Clinician handoff
Food Sensitivity
Designed for a 60-second scan in primary care. Use this to explain why this theory fits, what would weaken it, and which tests are most worth discussing.
Why this still fits
My brain fog has a clear post-meal pattern and I've noticed it's worse with certain foods. Before eliminating anything, I want to rule out celiac disease while I'm still eating gluten, and then discuss what other testing makes sense given my specific reaction pattern.
What would weaken it
- -No repeatable food trigger pattern and no reliable worsening after the same meals or ingredients.
- -The fog behaves the same regardless of what's eaten, when it's eaten, or whether trigger foods are removed.
- -Celiac, histamine, SIBO, sugar issues, or another gut explanation fits the story better.
Key points to communicate
- •I want to know whether this is a real repeatable food pattern or a vaguer gut label covering something else.
- •Please separate food sensitivity from celiac, histamine, SIBO, and blood-sugar effects.
- •If the food signal is real, I want a structured way to test it rather than random restriction.
Bring this to the visit
- •A food diary with symptom timing for at least one week.
- •Any prior allergy testing: IgE panels, skin prick tests, celiac screening.
- •A list of suspected trigger foods and how you identified them.
- •GI symptom log: bloating, gas, diarrhea, constipation, and timing relative to meals.
Useful screening structure
- -Structured elimination diet (2-4 weeks) with systematic reintroduction.
- -Celiac panel (tTG-IgA, total IgA) to rule out celiac before blaming food sensitivity.
- -Hydrogen breath test if SIBO or specific carbohydrate intolerance is suspected.
Tests and measurements to discuss
tTG-IgA + total IgA (celiac screening - must be done before eliminating gluten)
What this helps clarify: Celiac disease screening - gluten triggers neuroinflammation
Range context
Negative (<4 U/mL)
How to use the result
Save the result with date and symptoms from the same week.
IgE food allergy panel (if severe or immediate reactions)
Lactose hydrogen breath test (if dairy suspected)
What this helps clarify: Elevated hydrogen indicates bacterial fermentation
Range context
<20 ppm rise
How to use the result
Save the result with date and symptoms from the same week.
SIBO breath test (if bloating-dominant with any carbohydrate)
What this helps clarify: Screens for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
Range context
Negative for H₂/CH₄ rise
How to use the result
Save the result with date and symptoms from the same week.
Fecal calprotectin (to rule out IBD)
What this helps clarify: Gut inflammation marker - elevated in IBD, infections
Range context
<50 μg/g
How to use the result
Save the result with date and symptoms from the same week.
Questions to ask directly
- •Should we rule out celiac disease and SIBO before pursuing food sensitivity?
- •Is IgG food sensitivity testing useful, or is elimination/reintroduction more reliable?
- •Could histamine intolerance or MCAS explain the pattern better than individual food triggers?
- •Am I at risk of nutritional deficiency from my current elimination diet?
Functional impact snapshot
- -Track fog onset timing relative to meals: 30 minutes, 2 hours, or next day?
- -Rate cognitive function during a clean elimination phase vs after reintroduction of each food.
- -Note whether the fog is dose-dependent: small amounts are fine but larger servings trigger it.
Escalate instead of self-managing if
- •Severe allergic reactions: anaphylaxis, throat swelling, difficulty breathing.
- •Significant unintentional weight loss or malnutrition from excessive dietary restriction.
- •Progressive GI symptoms that could indicate inflammatory bowel disease, not just food sensitivity.
Peer-reviewed references