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MRT + CERTIFIED LEAP THERAPIST

Janet Zarowitz, MS, RD, CDN is a Certified LEAP Therapist (CLT) — trained in identifying and managing delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions to foods and chemicals.

LEAP is a custom anti-inflammatory eating plan and nutrition counseling program based on a test that quantifies inflammation from non IgE-mediated food allergies and chemical sensitivities.

This is different from the IgE allergies for which Allergy MDs test, and that’s why people can have food sensitivities without having food allergies!

Using the results from the Mediator Release Test (MRT), I design a diet for you, in several phases, that removes identified food and chemical triggers so your immune system can calm down, and then help you reintroduce safe foods.

As a Functional Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Janet integrates the LEAP food sensitivity program with other key nutritional supports such as restoring gut health, addressing vitamin and mineral deficiencies, and tuning into metabolic imbalances.

Did You Know That Reactions to Foods and Chemicals Aren’t Confined to Digestive Symptoms!

Sensitivities to food and chemicals are systemic and therefore express themselves differently in each person, often as a wide ride of chronic health problems. For one person it may show up as irritable bowel syndrome and for others it may show up as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, diarrhea, migraine and other chronic headaches, fibromyalgia, eczema, urticaria, rheumatoid arthritis, PCOS, joint pain, fatigue, water retention, insomnia, cramping, brain fog, even mood swings and more.

When you eat a reactive food, the immune system sends out special “chemicals” called immune mediators all throughout the body. These mediators can affect any organ or tissue, even the brain.

Besides the extensive types of symptoms that food sensitivities can trigger, they can also manifest as “sub-clinical” inflammation that you can’t feel. Sub-clinical inflammation can contribute to many chronic inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, thyroiditis, multiple sclerosis and many others.

Food Sensitivities are Not the Same as Allergies

Typically, if someone gets unpleasant reactions to eating certain foods, they first seek testing from a medical doctor trained in allergy and immunology.

While it’s very common for the test results to indicate that no allergies, the food may be triggering the immune system in some other way, as a food sensitivity.

  • Food sensitivities are often challenging to uncover as they are different from the IgE allergies for which Allergy MDs test.
  • With food sensitivities, reactions are often delayed…by hours or even days (unlike true allergies), often making it hard to establish cause and effect.
  • And, food sensitivities are threshold based — a person’s reaction may depend on how much they’ve consumed of one or more foods and within a particular time period.
  • To top it off, with so many packaged and processed foods, every ingredient in a food must be assessed for it’s potential to be a trigger.
  • And did you know that you might be able to tolerate a food that’s freshly made and then have a reaction when eating it several days later as a leftover?

The Immune System

60-80% of your immune system is in your gut.

Your immune system is as unique as a fingerprint, and what it determines is “friend or foe” is different than anyone else’s.

Did you know that you can even react to “healthy” foods like salmon, apples, cinnamon, vanilla, bell peppers, celery and even olive oil!?

You can also react to naturally occurring chemicals like solanine (found in potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, bell peppers, etc).

Perhaps not so surprisingly, you can also react to hidden additives such as stabilizers (like guar gum, carrageenan) or laboratory produced chemicals like BHA and BHT added to cereals, nitrites added to lunch meats, citric acid, etc.

Food sensitivity testing can help identify what foods and chemicals your body is reacting to.

Addressing root causes for your body’s underlying imbalances

MRT Food sensitivity testing
Removing those triggers that make you sick

LEAP Counseling
Identifying those foods that are safe to eat

Total Gut Restoration
Concurrently helping you restore a healthy gut microbiome and gut barrier

Forms for LEAP Counseling Program

Initial Symptom Survey – LEAP (Pages) OR
Initial Symptom Survey – LEAP (Word doc)

Followup Symptom Survey – LEAP (Pages) OR
Followup Symptom Survey – LEAP (Word doc)

Food Symptom Diary – LEAP (Pages) OR
Food Symptom Diary – LEAP (Word doc)

Note: Some private health insurance companies reimburse fully or partially, the cost of the MRT Food Sensitivity Test.

Contact your insurance plan and provide them with this information to see if your plan covers it:
MRT/Mediator Release Test for Food Sensitivities
CPT Code- 83516; Immunoassay for analyte other than an infectious agent antigen