Food intolerances are common, and their symptoms can vary widely, including: 

These signs may indicate an inflammatory reaction to certain foods. Identifying the exact cause can be challenging, as symptoms often appear with a delay and vary in severity.

Food Intolerance vs Food Allergies

• Food Intolerance: This response involves the release of immunoglobulins (typically IgG antibodies) when specific foods are consumed. Symptoms can include a variety of issues, the reactions are delayed but are usually not life-threatening.

• Food Allergies: In contrast, food allergies occur when the body mistakenly identifies a harmless food as a threat. This triggers an immediate immune response involving IgE antibodies, leading to the release of histamine and other chemicals. Symptoms can include:
  • Swelling
  • Hives
  • Anaphylaxis

Understanding the distinctions between food intolerances and allergies is crucial for effective management and treatment.

Role of Food Sensitivity Test and Elimination Diet

The elimination diet is considered the gold standard for determining food intolerances, providing direct cause-and-effect evidence between food and symptoms. It involves:

• Elimination Phase: Removing suspected foods from the diet to see if symptoms improve.
• Reintroduction Phase: Gradually reintroducing these foods one at a time to identify triggers.

While effective, the elimination diet requires careful planning, monitoring, and a time commitment for the best results.

Determining which foods to eliminate can be difficult, and results may be inconsistent if not followed correctly. This is where Food Intolerance Testing becomes valuable:

• It offers an individualized report on specific foods that may trigger reactions.
• Serves as a starting point for identifying food triggers.

It’s important to remember that an elimination diet will be necessary to confirm which foods on the list are true triggers and which may be false positives.

Food Intolerance Test may not be helpful for everyone – it is important to discuss with Dr. Wu, ND about the pros and cons to determine if this test is right for you.

How is it addressed?

A naturopathic doctor’s approach to food sensitivities focuses on individualized assessment and care. The first step is to identify specific food triggers through an elimination diet, with or without the support of Food Sensitivity Testing.

Contributing factors such as stress, nutritional deficiencies, and digestive health are also addressed, as they play a crucial role in the reintroduction process.

Once identified, food triggers are gradually reincorporated into the diet one at a time.

A Friendly Reminder: Food Sensitivity Can Change

Our bodies are constantly evolving. What once caused discomfort may no longer do so, and new triggers can arise unexpectedly. Factors like age, stress, and digestive health influence our tolerance and reactions. Therefore, even if a food sensitivity has been identified, it’s important to remember that it may not be permanent. Unsuccessful reintroductions can be revisited after some time to determine whether the sensitivity or intolerance persists.