Best At-Home Food Sensitivity Tests of 2021

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Worldwide, food sensitivities are on the rise, and medical experts are beginning to notice. People are starting to acknowledge how certain foods can make them feel sluggish, cause digestive issues, or even skin issues like eczema. If you feel like you may have a food sensitivity, finding out sooner rather than later is the wisest thing to do.

Food sensitivity tests are becoming more and more popular, especially those you can do from your living room couch. The problem, however, is that not all at-home food sensitivity tests are created equal. We found some of the best options for you and your family to learn about any food sensitivities you may have.

Best At-Home Food Sensitivity Tests of 2021

Best Reviews: Everlywell
Least Invasive: 5Strands Test From Walmart
Most Expansive: Check My Body Health
Most Accurate: CRI Genetics
Best Breath Test: FoodMarble
Best Lab Test: Request A Test

Best Reviews : Everlywell

Key Specs

Pricing: Starts at $159
Sample collection: Finger prick
Results: 5-7 days

Why We Chose It: Everlywell’s comprehensive test (it checks your body’s immune response to 96 foods) and easy-to-use finger prick sample collection have earned it rave reviews.

Pros

Over 4,000 5-star reviews
An independent, board-certified specialist will review results before sending them to you

Cons

Not covered by insurance

Everlywell removes a lot of the work out of taking a food sensitivity test with this at-home kit. After receiving the kit in the mail, all you need is to follow the simple directions to provide a blood sample, easily done with a single prick of a fingertip. Then you return the sample for testing.

Everlywell uses several checkpoints in its system to ensure your privacy when it comes to test results.

Once you receive your results, you will be able to see a range of food sensitivities for up to nearly 100 foods that you may want to try to remove via an elimination diet. This test is an excellent tool for helping guide your health.

Everlywell's food sensitivity test costs about $159 and examines related symptoms like fatigue, stomach pain, feeling bloated after eating, indigestion, migraines, and headaches.

Least Invasive : 5Strands Test From Walmart

Key Specs

Pricing: $88
Sample collection: Hair strand
Results: 7-10 days

Why We Chose It: 5Strands food intolerance test checks for sensitivities with a simple via hair strand—no blood sample needed.

Pros

Screens for 600 food intolerances and sensitivities

Cons

Not covered by insurance
5Strands does not provide testing for IgE- or IgG-mediated responses (true allergy involving the immune system causing anaphylaxis response)

The 5Strands test from Walmart is a simple assessment that utilizes bio-resonance technology on strands of your hair to decipher your food sensitivities. This may be the answer to symptoms such as an upset stomach, headaches, bloating, joint pain, or even water retention that you may be having.

Once you send in your hair strands, technicians will take seven to 10 days to test for 600 food sensitivities like gluten, lactose, true proteins, and more. Your results will allow you to make wise choices for your diet in the future.

The 5Strands food intolerance test costs about $88 and checks for sensitivities surrounding proteins, grains, dairy, fruits, vegetables, nuts, alcohols, preservatives, additives, and more. Note: 5Strands doesn't test IgE- or IgG-mediated responses. The results will reveal the severity of the reaction from exposure to each item tested.

Most Expansive : Check My Body Health

Key Specs

Pricing: Starts at $90
Sample collection: Hair sample
Results: 3-5 days

Why We Chose It: Check My Body Health checks for over 970 food and non-food sensitivities, making it one of the most comprehensive tests available online.

Pros

Tests for over 970 food and non-food sensitivities in your body
Offers family and couple packages
Well-priced

Cons

Sparely in dietary changes advice after results are received

The food intolerance assessment offered by Check My Body Health is boasted as the most comprehensive food sensitivity test in the United States.

The company uses the latest technology to check your body for over 970 food and non-food sensitivities. Its use of bio-resonance testing makes it one of the global leaders in at-home food sensitivity tests because it examines a wide variety of sensitivities.

The assessment examines food and drink, environmental sensitivity, heavy metals, minerals, vitamins A-K, additives, gut health, and digestion. You'll get your results between three and five days, free elimination diet advice, and a free food diary template.

The standard Maxi Health kit (one test) costs about $90, while the Maxi Test Couples kit (two tests) is around $144, and the Maxi Test Family kit (four tests) is roughly $252.

Most Accurate : CRI Genetics

Key Specs

Pricing: Starts at $199
Sample collection: Mouth swab
Results: 6-8 weeks

Why We Chose It: Created by scientists, CRI Genetics’ food sensitivity test uses your DNA to provide reports for all allergies, health, and weight loss.

Pros

Test is performed through a mouth swab
Proven as an accurate and comprehensive at-home food sensitivity test
Well-priced

Cons

Results take six to eight weeks
Women cannot take the Y-DNA test, so the information is limited compared to men

CRI Genetics test is an accurate and comprehensive at-home food sensitivity test.

Created by scientists looking to improve people's lives, this assessment uses your DNA to decode your food sensitivities. This food sensitivity test has won several awards with its accuracy in 2020 and is worth looking into if you suspect you're having food and drink allergy issues.

The company's Allergy + Health test costs about $199 and provides reports for all allergies, health, and weight loss. The DNA guide helps you maximize your results and will assist you in being your healthiest.

It's protected by an eight-week efficiency guarantee, meaning the company will ensure there is a quick turnaround time from when you buy the test to when you receive your report—or you'll get a refund. And, CRI Genetics will store your reports and DNA samples for as long as you want.

Best Breath Test : FoodMarble

Key Specs

Pricing: Starts at $159
Sample collection: Breath test device
Results: Real-time

Why We Chose It: FoodMarble uses breath analysis to measure which foods you can digest most successfully and sends results right to a connected app.

Pros

Detailed testing
The consistent logging of food will encourage mindfulness when eating

Cons

More work on your end—you must log all of your food intakes

Founded by Aonghus Shortt in 2016, FoodMarble created the first-ever digestive tracker.

The company's food sensitivity test is one of the most interesting, as it uses your breath to create results. FoodMarble sends you a breath test device that pairs with an app to help you make the best food choices.

First, you log your food onto the app, and then you blow into the breath test device. The test tracks hydrogen levels in your breath, which uncovers the foods your body cannot digest well. The longer you track your foods, the more detailed of an analysis you will have.

FoodMarble's digestive breath tracker costs about $159. You can also add a FODMAP program for about $29 to test some standard and hard-to-digest food components, including lactose, fructose, sorbitol, and inulin.

Best Lab Test : Request A Test

Key Specs

Pricing: Starts at $149
Sample collection: Finger prick
Results: 5-8 business days

Why We Chose It: Fast and reliable, Request A Test builds on its reputation as a major name in direct-to-consumer lab testing to offer convenient food allergy panels.

Pros

Testing checks blood for specific antibodies, which the body creates when food sensitivities are present
Affordable

Cons

Company's tests don't look for every food or allergen, so you might need to order multiple

Founded in 2002, Request A Test is a leading name in direct-to-consumer lab tests. This testing company is one of the most affordable lab testing centers available to the public. For its at-home food sensitivity tests, the Food Allergy Panel 1 is the best option for someone researching any food sensitivities that their body may have.

At Request A Test, the company offers this food sensitivity test through an at-home blood check (a slight finger prick) with a quick turnaround so that you can quickly adjust your diet. The company's blood allergy tests look for specific antibodies (IgE), which the body produces in response to substances that a person is allergic.

Request A Test's Food Allergy Panels range from about $149 to $209, while panels for specific allergies cost roughly $39 each. Results are typically available between five and eight business days.

Final Verdict

Food sensitivities can cause constant discomfort and inconvenience. If you believe a food intolerance may be causing you symptoms, an at-home test can be an easy way to get to the root of the problem and allow you to start a food elimination plan and diet so you can avoid foods or other irritants that can cause problems.

Tests like Everlywell and Request a Test require a blood sample via finger prick but they can provide comprehensive information by testing for dozens of foods. They also provide results in as little as five days. If you’re experiencing symptoms, it’s best to consult a healthcare professional but an at-home sensitivity test can help you get better insight on your food tolerance and get you on a path to better nutrition and wellness.

Compare At-Home Food Sensitivity Tests

At-Home Food Sensitivity Test	Price	Sample collection	Results
Everlywell Best Reviews	Starts at $159	Finger prick	5-7 days
5Strands Test From Walmart Least Invasive	Starts at $88	Hair strand	7-10 days
Check My Body Health Most Expansive	Starts at $90	Hair sample	3-5 days
CRI Genetics Most Accurate	Starts at $199	Mouth swab	6-8 weeks
FoodMarble Best Breath Test	Starts at $159	Breath test device	Real-time
Request A Test Best Lab Test	Starts at $149	Finger prick	5-8 business days

FAQs

What Is a Food Sensitivity?

Like allergies, food sensitivities affect the digestive process for your body to perform at full capacity. They are often shown in symptoms that make you feel uncomfortable, and they are challenging to diagnose. While medical professionals finally recognize food sensitivities as a serious diagnosis, it is essential to mention that food sensitivities are rarely life-threatening.

Your body can develop food intolerances at any point in your life, which is why the at-home tests mentioned in this article are so great. They test for dozens of food allergies, including the top 10 food sensitivities.

What Is an At-Home Food Sensitivity Test?

An at-home food sensitivity test is excellent for discovering those foods that the body can't beneficially digest. After you receive the package in the mail, you will administer a body sample (usually in the form of blood, mouth swab, or even your breath), and after a few weeks, you will be able to analyze your results from a physician.

These tests are often very credible in testing food sensitivities, but they will not serve you well with an allergy test. It is essential to recognize the difference between food sensitivities and food allergies.

Are At-Home Food Sensitivity Tests Reliable?

The at-home food sensitivity test business has become increasingly more reliable; companies have worked closely with clinical physicians to establish better results for patients. Listed above are some of the most credible at-home tests for food sensitivities that you can find with the highest accuracy reported in their field.

Is Food Sensitivity the Same as Food Allergy?

A food allergy is different than food sensitivity based on how the body reacts to certain foods. If you are looking for an at-home allergy test, VeryWell has created a list of some of the best at-home allergy tests. These assessments work very similarly to the food sensitivity tests listed above, where you'll provide a body sample of blood or mouth swab, and you'll receive the results within a few weeks.

What Samples Do I Need to Send in for an At-Home Food Sensitivity Test?

The at-home food sensitivity tests listed in this article were chosen for their accuracy and ease in providing a sample. These assessments are the least invasive, most effortless samples to provide to receive your results. The samples that these tests use range from a breath test and a cheek swab to a simple finger prick and a drop of blood.

What Does an At-Home Food Sensitivity Test Include?

Each at-home food sensitivity kit includes the test: an item like a swab for your cheek, a device to prick your finger and collect a drop of blood, or a breath counter that tracks the amount of hydrogen in your breath. Once you send in your test with the return package (which is also included), the company will send back your results virtually after being reviewed by a medical professional.

How Much Do At-Home Food Sensitivity Tests Cost?

The tests featured in this article vary in cost from roughly $40 to $200, depending on which food groups you are hoping to test and the method you are looking to use.

Will My Insurance Cover At-Home Food Sensitivity Tests?

Most insurance companies will not cover the cost of an at-home food sensitivity test. You can go into your primary care physician and get tested, where your chances are higher of getting covered, although it's not guaranteed.

Methodology

When evaluating these companies, we looked at dozens of them to help narrow down the best at-home food sensitivity tests for you and your family. After reviewing them extensively, we concluded that cost mixed with accuracy enabled us to decipher the best options for VeryWell Health’s readers.

Through our research, we learned that several at-home tests do not have the scientific backing to ensure that their results are 100% accurate. While some results take up to eight weeks to be sent to you or require extra work on your end, rest assured that these results will benefit your diet in the long run.

Everlywell earned the title of best overall for its variety of tests and its ability to uncover which food sensitivities you are likely to develop in the future. It also reveals the best type of workouts for your body and a list of supplements that your body is craving. CRI Genetics was determined to be the most accurate assessment for its DNA guide, which helps people become their healthiest. FoodMarble stood out for being the first digestive tracker and a breath test instead of a blood one.

Additional reporting by Stephanie Valera.