Food Sensitivity: Footnotes

footnote one: Roz Zalin, Bruce Pomeranz, Joseph Krop, and myself conducted a study of Food Sensitivities in late 1980s, early 1990s. We looked at the behaviour of basophils in persons who strongly suspected that they had food sensitivities and therefore presented themselves to our study. Basophils are the cells which release histamine to give rise to allergic responses. Our subjects (with self diagnosed FS) were all found to have either very high basophil counts (i.e. they were sensitised) or very low basophil counts (i.e. they were exhausted) - never normal counts. Further, their basophils were "fragile". That is to say, they would tend to release histamine spontaneously or on the slightest challenge.

This work strongly suggests that people who believe that they have FS will have physiological (histamine based) responses to all sorts of foods.

Footnote two: in our study (footnote one) our several experts were unable with their tests to determine which foods gave reliable basophil/histamine responses.

The only reliable way to determine FS is through "avoidance and challenge" (see the main text).

The Allergists' "scratch test (battery)" are totally unreliable. Flipping a coin is as good or better.
The sophisticated blood tests (RAST and ELISA) will only find classical allergies (though these Type One Hypersenitivities can be detected with a %70 to %90 reliability) and they will not detect the more complex immune dysfunctions that are usually seen in FS and other Environmental Sensitivities.
Electrodermal Testing (e.g. "Intero" etc.) and "muscle testing" are divining or dowsing techniques. They are not, therefore, "scientific" techniques. Remember, however, that if you are looking to dig a well for water, far and away the best best way to find water is to employ a dowser with a good track record! see Dowsing, Divining and Diagnosis.

Footnote three: note that after two weeks you may begin to develop tolerance to antigenic foods and may need repeated exposures before allergic responses are elicited.

Footnote four: some reactions can be immediate. This is the basis of Dr. Coca's "Pulse Test" - see below.
Other responses can be delayed. In some elegant research into hayfever (allergic rhinitis) three distinct delayed responses were seen in the nasal mucosa, the latest of these reactions being at 72 hours.

The "Pulse Test": Dr. Coca found that when people with FS eat foods to which they have FS their heart rate will jump (by more than %10). Dr. Coca was able to use this as a fairly reliable test for FS. I believe that what is happening here is that the person with FS knows very well subconsciously which foods are problematic and that when they eat these foods there body gives an immediate alarm response (which may not strictly speaking be an allergic reactions, but which will serve as an indicator).