Food Trigger Glossary

Plain-English definitions of 20 key terms used in food trigger research — from FODMAP and histamine intolerance to the gut-skin axis and delayed food reactions.

Jump to: A · C · D · E · F · G · H · I · L · M · P · R · S · T

A

Acne vulgaris

The most common form of acne, characterised by clogged pores (comedones), papules, pustules, and cysts. Diet — particularly high-glycaemic foods, dairy, and whey protein — influences acne through insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and sebum production pathways.

Atopic dermatitis (eczema)

A chronic inflammatory skin condition characterised by itching, redness, and barrier dysfunction. Food triggers — particularly dairy, eggs, gluten, and high-histamine foods — can provoke flares in susceptible individuals, often with a 24–48 hour delay between ingestion and visible skin change.

C

Chronic inflammation

A persistent, low-grade immune activation that underpins acne (inflammatory lesions), eczema (skin barrier dysfunction), and IBS (gut lining irritation). Diet strongly modulates inflammation — pro-inflammatory foods include refined sugar, seed oils, and dairy for some individuals; anti-inflammatory foods include omega-3-rich fish, leafy greens, and fermented foods.

D

Delayed food reaction

A symptom response that does not occur immediately after eating, but instead manifests 12–72 hours later. Common in IgG-mediated food sensitivities, histamine intolerance, and inflammatory skin conditions like acne and eczema. Delayed timing makes the connection to a specific food almost impossible to spot without systematic tracking.

E

Elimination diet

A structured protocol where suspected trigger foods are removed from the diet for 3–6 weeks, followed by a reintroduction phase that reintroduces foods one at a time to identify which cause symptoms. Considered the gold standard for identifying food triggers, but requires careful tracking to interpret results.

F

Food trigger

A specific food or ingredient that reliably worsens a chronic condition — such as acne, eczema, or IBS — in a particular individual. Food triggers are personal: a food that triggers one person may be completely safe for another.

FODMAP

An acronym for Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides, and Polyols — short-chain carbohydrates that are poorly absorbed in the small intestine and rapidly fermented by gut bacteria. In people with IBS, high-FODMAP foods commonly trigger bloating, cramping, and altered stool patterns.

G

Gut-skin axis

The bidirectional communication network between the gut microbiome and skin health. Gut dysbiosis — an imbalanced microbial community — can drive systemic inflammation that manifests as eczema flares or acne breakouts. Improving gut health often improves skin symptoms.

Gut microbiome

The trillions of microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, viruses) living in the digestive tract. A diverse, balanced microbiome supports immune function and reduces systemic inflammation. Disruption of the microbiome (dysbiosis) is linked to IBS, inflammatory skin conditions, and food sensitivities.

Glycaemic index (GI)

A measure of how quickly a food raises blood glucose relative to pure glucose (GI = 100). High-GI foods spike insulin and IGF-1, both of which upregulate sebum production and inflammatory pathways linked to acne. Low-GI diets have been shown in clinical trials to reduce acne lesion counts.

H

Histamine intolerance

A condition where the body cannot break down dietary histamine fast enough, leading to an accumulation that triggers symptoms resembling an allergic reaction — headaches, flushing, hives, eczema flares, and IBS-like gut symptoms. Common in aged cheeses, fermented foods, wine, and processed meats.

I

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

A functional gastrointestinal disorder characterised by recurring abdominal pain, bloating, and altered bowel habits (diarrhoea, constipation, or both) with no identifiable structural abnormality. Diet — particularly FODMAP intake — is the primary modifiable trigger for most people with IBS.

IgG food sensitivity

An immune response involving immunoglobulin G antibodies to specific foods. Unlike IgE-mediated allergies (which cause immediate reactions), IgG sensitivities produce delayed reactions hours to days later. Their clinical significance is debated, but many people report symptom improvement when avoiding high-IgG foods.

L

Leaky gut (intestinal permeability)

A condition in which tight junctions between intestinal epithelial cells weaken, allowing bacteria, toxins, and incompletely digested food particles to cross into the bloodstream. This can activate the immune system and contribute to systemic inflammation, worsening eczema, acne, and IBS symptoms.

M

Microbiome diversity

The variety of microbial species in the gut, measured by indices such as Shannon diversity. Higher diversity is generally associated with better immune regulation and lower inflammation. A Western diet high in refined foods and low in fibre reduces diversity; a diet rich in varied plant foods increases it.

P

Probiotic

Live microorganisms that, when consumed in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host. Probiotic supplementation and fermented foods can improve gut microbiome diversity, reduce intestinal permeability, and lower inflammation — with downstream benefits for IBS symptoms and inflammatory skin conditions.

R

Reintroduction phase

The second stage of an elimination diet where previously removed foods are added back one at a time, with several days between each, to observe whether symptoms return. Proper tracking during this phase is critical because reactions can be delayed by 24–72 hours.

S

Sebum

An oily substance secreted by sebaceous glands in the skin. Excess sebum production — driven partly by diet (high-GI foods, dairy, whey) — combines with dead skin cells and bacteria to form acne lesions.

Skin-food diary

A structured log that records daily food intake alongside skin symptoms, allowing comparison across a 48–72 hour window to identify dietary correlations. Manual diaries are often unreliable because people forget what they ate 2–3 days ago; app-based logging solves this with timestamped entries and automated pattern detection.

T

Trigger tracking

The systematic process of logging food intake, symptoms, lifestyle factors (sleep, stress), and environmental exposures to identify cause-and-effect relationships over time. Effective trigger tracking requires capturing data across the full reaction window (6–72 hours) and using pattern recognition to distinguish signal from noise.

Put the theory into practice

Understanding these terms is step one. Finding your personal triggers requires tracking your own data across the full reaction window. Sensio does the delayed-reaction correlation automatically — log meals, track symptoms, and let the AI surface the pattern.

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