What Are Food Sensitivities?

If you’re feeling tired, bloated, or just “off” and can’t seem to figure out why, the culprit might be hidden in your food. Food sensitivities are often overlooked, but they could be the reason behind those ongoing health struggles like chronic digestive issues, headaches, joint pain, fatigue, and more.

Food sensitivities aren’t the same as food allergies or Celiac disease, and they can be far more difficult to identify. Unlike allergies, which cause immediate reactions, food sensitivities often trigger delayed, ongoing symptoms—sometimes even up to 72 hours later! The symptoms can be sneaky, showing up long after you’ve eaten a triggering food, making it hard to pinpoint the cause.

What makes it even more challenging is that food sensitivities can involve both innate and adaptive immune pathways, affecting white blood cells. These immune responses release pro-inflammatory and proalgesic mediators like cytokines, leukotrienes, and prostaglandins, which ultimately result in inflammation and pain. The tricky part is that the effects of this inflammation are not always obvious—they can present as chronic conditions or vague symptoms that can be misattributed to other causes.

But here’s the kicker: even foods that are considered healthy can trigger these reactions. You might think you’re eating all the right things—foods like chicken, broccoli, or even garlic—but they could still be contributing to your discomfort. And that’s not all—sometimes, it’s not the food itself but the chemicals in the food, like solanine in potatoes or lectins in beans, that are causing the issues.

This is where working with an expert becomes essential. While food sensitivity testing can be a great tool, it’s not always enough on its own. The real key to managing food sensitivities is understanding your body’s unique reactions and figuring out which foods or food chemicals are at the root of your symptoms. And that’s exactly where we come in!

We are LEAP Certified Registered Dietitians, and we specialize in helping clients like you uncover their food sensitivities through personalized nutrition coaching. We’ve seen firsthand how complex food sensitivities can be, and how frustrating it is when you don’t know where to turn for help. But with the right guidance, we can unravel the mystery of what’s really going on in your body.

Why Food Sensitivities Can Be Hard to Identify

Food sensitivities are particularly tricky because they often involve multiple foods or food chemicals, not just one or two offenders. Plus, the reactions can be dose-dependent, meaning you might not feel symptoms unless you eat a large quantity of a specific food. Even a seemingly healthy food, like salmon—often touted for its anti-inflammatory benefits—could be a trigger for some people. The same goes for foods like blueberries, parsley, turmeric, and ginger. Even these well-known anti-inflammatory foods can cause inflammation and discomfort in some individuals!

What makes it even more complicated is that the symptoms of food sensitivities can vary widely from person to person. Some people may experience digestive issues, like bloating, gas, or diarrhea. Others might have headaches, joint pain, or unexplained fatigue. These delayed reactions can be difficult to connect to the food you ate, especially if you’re dealing with multiple food sensitivities at once.

How Nutrition Coaching Can Help You Overcome Food Sensitivities

The process of uncovering your food sensitivities requires more than just a list of foods to avoid. It takes an expert who understands how food interacts with your body at a deeper level, which is exactly what we offer. As Registered Dietitians, we take a scientific approach to identifying food triggers, helping you understand what’s happening inside your body and why.

Working with us, you’ll undergo a thorough analysis of your eating habits, health history, and symptom timeline. Together, we’ll track down potential food triggers and uncover the root causes of your discomfort. We’ll also use specialized testing if needed, to help pinpoint which foods or chemicals are causing inflammation and pain.

Once we’ve identified the foods and food chemicals causing your symptoms, we’ll create a personalized plan to help you eliminate the offenders and heal your body. But it doesn’t stop there—nutrition coaching goes beyond just food elimination. We’ll focus on replenishing your body with the nutrients it needs to reduce inflammation, balance your immune system, and restore your energy levels.

Why Choose Personalized Nutrition Coaching?

Food sensitivities can affect every aspect of your life, from your energy levels to your mood and digestion. If you’re feeling tired, bloated, or constantly battling unexplained symptoms, it’s time to address the root cause. Working with an expert nutrition coach can help you regain control over your health by identifying and eliminating the foods that are contributing to your discomfort.

With our personalized nutrition coaching, you won’t just be following a generic “elimination diet.” You’ll be taking a targeted, science-backed approach that’s tailored to your unique needs. By identifying and addressing your food sensitivities, we’ll work together to bring balance back to your body, reduce inflammation, and reclaim your energy and vitality.

Don’t let food sensitivities control your life any longer. If you’re ready to feel better, regain your energy, and tackle your health struggles head-on, we’re here to help.

Meet Nicole Fennel Functional Dietitian

Hey There, I'm Nicole!

Nicole Fennell is a functional nutrition Dietitian—and a fellow Hashimoto’s patient—who understands firsthand the challenges of living with thyroid hormone imbalances and immune system dysfunction. Her approach to managing chronic disease and stubborn symptoms focuses on building the body up with enjoyable and realistic nourishment rather than breaking it down with restrictive, unrealistic, short-term diets.

With a real-food philosophy, Nicole emphasizes the power of nutrition, movement, and peace of mind in both disease prevention and long-term health. Outside of her work, she loves staying active with her husband and three kids, lifting weights, practicing yoga, walking, cooking, enjoying good food, and spending time outdoors.
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