YorkTest > Allergy or Intolerance? > Suffering from Fatigue?

 

Fatigue as a concept is extremely hard to define, since everybody has their own idea of what being tired means. Everybody is tired once in a while and the most common reason is, of course, lack of sleep. The number of people complaining of tiredness increases every year; 1 in 10 people are suffering from persistent tiredness, with women more likely to be affected than men. Chronic fatigue is a medical condition characterised by drowsiness, slowness, general indifference, or tiredness so much so that you can't perform all of the normal, daily activities you used to. Some people battle chronic fatigue for many years.

 

The cause of chronic fatigue is not known, although it is clear that the immune system, the body’s own protection mechanism, is involved. It is also clear that the most common symptom of food intolerance is fatigue although people often use other health conditions as an explanation for their symptoms. The fact is that every individual person is unique with a different biochemical make-up, even to others with similar conditions. Eggs, strawberries and lentils may cause one person to feel more washed out and lacking in energy but will be fine for someone else to eat even though they suffer from chronic fatigue. For those with chronic fatigue, acknowledging that certain food combinations can contribute to symptoms, and then identifying and eliminating the specific foods from their diet, is an important step forward in improving energy levels. 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 648 sufferers who described symptoms of lethargy and fatigue. A staggering 87% of them showed a significant increase in their energy levels if they removed the foods from their diet that showed a positive reaction in the blood test . The fact that people saw their energy levels plummet 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 food intolerance test, it only requires a few drops of blood from a finger prick that can be collected in the comfort of your own home.

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).