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| Photo by Connie on Flickr.com |
There is no single food or single list of foods that cause arthritis. The list differs from person to person. That is why everyone must be individually tested.
One of the keys to healing arthritis, therefore, is knowing exactly what foods you personally need to avoid.
The ALCAT Test
When I wrote the book Conquering Arthritis the only reliable way I knew to test for delayed food hypersensitivities was elimination of all possible problem foods either through fasting or through a very limited hypoallergenic diet and then testing by selective reintroduction. This still works and I still recommend it, but since then I have also discovered a blood test that is an even better place to start.
The name of the test is the ALCAT test. The ALCAT can screen for sensitivity reactions against any of a hundred or so common foods, many food additives and chemicals in our environment.
Bottom line: This test gives you a huge head start in your healing process. Even in the rare event that you have no food sensitivities, you will know for sure that you don't and can stop wasting your time and effort wondering if food and chemical sensitivities are contributing to your problems.
Insurance Coverage
Will your insurance cover the cost of an ALCAT test?
Yes, certain insurance policies will pay for all or part of Alcat testing.
Enter you name and email address below and I will gladly send you information on how to pre-verify whether your insurance covers the Alcat test:
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My New Food Sensitivity Testing Recommendation
I still highly recommend fasting because of the healing it initiates all on its own, totally apart from using it to identify food sensitivities, but if you have the $700 (least expensive option) to $1200 (most expensive option) that the ALCAT test costs, I highly recommend it as well. This is because it is such an easy way to screen for many substances, all at once. It takes so much of the guesswork and time consuming trial and error out of sensitivity testing.
You can even test for sensitivity to many environmental chemicals that you would never want to voluntarily expose yourself to.
The least expensive test I recommend buying the Comprehensive Wellness 3 test panel. It costs $725. It isn’t as good as the more expensive versions, because it doesn’t test for as many foods and substances, but it does test for enough to give people with arthritis a good start on identifying all their triggers. You will likely have to supplement this test with some testing on your own (like I describe in my Conquering Arthritis book) to completely identify and master all the triggers to your inflammation.
If you are on a tight budget, I recommend buying the Comprehensive Wellness 3 test panel. It costs $725. It tests for:
- 150 foods
- 10 food additives
- 10 food colorings
- 10 environmental chemicals
- 20 types of mold.
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| Photo by J c on Flickr.com |
If you would like to be extra comprehensive I also offer the deluxe Platinum Comprehensive Panel for $1199 which tests for everything the ALCAT company can test for. This panel comes with a free nutritional consultation provided by the ALCAT company. Knowledge is power. If you can afford it, this is unquestionably the best version of the ALCAT test to take. The more you know, the easier it is to heal.
- 237 foods
- 10 food additives
- 10 food colorings
- 20 molds
- 20 pharmacoactive agents
- 10 environmental chemicals
- 10 antibiotics
- And 10 anti-inflammatory agents
If you have special needs, please contact my office. We will work with you to put together the perfect combination for your needs. For instance there is a 50 food panel for children 3 and under and a special 150 food panel for vegetarians. We can also upgrade our other packages from testing 150 foods to testing 200 foods.
You can view the exact foods and other substances tested for here.
However, make sure you purchase through this website if you want me to ship your test kit directly to you and arrange for a mobile phlebotomist to come draw your blood.
Once You Have Ordered
Alcat will ship your test kit to you using FedEx. After shipping your test kit, Alcat will call you to help you arrange for a blood draw.
Alcat works with a large list of draw sites around the United States. This includes Concentra Labs, hospitals, medical facilities, and other locations. Alcat also has an Exam One Mobil phlebotomy service which can come to your home or office.
If you live outside of the United States, call the ALCAT folks to see what is available in your area: (954) 426-2304.
Once you have had the blood draw, it takes a couple weeks to get your results back. Good educational materials are included with the test results to help you know how to best use the results.
Website Special
Buy the ALCAT test through the links below and I will ship your test kit directly to you and arrange for a mobile phlebotomist to come draw your blood.
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Platinum Comprehensive $1199
Includes: 237 foods, 10 food additives, 10 food colorings, 20 molds, 50 functional foods and medicinal herbs, 10 environmental chemicals, 10 antibiotics, 10 anti-inflammatory agents. (Functional food is a trendy name for health food.)
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Comprehensive Wellness I $899
Includes: 200 foods, 10 food additives, 10 food colorings, 20 molds, 10 environmental chemicals
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Comprehensive Wellness III $725
Includes: 150 foods, 10 food additives, 10 food colorings, 20 molds, 10 environmental chemicals
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Platinum Comprehensive Payment Plan $699
Plus two payments of $270. Installments made monthly. Total cost: $1199 plus $40 financing fee.
Insurance Coverage
Will your insurance cover the cost of an ALCAT test?
Yes, certain insurance policies will pay for all or part of Alcat testing.
Enter you name and email address below and I will gladly send you information on how to pre-verify whether your insurance covers the Alcat test:
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