Food sensitivities vs intolerances vs allergies 101

We’re getting back to the neutral nutrition + Whole-Hearted Eating™ basics this week with a solo episode talking about food sensitivities vs intolerances vs allergies and food sensitivity testing! This is always a highly requested topic so I wanted to dig into the details for you guys. We’re discussing:

What are food sensitivities, food intolerances, and allergies, and where do they come from
What the key differences between these are (and why these differences matters)
- **food sensitivities and intolerances are used interchangeably a lot but they are NOT THE SAME THING.
What food sensitivity testing can and can’t tell you, and whether or not these tests are worth it
What to do with the results for these kinds of tests (hint: it’s not a restrictive eliminate all-the-things diet to try and ‘fix’ your body)
The impact of food sensitivity testing on our relationship with food, and how these tests can play into the on-again-off-again trap of yo-yo elimination diets
How stress around certain foods can mimic the symptoms of a food sensitivity or intolerance

Keep in mind while listening to this episode – food sensitivities are a symptom of a deeper issue, not a root cause of the issues you’re experiencing in the first place. Yes, having a sensitivity to dairy can contribute to your skin breaking out, for example, BUT that doesn’t tell you why you’re sensitive to dairy in the first place (most likely something rooted in the gut or the liver), so cutting out that food alone isn’t going to fix the root of the problem.