What’s the Deal with Food Sensitivities?

If you’ve ever felt like your body is reacting to food but can’t quite figure out what or why, you’re not alone. Food sensitivities are incredibly common and also incredibly misunderstood. Unlike a true food allergy (which tends to be immediate and obvious), food sensitivities are sneakier. They often show up hours or even days later, and they look different for everyone. The important thing to understand is that food sensitivities are never just about the food — they’re a reflection of what’s going on beneath the surface.

Let’s break it all down.

Food Sensitivity vs. Food Allergy: What’s the Difference?

A food allergy is an IgE-mediated immune response. It’s fast, often severe, and can be life-threatening. Think hives, swelling, asthma, or even anaphylaxis. Symptoms typically show up within minutes.

A food sensitivity, on the other hand, is a delayed immune reaction usually IgG, IgA, or IgM-mediated. Symptoms can show up hours to days after eating the food, and they don’t always affect digestion.

Instead, food sensitivities trigger systemic inflammation, and that can look like:

• Brain fog

• Fatigue

• Joint pain

• Headaches or migraines

• Sinus congestion

• Skin issues (acne, eczema, rashes)

Why Are Food Sensitivities So Common Now?

The food itself has changed and these changes alter the protein structures in food, making them harder to digest and more likely to trigger an immune response. These changes include GMO crops, pesticide residue (like glyphosate), highly processed foods, and food additives and dyes.

Another reason is that our immune systems are overwhelmed. We’re exposed to more stress, chemicals, environmental toxins, and gut-disrupting medications than ever before. This strains the immune system and makes it more likely to misfire — including reacting to food proteins.

The Gut-Immune Connection

Did you know that 70–80% of your immune system lives in your gut? If you’ve hung around us for a while, you know that already but this is why food sensitivities are almost always connected to gut health.

Some common gut-related drivers of food sensitivities include:

• Low stomach acid or enzymes → poor protein breakdown

• Leaky gut → food particles slipping into the bloodstream

• Low secretory IgA → suppressed immune function

• Overactive dendritic cells → tagging foods as “threats” instead of “friends”

• Dysbiosis → imbalance of gut bacteria, especially low butyrate production

This is why food sensitivities aren’t just about the food, they’re about what’s happening in your gut, immune system, and environment.

Why Food Sensitivity Tests Alone Aren’t the Answer

If you’ve ever taken a food sensitivity test and felt overwhelmed by all the red flags, you’re not alone. When someone reacts to 20+ foods on a test, it often points to a deeper immune system issue, not that all those foods are inherently bad for you. That’s why we always go inflammation hunting. Asking why your immune system is reacting before cutting out all the foods. Because pulling foods without addressing gut dysfunction or immune imbalance is like turning off a fire alarm without putting out the fire.

So What Can You Do?

If you suspect food sensitivities, the most accessible (and informative) option is an elimination diet:

• Remove suspected trigger foods for 3–4 weeks

• Reintroduce them one at a time, waiting 3–4 days between each

• Watch for symptoms — remember, sensitivities are delayed!

While elimination diets aren’t for everyone, it can be a great way to identify food sensitivities and it gives you direct feedback from your body. Not sure where to start? Our Eat to Achieve™ program walks you through this process step-by-step. It’s a 21-day real food reset designed to reduce inflammation, identify food sensitivities, and help you feel like yourself again without unnecessary restriction.

Food sensitivities are real but they’re not random. They’re a sign that your immune system is overwhelmed, your gut may need support, or your body is asking for something different. And the solution isn’t to eliminate foods forever. The real work is identifying what’s driving the sensitivity in the first place — and that’s what we do with our clients. If you’re stuck in the food sensitivity spiral and want to get to the root of it, we’d love to support you. Learn more about our 1:1 Functional C.A.R.E. Method™.