Food allergies and sensitivites can present as digestive issues, eczem, joint pain, headaches & more
a food allergy
A food allergy is a rapid and potentially life-threatening immune reaction, where the body misidentifies a food protein as a harmful invader, triggering an IgE-mediated response that releases histamine and other chemicals.
not so obvious allergy symptoms
Not all food allergies are obvious. Some can cause delayed or milder symptoms that are often misdiagnosed as seasonal allergies, including
Skin: Chronic eczema, hives, rashes, or redness, dark circles under the eyes
Digestive: Bloating, diarrhea, constipation, acid reflux, nausea
Respiratory: Nasal congestion, post-nasal drip, wheezing, chronic cough
Brain: Headaches, brain fog, fatigue, anxiety, mood swings, hyperactivity
Joints, muscles: Unexplained stiffness, aches, fibromyalgia-like symptoms
Immune: Frequent infections, histamine intolerance, autoimmune flare-ups
food sensitivities
A food sensitivity, or intolerance, is a delayed immune response over hours or days, often involving IgG or other immune pathways, leading to chronic, low-grade inflammation rather than an immediate reaction.
food sensitivity Symptom
Gut: Bloating, gas, reflux, diarrhoea, constipation, nausea, IBS-like symptoms
Neurological: Brain fog, migraines, dizziness, mood swings, fatigue
Skin: Eczema, acne, rashes, itching
Respiratory: Sinus congestion, post-nasal drip, asthma-like symptoms
Joint/muscles: Inflammation, stiffness, pain
Over time, untreated food sensitivities can lead to autoimmune diseases, chronic inflammation, and systemic health issues.
How can we find out if we have a mild food allergy or sensitivity?
By testing! While no food testing is perfect, I do a test that includes both in one, while many tests focus on one or the other. I find it very helpful.
How do we heal?
By removing those foods TEMPORARILY while investigating and resolving the underlying dysfunction, we can heal our body, including our gut, where most of these issues originate.
Functional medicine takes a root-cause approach, addressing gut health, immune function, and inflammation to restore immune tolerance and heal mild food allergies and food sensitivities, rather than just avoiding trigger foods indefinitely.