Hair test

[destiny234]

I had a hair strand test awhile ago and it came back with so many reactions to food etc I discarded it as rubbish. Now having dug it out again I’m wondering just how accurate it may actually be seeing as I’m getting so much worse with my IBS. Has anyone else tried this hair test and what do you think of it ?

[BAM28]

I have done a hair test. I like you have discarded it as it gave so many things that it would be very hard to live. I’m already coeliac- so restricted in what I can eat enough as it is. I don’t think the hair tests are worth pursuing. I went for further tests and it’s now looking like I have bile acid malabsorption. The worst of my symptoms have cleared up when I take the medication and eat a low fat diet.

[sg25 in reply to BAM28]

There are tests out there that are just not worth it and I think the hair analysis is one. I had it years ago and wasn’t at all impressed. Also had some electrical test with a so called dietitian. She said I needed certain vitamins and stomach acid pills. Of course I handed over extra money. I was due to go out two days later but as a result of the supplements ended up on the loo all day 😣.

[xjrs]

There is no scientific basis for these tests unfortunately. Official advice here:

bda.uk.com/resource/food-al...

FODMAP elimination and reintroduction is the only way to find out food intolerances. More on this topic below:

ibsresearcher.com/microbiom...

ibsresearcher.com/fodmap-el...

[b1b1b1]

These tests are just money makers and pseudo science.

[Luisa22]

I've never had a hair sample test done so I shouldn't comment on that. I was tempted to, at one time when I felt very bad, but my instincts just didn't support it, so I never did.

IBS flares, (and if not outright flares, then "bad periods") can happen. Sometimes they can last weeks and sometimes things do improve for a time after that. I know that's like saying "live with it", which is awful when all we want to do is make ourselves feel better by any way we can think of.

Plus I know some doctors aren't always very helpful with IBS so we're often left on our own.

But personally, I try to include as many decent and healthy foods as I can. There is already some restriction as I know for a fact some foods don't suit me, so I don't need more restriction. I try a little of the tricky foods now and again Sometimes I make a discovery; that I can include that food again in small amounts, but with some, I don't make headway.

But meanwhile I worked out a basic regime, figured out (for me) which veggies need peeling and steaming quite well, which can be safely eaten raw, which proteins I am best with, which carbs suit me and which I have to have smaller amounts of, nuts and seeds are the same, etc. And in that framework which seems to work for me as a fairly steady thing, I try to extend my list of "OK foods" as I go along.

For me, it is obvious the following morning which foods don't suit me, without any intolerance tests .

But flare ups and bad periods of IBS are something else, when it seems all foods can betray us.

Then I do have a "safe list" and stick to that until the worst passes, then I try again gradually with my normal diet.

I do take a vitamin and mineral complex daily, plus a low dose vitamin B complex, and vitamin D3 with K2 in winter. The former just in case my diet causes any shortfall, and the latter I would take anyway.

I noticed for instance, that I was not fully getting the daily requirements (RDA) of certain things owing to not being able to eat large enough daily quantities of some nutrients.

So I'd say you could be just getting a "bad period of IBS" which can happen to us all? And be careful of thinking itr could be a food intolerance, unless you have clear negative results from eating certain foods, which are obvious to you.