Food Sensitivities: The Hidden Link
For many people, the connection between food and health is obvious — eat well, feel well. But for others, certain foods can quietly disrupt digestion, energy, mood, and overall wellbeing. These are called food sensitivities, and they’re more common than you might think.
What Are Food Sensitivities?
Food sensitivities occur when your body reacts negatively to certain foods, usually through a delayed immune or digestive response. Unlike food allergies (which involve an immediate, potentially dangerous immune reaction), food sensitivities can take hours or even days to cause symptoms — making them tricky to identify.
The Science at a Glance
Research suggests that food sensitivities often involve the immune system’s IgG antibodies or non-immune mechanisms such as enzyme deficiencies and microbiome imbalances.
A 2018 review in Nutrients highlighted how changes in gut permeability (“leaky gut”) can allow food particles to enter the bloodstream, triggering immune responses.
A 2016 paper in Frontiers in Immunology noted that persistent immune activation from certain foods can lead to low-grade inflammation — linked to fatigue, skin conditions, and joint pain.
Common Symptoms of Food Sensitivities
Food sensitivities can affect almost every system in the body. Some of the most frequently reported symptoms include:
Bloating, gas, constipation, or diarrhea
Brain fog or difficulty concentrating
Chronic fatigue or low energy
Skin rashes, eczema, or acne
Joint stiffness or muscle aches
Mood changes, anxiety, or irritability
Headaches or migraines
Potential Causes
Food sensitivities can develop for a variety of reasons:
Gut microbiome imbalance (dysbiosis)
Leaky gut (increased intestinal permeability)
Overexposure to certain foods (especially common allergens)
Stress and its impact on immune regulation
Post-infection gut changes (e.g., after food poisoning)
Food Sensitivity Testing — How Reliable Is It?
Many companies now offer at-home or lab-based food sensitivity tests, often measuring IgG antibody levels. While these tests can provide clues, the scientific consensus is mixed:
IgG antibodies can simply indicate exposure to a food, not necessarily a sensitivity.
The Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology warns that IgG testing may lead to false positives and unnecessary food restrictions.
The Gold Standard for identifying sensitivities remains an elimination and reintroduction diet.
Can Food Sensitivities Be Cured?
There’s no one-size-fits-all “cure,” but research shows that improving gut health and reducing inflammation can help many people reintroduce previously problematic foods over time.
This often involves:
Repairing the gut lining
Balancing the microbiome
Managing stress and inflammation
This is exactly where a targeted gut-healing protocol can make all the difference — something I walk you through step-by-step in my Gut Reset program - The Gut Reset Ebook, you can find under “Shop” on the site.
The Bottom Line
Food sensitivities can quietly erode your health, but with the right approach, they’re not a life sentence. The key lies in accurate identification, gut repair, and reintroduction — not endless restriction.
If you suspect food sensitivities are holding you back, my Gut Reset ebook provides the exact blueprint I use to help clients heal their gut, calm inflammation, and regain food freedom.
References
Fasano A. Leaky gut and autoimmune diseases. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol. 2012;42(1):71-78.
Choung RS, Murray JA. The role of food intolerance in functional gastrointestinal disorders. Nutrients. 2018;10(11):1730.
Stapel SO, et al. Testing for IgG4 against foods is not recommended as a diagnostic tool. Allergy. 2008;63(7):793-796.