Food Sensitivities: Is the Food You Eat Helping or Hurting Your Health?

Most doctors focus on treating symptoms with medications, but few are trained to connect nutrition, the immune system, and digestive function to chronic health issues. That’s where I come in. I’m Meg Marie O’Rourke — a registered dietitian, functional nutritionist, and your go-to partner in uncovering the real causes of discomfort, inflammation, and food-related conditions.

If you're experiencing ongoing pain, fatigue, or unexplained digestive symptoms, it might be time to ask yourself:

👉 Is food your body’s best form of treatment — or an invisible source of inflammation?

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Food Can Heal — or Harm

The idea that food is medicine has never been more relevant. But if you’re unknowingly consuming foods that your body can’t process properly, those same foods can trigger a chain reaction — affecting your gut, immune response, and even your quality of life.

Hidden food sensitivities can result in a range of symptoms, including:

• Bloating, gas, or diarrhea

• Headaches or migraines

• Skin issues like eczema or acne

• Joint pain or muscle stiffness

• Brain fog or mood swings

• Chronic fatigue

What’s tricky? These reactions are often delayed — showing up anywhere from 24 to 72 hours after exposure. That’s why so many patients struggle to make the connection between the foods they eat and how they feel.

Food Allergy, Food Intolerance, or Food Sensitivity? Know the Difference

Many people confuse these three terms, but understanding their differences is crucial for proper diagnosis and treatment:

• Food Allergies (IgE): These involve an immediate immune reaction, often severe. Think hives, swelling, or even anaphylaxis. These types of allergies require urgent medical care and are generally easy to identify.

• Food Intolerances: These don’t involve the immune system. Instead, they’re usually caused by missing enzymes — like lactase in lactose intolerance. While they don’t cause inflammation, they can lead to significant discomfort, gas, and digestive problems.

• Food Sensitivities (IgG): These are delayed immune responses. You might eat gluten, dairy, or another trigger food, and not experience any issues until days later. That’s why elimination diets are difficult and often ineffective without proper testing.

Why Testing Is Essential for Treating Food Sensitivities

When your immune system misidentifies certain foods as threats, it releases antibodies that cause inflammation — affecting not just your gut, but your entire body. Over time, this can contribute to:

• Leaky gut

• Weight gain

• Hormonal imbalances

• Headaches

• Chronic skin conditions

• Poor nutrient absorption

• Increased risk of autoimmune disease

Functional nutrition testing allows us to identify your specific food sensitivities, microbiome imbalances, and nutrient deficiencies so we can build a personalized treatment plan — based on your unique biology.

Patient Success Story: From Asthma and Exhaustion to Energy and Health

A 47-year-old woman came to me with a long medical history of asthma, skin conditions, weight struggles, and chronic fatigue. Despite multiple visits to different doctors, medications, and even surgery recommendations, her symptoms persisted.

Through advanced food sensitivity testing and gut health evaluation, we uncovered a combination of:

• Severe food sensitivities

• Lactose intolerance

• Imbalanced gut flora

• Chronic low-grade inflammation

With a personalized elimination diet, supportive nutritional strategies, and lifestyle changes, she:

✔ Stopped using asthma inhalers✔ Lost over 30 pounds✔ Cleared up her skin and digestive issues✔ Rebalanced her hormones✔ Avoided unnecessary surgery

Today, she is symptom-free, medication-free, and living with renewed energy, all because she finally got to the root cause of her health problems.

Stop Guessing. Start Healing.

If you're tired of being told “everything looks normal” while you still feel far from healthy, it's time to dig deeper. We use functional testing to uncover what’s really going on inside your body — including:

✅ Food sensitivities (IgG antibody reactions)

✅ Celiac disease and gluten sensitivity

✅ Lactose intolerance and enzyme deficiencies

✅ Microbiome and digestive health assessments

✅ Hormone, cortisol, and inflammation markers

✅ Toxin and heavy metal exposure

This process empowers you with real information, not guesswork. And with that, we create a realistic, research-backed treatment plan designed to improve your overall health and reduce your risk of chronic disease.

Take Control of Your Health Journey

You don’t have to accept constant discomfort, bloating, or fatigue as your normal. You deserve a targeted approach — not just another pill or one-size-fits-all diet. Whether you're managing food allergies, intolerances, or unexplained symptoms, the right testing and nutritional guidance can make all the difference.

Ready to feel better, faster?

👉 Visit HarmonyWithFood.com or click the Free Call with Meg button below to schedule your complimentary consultation.

Schedule a Free Call With Meg

Your health isn't just about treating symptoms — it's about finding the right foods, supporting your body's systems, and creating a life with less pain and more energy. Let’s get started.

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