Let's take heartburn for example: many of us will complain of heartburn, but never connect (or at least never admit) that it may be directly caused by something we're eating. The comfort of that morning cup of joe is so great, that we're unwilling to admit that it may be that our bodies do not digest cream well, or even the coffee itself. Achieving optimal health through diet means listening to the subtle cues your body sends you about the foods you are eating. (See also: Intuitive Eating.)
How many times have you heard someone say, "Oh, I could never give up <fill in the blank>". I am here to tell you that you CAN give up the foods that are not serving you well, period. (See some of my solutions, here.) I am so confident in this, because I have done so for myself. For instance, here’s the short list of foods that I avoid on a regular basis: coffee, dairy, wheat, soy, corn, tomatoes, and peanuts - it's doable, really!
How did I reach this point? It started with a visit to Chester County Nutrition, where Registered Dietitian and founder June Kuz opened my eyes to the world of food sensitivities. Because she has been so instrumental in helping me feel better, and educating me along the way, this week I have asked June to share some of her knowledge with you. Please enjoy!
Is your food making you sick?
By June Kuz, Registered Dietitian
Are you suffering from a stubborn health problem that won’t go away no matter what you try? Or perhaps the medications and treatments you’re taking aren’t actually getting at the root cause of your illness- but you want something that will? Conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, acid reflux, migraine and other headaches, skin eruptions, brain fog and other lingering health problems are often directly related to immune reactions to the foods we eat. Even so called “healthy” foods such as salmon, chicken, apples or garlic can provoke symptoms in sensitive individuals.
LEAP (Lifestyle Eating And Performance) is the solution for food sensitivities. The first thing a food sensitivity sufferer needs to do is identify their trigger foods and food chemicals. In the past, this has been easier said than done for many reasons: Food sensitivity reactions may be delayed by hours or even days after ingestion. Even if you suspect food sensitivities, would you consider that the headache you might have now was caused by something you ate yesterday? And often, food sensitivities are dose-related. This means a small or moderate amount of reactive food may not cause any noticeable symptoms, but a larger amount does. Or, perhaps when you eat 2-3 moderately reactive foods at the same time, you get symptoms. But, if you ate only one of those foods you wouldn’t. If that wasn’t enough of a challenge, reactive foods vary widely from person to person, even if they have the same symptoms, and there are usually many reactive foods and food-chemicals, not just one or two.
In addition, the most common blood test used to help identify sensitive foods (ELISA IgG) can only detect one lesser kind of sensitivity reaction (Type 3, which covers about 25% of food sensitivity reactions). Plus, IgG testing can’t identify reactions to food-chemicals. Fortunately, there’s a program, called LEAP that can help you quickly overcome even the most troublesome food sensitivity related problems. LEAP includes the patented blood test call MRT (Mediator Release Test) that accounts for both Type 3 and Type 4 pathways. MRT also identifies reactions to food chemicals. This translate into faster and more complete relief for those who test with MRT.
A recent patient, Kathy, complained she was exhausted, couldn’t think, had muscle and joint pain, stomach gas, bloating, pains/cramps, to name a few. Her initial symptom survey was a huge 160 points! She felt like "crap"! After just one month of following her LEAP eating plan, her symptoms reduced to 18 points on the symptom scale! An added benefit was an 8 lb. weight loss. With deep felt gratitude she commented, “I have gotten my life back!”
Find out today if your health problems stem from food sensitivities. You’ll be glad you did.
For more information, contact June Kuz, RD at Chester County Nutrition (610) 518-5253