ALLERGY TESTS: FASTING
Some of the many doctors who find skin tests to be unreliable in revealing food allergy use fasting – no eating for a few days – as a test. After all, the simplest way to find out if you’re allergic to food is to not eat any and see what happens. Usually, if symptoms are due to a food allergy of any kind they get worse during the first, second or third day without food, but disappear by the fourth or fifth. Then eating is resumed.
During a fast, drinking plenty of water is essential. The body can live off its fat reserves for several days, but it needs water daily. Distilled water is best during a fast, since a few people are sensitive to ingredients in tap water.
Still, going without food is stressful, and most physicians who use fasting as a diagnostic tool do not recommend that people try it on their own, especially if they have diabetes, hypoglycemia, are underweight or suffer any chronic illness. Ideally, a person on an allergy fast should be away from the home, school or work environment to avoid allergens which may be reinforcing (or confusing) any reactions to food. In some cases, that calls for hospital-controlled fasting.
Because of both the inconvenience and stress on the body, allergy doctors feel that fasting is best reserved for highly allergic people.
As an alternative to a total fast, some doctors will allow an individual just one food at each meal during the test period (three to five days). That’s monotonous, but less gruelling.
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