Elimination Diet Beats Allergy Skin Test

Ever break out in hives after a multicourse meal? Then had a blood test for allergies and been given a list of foods to avoid? Get ready to be liberated. Many of the foods you were told might send you back to the ER with another case of full-blown hives (or worse) may be harmless. New studies (yes, docs are even studying common problems now) show that 50% to 90% of presumed food allergies are false. Let's be clear: We're NOT saying that if your tongue swells when you eat peanuts you can start popping Reese's Pieces. We're talking about presumed food allergies.

What about that blood test that said you were sensitive to dozens of foods? It's not reliable, say the experts' experts, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). A skin test is more accurate, but it's not foolproof, either.

Adding a food-elimination test can help. You ban a suspect food from your diet for at least 3 days in a row and make notes about how you feel. Then, eat the food -- let your doc know you're doing this -- and see whether you feel the same, better, or worse. Tell your doc that, too. Play the elimination game.

For an airtight diagnosis, though, the new NIAID guidelines recommend the gold standard: an "oral food challenge." It's a double-blind, controlled eating test, and your response is medically monitored. If a food triggers symptoms, you've got an allergy. If it doesn't, you've just expanded your dining repertoire. Enjoy!