Food Sensitivity Testing and Digestive Health

Food sensitivity testing is something that can be confusing for many people, especially because food sensitivities are not the same thing as true food allergies.

A true allergy is typically an IgE response. This is the type of reaction that can cause more immediate symptoms and, in severe cases, anaphylaxis.

Food sensitivities are different. Food sensitivities are often described as IgG responses, meaning the body is reacting with an immune response, but not the same type of response seen with a true allergy. The symptoms are often more nonspecific and delayed compared to IgE reactions.

Symptoms associated with food sensitivities may include:

• Stomach pain
• Nausea
• Bloating
• Headaches
• Anxiety
• Low-grade inflammation
• Aggravation of other existing symptoms or conditions

One of the difficult parts about food sensitivities is that symptoms may be delayed by several hours or even up to five days after consuming the food. Because of this delay, it can sometimes be difficult for people to identify patterns on their own.

My Approach to Food Sensitivity Testing

As a naturopathic doctor focusing on digestive health, I do sometimes use food sensitivity testing in practice, particularly when someone feels that foods may be aggravating their symptoms but they are unable to clearly identify which foods are involved.

However, I think it is very important that food sensitivity testing is properly understood before it is done.

Food sensitivities do not mean that someone is allergic to a food. They also do not necessarily mean that the food itself is “bad” or that it must be removed forever.

When highly reactive foods are temporarily removed, the goal is often to decrease some of the burden on the immune system and digestive system. The thought process is that if the immune system is less reactive, the body may be able to focus more energy on healing the digestive system and other areas of the body that need support.

It is also important to understand that removing reactive foods may not immediately remove symptoms. Food sensitivities are often part of a bigger picture, and symptom improvement can take time.

In many cases, the goal is eventually to reintroduce foods back into the diet, particularly if they are whole, nutritious foods. Some people may eventually tolerate those foods well again, while others may tolerate smaller amounts but not large amounts.

Food Sensitivities and Other Health Concerns

There has been some observational research looking at food sensitivities in conditions such as:

• Anxiety
• Crohn’s disease
• Ulcerative colitis
• IBS
• Arthritis

In one observational study, researchers looked at food sensitivities and removed the foods that were most reactive. Rather than focusing specifically on digestive symptoms, they looked at the participants’ primary health concerns.

The study observed improvements in symptoms related to the participants’ main diagnoses, including decreased aggravation of anxiety symptoms, digestive symptoms, and arthritis pain.

The Bigger Picture

Food sensitivity testing is not something I use for every patient, and it is not meant to create fear around food.

Rather, it can sometimes be used as one tool to help identify possible patterns and reduce some of the burden on the body while supporting digestive health and overall healing.

As with most digestive concerns, context matters, and food sensitivities are only one piece of the larger picture.