patients identify problematic foods – so they can enjoy holiday celebrations without worry.

The holiday season shouldn’t be a time of digestive distress. Through advanced food intolerance testing, Dr. Hakim at Prosperity Health in the Southfield area helps patients understand exactly which foods trigger their symptoms – so they can be avoided.  This knowledge proves particularly valuable during the holidays when faced with numerous food choices and social pressures to partake in both new and traditional dishes.

Food Intolerance: Beyond Simple Allergies

Food reactions fall into several distinct categories, each requiring different approaches to testing and treatment. While food allergies trigger immediate immune responses, food intolerances and sensitivities can cause delayed reactions that make them harder to identify without proper testing.

Research published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology indicates that food intolerances affect significantly more people than food allergies. Not only is food intolerance two times more common than a food allergy, it can go undiagnosed for years, or even a lifetime, wreaking havoc on our bodies and even our minds.

Dr. Hakim at Prosperity Health in the Southfield area employs comprehensive testing methods to help you understand which foods you may be sensitive to. She has undergone specialized training in the identification and treatment of food intolerance – using advanced blood tests that accurately pinpoint the food(s) that trigger your immune system and react negatively with your digestive system.

Food intolerance testing involves a quick and easy blood test, requiring just a finger stick. And the majority of our patients who test positive for one or more food intolerances show a significant improvement in their symptom(s) by following prescribed diet alterations in as little as a few weeks.

Different Types of Food Intolerance

Enzyme deficiency represents one of the most common forms of food intolerance. For example, lactose intolerance affects approximately 65% of the global population. This occurs when the body lacks sufficient enzymes to break down certain food components, leading to digestive distress. Prosperity Health offers testing to identify specific enzyme deficiencies and provide targeted solutions.

Sensitivity to food additives has become increasingly prevalent as processed foods dominate modern diets. These reactions can manifest hours or even days after consumption, making them particularly challenging to identify without proper testing. Common additives that cause reactions include sulfites, artificial colors, and preservatives.

Natural substance intolerances can also occur when the body reacts to compounds naturally present in certain foods. Histamine intolerance, for example, affects an estimated 1-3% of the population and can cause symptoms ranging from digestive issues to headaches and skin problems. Dr. Hakim’s comprehensive testing can identify these specific sensitivities.

Celiac disease, an autoimmune condition triggered by gluten, requires particular attention during food intolerance testing. While celiac disease only affects about 1% of the population, many more suffer from non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Proper testing can differentiate between these conditions and guide appropriate dietary modifications.

Advanced Testing Methods for Food Intolerance

Blood testing provides valuable insights into food reactions by measuring specific antibodies and inflammatory markers. Prosperity Health in the Southfield area utilizes advanced blood testing panels that can identify reactions to hundreds of different foods and food components. This comprehensive approach helps create personalized dietary recommendations.

Additionally, G-Map stool testing at Prosperity Health in the Southfield area can further reveals crucial information about digestive health and food tolerance. This sophisticated analysis examines gut microbiome composition, inflammation markers, and digestive enzyme levels. Research shows that imbalances in gut bacteria can significantly impact food tolerance and overall health.

Micronutrient testing is another procedure offered at at Prosperity Health in the Southfield area that complements food intolerance testing by identifying potential deficiencies that may contribute to digestive issues. This detailed analysis helps Dr. Hakim develop comprehensive treatment plans that address both immediate symptoms and underlying nutritional imbalances.

Understanding the complex relationship between IBS, inflammatory bowel disease, and food intolerances requires sophisticated testing approaches. These conditions often coexist and can complicate diagnosis and treatment. Through careful testing and analysis, Dr. Hakim helps patients understand their specific triggers and develop effective management strategies.

Food Intolerance Testing | Southfield Area

Don’t let food intolerances prevent you from enjoying the holiday season. Dr. Hakim at Prosperity Health in the Southfield area offers comprehensive food intolerance testing that can help you understand your body’s specific needs and reactions. With this knowledge, you can make informed choices about holiday foods while still participating fully in seasonal celebrations. Contact Prosperity Health today to schedule your food intolerance testing and take the first step toward more comfortable and enjoyable holiday dining.

Southfield Area Food Intolerance Testing: 248-997-4242

Food Intolerance is Different than Food Allergy! Should You Be Tested?

Food Intolerance Testing May Be the Answer!

It is important to understand that food “allergies” and food “intolerances” are not the same thing. Food intolerance refers to the difficulty or inability of the body to digest certain types of food.

Most people know if they have a “food allergy” – because it typically causes immediate symptoms if the person ingests the food to which they are allergic. Hives, rashes, inability to breath, and swelling of the throat or other body parts are all acute signs of a food allergy.

But many individuals are not aware of “food intolerances” which may be causing them to have severe or uncomfortable digestive issues – or may simply be causing them to feel less than their best.

In this article the food intolerance experts at Prosperity Health in Royal Oak explain the differences between food allergy and intolerance – and helps you understand how food intolerance testing can tell you if certain foods are making you feel unwell.

Food Allergy vs. Food Intolerance

Food allergies are caused by the immune system reacting to specific proteins in food. If you are allergic to a certain food, the immune system mistakes the protein as harmful and produces an allergic reaction, which can range from mild symptoms such as itching to severe and potentially life-threatening symptoms such as anaphylaxis.

Food allergies are more common in children than adults, and some allergies may be outgrown as the immune system matures. Common food allergens include peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, milk, eggs, soy, and wheat. Food allergies can be diagnosed through skin testing or blood tests to identify the specific allergen. Once diagnosed, the only way to manage a food allergy is to avoid the allergen completely.

However, food intolerances do not involve the immune system. A food intolerance is caused by the body’s inability to digest or process certain components of a food, such as the lactose in dairy products or the gluten in wheat. This can lead to symptoms such as bloating, gas, diarrhea, headaches, and more –  but does not involve an immune system reaction.

Food allergies can be life-threatening, while food intolerances are generally not. However, food intolerances can wreak havoc on your digestive system as well as cause you to feel tired and run down all of the time.

Symptoms of Food Intolerance

Food intolerance symptoms will vary depending on the individual and the type of food involved. Common digestive symptoms of food intolerance may include bloating, gas, stomach pain, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, and even vomiting. Some people also experience headaches or migraines, fatigue, joint pain and inflammation, and feelings of fatigue and lethargy.

Some people may even experience mood changes (irritability, anxiety, or depression) or respiratory symptoms (congestion, runny nose, or wheezing) as a result of consuming foods to which they are intolerant. Certain food intolerances, such as those to histamine-containing foods, can even cause heart palpitations.

But, because these symptoms don’t always occur immediately after consuming the problematic food patients often don’t connect their symptoms with the food to which they are intolerant. Symptoms of food intolerance may not appear immediately after eating, or may develop gradually over time, making “self-diagnosis” difficult if not impossible. This is why food intolerance testing is such a game-changer!

What Causes Food Intolerance

Food intolerances can be caused by various factors, including enzyme deficiencies, sensitivity to certain food additives, and adverse reactions to naturally occurring substances in certain food. Common types of food intolerance include lactose intolerance, gluten intolerance, and histamine intolerance.

But many people are sensitive to food additives, such as sulfites, food dyes, and monosodium glutamate (MSG). Other less common food intolerances include fructose intolerance, histamine intolerance, and sensitivity to specific proteins found in foods such as eggs or soy.

Types of Food Intolerance

Food intolerances occur when the body is unable to properly digest or absorb certain types of food. There are several reasons why this may occur, including:

#1. Enzyme Deficiency Food Intolerance

The digestive system uses enzymes to break down food into its constituent parts, which the body can then absorb and use for energy. In some cases, the body may not produce enough of a particular enzyme needed to digest a certain food.

For example, lactose intolerance occurs when the body does not produce enough lactase, the enzyme needed to break down lactose, the sugar found in milk and other dairy products. Pancreatic insufficiency.

Pancreatic insufficiency – a condition in which the pancreas is not able to produce enough digestive enzymes to break down food in the small intestine – is one cause of enzyme deficiency food intolerance.

#2. Sensitivity to Food Additives Food Intolerance

Some people may be sensitive to certain food additives, such as artificial sweeteners, preservatives, or colorings. These additives may cause digestive symptoms or other adverse reactions in sensitive individuals.

#3. Natural Substance Food Intolerance

Some foods contain naturally occurring substances that can cause adverse reactions in certain individuals. For example, histamine intolerance occurs when the body is unable to break down histamine, a compound found in many fermented foods, such as aged cheese, wine, and sauerkraut.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system reacts to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye.

#4. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) / Inflammatory Bowel Disease Food Intolerance

IBS is a common digestive disorder characterized by a group of symptoms that can include bloating, gas, abdominal pain, and diarrhea or constipation. Many people with IBS report that certain foods, such as dairy, wheat, or certain fruits and vegetables, can trigger their symptoms.

Food Intolerance Testing

Correct diagnosis of food intolerance is often missed by patients and their medical providers because the symptoms can be similar to those of many other digestive disorders. However, integrative medicine specialist Dr. Nishath Hakim at Prosperity Health in Royal Oak offers several tests and methods that can help diagnose food intolerances.

Many patients have already tried an “elimination diet” in conjunction with a food diary. This involves eliminating suspected problematic foods from the diet for a period of time and then gradually reintroducing them to see if symptoms occur. The patient also uses a food diary to help track the types of foods consumed and any associated symptoms.

While this approach can sometimes be useful in identifying patterns and potential problematic foods, it is often difficult (if not impossible) to know exactly what is in your food – especially when eating out or eating time saving prepared foods. And it can be quite burdensome – and take forever – to eliminate common foods from your diet and then slowly reintroduce them back, one-by-one.

Dr. Nishath Hakim at Prosperity Health in Royal Oak has undergone specialized training in the identification and treatment of food intolerance. She offers an advanced food intolerance test that accurately pinpoints the food(s) that respond negatively with your system – all with just a few drops of blood from a basic finger prick. This blood test works by measuring levels of certain antibodies in response to specific foods. This method can also help identify food intolerances associated with immune system reactions, such as celiac disease.

Dr. Hakim is also one of the first integrative doctors in Royal Oak to offer the GI-MAP stool test. This is the first and only stool test to provide comprehensive assessment of multiple GI targets, including: bacteria, worms, yeasts, parasites, and antibiotic resistant genes, alongside intestinal health, digestive, and immune markers that may reveal food intolerance and malabsorption.

In cases of suspected lactose intolerance, a hydrogen breath test may also be used. This test involves consuming a drink containing lactose and then measuring the amount of hydrogen gas in the breath. If the body is unable to properly digest lactose, it will produce excess hydrogen gas that can be detected in the breath.

How to Treat Food Intolerance After Testing

Once Dr. Hakim at Prosperity Health in Royal Oak identifies your food intolerances, she will put together a comprehensive treatment plan. A personalized treatment approach will be put in place depending on the individual and the type of food intolerance.

Of course, dietary changes to avoid the problematic food is the primary way to manage food intolerances. Additionally, in some case, Dr. Hakim my prescribe enzyme supplements that can help improve digestion of the problematic food.

In some cases, Dr. Hakim can also prescribe medications that can help manage symptoms associated with food intolerances, such as antihistamines for histamine intolerance or anti-diarrheal medications for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Dr. Hakim may also prescribe probiotics – the beneficial bacteria that live in the gut and help with digestion. Taking probiotic supplements can help improve digestion and reduce symptoms in many cases of certain food intolerances.

Food Intolerance Testing Doctor | Royal Oak

Assessing food intolerances can help Dr. Hakim get to the root cause of digestive problems, chronic illness, fatigue, and many other health problems. At Prosperity Health in Royal Oak, we can conduct comprehensive food intolerance testing and create a customized treatment plan to address your GI dysfunction, to restore your health, and improve your quality of life.

The majority of our patients who test positive for one or more food intolerances show a significant improvement in their symptom(s) within only three weeks by following their prescribed diet alterations and treatment plan. It can be a truly life changing experience! Schedule your food intolerance testing appointment at Prosperity Health in Royal Oak, MI today!

Food Intolerance Testing | Royal Oak: 248.997.4242