Some people have true food allergies, the type that can cause dangerous reactions such as anaphylaxis. True allergies can be identified by an allergist. A true food allergy is triggered by IgE antibody production specific to a reactive food. IgE reactions, also known as ‘immediate’ hypersensitivity reactions, generally occur within minutes of eating a food.

Many people approach us to see if they have “food sensitivities”. They know they don’t have a dangerous allergy, but they still wonder if a food could be contributing to health concerns. While there is no one single scientifically validated test that will tell the whole story, a careful and thorough history, examination and lab work can help us to understand which foods may not be serving you well.

Figuring out which foods might not be working well for you is step one. The end goal is to avoid excessive restrictions and have as open and varied diet as possible. A naturopathic approach is ideal for this as we will look not only at foods but the big picture: your gut health and microbiome, your nervous system, your immune system and so on. This will help us to create a plan for healing that will help you to reach your goals and feel great about what you eat.