There are two types of food allergies. A classic allergy, is one which is apparent immediately after someone has eaten a food they are allergic to (peanuts, for instance). Their blood would show raised levels of IgE antibodies. In extreme cases this type of allergy can cause anaphylactic shock and can be fatal. This is an abnormal immunological reaction to food and it is crucial that the person knows which foods are causing the problem in order to avoid them in the future.

There is another type of allergy - more often called intolerance - which is not so striking and is harder to detect and yet still involves the immune system. Most allergic reactions like this stimulate the release of histamine and other substances that produce inflammation.

We know that fat cells produce substances called inflammatory cytokines, which have the effect of pumping up the immune system, but the adrenal glands then release more cortisol to calm it down. This excess cortisol then causes more fat storage which then releases more inflammatory cytokines. It's a vicious circle. The cytokines also stop the binding of insulin onto the receptors so increasing your likelihood of insulin resistance.

Cortisol is a strong anti-inflammatory which is quite naturally called into play when you have an allergic reaction to a particular food. So by eating foods that your body finds difficult to deal with, you are actually causing a rise in cortisol and increasing the message to store fat. This is why so many people report a dramatic loss of weight when they eliminate foods they are allergic too.

Over time, the release of histamine and other inflammatory substances will alter the permeability of the gut making it "leaky" and food molecules can escape into the blood stream which then sets up an immune response because the body treats these food particles as foreign substances and starts to attack them. This is how you can become allergic to substances which previously gave you no problems at all.

If you have any of the following symptoms as well as fat around your middle then it worth considering a Food Allergy Test so you know what foods and drinks don't suit you:

• Bloating
• excess wind (flatulence)
• diarrhoea
• constipation
• chronic infections
• skin problems like itching, rashes, eczema etc.
• fatigue
• joint and muscle pains (because of the inflammatory response),
• arthritis
• headaches/migraineS
• rhinitis (constant runny nose)
• sinus problems

The test measures your reaction to 233 different foods, seasonings, colourings, additives and drinks from one single blood sample. You will be sent a kit which can be taken to your practice nurse or doctor. A sample of blood is then posted back to the laboratory to be analysed.