Food intolerance can manifest in a variety of symptoms, commonly digestive upsets such as bloating, constipation and diarrhoea; through intense reactions such as migraines; and also including emotional and behavioural difficulties (e.g. hyperactivity, mood swings and anxiety).

Awareness of food allergies and intolerances is growing, with general guidelines such as the avoidance of wheat and dairy foods being common. What if you are not intolerant to these 'common' culprits though? Your individual body has its own unique combination of needs and sensitivities, and the key to good health is correctly identifying these. The ALCAT Test is a blood test that objectively identifies any foods or chemicals to which you may currently be sensitive.

Method: On receipt of your order we will send you a kit for your GP practice doctor or nurse to take a blood sample. This must then be posted directly to the laboratory in the pre-paid special delivery envelope provided, according to the instructions.

The Test

The blood sample must be analysed in the laboratory within 36 hours so it should only be taken on a Monday to Thursday. The ALCAT process compares response of your white blood cells (the primary markers of immune response) to a panel of foods and chemicals. Our usual panel (of both foods and chemicals) is part of the comprehensive Restorative Health package but also available separately.

Results

The degree of change in your white blood cells indicates the level of sensitivity or intolerance to the food or chemical introduced. This is converted into a user-friendly report, which advises appropriate food choices and diet planning to enable you to follow a diet suited to your personal needs and condition. A pocket version is also provided.

Follow-up

Restorative Health advisers provide guidance in support of the ALCAT results to guide you through any suggested changes to your diet, that will be of the most benefit to you as an individual. These suggestions are not just standard or common intolerances, but those identified by your blood specifically reacting to The changes that you carry out following an ALCAT test will work in harmony with your body and may help to resolve any of a wide range of problems.

NB. The value of the ALCAT test is its ability to detect general immune responses, which indicate intolerances. Food allergies are mediated by specific reactions involving IgE and are best detected by a test measuring this immunoglobulin (e.g. RAST). Consequently, a non-reactive result to a particular item from the ALCAT test does not necessarily mean you are not allergic to it. You should continue to avoid any known allergens that affect you.

The Restorative Health ALCAT panel measures your response to the following:

The above panel has been tested and proven through scientific research as a simple yet broad support package providing help to many people.

Other more comprehensive panels are available which will measure your reactions to more foods or other chemicals. Please ask for details.