The Foods Quietly Making You Sick.

I recently had a food sensitivity test done, and I have to admit - the results were SHOCKING. It turns out…I’m HIGHLY reactive to eggs. EGGS! 😳 So you understand… I LOVE eggs. Eggs are my go-to breakfast - and snack -and one of my main sources of protein and fat.

Here’s the kicker: I don’t even have obvious symptoms when I eat them. No bloating, no fatigue, no headaches. Nothing that would have tipped me off. Yet, the reaction my body has to them is off the charts!

I had the test done because I use food as medicine - and I wanted to make sure I truly understood how my “medicine” was affecting me. I had already done an elimination diet in the past, this process was very helpful in discovering several foods I wasn’t tolerating well. But as time went on… I just kept feeling like something was missing… so I finally did the blood test. Knowledge is power - and now I can more confidently fuel my body with foods that are healthy for ME.

Realizing this got me thinking about how often we follow general nutrition advice, diet trends, or even what works for our friends, without stopping to ask: Is this right for me? Food can be incredibly healing - but only if it’s the right medicine for your body.

So what does this mean for you? Let’s dig into how food and our immune system work - stay with me for a quick overview. It is eye opening.

Allergies: The Loud Signals

Allergies are the reactions everyone knows about. You eat peanuts and break out in hives - or worse, struggle to breathe. That’s an immunological reaction (IgE-mediated reaction), and it’s immediate and unmistakable. Your body is basically screaming, “Don’t eat this!”

Sensitivities: The Sneaky Culprits

Not all reactions are so obvious. Food sensitivities, (also immunological - but IgG-mediated), can take hours or even days to show up. You might feel fatigued, get headaches, have joint pain, or notice skin changes - and never connect it to a food you ate days ago.

For example, my eggs weren’t causing any dramatic allergic reaction, so without testing, I would have never suspected a problem. This is exactly why understanding how foods are really affecting us is so powerful: your body can be reacting silently, even when you feel fine. IgG-mediated food sensitivities are not always permanent. With an elimination diet and gut-healing strategies, many people can reintroduce foods successfully over time.

Intolerances: When Digestion Struggles

Then there’s another category: food intolerances. These aren’t immune reactions - they happen when your body can’t properly digest or process a food. Lactose intolerance, mold on peanuts, fermentable carbs (FODMAPs), oxalates - these can all create discomfort or trigger inflammation.

Unlike allergies, intolerances aren’t life-threatening, and unlike sensitivities, they’re often about digestive function rather than immune response. Special diets are the best way to identify intolerances (like elimination diets, low-FODMAP, or low-oxalate plans). Note that these diets are therapeutic tools, not lifelong restrictions. These plans are meant to help you identify foods your body doesn’t tolerate well, but you aren’t technically having an immune response to.

Triggers: The Personal Connection

Sometimes a food isn’t an allergy or intolerance but still doesn’t sit well with your body. Maybe it spikes blood sugar, disrupts digestion, or drains your energy. These triggers are highly individual, which is why general advice rarely works. Again, therapeutic diet plans can help identify this.

How I Help Clients Find Their Way

Just like I needed clarity about eggs, many clients need guidance to uncover what works for their bodies. Using evidence-based tools and protocols from the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM), I help clients implement elimination diets and other protocols to identify sensitivities, intolerances, and triggers.

I also collaborate with your doctor when testing or other interventions are needed. As a coach, I help you actually implement new diets, habits, and routines in your life. (Yes, your BUSY life!) We will work together to find a simple and realistic plan that works for YOU.

The Bottom Line

Food can be powerful medicine - but only if it’s the right prescription for your body. What fuels one person might inflame another. This is the lesson that eggs taught me. 🥚

Ready to discover what your food is really doing for you? Schedule a FREE consult today.