The Truth About Food Sensitivities

Have you ever felt bloated after a "healthy" meal? Struggled with brain fog, skin flare-ups, or joint pain that seemed to come out of nowhere? You’re not imagining it — and it might not be a random coincidence.

Many people are walking around with hidden food sensitivities that are quietly draining their energy and triggering inflammation. These aren’t your classic food allergies that send someone to the ER — these are delayed, immune-mediated responses that can show up hours or even days later.

Let’s break it down.

Food Sensitivity vs Food Allergy vs Food Intolerance

Understanding the difference is key:

• Food Allergy (IgE): Immediate, potentially life-threatening. Think peanut or shellfish allergy. Food allergies affect 4-6% of the population.

• Food Intolerance: Non-immune response. For example, lactose intolerance — your body lacks the enzyme to digest it.

• Food Sensitivity (IgG or other immune reactions): Delayed response that can trigger widespread symptoms, often overlooked. Food sensitivities affect 30-40% of the population.

  
  

Diet can be the cause of inflammation and immune dysfunction or imbalances which is why as an FDN-P, I believe that if you were to change only ONE thing, it would be your diet-it can have the most positive or negative influences on your body. The wrong foods can be a contributor to Metabolic Chaos or a variety of symptoms in the body.

Common Symptoms of Food Sensitivities

Food sensitivities don’t always show up in the gut. They can affect multiple systems, such as:

• Bloating or gas

• Fatigue or brain fog

• Headaches or migraines

• Skin issues (acne, eczema, hives)

• Joint pain or muscle aches

• Sinus congestion or post-nasal drip

• Mood swings, anxiety, or irritability

Sound familiar?

How Do You Know What You’re Sensitive To?

One of the biggest mistakes people make is trying to figure this out blindly — removing random foods without a clear strategy.

As an FDN-P, I use specific functional lab testing to pinpoint food sensitivities as well as gut function:

• MRT (Mediator Release Test) We run the Mediator Release Test for food sensitivities because it is the most accurate of food sensitivities on the market, in our opinion, it tests for volumetric changes in blood when exposed to specific food antigens.  You may or may not get immediate symptoms from eating these foods; however much damage can be done to surrounding tissues and cells and can cause stress on the body-causing gut permeability as well

  
  

• GI-MAP to assess gut health (since leaky gut = more reactivity).  This test also looks at digestion of foods as well as immune health.

• Mucosal Barrier Assessment (MBA) to assess specifics on histamine responses as well as the potential for leaky gut. 

What Causes Food Sensitivities in the First Place?

They don’t come out of nowhere. Some root causes include:

• Leaky gut (intestinal permeability)

• Chronic stress (weakens the gut lining)

• Overuse of antibiotics or NSAIDs

• Gut infections or dysbiosis

• Overexposure to the same foods (especially common allergens like gluten, dairy, eggs, soy)

Once your gut barrier breaks down, partially digested food particles can “leak” into the bloodstream and trigger immune reactions. Your body sees food as the enemy.

How to Start Healing

While everyone's plan should be personalized, here are a few basics:

1. Test, Don’t Guess: Use functional lab testing to identify your triggers.

2. Heal the Gut: Support the gut lining with nutrients like L-glutamine, zinc, collagen, and probiotics (as tolerated).

3. Reduce Inflammatory Foods Temporarily: Based on test results or a short elimination plan.

4. Rotate Your Foods: Don’t overdo the same meals every day.

5. Support Digestion: Chew well, reduce stress while eating, and possibly use digestive enzymes.

Functional Nutrition is Not About Elimination Forever

The goal isn't to live on 5 foods. It's to identify and reduce the immune burden, heal your gut, and then reintroduce foods as tolerance improves. Food freedom with data is possible!

Ready to Find Out What’s Triggering Your Symptoms?

If you suspect food sensitivities are holding you back, let’s get to the root cause. I offer food sensitivity testing and personalized gut healing plans designed for busy women who want real results — without restrictive dieting forever.

👉 Book a free clarity call or learn more about my programs here: https://l.bttr.to/Y9HOt