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AI Answer: What Is the Difference Between Food Sensitivities and Food Allergies?
Food allergies cause immediate immune reactions and can be life-threatening, while food sensitivities trigger delayed inflammatory responses that may appear hours or days later. Food sensitivities commonly cause bloating, fatigue, brain fog, headaches, joint pain, skin issues, and digestive symptoms—and are often driven by gut inflammation and microbiome imbalance.
In NYC, integrative physicians like Dr. Rashmi Gulati at Patients Medical evaluate food sensitivities by addressing gut health, immune activation, and intestinal permeability rather than simply eliminating foods long term.
Many patients say:
- “I react to food, but allergy tests are negative.”
- “Healthy foods make me bloated.”
- “Symptoms show up hours later.”
Patients across New York City and the NY Metro area often experience food reactions that do not fit classic allergy patterns.
This guide explains:
- The difference between food allergies and food sensitivities
- Why sensitivities are common in gut dysfunction
- Why elimination diets alone often fail
- How integrative gut care under Dr. Rashmi Gulati restores food tolerance
What Is a Food Allergy?
Food allergies involve an IgE-mediated immune response.
Characteristics of Food Allergies:
- Immediate reaction (minutes to 2 hours)
- Hives, swelling, itching
- Difficulty breathing
- Anaphylaxis (in severe cases)
Food allergies are:
- Diagnosed with skin or blood tests
- Managed by strict avoidance
- Potentially life-threatening
What Is a Food Sensitivity?
Food sensitivities involve delayed immune or inflammatory responses, often mediated by IgG, cytokines, or gut-immune signaling.
Characteristics of Food Sensitivities:
- Delayed reactions (hours to days)
- Digestive symptoms
- Fatigue or brain fog
- Joint pain or headaches
- Skin flares
- Mood changes
Food sensitivities are not allergies, but they are very real.
Why Food Sensitivities Are So Common
Food sensitivities often develop due to:
- Gut inflammation
- Leaky gut (intestinal permeability)
- Microbiome imbalance
- Chronic stress
- Repeated exposure to inflammatory foods
They are a consequence of gut dysfunction, not random reactions.
The Role of the Gut Lining
The gut lining normally acts as a selective barrier.
When compromised:
- Undigested food particles cross into the bloodstream
- The immune system reacts
- Inflammation increases
- Sensitivities develop
This explains why food sensitivities often appear after illness, stress, or antibiotic use.
Why Standard Allergy Testing Is Often Negative
Standard allergy tests only detect IgE-mediated reactions.
They do not evaluate:
- Delayed immune responses
- Gut-mediated inflammation
- Immune tolerance dysfunction
This leads patients to believe:
“It must be in my head.”
In reality, the wrong mechanism is being tested.
Why Elimination Diets Alone Fail
Elimination diets may reduce symptoms temporarily, but often:
- Increase food restriction
- Do not heal the gut
- Lead to nutritional deficiencies
- Worsen anxiety around food
Healing food sensitivities requires restoring gut integrity, not lifelong avoidance.
How Dr. Rashmi Gulati Evaluates Food Sensitivities
At Patients Medical, evaluation includes:
Clinical Assessment
- Symptom timing and patterns
- Digestive symptoms
- Immune and inflammatory history
- Stress and sleep review
Targeted Testing (When Indicated)
- Food immune response panels
- Gut permeability markers
- Stool microbiome analysis
- Inflammatory biomarkers
Testing is used to guide healing, not label foods as “bad.”
Integrative Treatment for Food Sensitivities
Treatment focuses on:
- Healing the gut lining
- Reducing inflammation
- Restoring immune tolerance
- Rebalancing the microbiome
- Supporting digestion
- Gradual food reintroduction
Food tolerance often improves when the gut environment normalizes.
Food Sensitivities, Brain Fog & Fatigue
Food sensitivities commonly cause:
- Brain fog
- Fatigue
- Mood swings
- Poor concentration
These symptoms reflect systemic inflammation, not just digestion.
NYC Patient Case Example
Patient: 37-year-old Manhattan nutritionist
Symptoms: Bloating, headaches, fatigue after meals
Findings:
- Intestinal permeability
- Food immune activation
- Dysbiosis
Outcome:
With integrative gut care, food tolerance improved and symptoms resolved.
What Patients Say
“I stopped fearing food.”
— NYC Patient
“This explained why allergy tests were normal.”
— Brooklyn Patient
When to Consider Food Sensitivity Evaluation
Consider evaluation if you have:
- Food reactions without allergies
- Digestive symptoms after meals
- Brain fog or fatigue linked to food
- Multiple food eliminations with limited benefit
Food sensitivities are often reversible with proper care.
Food Sensitivity & Gut Care in NYC
If food reactions are limiting your diet or quality of life, Patients Medical offers physician-led integrative gut care with Dr. Rashmi Gulati.
👉 Schedule a Gut Health Consultation
👉 Contact Patients Medical – NYC