Don’t Let Food Sensitivities Hold You Back
What Are Food Sensitivities?
Also known as food intolerances, sensitivities are more common than many of us realise. Unlike food allergies, which trigger immediate immune responses, sensitivities often cause delayed symptoms that can be disruptive and difficult to trace. These reactions can be painful and may significantly affect your quality of life.
How Can You Identify and Manage Them
Food sensitivities are often missed because symptoms can appear several hours, or even days, after eating the trigger food. To complicate things further, people with the same sensitivity may experience completely different symptoms.
But identifying a food sensitivity isn’t the end of the world. Most people can still tolerate small amounts of the offending food without symptoms. However, overconsumption can overload the system and trigger a reaction. In some cases, sensitivities may even contribute to chronic health issues or worsen existing ones.
Once you've pinpointed your trigger foods, it's important to eliminate them from your diet for at least a month. This helps reset your system. After that, you can slowly reintroduce them to assess how much your body can handle without symptoms.
Receiving your results might feel daunting, but it’s a crucial step toward taking control of your health. Our in-house nutritionist can guide you through the next steps, helping you adjust your diet while ensuring you still get all the nutrients you need. Together, you can decide whether a full elimination or a reduced intake is the best approach.
Surprising Signs of Food Sensitivities
Many assume sensitivities only affect digestion, but they can manifest in unexpected ways. Here are seven common but surprising symptoms:
Fatigue
Common culprits: dairy, soy, corn, gluten
Joint Pain & Muscle Aches
Common culprits: soy, gluten, dairy, eggs, corn, yeast, sugar, peanuts
Headaches
Common culprits: processed foods, cured meats
Weight Gain
Common culprits: refined carbs, added sugars, highly processed meats
Mood Swings
Common culprits: wheat, dairy, some fruits
Anxiety & Dizziness
Common culprits: fermented foods like wine, aged cheese, cured meats
If you notice any of these symptoms within 48 hours of eating certain foods, it might be time to investigate.
