So you are thinking about or have decided to have MRT food sensitivity testing to help you manage your food sensitivities. What next?
Food Sensitivities Tips Before You Get Started
1. Focus on WHY you are doing food sensitivity testing.
What symptoms are you trying to get rid of? Digestive problems, migraines, etc? Take a look at the symptom survey to see where you score on this to determine pain you are experiencing now. Our clients find this exercise both enlightening and compelling to take action. Once you see on paper, how much you are actually struggling and how you have an opportunity to actually quantify your pain, it is very empowering to take the next step.
Here is a symptom survey below. Take a few minutes and fill it out to better understand and communicate your pain with us. After filling out the survey, you will actually have a food symptom score.
The sole purpose of the LEAP protocol is to FEEL BETTER, in simplest terms. We want to eliminate those debilitating symptoms you have been dealing with. The LEAP protocol starts with the least reactive foods in a series of 5 phases. The first phase includes takes about 5-7 days. The next week we begin adding in more foods to trial day by day, this is phase 2. This is followed by 3 more phases. If at any point the protocol is too limiting we can combine phases to give more opinions. I can help you determine how to best use the results depending on your age, cooking experience, lifestyle and food preferences.
2. Is there any one food you could not live without for 2 weeks?
I have gotten answers like coffee or even spinach! This is important because if the results come back that you are sensitive to this food, is that something you are prepared to take out so you can get to the baseline of being symptom free? It does not have to be cold turkey by any means. Especially with caffeine or coffee, these would need to be decreased slowly before starting phase one. Stopping cold turkey could give you withdraw symptoms like headaches and will not allow us to find the foods that are giving you symptoms. For example if might look like this, if you are currently consuming 4 cups a day, reduce one by one, then every other day etc. This may take a week or two, but that is ok!
3. Plan the timing for the MRT testings
If you will be going on vacation, traveling for work, having a birthday or celebrating a holiday it will be challenging to begin your LEAP protocol. Phase one is the most limiting so try to get started at a time where you can focus on YOU, your health and nutrition. As the phases progress with more and more foods that have been proven safe it is easier to eat out and on the run.
4. Remember the only thing that MRT testing will do is to help you feel better.
Unlike with food allergies there is no immediate threat from these foods. The only thing that will happen is to lessen or eliminate the symptoms you have been suffering with. Do not beat yourself up if you accidentally consume an item that is on your reactive list or if you have these foods if you are out to eat without other options. We can get around these challenges. Remember that it is the amount of reactive foods that you consume that will affect your symptoms.
5. Don’t panic if you are not feeling better in the first few days; that is typical.
By day 5-7 you should be feeling amazing- that is the expectation. For those that are very reactive it may take up to 10 days. If by day 6 you are not feeling amazing- email or call me and we will get to the bottom of it!
Example of MRT results
6. Need some inspiration to help you get more variety into your diet?
Your plan will look something like this, which can be overwhelming to figure out how to put together meals and cook
7. Make sure to get the help you need.
Once you have the results from your MRT food sensitivity testing; they are worthless unless you have a plan to implement the elimination diet and a step-wise way to re-introduce foods back into your diet. Here is what we recommend. Work with a Certified LEAP Therapist (CLT) who has additional experience and training working with the MRT food sensitivity testing and LEAP protocol to give you the best results possible.
8. Don’t skimp on the tools you will need to be successful.
Your dietitian will probably recommend that you get this book because even with the help a of CLT, it will be very useful to have a manual to help you survive the first few weeks of phase 1 and 2 where the food restrictions are the most challenging.
So, we as digestive specialist dietitians, put together a manual to help you get through the stages of the LEAP protocol.
This is what we use in our practice and many dietitians across the country also use our manual below.
Check out the LEAP Food Sensitivity Survival Guide!
You can learn more about this book by clicking this link.
You can purchase this book as a traditional book both in our office and on amazon. We also have an e-book version which contains over 30 infographics and recipe guides, as well as sample recipes to help you create simple, customizable, and delicious meal using the foods your body can tolerate.
If you are interested in purchasing the e-book for $19.99 email admin@rbitzer.com
What next?
Reach out to us, whether you are thinking about food sensitivity testing, have gotten your results and are not sure what to do next or whatever stage you are in, we are here to help.
Are you interested in finding what foods are causing you inflammation leading to unwanted symptoms such as IBS, migraines, or arthritis? Take the symptom survey and see how much these symptoms are affecting your life.
Schedule a consult with Dana Magee RD, LD, CLT to determine if LEAP is a good fit for you. Contact us at 301-474-2499 or email us here.
Blog reviewed and updated May 2020..
Dana uses her advanced training in functional nutrition and food sensitivities to help her clients love and trust food again as they heal from years of painful symptoms that have dominated their lives. Co-author of Nourished: 10 Ingredients to Happy, Healthy Eating and Cooking with Food Sensitivities Survival Guide.
