The Elephant in The Exam Room

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The Elephant in the Exam Room

Despite overwhelming evidence, most physicians—including most allergists—routinely dismiss the significance of delayed food allergies, also called IgG-mediated food sensitivities, despite the overwhelming evidence in the medical literature (the elephant in the room). This is largely because conventional medical training focuses almost exclusively on IgE allergies, which cause immediate, often life-threatening reactions like hives, throat swelling, or anaphylaxis.

But here’s the difference: IgG reactions are delayed, subtle, and systemic. They don’t cause a swollen tongue or an ER visit. Instead, they trigger chronic inflammation—the root cause of most degenerative diseases. Yet, traditional allergy tests rarely detect them, and the majority of doctors aren’t trained to consider them.

“The average physician, even an allergy specialist, is not looking for delayed food allergies—despite the mountain of research proving their clinical relevance,” says Dr. James D. Krystosik in Gut 911 Rx to Health.

Dr. James Braley’s
Landmark Work

In his groundbraking book, Food Allergy and Nutrition Revolution, Dr. James Braley identified over 100 symptoms and more than 150 diseases linked to delayed food allergies. His research, published in numerous peer-reviewed journals, shows that hidden food allergies contribute to:

Dr. Braley emphasized that these reactions often occur hours to days after ingestion, making the offending foods difficult to pinpoint without proper testing. The symptoms can mimic virtually any disease process. That’s why he called them “the great masqueraders.”

The Science Speaks: Research on IgG Food Allergies

Let’s explore the science that conventional medicine often ignores:

IgG Elimination Diets Reduce Migraines
A randomized controlled trial in Cephalalgia found that migraine sufferers who avoided foods identified by IgG testing had significant reductions in migraine frequency and intensity compared to controls.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome and IgG Sensitivities
In a study published in Gut, patients with IBS who followed an IgG-guided elimination diet experienced marked improvements in abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea. The control group, who received a sham diet, had no such improvement.
IgG-Linked Foods and Obesity
A study in the medical journal Nutrients revealed that overweight patients with high IgG antibodies to certain foods had elevated inflammatory markers. After eliminating those foods, participants showed reduced CRP (C-reactive protein) and improved metabolic profiles.
Inflammation and Depression
A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial found that eliminating IgG-reactive foods not only decreased inflammation but also alleviated depressive symptoms, suggesting a link between food sensitivities, gut inflammation, and mood disorders.
Children and Behavioral Disorders
Research in Pediatrics International reported that children with ADHD who followed an IgG-based elimination diet demonstrated significant improvements in attention span and behavior, further validating the gut-brain-immune connection.
Autoimmune Disease Triggers
Studies in Clinical and Experimental Immunology found elevated IgG antibodies in patients with autoimmune conditions like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and Hashimoto’s. Considering there are over 125 autoimmune diseases, it would be wise to evaluate individuals with any one of them for hidden food allergies. When reactive foods were removed, inflammatory markers and symptoms improved..

Functional Medicine’s Approach: Treat the Cause, Not the Symptoms

As I discuss in Gut 911 Rx to Health, functional medicine practitioners recognize that the gut is ground zero for chronic disease. The “leaky gut” and hidden food allergies are connected and trigger many chronic diseases. Delayed food allergies are often the missing link in patients suffering from conditions labeled “idiopathic” (a fancy word for “we don’t know what’s wrong”).

“Modern medicine is good at identifying what you have. But functional medicine asks why you have it. And more often than not, that ‘why’ leads us back to what’s on your plate,” —Dr. Krystosik.

Over the past thirty plus years I have helped thousands of patients dramatically improve and reverse chronic diseases after eliminating foods flagged by delayed allergy testing. These aren’t exotic foods. They’re common staples, often promoted as “healthy” in the mainstream—but if your immune system flags them as invaders, they become inflammatory landmines.

Why Most Doctors Miss the Mark

Why aren’t more doctors testing for these reactions?

Medical Training Bias
Nutrition and immunology are minimally covered in traditional medical education. Pharmaceutical companies, not whole foods, fund much of the curriculum.
Outdated Testing Protocols
Most allergy specialists still use skin-prick tests or RAST tests, which detect only IgE antibodies—not IgG.
Lack of Reimbursement
Many insurance plans don’t cover IgG testing, discouraging doctors from recommending them.
Pharmaceutical Influence
Symptom-management with medications is more profitable than root-cause resolution. Unfortunately, a cured patient is no longer a customer.

Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore

Dr. Braley and I both agree: if you suffer from any of the following chronic symptoms, you may be reacting to something on your plate—not something in your genes.

Fatigue despite sleep
Brain fog or poor concentration
Joint and muscle aches
Mood swings, anxiety, or depression
Digestive upset
Skin rashes or eczema
Weight that won’t budge

These symptoms aren’t random. They are whispers from your immune system, trying to get your attention.

What You Can Do

Get Tested
I have tested thousands of patients for delayed IgG food reactions, not just IgE. The right test could reveal a lifetime of missed connections.
Eliminate and Reintroduce
I can help you step by step with an elimination diet. The offending foods only need to be eliminated for 3 months than they can be introduced back into the diet on a rotation basis. When you remove the “toxic triggers,” the results are often miraculous.
Heal the Gut
Remove the reactive foods, restore the gut lining, and repopulate with beneficial flora. This three-pronged approach can reset your immune system.
Be Your Own Advocate
Don’t accept “normal labs” or “it’s all in your head.” Your intuition matters. Keep asking why until you get a real answer.

Final Thoughts

Hidden food allergies may not cause your throat to close—but they can silently strangle your health over time. The tragedy is not just that they’re common—it’s that they’re dismissed.

Dr. Braley’s work, echoed by thousands of functional medicine clinicians, shows us a better way. It’s time we stop masking symptoms and start listening to the body’s messages. Because real healing begins not with a prescription, but with a fork.

I can provide you with a checklist of over 100 common hidden food allergy symptoms? I’d be happy to provide it. Simply send an email message stating you would like the allergy checklist to drj1220@gmail.com

The Elephant in The Exam Room