Chicago Food Sensitivity Doctor: Testing and Natural Treatment
You eat what you think is a healthy diet, but something still isn't right. Bloating that shows up out of nowhere. Fatigue that sleep doesn't fix. Headaches, skin breakouts, brain fog, or digestive issues that your doctor can't explain. You've had blood work done. Everything comes back "normal." But you know your body, and this isn't normal for you.
These mysterious symptoms often point to food sensitivities, delayed immune reactions to foods that fly under the radar of standard medical testing. The problem is that most doctors aren't trained to look for them, and the reactions can take hours or even days to appear, making it nearly impossible to connect the dots on your own.
Dr. Kelly Simms is a Chicago food sensitivity specialist who helps patients finally identify which foods are causing their symptoms and, more importantly, why those sensitivities developed in the first place. As a naturopathic doctor (ND) and Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS), she combines advanced food sensitivity testing with a root cause approach that goes beyond simply handing you a list of foods to avoid.
Her goal isn't a lifetime of dietary restriction. It's healing your body so you can enjoy food again. If you're tired of guessing and ready for answers, Dr. Simms can help.
Signs You Need a Food Sensitivity Specialist
Food sensitivities are sneaky. Unlike food allergies, which cause immediate and obvious reactions, food sensitivities trigger delayed responses that can appear anywhere from a few hours to three days after eating. This delay makes them difficult to identify without testing or expert guidance.
You might benefit from working with a food sensitivity doctor if you experience:
- Bloating after meals, even when you eat "healthy" foods
- Unexplained fatigue or energy crashes, especially after eating
- Frequent headaches or migraines with no clear cause
- Brain fog, difficulty concentrating, or mental sluggishness
- Skin issues like acne, eczema, rashes, or unexplained breakouts
- Joint pain or stiffness that isn't explained by injury
- Digestive problems including gas, diarrhea, or constipation
- Mood changes, irritability, or anxiety
- Weight that won't budge despite eating well and exercising
- Symptoms that get worse around your period or during perimenopause
If you've been to multiple doctors, had tests come back normal, and still feel like something is off, food sensitivities may be the missing piece. The good news is that once you identify your triggers and address the underlying cause, real relief is possible.
Why Choose Dr. Kelly Simms for Food Sensitivity Treatment
Many practitioners can run a food sensitivity test. What sets Dr. Simms apart is her expertise in nutrition, her understanding of why sensitivities develop, and her commitment to helping you eat freely again rather than restricting your diet forever.
Certified Nutrition Specialist Expertise
Dr. Simms holds credentials as both a naturopathic doctor (ND) and a Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS), a board certification that requires advanced training in clinical nutrition. This combination means she doesn't just identify problem foods; she understands how to use food as medicine to heal your body.
Her approach is grounded in the science of how foods interact with your immune system, your gut, and your overall health. She translates that science into practical, personalized recommendations you can actually follow.
Learn more about Dr. Simms' background and credentials.
The Food Sensitivity-Hormone Connection
Here's something most practitioners miss: food sensitivities often show up or get worse during times of hormonal change. Many women develop new food reactions during perimenopause, menopause, or alongside conditions like PCOS.
This isn't coincidence. Estrogen helps maintain the gut lining, and when estrogen levels fluctuate or decline, intestinal permeability can increase. This "leaky gut" allows food particles to trigger immune reactions that didn't happen before. Cortisol, the stress hormone, also affects gut health, which is why many women notice food sensitivities worsen during high-stress periods.
Dr. Simms' additional credential as a Fellow of the American Board of Naturopathic Endocrinology (FABNE) gives her specialized expertise in these hormone-gut connections. This is why women come to her when elimination diets alone haven't solved the problem. Understanding the hormonal piece often unlocks solutions that weren't possible before.
Our Goal: The Least Restrictive Diet Possible
Some practitioners hand you a long list of foods to avoid and send you on your way. That's not Dr. Simms' approach.
Her philosophy is that identifying food sensitivities is just the first step. The real work is healing your gut and addressing the root cause so you can eventually reintroduce foods and eat more freely. Permanent restriction isn't the goal. Getting your life back is.
If you've been told to avoid dozens of foods indefinitely, there's likely more going on beneath the surface. Dr. Simms helps you figure out what that is and fix it.
Food Sensitivity Testing Options
Guessing which foods are causing your symptoms wastes time and often leads to unnecessary restriction. Dr. Simms offers several approaches to identify your specific triggers with confidence.
IgG Food Sensitivity Blood Testing
The most efficient way to identify food sensitivities is through IgG blood testing. This simple blood draw measures your immune system's delayed response to 96 or more foods, revealing reactions you'd never identify on your own.
Unlike IgE allergy testing (which measures immediate allergic reactions), IgG testing detects the delayed immune responses that cause symptoms hours or days later. Results provide a clear picture of which foods are triggering inflammation in your body, giving you a roadmap for dietary changes.
For telehealth patients, test kits can be shipped directly to your home.
Guided Elimination Diet
The elimination diet remains the gold standard for confirming food sensitivities. Under Dr. Simms' guidance, you remove common trigger foods for a specific period, then systematically reintroduce them one at a time while monitoring your body's response.
This isn't a DIY project. Without proper guidance, elimination diets often fail because patients eliminate too few foods, reintroduce too quickly, or miss subtle reactions. Dr. Simms structures the process so you get clear, reliable answers.
Comprehensive Health Assessment
Food sensitivity testing works best when it's part of a complete health picture. Dr. Simms begins with a thorough assessment of your health history, current symptoms, digestive function, hormonal health, and stress levels.
This comprehensive view reveals why sensitivities developed in the first place, whether that's gut imbalance, hormonal shifts, chronic stress, or a combination of factors. Understanding the "why" is essential for lasting results.
Learn how gut health connects to food sensitivities.
Our Approach to Treating Food Sensitivities
Identifying trigger foods is important, but it's only part of the solution. Dr. Simms' approach addresses both the triggers and the underlying reasons your body is reacting, so you can heal rather than just cope.
Step 1: Identify Your Triggers
Through testing, elimination protocols, or both, you'll get clear answers about which foods are causing your symptoms. No more guessing. No more unnecessarily avoiding foods that aren't actually problems for you.
Step 2: Heal the Gut
Most food sensitivities develop because of compromised gut health. When the intestinal lining becomes inflamed or permeable ("leaky gut"), food particles slip through and trigger immune reactions.
Dr. Simms uses targeted nutrition, supplements, and lifestyle modifications to reduce gut inflammation, repair the intestinal lining, and restore healthy gut bacteria. This gut healing phase is what makes lasting improvement possible.
Step 3: Strategic Reintroduction
Once your gut has healed, foods are carefully reintroduced one at a time. Many patients find they can tolerate foods that previously caused problems, as long as they eat them in moderation.
This phase is about expanding your diet safely, not staying restricted forever. Dr. Simms guides the timing, order, and pace of reintroduction to maximize your success.
Step 4: Ongoing Support
Your needs may shift as your body heals. Dr. Simms provides follow-up appointments to track progress, adjust your plan, and address any new concerns. The goal is long-term dietary freedom, not dependence on a practitioner.
Symptoms and Conditions We Help
Food sensitivities can affect nearly every system in the body. Dr. Simms helps patients who are struggling with:
- Chronic bloating and gas
- Unexplained fatigue and low energy
- Migraines and frequent headaches
- Skin conditions, including acne, eczema, and rashes
- Brain fog and difficulty concentrating
- Joint pain and inflammation
- Digestive issues (IBS-like symptoms, diarrhea, constipation)
- Mood changes, anxiety, or irritability
- Weight that won't respond to diet and exercise
- Symptoms that worsen with hormonal changes or stress
If your symptoms don't fit a clear diagnosis but significantly affect your quality of life, food sensitivities are worth investigating.
Food Sensitivity Appointments: Chicago and Nationwide Telehealth
Dr. Simms sees patients in person at her Chicago and North Shore offices, and remotely through secure telehealth appointments.
Chicago Office: 2559 N. Southport Ave. Chicago, IL 60614
North Shore Office: 1150 Wilmette Ave., Suite C, Wilmette, IL 60091
North Shore Location: Serving Evanston, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Winnetka, Glencoe, Highland Park, Lake Forest, and surrounding communities.
Nationwide Telehealth: Cannot make it to Chicago? Dr. Simms sees menopause patients across the country through secure video consultations. Lab work can be completed locally, and treatment plans work just as effectively remotely. If you are seeking a holistic menopause doctor and cannot find one in your area, distance does not have to be a barrier.
View the current fee schedule for appointment costs and what to expect.
Ready to Find Your Food Triggers? Book Your Appointment
You don't have to keep guessing which foods are causing your symptoms. You don't have to accept "everything looks normal" when you know something is wrong. And you don't have to resign yourself to avoiding foods forever.
Dr. Kelly Simms helps patients in Chicago and nationwide identify their food sensitivities, heal the underlying cause, and build a diet that works for their body. Her combination of nutrition expertise, food sensitivity testing, and understanding of the gut-hormone connection gives her tools most practitioners don't have.
Your next step is simple: schedule an appointment and start getting real answers.
Questions before booking? Contact us. We're happy to help you determine if Dr. Simms is the right fit for your food sensitivity concerns.
