06/05/2026
Are you sensitive to phenolics?
Take a look at the chart below and see if you notice a pattern. Many foods that appear completely unrelated actually contain the same naturally occurring plant compounds called **phenolics**. If several of your trigger foods fall into the same category, your body may be reacting to one or more of these shared compounds rather than the foods themselves.
Phenolics are found in many foods we consider healthy, including fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices, nuts, teas, and grains. They contribute to a food's color, flavor, aroma, and antioxidant properties. Common phenolics include:
* **Gallic Acid** – found in berries, grapes, apples, tea, walnuts, and many fruits.
* **Rutin** – found in citrus fruits, apples, buckwheat, asparagus, and various herbs.
* **Coumarin** – found in cinnamon, celery, parsley, chamomile, and other plants.
When the body becomes sensitive to one or more of these compounds, symptoms can show up in many different ways. Some people experience digestive discomfort, bloating, headaches, sinus congestion, skin issues, hives, itching, fatigue, brain fog, inflammation, joint pain, or other chronic symptoms that seem difficult to explain.
Because these compounds are present in so many foods, the connection is often missed. A person may react to strawberries, cinnamon, grapes, herbal tea, and walnuts without realizing they share a common phenolic component.
As you review the chart, circle or highlight any foods that you know trigger symptoms. If you notice several foods clustering within the same phenolic group, you've uncovered an important clue.
The good news is that sensitivities don't always have to be lifelong. Through allergy elimination techniques and energetic balancing approaches, it may be possible to reduce or eliminate the body's stress response to specific foods and compounds.
If you recognize a pattern in your own reactions, book an appointment. Together we can identify the underlying sensitivities, determine which compounds may be contributing to your symptoms, and create a personalized plan to help your body tolerate foods more comfortably again.
Your symptoms may be trying to tell a story—the patterns often reveal where to begin.
