Food Sensitivities, Inflammation & Autoimmunity: Dr. Melissa Mondala with Dr. Peter Kan

In this episode of Autoimmune Alchemy, Dr. Melissa Mondala welcomes Dr. Peter Kan — board-certified chiropractor, functional neurologist, and functional medicine expert known for bridging the gut–brain–immune connection. Dr. Kan works extensively with Hashimoto’s, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Sjögren’s, mixed connective tissue disease, MS, and patients with “autoimmune of unknown origin.” In this conversation, he breaks down why autoimmune patients so often struggle with food sensitivities, inflammatory flares, neurological symptoms, and overlapping autoimmune conditions thattraditional medicine misses. He explains the difference between allergies, sensitivities, and intolerances, why “food can be medicine or poison,” and how immune pathways like T-reg cells, Th17 activation, NF-kB, and leaky gut shape the autoimmune experience. He also shares strategic supplements, lifestyle foundations, and a practical roadmap for people who are overwhelmed, undiagnosed, or stuck in flare cycles.

TimeStamps

[0:00] — Understanding the Gut–Brain–Immune Connection

[1:40] — How Food Sensitivities Trigger Autoimmune Flares

[3:27] — Why Autoimmune Symptoms Spread Throughout the Body

[5:44] — Allergies vs. Sensitivities vs. Intolerances Explained

[8:34] — Foundational Supplements for Reducing Inflammation

[10:54] — T-Reg Cells, Glutathione & Immune Modulation

[14:17] — Elimination Diets, Testing & Reintroductions

[16:57] — Personalizing Your Autoimmune Nutrition Plan

Key Takeaways

• Discover how food sensitivities ignite autoimmune flares by ramping up the immune system and triggering tissue inflammation.
• Understand why many patients have “autoimmune of unknown origin” long before receiving an official diagnosis.
• Explore the difference between allergies (IgE), sensitivities (IgG/IgA), and intolerances (enzyme-based) — and why each requires a different treatment approach.
• Learn how food reactions can show up as fatigue, brain fog, sinus issues, weight changes, joint pain, skin symptoms, or mood shifts — not just digestive problems.
• Uncover how regulatory T-cells work as the “brake pedal” of the immune system, and why supporting them helps quiet autoimmune activity and move toward remission.

Dr. Peter Kan brings clarity to one of the most confusing and overwhelming parts of autoimmune disease: the relationship between food, inflammation, and immune dysregulation. His science-backed but practical approach helps patients understand why they react to so many foods, how to begin healing gut and immune pathways, and how to move toward remission through immune modulation — not fear or restriction. This conversation offers hope, direction, and a clear roadmap for anyone lost in the world of autoimmune flares.