MRT/LEAP FAQ

Q. Is mediator release test (MRT) accurate?
A. A blinded peer review scientific study showed MRT to have the highest level of accuracy of any food sensitivity blood test (94.5% sensitivity and 91.8% specificity)

Q. How does MRT work?
A. MRT is an indirect method of accurately measuring mediator release. MRT does this by measuring changes in the liquids to solids ratio of your blood after your blood has been exposed and incubated with he test substance. It accounts for all reactions by your immune cells. These measurements are made using the the most accurate method of measurement (Ribbon technology) currently available.

Q. What is the difference between food allergy, food sensitivity, and food intolerance?
A. Food allergies, food sensitivities, and food intolerances are often used interchangeably and inappropriately. A food allergy is any adverse reaction to food that involves our immune system. This further breaks down into two kinds of reactions, food allergy, and food sensitivity. Food intolerance does not involve the immune system.

Q. What is a food allergy:
A. The best known but least common food allergy is the most dangerous--Anaphylactic shock--which is a severe hyper-reaction of the immune system caused by massive release of histamine and other chemical mediators from certain types of white blood cells called mast cells and basophils. The triggering mechanism that causes mas cells to release their chemicals is called IgE and is a very well understood phenomenon. The most common foods implicated in food allergy are peanuts, other nuts, shellfish, or foods containing sulfites. This is a dfferent mechanism than triggering mechanisms found in food sensitivities.

Q. What is food sensitivity?
A. Food sensitivity is different. Delayed reactions manifest in many ways as they can affect any organ system in the body and can take from 45 minutes to several days for symptoms to become apparent. Food sensitivites often go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Food sensitivities are estimated to affect 20-30% of the population. Food sensitivities can be dose dependent from a small amount of exposure to a large amount.

Q. What is a food intolerance?
A. Food intolerance does not involve the immune system. When the food in question is consumed it is not properly digested and begins to ferment inside the gut. The best example of a food intolerance is lactose intolerance. This is the inability to not produce enough enzymes, lactase to break down the milk sugar, lactose.

Q. Why do I have food sensitivities and how did I get them?
A. Most like due to: poor digestion, unbalanced gut flora, chronic stress/severe trauma, immune system overload, genetics, and toxic-induced loss of oral tolerance (overexposure to chemicals).

Q. How does the program work?
A. The LEAP Immuno-calm Diet Program works by eliminating those foods and substances which trigger no-allergic immune system reactions, and properly combining and reintroducing a diet of your low-reactive foods. It is a fully healthy diet plan for each individual patient.

Q. How will this diet make me feel?
A. Food sensitivities have been implicated in over 35 different health conditions and affect approximately  20-30% of the American population! These disorders and their accompanying symptoms are caused (or made worse) by the toxic chemicals, such as histamines and prostaglandins that are released when your immune system begins to react adversely to the foods you eat. By identifying and eliminating the foods and food substances which are triggering immune system reactions, you can experience a tremendous improvement in the way you feel. Most patients report improved energy, improved digestion, loss of weight, less food cravings, less aches and pains, clearer thinking, and a better sense of well-being in a fairly short time.

Q. How long does it take before I notice results?
A. Most patients will see a noticeable difference within the first one or two weeks on the program; however, in some cases it can take as long as four to six weeks. Your particular response may vary depending on certain factors: how closely you follow the LEAP eating plan; how long standing your condition has been; the degree to which food sensitivity plays a role in your condition.

Q. How long do I have to say on this diet?
A. The LEAP Program is an individually tailored dietary wellness plan which can be used your whole life. LEAP patients usually feel so much better, they don't want to return to their old eating habits.

MRT/LEAP