Are food sensitivities allergies? Occasionally–but 80 to 95 percent of food sensitivities are actually damage to the gut by poisons or infections, i.e. leaky gut syndrome. Heal the gut and heal the sensitivity–but first we have to stop the cause: the poisoning or infection.

Some pollutants damage the gut every time we are exposed. Roundup (glyphosate, Monsanto) contributes to gut damage when we eat a food contaminated with the herbicide, which now is every food we have except those grown absolutely organically. Some foods can cause damage directly, with tomatoes and potatoes as examples.

Chronic infections, especially Lyme disease, cause gut damage, and Lyme sufferers quickly develop a long list of food sensitivities. So, when we consider food insensitivities, we should be having thoughtful discussions about what underlying poison or infection is actually causing leaky gut syndrome and leading to the insensitivities.

Charles Knouse, D.O., practices at Thoughtful Medicine, PLLC. Connect at 520-284-2848. See ad, page 2.