Bloating that you can't quite pin on one food. Fatigue, brain fog, or skin flare-ups that come and go without warning. Sound familiar? Food sensitivities are often quietly at the root — but cutting foods by trial and error rarely leads anywhere clear. We use targeted IgG food panels and other functional lab testing to help you see, in black and white, which foods your body is reacting to. From there, we build a plan with you that's practical, specific, and designed to give you your energy and comfort back.
What Is Food Sensitivity Testing?
Food sensitivity testing measures IgG antibody reactions to specific foods in your blood. Unlike a classic food allergy (the IgE kind, with immediate hives, swelling, or anaphylaxis), a food sensitivity shows up slowly — often hours or days after you've eaten the trigger. That delay is exactly why it's so hard to connect the dots on your own.
A single IgG panel can screen 100–200+ common foods from one blood sample. You get back a colour-coded report showing which foods are producing elevated, borderline, or normal responses. That's your starting point — not a life sentence of restrictions, but real data we can work from together.
One important note: IgG testing isn't a replacement for allergy testing. If you have acute reactions (throat tightness, hives, anaphylaxis), please see an allergist. What we do is different — we're looking for the slow, frustrating patterns that keep you from feeling like yourself.
Symptoms That Often Point to Food Sensitivity
- Chronic bloating & gas
- Constipation or loose stools
- Unexplained fatigue
- Brain fog
- Eczema & skin rashes
- Adult acne
- Recurring headaches
- Migraines
- Joint aches & pains
- Sinus congestion
- IBS-type symptoms
- Unexplained weight changes
- Low mood or mood swings
- Poor sleep
- Frequent colds / low immunity
These things are almost never caused by just one thing, which is why we pair testing with a full naturopathic consultation. Looking at the whole picture is how we make sense of the results.
How We Work Through It With You
- We start with a real conversation. Your first visit is a 60–90 minute intake where we listen — your symptoms, history, what you've already tried, how you're sleeping and feeling. That's where we figure out together whether testing is the right next step.
- We choose the right test (or tests) for you. There's no one-size-fits-all panel. Depending on what you're dealing with, we might recommend IgG food sensitivity, Celiac screening, gut microbiome, Candida — or a combination.
- Sample collection is straightforward. Blood work goes through a partner lab, and stool panels use at-home kits we'll walk you through.
- You wait about 2–4 weeks for results, depending on the panel.
- We sit down together to go through the report. No confusing printouts handed off without explanation — we walk you through what's elevated, what it means, and what to do about it.
- We stay with you through the follow-through. The point isn't to cut foods forever. We check in regularly, track how you're feeling, and reintroduce foods methodically so you end up eating as broadly as possible while still feeling well.
The Tests We Offer
Here are the panels we draw from, depending on what your body is telling us. Tap any test to read more.
IgG Food Sensitivity Panel
A finger-prick or blood draw that screens 100–200+ common foods — dairy, grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts, seafood, meats. Your results come back colour-coded (elevated / borderline / normal) with numeric antibody values so we have something concrete to work with.
Celiac Disease Screening
A blood test measuring tissue transglutaminase (tTG-IgA), total IgA, and related markers. We use this to rule celiac in or out before anyone starts cutting gluten — because if you eliminate gluten first, the test can come back falsely normal. If results are positive, we'll make sure you're connected with your family doctor and a GI specialist.
Comprehensive Stool & Gut Flora Analysis
An at-home stool kit we'll walk you through. It gives us a detailed picture of your gut — beneficial and pathogenic bacteria, yeast overgrowth, parasites, digestive enzymes, inflammation markers, and more. When food testing alone isn't telling the full story, this usually is.
Candida Antibody Test
A blood test for IgG, IgA, and IgM antibodies to Candida albicans. We reach for this when there are signs of chronic yeast overgrowth — recurring thrush, skin yeast, bloating that started after antibiotics, persistent sugar cravings. Often paired with stool analysis.
We work with accredited, well-established labs so the data we're building your plan on is trustworthy:
Who This Is Really For
Most of the people we see have been trying to sort this out on their own for a while. They tell us things like:
- "I've cut out gluten, then dairy, then sugar — and I still don't feel great."
- "My bloodwork keeps coming back normal, but I know something's off."
- "I've just gotten used to feeling this way."
- "I suspect something in my diet, but I don't want to guess anymore."
- "I want a naturopathic perspective alongside what my family doctor is doing."
If any of that sounds like you, testing can be a really useful next step. If it's not the right fit — say you're dealing with an acute food allergy, or you're pregnant, or we see that a different approach makes more sense — we'll tell you honestly. We'd rather point you in the right direction than run a test that won't help.
Your testing is ordered and reviewed by our Naturopathic Doctor, Dr. Irene Chan, ND. That matters because functional lab reports are detailed — they need someone trained to translate them into a plan that actually fits your life. You'll never be handed a printout and left to figure it out alone.
What It Costs, and How Insurance Works
Everything starts with a naturopathic consultation. More often than not, we can do the consultation and order your testing in the same visit. Lab fees are billed separately by the testing lab and vary by panel — we'll walk you through exact pricing before anything's ordered, so there are no surprises.
Most private extended health plans cover naturopathic visits under the naturopathic doctor benefit. Lab fees usually aren't covered by OHIP or most private plans — but for a lot of our patients, finally having answers after years of trial-and-error is worth it. Give us a call and we'll help you check your benefits before you book.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to stop guessing and find out what your body is actually telling you? Let's sit down together and figure it out.