Body anew Wellness Center, which opened in October as an addition to Body anew Medical Spa, is now offering a unique style of testing that can determine foods people are allergic to through a food sensitivity test.

The Alcat test, as it is known, has been around for more than 25 years and is a blood test that measures the body's cellular response to challenges from substances such as foods, food additives and colorings, molds and environmental chemicals. The Alcat test can test up to 320 different food panels to determine what foods a person is intolerant to and what foods are acceptable, said Dave Rowe, owner of Body anew.

There are a number of health issues that can be tied to food allergies such as digestive disorders, migraines, obesity, fatigue, skin disorders and more, Rowe said.

"We know people who have lost 70 pounds just by eliminating the foods they are allergic to," Rowe said. "It's amazing what you can learn as a result of this test. It can help you correct hormones, lose weight and make you feel better overall."

Rowe said the purpose of offering this test is to help people determine if food allergies are the result of any medical issues they are experiencing, as well as to help them with the anti-aging and weight loss process. Results of the testing can help people with weight loss, help them sleep better and improve their general health.

"People are looking for healthier lifestyles, but more so anti-aging," he said. "This is the new area of medicine that people are more interested in. We are just trying to provide people with the knowledge to help them feel and look better."

The Alcat test at Body anew consists of a meeting with the doctor on staff, a physical and a blood draw, Rowe said. The results turnaround for the blood testing is about 10 business days, at which point the patient will be offered a full report of their food allergies and receive a 30-minute consultation with a food counselor to determine how best to proceed.

Some insurance companies cover the Alcat test, Rowe said. According to Johana Roman, a medical assistant with the wellness center, Body anew is the only clinic in the area that offers the Alcat test.