Have you ever wondered if the foods you eat affect how you feel? Recently, I've noticed an increase in stomach issues like bloating, cramping and general unpleasantness. I don't have any known allergies, so I knew some of it has to do with my diet. I attributed it to my love of unhealthy snacking. Carbs anyone...

When I was presented with the opportunity to try the York Labs Food & Drink Scan, I had to give it a try! My stomach issues had gotten so frequent, I wondered if it was actually foods that I was eating every day causing this reaction. This at home kit tests intolerances for over 200 food and drink ingredients, such as yeast, cow's milk, wheat and more so I knew it was a good start.
The test itself was so easy to do. York Labs mailed over a kit that that contained everything needed for the test. To take the test, you prick a finger to collect a blood sample, which is then immediately sent to the labs for testing. After mailing my samples, I anxiously awaited my results, which were emailed to me after about 3 weeks.

My results were a bit of a shock. I had 9 ingredients that were in the red zone, foods that were guaranteed to cause a reaction and that I should completely avoid. These ingredients included cow's milk (a common irritant for people), yeast, and pumpkin. Foods in the yellow zone, still to avoid but not as serious as the red zone, included coffee (honestly, I thought this would be in the red zone for me), lettuce, corn and 5 other ingredients.

After talking time to digest these results, I called to make my free 30 minute consultation with a nutritionist. KerriAnn walked me through the test results and what changes I should make. For my red and yellow zone sensitivities, I was told to completely remove them my from diet for 3 months and then slowly reintroduce them back week by week.

During the call, the nutritionist went through each ingredient with me and talked about foods that may contain the irritant. For example, yeast is found in carbs, but also hidden in things like beers/wines, condiments, smoked meats and SO MUCH MORE. It's in so many things. Yeast insensitivities can also indicate a reaction to foods with fungus, like mushrooms and truffles. This goes to show why it can sometimes be hard to pinpoint exactly what causes stomach issues. KerriAnn reiterated always checking labels to see what could be hidden in foods.

Aside from eliminating foods, she also gave me advice on how to better digest foods. Did you know that drinking at least 60 ounces of water also helps with stomach acid regulation? She also mentioned chewing foods completely so that it was less work for the stomach to break it down.

York Labs provided me with additional materials after the call, such as food alternatives to the ingredients I need to avoid. These guides are really helping and list exactly what I should avoid and what I can eat during this 3 month time period.

This test was really eye opening for many reasons. Not only did it pinpoint foods that I should avoid, but was also a great reminder to be more aware of my eating habits. I will definitely be keeping track of how I feel after eating, but also paying more attention to what I'm eating from now on.
Currently looking for food alternatives, and REBBL is one of those. It's dairy-free, non-coffee drink that's so delicious!

It's important to note that if you have any serious issues, you should consult a doctor. I knew my sensitivities were not life-threatening, which is why I opted to try this before asking my doctor.

York Labs tests can be found online, or in-store at CVS and Target. Have any questions about this food scan or my experience? Feel free to comment below, find me on Instagram, or email me!








Thank you to York Labs for gifting me a test to try and share on Paint The Town Chic! All opinions shared above are my own.