“Very Helpful and My Health Is Much Improved”
34-year-old design engineer Gareth Hunt had long been struggling with frequent bloating and a constant sense of lethargy. The issue became especially troubling during exercise: one of his greatest passions. He’d often feel worse after a workout, and that was both baffling and disheartening. On top of that, certain foods made him sick, though he could never quite pin down which ones or why.
These symptoms had been with Gareth for much of his life, but things had noticeably worsened. His energy levels dropped throughout the day, and his performance during sport (particularly running) began to suffer. A regular 10k runner, Gareth found himself dreading his usual routes, worried about how he’d feel during or after a run. Exercise wasn’t the only thing taking a hit, as travelling and eating out became a minefield too.
The impact wasn’t just physical. Mentally, Gareth was frustrated and confused. He didn’t know what was wrong, and the lack of answers began to take a toll.
Determined to take control, Gareth began making changes. He gave up alcohol after noticing it made him feel worse. This yielded some initial improvement, but nothing close to the breakthrough he was hoping for. He visited his GP, but left feeling disappointed. They ran blood and stool tests but showed little interest in food as a possible factor. Once those tests came back clear, the investigation stopped.
With little progress via traditional routes, Gareth took matters into his own hands. He began researching food intolerance and allergy testing online, and that’s when he discovered YorkTest. Impressed by our track record and glowing reviews, he decided to give us a try. Within just seven days of sending his sample, he had his results.
The findings were eye-opening.
Gareth discovered he was intolerant to yeast, finally explaining his negative reactions to alcohol, along with cow’s milk, gluten, and wheat. While gluten and wheat weren’t much of a surprise, he was shocked to learn he was also intolerant to oranges. Most serious of all, he was found to be allergic to hazelnuts.
Managing these dietary restrictions wasn’t easy at first. While gluten and dairy-free products were relatively accessible, Gareth found himself occasionally buying items with hidden trigger ingredients. Yeast, in particular, turned up in unexpected places. Navigating his hazelnut allergy was especially tricky; one mistake could have serious consequences.
Despite the challenges, Gareth committed to his new diet. It wasn’t always easy, especially when eating out, but the results were worth it.
The improvements were almost immediate. His energy returned, the bloating disappeared, and he no longer got sick after eating. Physically and mentally, he felt like a new person. He was back to running at full potential and completed a half marathon just a week after cutting out his trigger foods… and his time was faster than it had ever been before!
Though he lost a bit of weight initially, it wasn’t concerning. In fact, he felt healthier than ever. Out of curiosity, Gareth later reintroduced some of his trigger foods, only to see his old symptoms return. That experiment was short-lived.
Now, he’s thriving, and grateful he took the step to get tested.
If you’re experiencing symptoms like Gareth and feel like something just isn’t right, why not try one of our easy at-home tests? Whether you’re interested in food intolerance, allergy testing, or general health insights, we’ve got a range of options to suit your needs. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to help you get back to feeling your best.
