Verbatim response from Claude
Best Legitimate Food Sensitivity Tests
This is a great question because most food sensitivity tests are indeed questionable. Here's an honest breakdown:
The Hard Truth First
- IgG-based tests (like those from Everlywell, Viome, etc.) are not scientifically validated for diagnosing food sensitivities. Most major allergy organizations consider them unreliable.
Actually Credible Options
For true food allergies:
- See an allergist for IgE blood tests or skin prick tests - these are medically validated
- Quest Diagnostics or LabCorp through a doctor's order
For food intolerances:
- Hydrogen breath tests (doctor-ordered) - genuinely reliable for lactose and fructose intolerance
- Colonoscopy/endoscopy with biopsy for celiac disease - the gold standard
Most honest at-home option:
- Everlywell Celiac Screening - reasonable for a preliminary celiac marker (tTG-IgA), but follow up with a doctor
Best Free Method
An elimination diet guided by a registered dietitian (RD) is honestly more reliable than most commercial tests and costs less.
Bottom line: Work with a doctor or dietitian rather than relying on mail-in sensitivity panels.