Constitutional Food Testing

For more information about food allergies and food intolerances read the "Food Allergies vs Food Intolerances" article.

Constitutional food intolerance testing assesses the primary food or food group that causes inflammation in the digestive tract. They are called constitutional food intolerances because they do not change over time; they are simply part of the foundation of our body, from birth.

Over the last century a lineage of physicians has been conducting constitutional food intolerance testing. Originally developed by Dr. Albert Abrams at the turn of the twentieth century, a few dozen physicians in the United States continue to offer the testing.

Why is food testing
important for my health?

The better our digestive tract functions, the better we are able to absorb nutrients and discard wastes. If our digestive system is not working well, even the best food and the fanciest nutritional supplements will provide very little benefit for the body. From both naturopathic and Chinese medical perspective, the better the digestive tract is functioning, the better ALL of the rest of the body can function.

Chinese medicine describes our physical functions more poetically than we do in the West. From Chinese medical perspective, body fat is considered “dampness,” which actually makes some sense from western medical perspective, because fat is a water-rich tissue. Other manifestations of “dampness” in the digestive tract include loose stools, gas, and bloating. The healthier the digestive tract, the less “damp” we accumulate. A Chinese medical practitioner would support a patient’s weight loss by needling points that “clear dampness,” build the digestive organs, and calm the mind (to reduce unhealthy food cravings.) He or she would also likely prescribe Chinese herbs that “clear dampness” and rebuild the digestive system.

From western medical perspective, if we eat foods that irritate the digestive tract, over time the junctions between the intestinal cells lose their integrity. Instead of having healthy, tight junctions between the cells, the inflamed intestinal cells develop “gaps,” leading to what gastroenterologists call “leaky gut syndrome.”

Normally food must be digested to very small size before passing through the intestinal cells. When we develop leaky gut syndrome, however, larger molecules of food, called “macromolecules,” cross through the intestines into the blood stream. These macromolecules are much more likely to cause allergic reactions. True allergic reactions are called “food allergies.” Often, though, someone has been eating other foods, called “food intolerances,” that irritate the gut, before developing food allergies.

What are common reactions to foods
intolerances and/or allergies?

Food allergies and intolerances can cause any kind of reaction in the body. Some common examples of food reactions include (this is a partial, not an exhaustive list):

Acne Anxiety Arthritis Asthma Attention deficit hyperactivity        disorder (ADHD) Autism Bedwetting Chronic diarrhea Chronic fatigue Depression Diabetes Ear or other frequent infections

Eczema Fatigue Hay fever symptoms (year-round) Headaches (tension type and migraine) Infertility Inflammatory bowel disease Migraine Muscle aches Obesity Panic attacks Stuffy nose Urticaria (skin itching, hives) Weight gain

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To arrange for testing please choose from the below options:

Appointment with Dr. Boice $100.00


Constitutional food intolerance testing $99.00


Constitutional food intolerance testing with consultation $149.00

ALCAT food testing select test

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