The Lifestyle Eating and Performance (LEAP) program is designed to alleviate the symptoms of a patient suffering from food and chemical sensitivities. These sensitivities can create debilitating immune system reactions, resulting in pain and inflammation in your body.

When your immune system detects an unwelcome invader, as in food and chemical sensitivities it decides that the food or chemical is dangerous and should be destroyed.

The result is a release of mediators that come out for the kill and cause inflammation and pain. Individuals who suffer from autoimmune diseases (Rheumatoid arthritis, Celiac disease, Hashimoto’s disease, Diabetes, etc.)  are particularly vulnerable to these sensitivities and may find relief after identifying them and eliminating them from their diet. However, finding these foods can be frustrating and many times impossible to identify on your own as food sensitivities can be delayed and symptoms may not occur for 3-4 days after eating the food.

To make things even more confusing, food triggers and their symptoms can be different for everybody, which is why a generic anti-inflammatory diet is not always effective for alleviating all symptoms. No one plan fits all, and because each individual may have different reactive foods the meal plan will differ from individual to individual.

The Mediator Release Test (MRT) allows Registered Dietitians who are Certified Leap Therapists (CLT), such as myself, to identify the trigger foods. MRT identifies foods and chemicals which release the mediators that cause pain and inflammation. The individual is able to find their unique food sensitivity without the guesswork.

MRT has the highest level of accuracy of any food sensitivity blood test: 94. 5 % sensitivity and 91.8% specificity. The MRT test checks for 150 food and chemical sensitivities. The results of the blood test are used to create an individualized eating plan (ImmunoCalm diet). The diet is designed around the individuals’ non-reactive foods. The ImmunoCalm diet is a 5 phase diet and takes 4-6 weeks to complete. During this period of time the immune system is calming down and sends a message to the body to reduce inflammation.

If you think you are suffering from food and chemical sensitivities and tired of guessing what it is you are reacting to, pick up the phone and schedule an appointment for an MRT test, I can be reached at wjnutfit@yahoo.com or 626-893-7244.