Mediator Release Test (MRT) - Inflammatory Food & Chemicals Profile
Chronic inflammation is the root cause of a wide variety of chronic health conditions and irritating symptoms. Inflammatory foods and food additives could be one of the leading causes of chronic inflammation, with the standard American diet full of foods that trigger our immune systems. All too often, we take medication to cover up our symptoms, but the Band-Aid effect doesn’t last (or worsens other symptoms) because we continue consuming the food or chemicals that are triggering the response to begin with. Here at Carolina Nutrition Specialists, we want to help you unravel the messages your unique body is sending you, not cover them up to be dealt with later.
Food Sensitivities:
Research shows that sensitivities to various foods and food additives can be the main causes of conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), brain fog, bloating, weight imbalances, depression, cramping, acid reflux, migraine, headaches, skin conditions, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, and more. Food sensitivities are different than food allergies or food intolerances. Symptoms from food sensitivities arise when the immune system starts tagging foods ingested the same way it tags truly harmful pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, or parasites. After a food is tagged, each time it’s introduced to the body, cells release toxic chemicals called mediators (such as cytokines, histamines, prostaglandins, etc.) from the immune cells that cause pain and a whole host of symptoms. Research also suggests that patients with IBS, fibromyalgia, depression, migraines, and other chronic conditions have higher rates of these mediators circulating throughout their bodies. Eliminating the triggers may be essential for fully healing and preventing comorbidity of diseases later on.
Food sensitivities are extremely difficult to pinpoint without testing because adverse symptoms present themselves 45 minutes to 3 days after an inflammatory food is ingested. Symptoms may only present if two inflammatory foods are eaten together, or only if enough of one trigger food is eaten. In addition, if we eat the target food frequently, we may come to understand this symptom as “normal,” when in fact, it’s causing silent harm to the body, manifesting in disease years later. This is where the Mediator Release Test comes in.
MRT:
The MRT tests your blood against 170 foods and food additives and quantifies the level of reactivity, giving you your unique food profile. After receiving your results, we will guide you through an elimination diet, starting with eating the least inflammatory foods to heal your immune system and lower the level of mediators in the bloodstream. Eating the least inflammatory foods for you will help your body recover and give it time to begin healing itself! We will guide you through reintroduction of foods through three follow-up sessions, either in person or through video call, and help you track your symptoms. Our clients have outstanding success finding healing they didn’t know possible before.
What’s included:
MRT blood test of 170 foods and food additives
3 visits with Betsy in person, via phone call, or video conference
1 visit to provide MRT results and discuss elimination diet
2 follow-up visits to discuss progress on elimination diet and food reintroduction (generally held 2 weeks and 4 weeks after diet started)
50-page LEAP booklet describing test information, hidden sources of reactive foods, additives, and chemicals, meal ideas, food categories, symptom surveys, and more
Laminated card listing most inflammatory foods to put in your wallet
Our additional support during your elimination diet, personalized diet accommodations for dietary preferences
Email betsycov@gmail.com for information on how to purchase.