Q After experiencing a lot of stress, I suddenly started reacting to foods I used to eat fine. Why is this?
A Stress increases intestinal permeability (leaky gut), allowing undigested proteins or components to enter the bloodstream and trigger inflammatory responses, while also disrupting the gut microbiome—which can lead to sudden food intolerance. The same mechanism explains new intolerances developing after antibiotic use, severe stress, or infection.
Detailed Answer
The intestinal lining normally acts as a selective barrier, allowing only digested nutrients to pass through. When stress hormones, antibiotics, or imbalanced eating damage this barrier, partially undigested food components pass through and trigger immune and inflammatory responses. When certain foods continue to cause reactions in this state, the intolerance becomes established.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
In Korean medicine, 칠정상 (七情傷)—excessive emotional strain—is seen as damaging the spleen-stomach and large intestine function. Intolerance that develops after stress requires both intestinal lining recovery and treatment to restore the balance of spleen-stomach and liver (肝) function for faster improvement.
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