The Pros and Cons of a Food Sensitivity Test

What are Food Sensitivities? 

Before we unpack the pros and cons of food sensitivity testing, let’s explore how food sensitivities differ from food intolerances and allergies. Although the terms are often used interchangeably, food intolerances, food allergies, and food sensitivities aren’t the same thing. 

If someone has a food intolerance, you might hear them mention that certain foods or ingredients like cruciferous vegetables, dairy products, or food additives don’t agree with them. Officially defined as having trouble digesting certain foods, intolerances don’t involve the immune system. They can, however, cause digestive upset just a short time after eating the offending food. (Crowe 2019)(Food Intolerance 2019) The likely culprit behind food intolerances is a lack of digestive enzymes needed to break down certain foods. (Caminero 2019) Because of this, food intolerances are dose-dependent—the more you eat, the worse your symptoms. (Gargano 2021)