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Last April 27, I visited Skin+Nutrition at the High Pointe Medical Hub along Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong City. I had booked my Food Sensitivity Test a week prior through Parlon and they got back to me right away to confirm my appointment.
Just to give you a bit of background, Skin+Nutrition isn’t your typical beauty-slash-wellness center. It’s a skincare clinic that goes beyond basic skincare. Their approach to their clients’ health issues is much more holistic by finding the right balance between conventional medicine and functional medicine. Meaning, they don’t just look at your symptoms and history, but they also take into account your lifestyle, which allows them to really get into the root cause of your condition.
I blindly went in for a Food Sensitivity Test, which was something I knew nothing of and practically just took for what it’s called. It’s a test that lets you know what your food sensitivities are…right?
Well, I was right and wrong at the same time. I somehow had the notion that the test would show me any food allergies (if I had any). According to them, though, the “FoodPrint® Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody test does NOT test for classical allergies, which involve the production of Immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies and cause rapid-onset of symptoms such as rashes, swelling, violent sickness, difficulty breathing and anaphylactic shock.”
What the test actually does is find out if your immune system has a bad reaction to certain foods, which could cause stomach problems, skin problems, headaches, tiredness, or other discomforts.
It’s different from food allergy testing, which looks at how IgE antibodies cause immediate and possibly life-threatening immune responses.
According to Healthline, “food sensitivities are believed to result from an immune reaction driven by antibodies such as immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin M (IgM), and immunoglobulin A (IgA), along with other cell-mediated reactions in the body.” And while they’re usually not life-threatening, they could possibly cause unpleasant symptoms.
Now, one thing about me is that I grew up not having any adverse reactions to any food and I found the test fitting for me for that very reason. Plus, I wanted to know what food I’m sensitive to, so that I could manage my intake of them.
Going back to the appointment, I walked into Skin + Nutrition and my immediate thought was how clean, professional, and not too clinic-y the place looked. The lovely receptionists asked me to fill out a long form about my personal details, medical history, and even had a few questions on how I often feel.
Afterwards, one of the nurses took me into the room and drew my blood. And let me tell you, of all the years that I had gone to get my blood drawn, this one hurt the least. I was in and out in less than 30 minutes and was told that my results would be emailed in 7-14 business days.
True enough, I received my results via email within the promised timeframe. They provided two different test reports: one is a list of sensitivities in their respective food groups and the other is the same list, but grouped by order of reactivity where food is ranked by concentration of IgG antibody reaction.
Personally, the latter was easier for me to understand because it showed all of the food I’m highly sensitive to at a glance. And according to it, I’m most sensitive to cow’s milk, casein, sheep milk, egg white (this was a shocker for me, as eggs are a staple in my breakfasts), and gliadin.
What’s great about Skin+Nutrition is that they offer Food Sensitivity Test Webinars to help you understand your results more. You get to learn all about the meaning behind your sensitivities, how to read and analyze the results, identify the food items and discuss alternatives, and how to manage your food sensitivities.
So if this is something you’re interested in availing, we highly recommend giving it a try at Skin + Nutrition. The test will set you back P14,170, but if you want the Complete Bundle, which includes 3 Nutritionist-Dietitian Consultations, it costs P16,700. Note that result changes over time, which is why people can consult prior to taking the test to determine if they need it. No worries, a Nutritionist-Dietitian will always guide you.
All things considered, I found the test super interesting and helpful when planning out my meals.
Oh, and while you’re at it, Skin+Nutrition also has ongoing deals on Parlon for a Hydrafacial, a Signature Facial, Laser Hair Removal, and a Health Management Consult. Talk about beauty and wellness from the inside to out!
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