Dr. Heidi Queen, MD | Energize Health & Hormones

At Energize Health & Hormones, Dr. Heidi Queen, MD approaches patient care with a simple but often overlooked question: What role is food playing in how you feel every day?

For some people, the answer is obvious—certain foods trigger immediate and unmistakable reactions. But for many others, the connection between food and symptoms is far less clear. Fatigue, brain fog, digestive discomfort, skin issues, and even mood changes can all be tied to what we eat, sometimes in ways that develop gradually over time. Understanding the difference between food allergies, intolerances, and sensitivities is an important first step in uncovering those connections—and in building a path toward better health.

Food Allergies: Immediate and Immune-Driven

Food allergies are the most clearly defined type of adverse food reaction. In these cases, the immune system identifies a specific food protein as harmful and reacts quickly—often within minutes to a couple of hours. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and may include swelling of the lips or throat, hives, digestive upset, or more serious reactions like difficulty breathing. In rare but critical cases, this can lead to anaphylaxis, which requires immediate medical attention. Common food allergens include:

• Peanuts and tree nuts
• Dairy
• Eggs
• Wheat
• Soy
• Fish and shellfish
• Sesame

Because of how quickly symptoms appear, food allergies are often easier to identify. Once diagnosed, strict avoidance is typically necessary to prevent reactions.

Food Intolerances: A Digestive Limitation

Food intolerances are different. They don’t involve the immune system in the same way—instead, they tend to reflect the body’s difficulty breaking down certain components of food. One of the most well-known examples is lactose intolerance, where the body lacks enough of the enzyme needed to digest lactose, a sugar found in dairy products. The result? Bloating, gas, abdominal discomfort, or other digestive symptoms after consuming milk, cheese, or ice cream.

Unlike allergies, intolerances are often dose-dependent. A small amount of a trigger food might be tolerated, while larger amounts can lead to more noticeable symptoms.

Food Sensitivities: The Subtle and Often Overlooked Trigger

Food sensitivities are where things become more complex—and more commonly missed. These reactions may involve the immune system, but not in the immediate, acute way seen with allergies. Instead, symptoms can be delayed by hours or even days after eating a trigger food. This delay makes it much harder to connect cause and effect. Symptoms can vary widely from person to person and may include:

• Persistent bloating or digestive discomfort
• Headaches or migraines
• Fatigue or low energy
• Joint pain
• Skin irritation
• Mood changes such as anxiety or irritability

Over time, repeated exposure to trigger foods may contribute to inflammation in the gut, which can influence not only digestion but also immune function and overall resilience. Conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), non-celiac gluten sensitivity, and even some mood disorders have been associated with ongoing food sensitivities.

Why Identifying Triggers Isn’t Always Straightforward

If food sensitivities and intolerances can affect so many aspects of health, why are they so difficult to pinpoint? One reason is that symptoms are often non-specific. Fatigue, headaches, and digestive issues can have many potential causes. Another challenge is timing—when symptoms appear long after eating, it’s easy to overlook the connection entirely. This is where a more personalized, investigative approach becomes essential.

A Functional Medicine Perspective: Looking Beneath the Surface

Rather than focusing solely on symptom management, a functional medicine approach asks why symptoms are happening in the first place. At Energize Health & Hormones, this means taking a closer look at how nutrition, digestion, and gut health intersect. Identifying food triggers is just one piece of the puzzle. Supporting the body’s ability to properly digest, absorb, and respond to food is equally important.

Tools that may be used include targeted lab testing, short-term elimination diets, and structured reintroduction plans—all designed to uncover patterns that might otherwise go unnoticed. But perhaps most importantly, this process is individualized. Two people may react very differently to the same foods, which is why a one-size-fits-all diet rarely works long term.

Nutrition as a Clinical Tool: A Collaborative Approach

One of the strengths of Dr. Queen’s practice is the integration of functional nutrition into primary care. Patients don’t have to navigate these questions alone. The care team includes nutrition specialists Cherie Paige and Ashley Swanson who work alongside Dr. Queen to help translate symptoms into actionable insights. By looking at dietary patterns, nutrient status, gut health, and even environmental influences, they help patients better understand how their bodies are responding to the foods they eat.

For many, this collaborative process becomes a turning point. What once felt like a collection of unrelated symptoms begins to form a clearer picture—one that can be addressed with thoughtful, personalized changes. New patients also receive a complimentary one-hour consultation with a nutrition specialist, offering a dedicated space to explore these connections in depth. It’s often during this conversation that patients begin to see how small, targeted adjustments can lead to meaningful improvements in energy, digestion, and overall well-being.

Moving Toward Clarity and Long-Term Health

Food is one of the most constant inputs we have—something we engage with multiple times a day. When the body responds well, it supports energy, immunity, and balance. But when certain foods become triggers, even subtle ones, they can quietly contribute to ongoing health challenges. The good news is that with the right guidance, these patterns can be identified and addressed. Dr. Queen and her team take a personalized, root-cause approach to care—helping patients move beyond guesswork and toward a clearer understanding of their health.

If you’ve been dealing with symptoms that don’t quite add up, it may be time to take a closer look at how food is influencing your body. To learn more about concierge primary care, explore the practice, or schedule a complimentary discovery call, contact Energize Health & Hormones at (415) 548-7901 or use the online appointment form. A more connected, individualized approach to your health may be closer than you think.