You’re eating all the “right” things, but something feels off…
Your energy’s on the low side, your stomach is feeling a bit unsettled, and your skin is starting to show signs that something isn’t quite right.
We now see more and more people experiencing adverse reactions to food, yet finding answers can be a daunting process. No matter the case, you can never quite put your finger on it or isolate a single culprit ingredient.
Could it be a true allergy? A hidden intolerance? A gut imbalance? Or just a coincidence?
From TikTok to health podcasts, the whole topic of gut health and food intolerances has exploded into the mainstream. But even with this surge in popularity, there is still a lot of confusion surrounding the differences between food allergies and food intolerances.
Whilst people use these terms interchangeably, they are entirely different conditions medically, with distinct causes, symptoms, and risks. Getting the right kind of testing is more than just achieving peace of mind; it’s paramount for your long-term health and wellbeing.
Understanding the Difference
The way your body reacts to different types of foods is something you need to be aware of, and it can go from mild indigestion all the way to a life-threatening allergy. There are different underlying mechanisms for each reaction in your body, which is why it’s so important to understand the reasons why.
What Are Food Allergies?
Food allergies are immune reactions to specific foods. The immune system misidentifies a food protein as harmful and mounts a response—often IgE-mediated and rapid—causing symptoms such as itching, hives, swelling, tummy pain, vomiting, wheezing, or difficulty breathing. Severe reactions can lead to anaphylaxis, a life-threatening emergency requiring immediate treatment (adrenaline auto-injector and 999).
What is a Food Intolerance?
What is a food intolerance (and food sensitivity)?
A food intolerance is a reaction not caused by IgE allergy. It usually stems from how the gut processes food—e.g. low lactase (lactose intolerance), FODMAP fermentation, histamine, caffeine or sulphites. Symptoms are often dose-dependent and can appear hours later: bloating, tummy cramps, wind, diarrhoea, reflux, headaches or skin flare-ups. Intolerances are not life-threatening.
In functional medicine, we also see food sensitivities—delayed, non-IgE immune responses that may involve IgG and IgA antibodies and the gut’s mucosal immune system. These can be more likely when the gut barrier is compromised (often called “leaky gut”/increased intestinal permeability), allowing food proteins to interact more with immune cells. Symptoms can overlap with intolerance and may also include brain fog, joint aches and fatigue, sometimes up to 72 hours after eating.
How we approach this at our clinic:
We combine a detailed history, diet diaries and targeted elimination-and-rechallenge with optional IgG/IgA food sensitivity testing and gut-barrier support (nutrition, stress, sleep and microbiome-focused care). These tests do not diagnose IgE allergy or anaphylaxis, and coeliac disease should be ruled out before removing gluten long-term. If you have rapid swelling, wheeze or breathing difficulty, use an adrenaline auto-injector if prescribed and call 999.
Why the Difference Matters
Getting the wrong diagnosis or confusing one condition for another can create significant problems for you. For example, cutting out foods when it’s not necessary may result in nutritional deficiencies, whereas missing a genuine allergic condition could endanger your health or even prove fatal.
Unfortunately, numerous internet-based and retail testing options fail to make proper distinctions between these conditions or even worse, they measure substances that lack any legitimate scientific foundation. This highlights the importance of seeking proper medical evaluation and testing from qualified healthcare professionals.
Today’s Food Consciousness Revolution
Modern eating habits have reached unprecedented levels of individualisation, from things like gluten-elimination approaches to plant-based milk substitutes. Yet this personalisation has sparked increased self-assessment, and regrettably, widespread misconceptions as well.
Many individuals now remove whole food categories without professional oversight, potentially causing nutrient gaps, restrictive consumption patterns, and heightened meal-related stress.
This makes accurate, research-supported evaluation more crucial than before. Understanding our body’s specific reactions – as well as their underlying causes – allows us to implement changes that promote genuine wellness rather than just temporary symptom management.
Identifying Warning Signs: Should You Consider Food Sensitivity Tests in Leicester?
Some individuals immediately recognise problematic food encounters, while others experience subtle, delayed responses that make pattern recognition challenging.
Medical-grade evaluation might prove beneficial if you’re dealing with:
- Unexplained abdominal swelling, gas production, or digestive upset
- Persistent tiredness, mental fog, or reduced energy levels
- Dermatological conditions, including eczema or skin eruptions
- Regular headaches or migraine episodes
- Continuous nasal problems or blocked passages
- Inconsistent bathroom habits
- Responses that appear to evolve with time
There’s no need to endure discomfort quietly or continue random food elimination. Appropriate assessment transforms uncertainty into understanding.
Our Clinical Approach: Allergies Versus Sensitivities at The Health Suite Leicester
At The Health Suite, we use a medically-supervised, individualised methodology for food reaction evaluation.
Regarding food allergies, we provide IgE-mediated blood analysis. For food sensitivities, we emphasise proven approaches including structured elimination protocols with monitored reintroduction, guided by qualified practitioners, including our functional medicine doctor or nutritionists. We also examine potential enzyme insufficiencies (such as lactose processing issues) or intestinal factors that can resemble food sensitivity.
Comprehensive Result Interpretation
Each assessment with our nutritional therapists or functional medicine service at The Health Suite Leicester includes a thorough results discussion to ensure a complete understanding of your body’s processes, plus optimal next steps for supporting your wellness.
We will assist you in developing an approach suited to your daily routine, preferences, and nutritional requirements, involving temporary elimination, focused intestinal support, in collaboration with our specialist team.
Why Select The Health Suite Leicester for Food Reaction Testing?
The Health Suite merges clinical expertise with caring, personalised service. We avoid standardised protocols or hurried appointments. Instead, we invest time in hearing your concerns, understanding your symptoms, and customising our assessment and treatment suggestions appropriately.
Our practitioners include general physicians, functional medicine experts and nutritional specialists experienced with food-related conditions, digestive wellness, and immune system responses. As a CQC-registered private facility, you can be confident your care meets superior medical benchmarks.
We guide you past generic recommendations toward clearer comprehension of your body’s functioning, enabling life with increased vitality, reduced discomfort, and enhanced confidence in everyday decisions.
Begin With Confidence
If ongoing symptoms remain puzzling, or you’re exhausted from questioning every meal choice, we’re prepared to help establish clarity.
Schedule a professional food allergy or sensitivity consultation today. No physician referral necessary. Testing is directly available at our private Leicester facility
