Photography provided by EverlyWell
I was scrolling through Facebook about a month ago, and on the right side of my browser in the sidebar was an ad for EverlyWell’s Food Sensitivity Tests. Well, it worked, because I ordered a test right away. Marketing at its finest!
I consider myself a very healthy eater, but I often experience digestive upset, even after eating clean meals. So I was excited at the opportunity to figure out what could be triggering this longtime issue. What could it possibly be? Dairy has been eliminated from my diet for 10+ years. Could it be gluten or maybe a certain fruit or veggie? EverlyWell to the rescue.
Having never heard of the brand before, I explored the website and discovered the company has health tests for nearly everything, from cholesterol and lipids to Lyme disease to vitamin D. The Food Sensitivity Test is one of the most popular. Each kit contains all the components you need to perform an easy at-home test.
Once I received my test in the mail, all I had to do was open the box, sanitize my finger and give myself a little finger prick — a task that is harder to perform on yourself than you might think. After the finger prick, I placed my blood on the five spots marked on the card, which is the sample that gets sent back to the labs in the same box it came in.
My results came back after about 10 days, and frankly, I was shocked. My highest reactivity? Peanuts — something I eat almost every day either in the form of peanut butter, granola or a nut mix. A notable fact about these results is that a food sensitivity is not the same as a food allergy, meaning I can still consume these foods but may be uncomfortable doing so.
Since the day I received my results, I have completely eliminated peanuts from my diet and so far, so good. My stomach feels less upset throughout the day, and I have a feeling it’s just going to get better.
But the big question here is, Do I recommend the test? Yes, I highly recommend this test to anyone who isn’t consistently feeling 100 after eating. (Friendly reminder: I am not a doctor. If you have questions or concerns about your health, consult your doctor.)
