Food Sensitivities
Supporting Health Through Food Awareness
Long before I became certified through the Nutritional Therapy Association (NTA), I was fascinated by how food can influence how we feel—often in surprising, subtle ways. Over time, I’ve explored a wide range of tools—some mainstream, some more outside the box—to help clients get curious about what might be contributing to symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, bloating, skin issues, and more.
Just to clarify: I don’t diagnose allergies or medical conditions—and what I offer isn’t a substitute for medical care. Instead, I help people explore how food may be playing a role in their health story—especially when conventional testing hasn’t provided clear answers.
It can be discouraging when conventional testing shows no issues, yet symptoms persist. Identifying food sensitivities can offer meaningful insights and often serves as an important starting point in restoring tolerance and improving overall function.
Where Medical Testing Leaves Off, Nutritional Exploration Begins
In conventional medicine, food reactions are usually labeled as:
Allergies – fast, immune-driven (IgE) responses diagnosed through skin or blood tests,
Intolerances – non-immune, like lactose or FODMAP sensitivities.
But what about the gray area in between?
Food sensitivities—those delayed or low-grade responses—are often left out of the conversation. While the science is still catching up, many people notice real improvements when they explore this area through elimination diets, symptom tracking, or non-diagnostic testing.
That’s where I come in.
My role is to help you make sense of patterns, support gut healing, and experiment with foods in a thoughtful, sustainable way. Below are some of the tools I use. None of them are diagnostic—but in the right context, they can be incredibly insightful.
Coca’s Pulse Test
A Simple, Somatic Check-In Tool
This is a low-tech method that helps you tune into how your body might be reacting to specific foods. It involves taking your pulse for 60 seconds before and after placing a suspect food on your tongue for 30 seconds (without swallowing). A noticeable change may be a sign to explore further.
Why some people love it:
It’s quick, free, and body-centered. It won’t give you medical answers, but it can be a surprisingly useful way to start paying attention to how your body responds to different foods.
Note: This test is not scientific or diagnostic. Heart rate can fluctuate for many reasons. Use it as a gentle nudge for curiosity, not a final word.
Skin Patch Test (GAPS-Inspired)
Checking for Visible Skin Responses
This method—shared in the GAPS Diet framework—involves putting a small bit of a food on your skin under a bandage overnight. If there’s irritation in the morning, it might be a clue to look at that food more closely.
Why it’s sometimes helpful:
The skin and gut share immune pathways. While this is not a validated test, and reactions can happen for many reasons, it’s one more observational tool in the toolbox.
As always, this isn’t suitable for foods you know you react to. No surprises here!
Lingual-Neuro Testing (LNT)
Energetic, Body-Led Observation
This technique explores how the body may respond to a food’s “signal” before it’s even swallowed. We observe changes in hip joint tension while placing a food near the body or on the tongue. It sounds out there, but when done thoughtfully, it can reveal interesting patterns.
Why I use it:
While not explained by mainstream biology, this approach can offer a different lens—especially when paired with food journaling and reintroduction trials. It’s not for everyone, but it can be powerful for some. Learn more about LNT.
I treat this like a compass, not a map—guiding exploration, not making conclusions.
MRT (Mediator Release Test)
My personal MRT results showed high immune reactivity to broccoli and low to cucumber.
A lab-based inflammation screening tool
The MRT blood test looks at how immune cells react to foods and chemicals by measuring the release of inflammatory mediators. While it’s not universally accepted in conventional medicine, many functional practitioners (myself included) have found it useful when paired with symptom tracking.
Where it shines:
When a client has persistent, unexplained symptoms—and we need data to guide an elimination diet—it can offer a starting point, as well as assurance that many foods are tolerated.
Like all tests, MRT isn’t perfect or definitive. I use it as a piece of the puzzle, not the whole picture.
Three-Day Food Challenge
A Mini Experiment in Real Time
This simple challenge involves removing a suspect food for 3 days, then bringing it back in and seeing how your body responds over the next 48 hours.
Why it works:
When you reintroduce a food, any reactions often become more obvious. It’s not fancy, but it’s incredibly empowering for many clients.
If you're not sure where to start, this is often the best first step.
Full Elimination Diet
The Gold Standard in Food Sensitivity Exploration
This involves removing several common trigger foods (like gluten, dairy, soy, eggs, sugar, etc.) for 3–4 weeks, then carefully reintroducing them one by one.
Why this works:
It's one of the most effective, evidence-supported ways to uncover food sensitivities—without any testing at all. Many people feel significantly better in ways they didn’t expect.
This isn’t meant to be a permanent diet. It’s a reset, not a life sentence. My role is to help you bring foods back in when the time is right.
Putting It All Together
Food sensitivities rarely exist in isolation. In my practice, I often combine symptom exploration with gut health testing (like the GI-MAP) to look at the bigger picture. What’s happening in your gut, your stress levels, your immune system—all of it matters.
While many of these methods aren’t part of mainstream medical practice (yet!), I believe we’re building the bridge—bringing structure, ethics, and consistency to exploratory tools that are getting results in the margins.
A Note on Scope
The techniques described here are intended for nutritional and lifestyle exploration only. They are not diagnostic and do not replace medical care. Please consult a licensed healthcare provider for any medical concerns, or before making significant changes to your health regimen.
I work best as part of a team—and I’m always happy to collaborate with your primary care provider or specialist to make sure you’re supported from all angles.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need perfect lab results or a diagnosis to start listening to your body.
If you’ve been feeling off and suspect food might be part of the picture—but haven’t found clear answers—I’m here to help guide the process in a way that’s thoughtful, respectful, and grounded in real-world results.
Let’s explore what’s possible—together.
Want to learn more?
Reach out for a free discovery call, or browse some client stories to see how this process can support your health from the inside out.
