Losing Tolerance Might Be a Sign of Health
Why becoming more sensitive isn’t weakness—it’s your body working the way it should
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Subconscious Fat at 30,000 feet
Something strange happens when you start getting healthier.
Your tolerance goes down.
Foods you used to enjoy suddenly taste off.
Drinks hit you harder.
Even small amounts of sugar feel… like too much.
Most people see that as a bad thing.
But what if it’s actually a sign that your body is working better?
Mr. Skeptical raises an eyebrow.
“Wait… so you’re saying becoming more sensitive is a good thing? That doesn’t sound right.”
It doesn’t sound right—because we’ve been trained to think that tolerance equals strength.
But biologically, that’s not always true.
Subconscious Fat at 10,000 feet
I noticed this recently while attending a business meeting at Fogo de Chao Brazilian Steakhouse in Coral Gables.
I grabbed some bacon at the buffet—seemed like an easy win.
But one bite in, and it was obvious:
Way too sweet.
Not just “a little sweet.”
Overwhelmingly sweet.
And the interesting part wasn’t the bacon.
It was my reaction to it.
A few years ago, I probably wouldn’t have noticed.
Now, it was almost inedible.
Mr. Skeptical chimes in.
“Or maybe you just became picky.”
That’s one way to look at it.
But there’s another explanation.
When your diet is built around whole, nutrient-dense foods—especially animal-based—your baseline changes.
Your taste receptors adapt.
Your insulin response stabilizes.
Your body isn’t constantly flooded with sugar.
So when sugar shows up in a concentrated form…
You feel it.
Immediately.
Subconscious Fat at Eye-Level
Mr. Skeptical folds his arms and lets out a sigh while rolling his eyes.
“Just admit it, you’re a food snob.”
Yeah maybe.
This doesn’t just apply to food.
It shows up in other areas too.
Alcohol hits harder. I’ve pretty much stopped drinking alcohol after being mostly carnivorish.
Nicotine feels stronger; I’ve become more sensitive when smoking a cigar.
Even certain processed foods can make you feel off much faster than before.
Mr. Skeptical folds his arms.
“So your argument is that getting worse at handling things… means you’re healthier?”
In a way, yes.
Because what we often call “tolerance” is really just adaptation.
If you consume something regularly—sugar, alcohol, nicotine—your body learns to handle it better.
But that doesn’t mean it’s good for you.
It just means your body is compensating.
When that tolerance goes down, it can feel like a loss.
But what’s really happening is the opposite.
Your body is no longer numbing itself.
It’s responding.
Clearly. Quickly. Honestly.
And that response is feedback.
Not a weakness.
Practical Suggestions and Conclusions
If you notice that:
sugary foods taste too intense
alcohol affects you more quickly
processed foods don’t sit well anymore
That’s not necessarily a problem to fix.
It’s a signal that your baseline has improved.
Mr. Skeptical leans forward.
“So instead of trying to rebuild tolerance… maybe you just listen to it?”
Exactly.
Because the goal isn’t to tolerate more.
It’s to need less.
A healthier system doesn’t require constant stimulation to feel normal.
It becomes more efficient.
More responsive.
More aware.
And yes… more sensitive.
But in this case, sensitivity isn’t fragility.
It’s precision.
It’s your body saying: “This doesn’t belong here.”
And once you start hearing that clearly, it becomes a lot harder to ignore.
Mr. Skeptical puckers his lips, arms still folded.
“Did anyone ask why you left alone the delicious bacon all by itself?”
I smile and feel a warm sensation because I love it when I debate with Mr. Skeptical and win.
No one batted an eye, asked, or even noticed.
Be aware.
Other links related to this post:
Can Too Much Meat be Bad for You?
PS Links on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X, and Notes. Full disclosure: ChatGPT was used to research and enhance this post.
PSS On April 2, my online training prices will increase by several hundred dollars. If you’re considering getting additional help to lose weight, gain muscle, or increase energy, click here to schedule a free Zoom call and get the details before the price goes up.