If you’re struggling with unexplained rashes, digestive issues, and aches, have you thought about getting tested for food sensitivities? At the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre (TFMC), our personalized medicine approach can help you tackle these concerns.

Food sensitivities are not the same as food allergies and intolerances, though there are some similarities and differences between the conditions. The aim of this TFMC article is to:  

• • Briefly explain the distinctions between food intolerances, sensitivities and allergies;
  • Understand how functional lab tests are applied for food sensitivities;

• • Describe our functional medicine clinic’s patient-centered, integrative treatment approach.

Unraveling food allergies, sensitivities and intolerances

Functional medicine consultations involve providing health education to patients. By being aware of environmental factors, nutrient levels, hormone imbalances, etc., you can stay motivated to stick to a healthy lifestyle. So, if you were to discuss food sensitivities with a functional medicine doctor, don’t be surprised to learn that these are unlike allergies and intolerances: 

• • Food allergies

The severity of food allergies can be life-threatening; peanuts, eggs, dairy, tree nuts, soy, and shellfish tend to be common allergens. The immune system will respond within minutes/hours after consumption. Some of these reactions require medical interventions due to their severity; symptoms/reactions may include breathing difficulties, hives or rashes, fainting, acute cramping and vomiting, and swollen lips, throat, tongue, face.  

E.g. Sally cannot eat foods with peanuts otherwise she will get an anaphylactic shock. 

• • Food intolerances

These do not trigger instant and dangerous reactions, but symptoms appear within hours or days from consumption. The body has trouble metabolizing certain foods due to a lack of digestive enzymes; this can cause symptoms unrelated to the immune system, such as digestive issues (i.e. gas, bloating), low energy levels, and headaches. Food intolerances are dose-dependent, so you may be intolerant to a food depending on the amount you’ve eaten. 

E.g. If Dan eats one whole slice of cheesecake instead of a small bite, he will get heavily bloated because he is lactose intolerant. 

• • Food sensitivities

For some people, food sensitivities may or may not be dose-dependent, and may result from poor gut health, pregnancy, aging, inflammation, or chronic stress. Symptoms typically appear after consecutive exposure to specific food groups and may include bloating, diarrhea, constipation, and mood swings, nutritional deficiencies, rashes, brain fog, tiredness and/or chronic inflammation. These are delayed responses, and they are not severe. But food sensitivities can cause chronic symptoms that can negatively impact long-term health. Soy, corn, eggs, dairy, additives and gluten are common sensitivities.

E.g. When Carmen eats tofu based foods in a repetitive manner , painful rashes form three days later because she is sensitive to soy. 

Some similarities and differences are briefly recapped in the chart below: 

Condition	Severity	Onset of reaction	Dependent on how much you eat
Food allergy	Potentially life-threatening.	Immediate	No
Food intolerance	Not life-threatening, but it can cause digestive discomforts.	Postponed (hours or days)	Yes
Food sensitivity	Not dangerous, but it can cause chronic concerns.	Postponed (hours or days)	Occasionally

Unfortunately, the symptoms of food allergies, intolerances and sensitivities can overlap with other health conditions. If sensitivities are suspected though, a functional medicine practitioner can conduct lab tests to verify if (and which) foods are causing individual symptoms. 

Applying functional lab tests to food sensitivities

For treating food sensitivity issues, conventional medicine doctors may recommend the elimination diet. This involves removing foods that you might be sensitive to and slowly reintroducing them to see if you react. Though the elimination diet can provide insight into troubling foods, functional medicine testing can take away the guesswork of which foods are problematic. Our clinicians may recommend these functional lab tests for exploring food sensitivities:

• • Celiac and gluten intolerance sensitivity test serum (Doctor’s Data): If we suspect that you have symptoms similar to celiac disease, yet you don’t have this condition, we may recommend this test. This uses a blood sample to scrutinize for certain antibodies or genetic indicators linked to gluten. 
  • Food sensitivity IgG testing (Rocky Mountain Analytical): A blood sample is provided to measure for IgG antibodies. This quantification can help us establish which daily foods and beverages are the culprits behind your symptoms.  

After we examine your final lab reports, we modify treatment options for a comprehensive treatment plan that targets food issues and chronic disease prevention. This would detail which foods you would need to eliminate, plus additional tips to help relieve rashes, stress, etc.  Note: It’s possible to be sensitive to nutritious foods, such as certain fruits, vegetables, soy, dairy, etc. A functional health provider can help you avoid nutrient deficiencies while undergoing lifestyle modifications.

If you do have a food sensitivity, it doesn’t mean it will last forever! Due to the fact that our bodies constantly change because of aging, immune function, and gut health, “…what may not sit well today may be fine to have later on in life,” explains Harvard Health Publishing. 

If you do want to bring troubling foods back into your diet, you can do so in small increments and see what happens – but we encourage you to speak to your functional health provider before trying this. 

Suggested reading: A Functional Medicine Toronto Perspective on SIFO (Small Intestinal Fungal Overgrowth), Gut Health, and Immune Function

How our functional medicine clinic supports optimal health 

If you’re struggling with your health, the functional medicine approach can disclose new details about your wellness. We adhere to this health model at the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre (TFMC) to address your biological needs only! This includes untangling the source of chronic symptoms with individualized support. 

Since 2007, we’ve been applying integrative medicine to our functional medicine therapies. We can tailor your comprehensive care to target key health goals – this involves customizing treatment modalities just for you. Our complementary medicine and natural therapies are beneficial for managing chronic conditions (i.e. chronic fatigue syndrome), daily energy levels, autoimmune conditions, lessening menopausal symptoms, and more. 

We encourage patients to mix and match therapies whenever they can. Western and naturopathic medicine, psychotherapy, Traditional Chinese Medicine acupuncture services, holistic treatments, and hormone optimization programs are offered by our clinicians. Our in-house IV Lounge is also available for patients; if necessary, a TFMC functional medicine provider can prescribe intravenous drips for adjunctive needs. IV drips can be freshly blended with vitamin C, glutathione, NAD+, and more; when these treatments are combined with formal health interventions and nourishing habits, they could lead to health enrichments.  

Our integrative treatment approach is uniquely designed to revive your mind and body! Get your treatment plan tailored now – immediately contact us here to request your session at the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre. 

Disclaimer: The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting a doctor. You should always consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider because of information you have read from the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre website or other affiliate media. 

 

References

Alpay K, Ertas M, Orhan EK, Ustay DK, Lieners C, Baykan B. Diet restriction in migraine, based on IgG against foods: a clinical double-blind, randomised, cross-over trial. Cephalalgia. 2010 Jul;30(7):829-37. doi: 10.1177/0333102410361404. Epub 2010 Mar 10. PMID: 20647174; PMCID: PMC2899772.

“‘Do You Have a Food Sensitivity?’ and Other Questions Answered” from Penn Medicine, the University of Pennsylvania, posted March 2, 2023, viewed on August 27, 2024. 

“Food allergy, intolerance, or sensitivity: What’s the difference, and why does it matter?” from Harvard Health Publishing, January 30, 2020, viewed on August 28, 2024. 

Valenta R, Hochwallner H, Linhart B, Pahr S. Food allergies: the basics. Gastroenterology. 2015 May;148(6):1120-31.e4. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2015.02.006. Epub 2015 Feb 11. PMID: 25680669; PMCID: PMC4414527.

Virdee K, Musset J, Baral M, Cronin C, Langland J. Food-specific IgG Antibody-guided Elimination Diets Followed by Resolution of Asthma Symptoms and Reduction in Pharmacological Interventions in Two Patients: A Case Report. Glob Adv Health Med. 2015 Jan;4(1):62-6. doi: 10.7453/gahmj.2014.068. PMID: 25694853; PMCID: PMC4311561.