5 Common Foods That Quietly Block Healing (+ Real Eczema Recovery Story)

You’ve cut gluten. You’re eating “clean.” You’re on supplements, clearing toxins, and doing everything “right.”But somehow… progress still feels stuck. The symptoms are lingering. The energy’s not coming back. The inflammation isn’t resolving.

Often, the issue isn’t something obvious. It’s not a dramatic reaction—like eating something and rushing to the toilet to “detox” (diarrhoea 💨). That’s easy to spot. The trickier ones are the foods that quietly chip away at your progress—causing inflammation that stays low-level and hard to pin down.

Here are five of the most commonly overlooked food triggers I see in clinic, and a real case story that brings this into focus:

🌾 1. Oats

Even “gluten-free” oats can be reactive for those with gluten sensitivity. Inflammation continues. Porridge, oat milk, muesli—all culprits I’ve seen stall recovery until they’re removed.

🥛 2. Dairy

Dairy is one of the most common reactive foods in clients dealing with eczema, fatigue, anxiety, gut issues, sinus congestion, and skin problems. Not all dairy needs to be avoided—cheese and butter are often well tolerated. Milk is usually the issue. Yogurt can be tolerated for some, but not everyone.

Often people say, “But I’ve always had milk! "Like rust, the reaction can build up slowly over time, spreading from one system to another until symptoms show up loud and clear.

🌽 3. Corn

Corn is a top 10 allergen and can easily go unnoticed. Popcorn and corn chips are common culprits. Corn starch (often used for thickening) is usually okay for mild sensitivities, but whole corn products often aren’t.

🥚 4. Eggs

This is one of the most overlooked food sensitivities I see. Most people are focused on dairy or gluten—which may well be part of the issue—but the missing piece can often be eggs. More specifically, the egg white.

It’s a common reaction in people with gut issues or hidden parasites. I’ve seen many cases where simply removing eggs—even temporarily—allowed real progress to happen.

The good news? This is often temporary. I’ve worked with many clients who couldn’t tolerate eggs at first—but after healing, were able to reintroduce them with no reaction. Eggs, when tolerated, are a fantastic source of nutrients and protein.

🌱 5. Soy

Soy milk is often introduced when people give up cow’s milk—but it can be just as aggravating. Soy is also a top 10 allergen and can be a hidden source of inflammation. That said, many people tolerate good-quality fermented soy like miso, tempeh, and gluten-free soy sauce. And if soy is out completely, coconut aminos is a great alternative.

Real Case Study: From Raw, Itchy Skin to Full Recovery

One client came to me with severe eczema—their skin was raw, itchy, inflamed, and covered a large percentage of their body.

Their system was overwhelmed, and the diet had to be very restricted at first to calm the inflammation. Through Nutrition Response Testing, we discovered a chronic hidden parasite issue—a major driver of the skin condition.

We addressed it with a personalised nutritional and dietary programme to support gentle detoxification and gave the body what it needed to heal. Over time, we reintroduced foods. Eggs initially triggered severe flare-ups and had to be avoided for 9 months. But now? This client can eat eggs again with no reaction at all.

They can now tolerate gluten (not every day, but without symptoms), cheeses, butters, milk in moderation, and even tomatoes—all of which were problematic early on.

This client is now in the maintenance phase of their program and doing well. They did the work. They committed to healing. And their body responded beautifully.🧡💜

Final Thoughts

Food can be medicine—or it can quietly keep inflammation alive. If your symptoms aren’t shifting—even when you’re doing everything “right”—take a closer look at these five foods. They could be your missing piece. 🌿💚