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The 5Strands Food Intolerance Test uses a simple hair sample to analyze reactions to 658 common foods across 14 categories. Delivered within 4 days from a certified U.S. lab, it provides clear, doctor-recommended results with severity ratings to guide personalized dietary changes. Trusted by over 345,000 users, this at-home kit offers fast, accurate insights to improve gut health, reduce symptoms, and support sustainable lifestyle adjustments.







| Best Sellers Rank | #25,216 in Health & Household ( See Top 100 in Health & Household ) #8 in Genetic Tests |
| Customer Reviews | 4.0 out of 5 stars 2,506 Reviews |
Y**A
Changed my life
Had some problems initially buying from Amazon as there was no way for the company to track it and it disappeared for a while. I sounded like it would be quite complicated if it didn’t show up. Luckily it did and the results arrived very quickly. Literally has changed my life. I had been to allergist who said I was allergic to nothing. I had been to specialist and no explanation for my Gastro intestinal distress. Understanding sensitivies Makes my life make sense. The foods I thought I was allergic to, not anaphylaxis, but definitely distress when eating, while not popping on the allergy test Were definitely confirmed here. I bought this with the hope of the advertising reducing pain and inflammation. I haven’t really seen results in that department but the results I have seen have been amazing. I wasn’t thrilled to getting my results a month before the holidays and finding out I have Hi sensitivities to every Holiday food there is, But I was in such constant pain I was willing to make adjustments and have non-traditional holiday meals. I knew they were foods like potatoes and eggs that would create great distress on my insides. It may be TMI but I know it will be helpful to know, my insides were a mess with gas and bloating on a daily basis. There were times I thought I must have intestinal cancer and was dying the pain was so bad. I was constipated all the time. Again, the knowledge I received from this test, changed everything. I was not thrilled and very very overwhelmed with the amount of foods I had intolerances to. It was right on target with foods I knew I already had problems with. I was super excited that it was egg white causing problems because I don’t like them anyway. I immediately made myself toast with egg yolks and was in heaven and zero pain! Again, the results are super overwhelming and you have to take them in a little bit at a time. Make changes as you adjust. I called the company and spoke to the nutritionist for an hour and a half. He was super awesome! Answered all my questions and explain things patiently to the point I wasn’t freaking out anymore. I did All the tests And while it’s helpful knowing the vitamins and minerals I don’t metabolize correctly and the environmental stuff because that makes a lot of sense with the Health issues I have, it was nice confirmation but beyond that I haven’t done much with the information because I don’t know that I can. The food portion though I referred to again and again. It is too much to process at once so I go back to it frequently and realize I can have food so I didn’t think I could originally from being so overwhelmed. The first week I just ate the foods that I had on hand that I didn’t have any problems with. I eat as much as normal. The only big change I needed to adjust to was not having my half-and-half in my coffee. Or I should say the coffee in my half and half. I use about half a cup for my latte. I could have coconut and almond milk but that is not something that excited me in anyway shape or form. I like my coffee Creamy and they’re just not rich enough. I enjoy one cuppa caffeine a day and I wasn’t willing to give it up so I suffered through. The first week, with just that one change, I lost 4 1/2 pounds. I felt better. My gut started feeling better. It was significant enough that I had the courage to stick to the plan. My diet became very limited in choice, But again the significant improvement and continual weight loss kept me on track. I started feeling better and better inside. I thought there were things I could never give up, like cooking with garlic! There were many items on the list I thought I never had a problem with. But as my insides started feeling better and better, I quickly and painfully realized that I did indeed have a problem with those items! I was just in so much pain all the time I never noticed. When I was sick with Covid I had made myself some soup with garlic to help me breathe. This was only within the first two weeks of cutting the intolerant food out. And let me tell you, the pain I felt after feeling so much better convinced me that I don’t need garlic in my food anymore.In less than three months, 32 pounds melted off. I emphasize I still ate as much as before I just ate foods I wasn’t intolerant to. I did not add exercise yet. While I wasn’t pleased with some of the substitutions I had to make, it honestly was not as difficult as an adjustment as I thought it would be. I have to admit after three months I started cheating because I was feeling deprived by my lack of variety. The weight loss stopped but that’s OK because I’m getting used to my new body and I can’t afford to keep buying new clothes. I plan on recommitting soon as I can tell the difference in my insides. Even though it’s only about 20% of the past discomfort, it really isn’t worth it when I know how good I can feel. When I eat new foods that aren’t on the list, I know immediately if they are not OK. If you were ready to make a significant change in your life, this is well worth the investment. I had like five people who saw the changes in me and got it themselves. Those who abuse the information have seen improvement. Those who were overwhelmed And didn’t bother are still suffering. Again I have to stress it is very overwhelming to get these results. Do not let it discourage you. You just have to be ready to change. If you are just take it bit by bit and you will see results
D**N
Life-changing clarity for food, nutrition, and digestion — genuinely transformative
I rarely leave reviews, but this deserves one. 5Strands was one of the most helpful utilities I’ve ever used for understanding my body. The process was straightforward, the results were easy to read, and most importantly it gave me a clear roadmap to identify tolerances around food, nutrition, minerals, and the efficiencies or inefficiencies in my digestive system. What made the biggest difference for me was how actionable it was. Instead of guessing, I was able to make targeted adjustments, follow the elimination guidance, then reintroduce items intentionally. That structure alone removed so much confusion and helped me make better decisions day to day. This truly helped transform my life. If you’re someone who has been trying to figure out what is helping or hurting your body and you want a practical, organized way to approach it, I highly recommend it.
B**N
Do you want them to have your DNA info? Because that is the deal.
I stupidly ordered two tests and failed to do my research prior to doing so. The one test that I opened was never used, and the other, thanks to Amazon's great service, was returned. You have to register our kit, but that process was worrisome for me, given the information they were collecting. From their website: "The Company collects only the PII that you voluntarily provide to us, such as when you register to use the Services, set up a profile, create content, sign up for a special offer, enter a sweepstakes or promotion, or complete a survey..... ....The information we collect is statistical data and may include personal information, and we may maintain it, or associate it with personal information we collect in other ways, or receive from third parties... ...We may use the information we have collected from you to enable us to display advertisements to our advertisers’ target audiences... ...We may disclose personal information that we collect or you provide as described in this Privacy Policy to the following: To our subsidiaries and affiliates. To contractors, service providers and other third parties we use to support our business and who are bound by contractual obligations to keep personal information confidential and use it only for the purposes for which we disclose it to them. To a buyer or other successor in the event of a merger, divestiture, restructuring, reorganization, dissolution or sale or transfer of some or all of our assets, whether as a going concern or as part of bankruptcy, liquidation or similar proceeding, in which personal information held by us about our Site users is among the assets transferred, and you agree to and do hereby consent to our assignment or transfer of rights to your personal information. To third parties to market their products or services to you if you have not opted out of these disclosures. We contractually require these third parties to keep personal information confidential and use it only for the purposes for which we disclose it to them. To fulfill the purpose for which you provide it. For any other purpose disclosed by us when you provide the information with your consent..." The ONLY thing my info should be used for is FOR THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH I PROVIDE IT, AND I DON'T WANT IT USED TO FURTHER ENRICH YOU OR COMPLICATE MY LIFE. I'll take my chances with food.
M**M
I would have paid hundreds
We spent over $6000 last year trying to diagnose the myriad of digestive issues I was having and the only answer we got, which I had known since I was 14, was "you have severe chronic IBS". My life was becoming unmanageable and I was in daily pain and discomfort. I knew I had some food intolerances, but I had no idea how many I truly had and what was causing them. I purchased a different diagnostic product and was able to find a myriad of foods that were bothering me, but the information was still too vague. For example, according to that testing - I couldn't eat apples. I wanted more information so for a very small price point tried the 5 Strands. I got my kit, sent in my hair, and about 6 days later - I had the most comprehensive report that gave me so much more information than I thought possible (via email and via the website). I love that the test breaks foods down, for example, my previous testing indicated I couldn't eat apples. Through 5 Strands, I've learned there are two apple varieties that I can have! The test breaks food into categories like: beverage, dairy, anti-coagulant, food dye, etc. Even better - fruits and vegetables that come in varieties are broken down (like red, yellow, green). With the vegetables, the test even tells you if you can have it in it’s raw form or cooked form! My test indicated I have 393 food intolerances. While that feels overwhelming, now that I'm several weeks into my elimination diet and learning what I can have - I finally feel like I have my life back. Two years ago I considered applying for disability because I couldn't make it more than an hour without pain. Now, I'm about to go back to work full time and I'm in the best physical shape of my life. I rarely have issues, and to be honest, I'm not even convinced I have "IBS". I have A LOT of food intolerances, to many of the common foods and it has been work to figure out how to substitute quinoa and hemp milk for everything ;) BUT - I'm getting healthy and I feel better than I've felt in decades. Without this test - there’s no way I would have known I can tolerate cooked carrots vs raw for example. My only small complaint was that the test results aren't in Excel format. I'm an excel person and I wanted to be able to sort the data in different ways. I put it all into a spreadsheet myself, but it would have been a great option. That's the most minor detail though and it's hardly worth mentioning because this test is so worth it. I've made videos on my Facebook, talk about it to my friends, and am buying them for my children. Everyone should have the opportunity to gain this much insight into their dietary health!
R**.
This guy was a surprise with even more surprise to discover
I've been suffering with atopic dermatitis since my childhood. Was super difficult to figure out what exactly was causing severe allergic reactions. It took me a few years before I finally did this test and, must admit, I am not disappointed at all. I did a 640+ hair sample test. Easy to follow instructions. Easy to do. Easy to read results at the end. IMPOSSIBLE TO TRACK over neither USPS nor UPS (those guys they just don't bother to scan those envelopes) until you get email confirmation that lab has your test. My biggest disappointment is that I kept on consuming some kinds of food without having an idea that they are causing those allergic reactions. Good news: I know my enemy. Bad news: will need to spend more money on groceries. Good news: it's only for 6-8 weeks (then you are allowed to bring food that indicates as moderate allergen back one by one, checking for reaction). Bad news: some of the most favorite food might be gone forever.
A**S
Misleading. Save your money.
I was so excited to receive these tests especially after reading all the positive reviews. My daughter was recently diagnosed with possible celiac disease and I was hoping this would give us a more clear direction. I was even considering testing my Great Dane puppy but after receiving the results and diving into the website where they answer common questions, I learned more about their testing. The advertisement for these tests were a little misleading since they test the hair samples using Bioresonance technology. Bioresonance works by scanning a hair sample to create a profile of the energies that radiate from a person or pet creating an energetic blueprint or profile. It is then compared to all of the energetic profiles of all of the other items they test for. If these do not harmonize then there is an intolerance or imbalance detected. They come across as doing a full DNA test but that is not what they do. It’s more of a snapshot of what is in your system at that moment. I spent almost $300 on tests for 3 family members and I am questioning whether it was worth it. The test results came back saying we were intolerant to most of the healthy foods we consume on a regular basis which left us puzzled. Their list of tolerable foods specifically for us contained foods we know do not make us feel better i.e they suggested beef instead of chicken/turkey which I have not had beef for 15yrs because of health reasons. We will try eliminating some of the foods to see if it helps but since it’s not purely genetic based, we are reluctant to take it as seriously.
A**S
A Helpful and Affordable Tool for Identifying Food Sensitivities
This test was very helpful for both me and my child. It identified several food sensitivities that we would not have suspected on our own. After avoiding those foods, we noticed significant improvements in digestion and skin issues. The changes were quite noticeable and made a real difference in our daily lives. I know some people question the accuracy of these types of tests, but for my family, it has truly been a lifesaver. The results gave us a practical starting point, and adjusting our diet based on them brought clear benefits. It’s also much more affordable and convenient compared to visiting a doctor. Medical appointments require scheduling, dealing with insurance, and often the food testing options are limited to only a few items. This test covers a wide range of foods, making it far more comprehensive.
S**S
Helpful Insight
I’ve always been curious about how different foods affect my digestion, so I tried this kit out of interest. Sending the hair sample was quick, and the instructions were easy to follow. The results helped me experiment with removing a few foods and observing how my daily meals felt afterward.
G**E
Change my life!!
I dont follow perfectly but i eliminate the red foods from my diet and i dont have gut problem anymore!! I know people on tik tok says that its trigged by food that you est often but this test doesnt works like this because i have intolerance of foods that i dont eat at all. They test everything based on a method that workd for real and gives real result. If you were hesitating, this is your sign to go for it :)
M**S
Para quienes están en México y a los que nunca se les quita la inflamación este test es para ti!
Hasta el agua me inflamaba!, estoy encantada con este estudio, llevaba años buscando porque me inflamaba y tenía estreñimiento y estaba cansada de las benditas dietas fodmaps que funcionaban unas semanas pero muy restrictivas y sabía que había que hacer el esfuerzo para ver el cambio, esto no me lo recomendó el médico, esto surgió a raíz de que le conté sobre un síntoma que tenía, que a veces comía e inmediatamente me daba tos y comenzaba a vomitar como una especie de baba blanca, transparente, como forma. Y era muchísima y el Dr me dijo, eso es un síntoma de alergia o intolerancia a algún alimento, y no es que el agua te inflame, es que el líquido hace que se termine de esparcir muchísimo la sustancia que no toleras. Y esto fue el impulso para comprar esta prueba. Y pues me dejó impresionada, porque yo estaba negada a dejar algunos alimentos, ir según eran buenos para el metabolismo, la regulación hormonal, que los recomendaban en todas partes y me puse a sacar cuentas, desde que comencé esos hábitos comencé a ganar mucho peso y a estar enferma por todo y mi periodo menstrual no se arreglaba, entre ellos el bendito vinagre de manzana, el hinojo, el romero, la albahaca, el aceite de aguacate que eran infaltables en mis comidas!. Y yo culpando al gluten por mi estreñimiento pero no, eran otros aditamentos en el pan, como la yema del huevo. En la dietas bajas en fodmaps me dejaron fresas, arándanos y cosas así y resulta que tengo intolerancia a las antocianinas responsables de esa coloración, y cada vez que comía fresas con crema le echaba la culpa a la crema por los gases y a crema de leche no me perjudica para nada. Entonces se los súper recomiendo, es difícil querer quitarse alimentos de la dieta, pero cuando llevas muchos años inflamado y nada te sirve debes dar un salto de fe a confiar y hacerlo diferente, te indican que son 3 meses sin estos alimentos con marcas amarillas y rojas. Ya luego a puedes introducirlos a ver cómo te va. Yo estoy en chihuahua México, dentro de Estados Unidos el envío de la muestra no tiene costo, yo envié mi muestra junto con la de mi esposo por DHL, hay un envío que cuesta casi 1500mxn y llega en 8 días, y otro más caro que cuesta 1900 y llega en 3 días, para los que estamos en México cundo registras el kit por no ser envío interno solo te avisa cuando lo recibieron, no te da para hacer seguimiento. Una vez que recibieron la muestra notificaron y en 4 días tuvimos los resultados al correo. Me faltó mencionar, hasta los productos que se aplican en las uñas aparecen, hace años dejé deje de hacerme uñas de shellac o de cualquier tipo porque me dolían y no sabía porque, y en la prueba me apareció que soy altamente intolerante al shellac. Espero que les sirva mi súper larguísima opinión!
C**E
APP only available in USA
Unsure why uk site has this available as the app required to be able to get results is only available in USA
S**A
Hyper complet, je suis ravie
A priori ce sont d'incroyables résultats, 650 aliments testés ! Après, est-ce véridique ? je vais essayer de retirer ces aliments de mon alimentation, et j'espère que j'irai mieux ! D'après ce test, je suis intolérante au chocolat au lait, poulet, gluten, lait de vache, mais je peux manger de la dinde, du chocolat noir, du riz, du fromage, du bœuf et du porc ! En plus je n'y avais pas pensé mais la liste d'aliments est bien dans ma langue le français ! J'ai dû envoyer mes cheveux aux USA pour un affranchissement de 4 euros et quelques. En moins de 10 jours, ma lettre avait traversé l'océan et j'avais les résultats !
S**L
Easier than getting a doctor in Canada to do theese type of testz
Took a bit longer for the lab to process the sample. Im pretty sure they misplaced it after contacting customer service results were in 2 days. That being said my results were really eye opening 60 foods plus a lot of food dyes and preservatives. In Canada its very hard to get a doctor to do this testing, now i eliminate these from my diet and hopefully my tummy will feel better
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