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'I Tried An At-home Health Test For Food Intolerances And Was Shocked By My Results'
With at-home tests becoming more popular and an interest in whether I had any food sensitivities, I ordered an Intolerances & Sensitivities DNA Test from MyHealthChecked.
The test helps people learn whether they may be at risk of a common intolerances, such as lactose, or other sensitivities that could impact how you feel day to day.
It involved a simple swab test to collect a saliva sample that I then sent off in the post.
Within 10 working days, pinged to my inbox, MyHealthChecked sent a link to a user-friendly, personalised report.
While I suspected that I could have had a sensitivity to caffeine, I was shocked to learn that I have a higher risk of gluten intolerance.
"Considering that you have a genetic predisposition to gluten intolerance, you may experience adverse symptoms during or after eating gluten," the report read.
I got told I should eat more:
And that I should eat less:
What is a gluten intolerance?
The report explained gluten intolerance and coeliac disease are autoimmune conditions that result in the damaging of the lining of the gut.
This can lead to poor absorption of nutrients from food.
It continued: "This autoimmune condition is caused by a combination of HLA (human leukocyte antigen) genes and exposure to gluten, which is a protein found in wheat, oats, barley and rye."
While I hadn't experienced severe enough symptoms to even realise I could have an intolerance to gluten, it was time for my weekly food shop, so off I went to seek out gluten-free alternatives to my usual ingredients.
Turns out, I don't eat a lot of gluten in my everyday diet, and that's probably why I had no idea I could have an intolerance to it.
If you would like to find out about your own health, MyHealthChecked's intolerances and sensitivities DNA test, £54.00, is available online and at Boots.
Blood Test Accurately Diagnosed Celiac Disease In Adults
A blood test may be reliable in diagnosing some adults with suspected celiac disease, helping to avoid a biopsy, according to a prospective cohort study.
In 436 adults with suspected disease and without IgA deficiency, a serum anti-tissue transglutaminase IgA (tTG-IgA) test was compared with the gold standard: duodenal biopsy. The result was that the serum testing turned up 348 true positives and 66 true negatives, but also 15 false positives and seven false negatives, said researchers led by Carolina Ciacci, MD, of the University of Salerno in Italy.
Reporting online in Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Ciacci's group said the positive predictive value of the blood test was 95.9% (95% CI 92-99.8) and the negative predictive value was 90.4% (95% CI 85.5-95.3). The sensitivity was 98% (95% CI 95.3-100) and the specificity was 81.5% (95% CI 73.9-89.1).
In a post-hoc analysis of adults whose tTG-IgA was more than 10 times the upper limit of normal, the serum test had a positive predictive value of 97.5% (95% CI 93.4-99.2), the researchers noted.
"With the use of tTG-IgA in patients with known concentrations of total serum IgA, a diagnosis will be established more quickly and treatment with a gluten-free diet started earlier than with biopsy," Ciacci and colleagues wrote.
In addition, a non-biopsy approach reduces pressure on endoscopy clinics and reduces costs, according to the study authors. Another benefit for patients is avoiding an invasive, uncomfortable procedure that often requires sedation and sometimes a general anesthetic, they said.
Furthermore, although small bowel biopsy has been the gold standard for diagnosis, the histological interpretation is not always straightforward, which can lead to diagnostic delay or even misdiagnosis, they added.
Several clinical studies have shown the tTG-IgA test is feasible in children with suspected celiac disease, and this approach has been adopted by many healthcare systems and clinicians, mainly in Europe, the study authors said. However, the non-biopsy approach has not been widely adopted in adult practice.
A spokesperson for the American Gastroenterological Association who was not involved in the study, however, advised that diagnosis with biopsy should remain the standard for now.
"This study supports a growing evidence base that highly elevated tissue transglutaminase IgA levels mean that the patient is highly likely to have celiac disease," said Benjamin Lebwohl, MD, a gastroenterologist at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City, in an email to MedPage Today. "However, 'highly likely' is not 100%, and the gluten-free diet is a long-term treatment that entails a major life change, so getting as close to 100% as possible is important."
"Because these antibodies remain imperfect," Lebwohl continued, "I recommend that the intestinal biopsy remain the default for all adults with suspected celiac disease; in exceptional cases, where biopsy may be impractical or present safety concerns, these results can help us quantify the likelihood that an individual has celiac disease."
Ciacci and colleagues conducted their study at 14 tertiary referral centers in Europe, Asia, Oceania, and South America. It included 296 women and 140 men with a mean age of 40. All had suspected celiac disease. None were on a gluten-free diet, and IgA deficiency was an exclusion criteria. They all underwent a serum tTG-IgA measurement and an endoscopic duodenal biopsy.
The serum test was defined as positive if it was more than one time the upper limit of normal. The main outcome was reliability of the tTG-IgA test to diagnose celiac disease, defined by duodenal villous atrophy as determined by a pathologist.
Participants were primarily from Europe, so the results cannot be extrapolated to the general population or other racial/ethnic groups, Ciacci's group said. Another limitation was the relatively low number of individuals who did not have celiac disease as defined by duodenal villous atrophy.
"In conclusion, our results indicate that a serology-based celiac disease diagnosis without biopsy is possible in adults with reliable suspicion of celiac disease (high pretest probability)," they said.
Jeff Minerd is a freelance medical and science writer based in Rochester, NY.
Disclosures
No funding source was reported for this study. One author is an employee of Werfen. All others declared no competing interests.
Primary Source
The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Source Reference: Ciacci C, et al "Serum anti-tissue transglutaminase IgA and prediction of duodenal villous atrophy in adults with suspected coeliac disease without IgA deficiency (Bi.A.CeD): a multicentre, prospective cohort study" Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; DOI: 10.1016/S2468-1253(23)00205-4.
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5 Best Gluten-Free Meal Delivery Services Of 2023
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Green Chef wins top spot for gluten-free meal delivery, plus reviews of Epicured, Trifecta, and more.
For people with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, following a gluten-free diet is key to preventing side effects. Other people without these concerns say they just feel better when they avoid eating gluten.
Whichever category you're in, finding a gluten-free meal delivery service can be challenging. While a number of companies offer gluten-free options, most produce meals in facilities that also process gluten-containing foods, which increases the risk of cross-contamination.
Our writers, editors, and registered dietitians have tried nearly 30 meal delivery services. For this article, we vetted brands with the greatest variety of gluten-free options and prioritized those that take measures to reduce exposure to gluten in their meal preparations.
So, which meal delivery service is best for gluten-free eaters? Read on for our top picks.
Learn more about how we test meal kits.
Disclaimer: All of the services tested below were tried by Healthline writers or editors, who received the meals for free. All opinions are our own. Pricing information is current as of publication and is subject to change.
Green Chef specializes in providing high quality and organic healthy meal kits. It is our pick for the best overall gluten-free meal delivery service because of its large rotating menu and simple yet flavorful recipes for gluten-free meals, including:
Importantly Green Chef is certified as a Gluten-Free Safe Spot business by the Gluten Intolerance Group.
In addition to using the service's gluten-free filter, you can add other preferences, such as grain-free, keto or paleo, and select any of the recipes from the full weekly menu when placing your order.
What our tester says"Green Chef does a really great job of providing nutritionally-balanced meals that are flavorful and enjoyable to eat. Some take a bit more cooking skills than others, though none of the recipes require fancy cooking equipment.
"The meals were bursting with various textures and ingredients. The flavors were really tasty and different than what we typically cook at home."
– Healthline Nutrition Editor Kelli McGrane, MS, RD
Highlights:
Favorite meal(s): Bulgogi Beef Bowl, Sriracha Tamari Beef Bowl
"Green Chef does a really great job of providing nutritionally-balanced meals that are flavorful and enjoyable to eat. Some take a bit more cooking skills than others, though none of the recipes require fancy cooking equipment.
"The meals were bursting with various textures and ingredients. The flavors were really tasty and different than what we typically cook at home."
– Healthline Nutrition Editor Kelli McGrane, MS, RD
Highlights:
Favorite meal(s): Bulgogi Beef Bowl, Sriracha Tamari Beef Bowl
Pros & consFeaturing a rotating menu of flavorful and nutritious meals, Trifecta Nutrition's "deep chilled" prepared meals are a popular choice among health-conscious consumers.
Most meals are also gluten-free, with the exception of certain dishes on the Keto meal plan.
While its meals are not prepared in a gluten-free kitchen, Trifecta notes that preparation areas are cleaned thoroughly to prevent cross-contamination.
Trifecta uses high quality, mostly organic ingredients.
What our tester says"I tried a selection of vegetarian entrees from Trifecta, which I felt had a pleasing amount of variety and flavor. They also maintained their texture well after heating, unlike many other prepared meals.
"Plus, the meals were all very tasty, and the menu offers enough variety that it doesn't feel too repetitive."
–Healthline Writer Rachael Ajmera, MS, RD
Highlights:
Favorite meal(s): Teriyaki Bowl with Garbanzo Beans, Creamy Tomato Broccoli with Rice and Tofu
"I tried a selection of vegetarian entrees from Trifecta, which I felt had a pleasing amount of variety and flavor. They also maintained their texture well after heating, unlike many other prepared meals.
"Plus, the meals were all very tasty, and the menu offers enough variety that it doesn't feel too repetitive."
–Healthline Writer Rachael Ajmera, MS, RD
Highlights:
Favorite meal(s): Teriyaki Bowl with Garbanzo Beans, Creamy Tomato Broccoli with Rice and Tofu
Pros & consDaily Harvest is a plant-based meal delivery service that offers an extensive selection of:
Not only are most items on their menu budget-friendly, but they're also tasty, convenient, and made with a wide range of interesting ingredients, including many types of fruits and vegetables.
Items are delivered frozen and are ready to enjoy in minutes. However, the items are produced in a facility that also processes gluten-containing ingredients, so cross contamination is possible.
The portion sizes are relatively small, so you might need to round out your diet with other meals and snacks.
What our tester says"I sampled several entrees, breakfast dishes, snacks, and smoothies from Daily Harvest, all of which I found were tasty, convenient, and easy to prepare.
"However, the portion sizes were small and not very filling. Therefore, I would recommend using it alongside other meals or snacks to help round out your diet."
–Healthline Writer Rachael Ajmera, MS, RD
Highlights:
Favorite meal(s): Vanilla Bean + Apple Chia Bowl, Cacao Nib + Vanilla Bites
"I sampled several entrees, breakfast dishes, snacks, and smoothies from Daily Harvest, all of which I found were tasty, convenient, and easy to prepare.
"However, the portion sizes were small and not very filling. Therefore, I would recommend using it alongside other meals or snacks to help round out your diet."
–Healthline Writer Rachael Ajmera, MS, RD
Highlights:
Favorite meal(s): Vanilla Bean + Apple Chia Bowl, Cacao Nib + Vanilla Bites
Pros & consSunbasket is an organic meal delivery service that offers an assortment of flavorful gluten-free meal kits and prepared dishes, packed with fresh ingredients.
We found the service's meal kits relatively easy to prepare and are packed with bold flavors and unique ingredient combinations, earning it our top pick as the best gluten-free meal kit on the market.
Sunbasket's recipe booklet may feel cumbersome and more difficult to follow than standard recipe cards.
Note that Sunbasket meals are prepared in a facility that handles gluten and other food allergens, so it may not be suitable for people with celiac disease or other strict dietary needs.
What our tester says"Overall, I found Sunbasket to offer the most consistently delicious flavors and exciting ingredient combinations. I also appreciated that the meals I tried were bursting with vegetables, which isn't always the case with meal kits.
"The kits arrived on-time and in good condition. In fact, I thought the packaging and quality of the meat and seafood was the best out of all of the meal kits I've tried.
"While it isn't cheap, I think Sunbasket is worth the cost if you value organic ingredients and exciting new flavor and ingredient combinations."
– Healthline Nutrition Editor Kelli McGrane, MS, RD
Highlights:
Favorite meal(s): Mojo Tacos with Shredded Cabbage, Pickled Onions, and Salsa Verde; Black Angus Rib-Eye with Warm Kale, Romanesco, and Goat Cheese Salad
"Overall, I found Sunbasket to offer the most consistently delicious flavors and exciting ingredient combinations. I also appreciated that the meals I tried were bursting with vegetables, which isn't always the case with meal kits.
"The kits arrived on-time and in good condition. In fact, I thought the packaging and quality of the meat and seafood was the best out of all of the meal kits I've tried.
"While it isn't cheap, I think Sunbasket is worth the cost if you value organic ingredients and exciting new flavor and ingredient combinations."
– Healthline Nutrition Editor Kelli McGrane, MS, RD
Highlights:
Favorite meal(s): Mojo Tacos with Shredded Cabbage, Pickled Onions, and Salsa Verde; Black Angus Rib-Eye with Warm Kale, Romanesco, and Goat Cheese Salad
Pros & consEpicured is a solid gluten-free option for people looking to add more diversity to their diet and boasts an extensive menu with a variety of:
All items on the menu are gluten-free and low FODMAP. Plus, our reviewer also notes that meals are fresh and full of flavor.
While the company produces food in a shared facility, it says it adheres to strict safety protocols and regularly tests for gluten traces to prevent cross contamination on their:
Each week, the service automatically regenerates your previous order. However, you can easily make changes to your weekly order and pause or cancel your subscription if needed, directly on the website.
What our tester says"I sampled several items from the main menu, including entrees, wraps, and salads. I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of cuisines, proteins, and types of vegetables offered and liked that there were many types of meals available.
"All of my meals arrived fresh and in good condition and I was particularly impressed by how fresh all of the vegetables tasted.
"Following a low FODMAP diet is tricky, so having a service that takes the meal planning and prep work out of the equation would make it so much easier to follow the diet."
–Healthline Nutrition Editor Kelli McGrane, MS, RD
Highlights:
Favorite meal(s): Beef Teriyaki Wraps, Tofu Pad Thai
"I sampled several items from the main menu, including entrees, wraps, and salads. I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of cuisines, proteins, and types of vegetables offered and liked that there were many types of meals available.
"All of my meals arrived fresh and in good condition and I was particularly impressed by how fresh all of the vegetables tasted.
"Following a low FODMAP diet is tricky, so having a service that takes the meal planning and prep work out of the equation would make it so much easier to follow the diet."
–Healthline Nutrition Editor Kelli McGrane, MS, RD
Highlights:
Favorite meal(s): Beef Teriyaki Wraps, Tofu Pad Thai
Pros & consGluten-free meal delivery may be an option if you're following a gluten-free diet and looking for an easy and convenient way to save time on cooking and grocery store runs, with healthy meals delivered straight to your door.
Gluten-free meal kit delivery services can be especially beneficial if you have celiac disease or another gluten-related condition, as finding healthy meals that are tailored to your needs may be challenging.
If you have any other dietary restrictions or severe food allergies, it's important to consider your needs and preferences to determine whether a gluten-free meal delivery service is right for you.
Most gluten-free meal delivery services also offer options for other dietary restrictions or preferences, including vegetarian, low carb, low calorie, and allergy-friendly menu choices.
There are many factors to keep in mind when selecting a meal delivery service, especially if you follow a gluten-free diet:
Green Chef is our pick for the best gluten-free meal delivery service because it's certified gluten-free and offers a variety of fresh and flavorful meal kits suitable for a gluten-free diet.
Other services, including Trifecta, Daily Harvest, Sunbasket, and Epicured, also provide a large assortment of healthy, gluten-free meals. Be sure to consider your budget, dietary restrictions, and personal preferences to find a meal delivery service that meets your needs.
Are there any gluten- and dairy-free meal delivery options?Most of the meal delivery services included in this article also offer dairy-free meals.
For example, Daily Harvest offers meals that are entirely gluten-free and plant-based. Similarly, Trifecta Nutrition provides a meal plan that is vegan and gluten-free.
Does HelloFresh have gluten-free meals?Though HelloFresh doesn't have any specific gluten-free menus or meal plans, they do offer some recipes that can fit into a gluten-free diet.
However, keep in mind that meal kits are not prepared in a gluten-free facility, meaning that cross-contamination is possible.
Is Green Chef really gluten-free?There are a variety of Green Chef meals to choose from, many of which are gluten-free. However, note that it may depend on which meal kits you select, as some dishes do contain gluten.
Gluten-free meal kit delivery services make it easy to enjoy healthy gluten-free meals delivered straight to your door.
When selecting a service, you may want to consider factors such as whether meals are certified gluten-free or produced in a gluten-free facility, as well as:
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