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The Alcat test
This was when I stumbled upon a company called Cell Science Systems. They offer a comprehensive food allergy test that actually tests your body’s chemical reaction to certain foods, food additives, chemicals molds etc. I was intrigued. Could this be it? Could this be the source of all my problems for all this time? Could it be this simple? Was it just a food allergy? I was determined to find out and this test seemed like a good start.
Although expensive, at $500 the 200 Food Panel test seemed to cover just about everything I was or once did eat. After procrastinating for a few days, I finally made the phone call and ordered the test, which arrived the very next day. I was required to go to a blood draw to harvest a blood sample which I did a few days later and off my blood sample went.
The Test Results
About a week later, a letter arrived in the mail from Cell Science Systems. Was this my answer? I eagerly opened the envelope to learn my results. The test results were laid out pretty well, separating intolerances by severe, moderate and mild. It then gave a list of “safe” foods for which there was no reaction at all. Foods I could eat with no trouble? Are you serious? I never thought I would read that! In the “Severe Intolerance” column was just paprika and scallops. Scallops were not a regular part of my diet, but paprika was. I put it in everything I cooked, and I do mean everything. WOW!
Food Allergy Culprit #1: Paprika
In the Moderate Intolerance” column, there were a few more foods that I enjoyed. Baker’s yeast, beef, cinnamon, cow’s milk, liquorice, peanuts, soybeans, sweet potatoes and tomatoes. I lived on bread, so baker’s yeast came as a shock. Beef? Are you kidding me? How could anyone be allergic to beef? No more burgers, roast beef, steak? Oh boy, that’s not going to be easy. Liquorice and peanuts were an occasional snack food for me here and there and looking back, they did make me feel a little sick, but I didn’t associate it at the time. Soy bean oil seems to be in everything these days, mostly because its cheaper than finer oils. Olive oil is sometimes cut with soybean oil to save money on production. It’s the good old American way right? Make more money. And tomatoes, my favorite. I love a nice plate of pasta every now and then, but the next day my stomach would not be happy. Tomatoes were the problem. It’s all starting to make sense now.
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