Most of us, women and men alike, have experienced the occasional feeling of bloating, usually after a large meal!  However, for some, that uncomfortable feeling where the stomach or intestines push against the skin and make the tummy distended and hard, is a persistent problem that can cause havoc during everyday lives. Bloating is often caused by an excessive build up of intestinal gas or wind that many people find not only uncomfortable but also embarrassing. This gas is produced by the bacteria in the digestive tract, and the bacteria generate gas from food that is eaten but that has not been properly digested or absorbed by the body.  Bloating on a regular basis can be indicative of underlying health issues and imbalances which, if left unchecked, can lead to more serious health problems in later years.  If you get bloating you are receiving an early warning signal that all is not well and need to do something about it.  

 

Bloating is one of the main symptoms of food intolerance, which affects the way that food is digested, and symptoms of bloating can be relieved by identifying the foods that cause the problem, and then removing them from the diet. The problem with attempting any dietary modification is that first you need to know what to change. Currently the best accepted method for confirming food sensitivities is by elimination diet. This involves eating a restricted diet for several weeks. If there is no reduction in symptoms during this time, it is assumed that the food type that has been restricted is not the problem and the process is repeated with another food type. Using this method it is impossible to test all the different combinations of food types that may be causing the problems, it is a very ineffective process.

 

 

The most scientific approach that can be used to identify the different food types involved for each individual is a blood test that measures food-specific IgG antibodies. A recent study surveyed 576 sufferers’ who described symptoms of bloating. A staggering 92% of them showed a significant reduction in their symptoms, and overall improvement in their gut function, if they removed the foods from their diet that showed a positive reaction in the blood test. The fact that people saw their bloating and gut pain return on reintroduction of the foods identified by the food-specific IgG test supports the fact that this is an active and specific approach. The test used in the study is the YorkTest FoodScan 113, it only requires a few drops of blood from a finger prick that can be collected in the comfort of your own home. The YorkTest FoodScan 113 test was also used in the only published randomised controlled trial of its kind, showing a significant reduction in stomach distension, bowel dysfunction also a reduction in factors such as pain and fatigue and an increase in general well-being.

 

 

Taking a First Step food intolerance test enables you to eliminate uncertainty and confirm whether you have food intolerance through a ‘positive’ or ‘negative’ test result. This way you can check if you have a food intolerance before taking the Second Step FoodScan 113 which is the comprehensive service that identifies the specific foods you are intolerant to.

Please call our food intolerance specialists on 0800 074 6185 who will be happy to provide you with free, confidential expert advice and guidance on the First Step food intolerance test. Alternatively click here for further information or buy now at a reduced special offer price of £9.99 (usually £19.99).