There is a lot of interest in food sensitivity testing recently and you can find food sensitivity advertisements all over Facebook and Instagram. So which test is best? In my professional option, the MRT® test is best.
The MRT® test, sometimes referred to as LEAP testing, has improved the quality of life for so many of my clients.
In this article I’ll explain the MRT® test and help you understand why I depend on it so much in my practice. I’ll also explain why the MRT® Food Sensitivity Test is different from other food sensitivity tests that you see advertised.
Remember: this post is for informational purposes only and may not be the best fit for you and your personal situation. It shall not be construed as medical advice. The information and education provided here is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. Always check with your own physician or medical professional before trying or implementing any information read here. For further information please see full Disclaimer.
Why should I get the MRT® test?
Ask yourself these questions.
- Do you map out every restroom when out in public?
- Do you suffer from severe headaches or migraines? Do you suspect food may be the trigger?
- Do you have low energy and trouble getting out of bed every day?
- Do your joints ache chronically?
- Do you have chronic gas and bloating?
- Do you have severe constipation?
- Do you have nagging brain fog that prevents you from being productive?
If so, these are possible food sensitivities signs. And let’s face it, so many individuals go about their lives feeling unwell on a daily basis. But it’s understandable why.
Talking about our chronic gas and bathroom mapping just isn’t something we enjoy doing. And too often, mentioning these issues to healthcare practitioners leaves people feeling unheard and dissatisfied.
Yet, they can’t ignore the voice inside their head saying, “something just isn’t right.”
Sometimes, these unwell feelings are due to food sensitivities.
Chronic conditions that can benefit from MRT® testing and analysis include:
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Fibromyalgia
- Depression and Anxiety
- Many Digestive Issues such as Crohn’s, Colitis, and IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
- ADD/ADHD
- Migraines
- GERD
- PCOS
- SIBO
You do not need to have a specific medical diagnosis to benefit from the MRT® test.
What is the MRT® test?
MRT® stands for Mediator Release Test and it was developed specifically to identify food sensitivities.
What are Food Sensitivities?
Food sensitivities are often considered systemic. This means that food sensitivities affect several major body systems at one time. For example, someone with a food sensitivity may have symptoms of headaches, fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, and often gastrointestinal distress.
Food sensitivities do not involve IgE antibodies as is the case with food allergies.
Food volume affects food sensitivities. Food sensitivities are often considered dose dependent.
Let’s say someone has a food sensitivity to carrots. That individual may be able to consume a couple of baby carrots without ill effect, but having something like carrot soup may result in many unwanted symptoms.
Reactions to food sensitivities may be delayed for up to 3 days, making it hard to pinpoint the offending food.
Food sensitivities are often considered as Type III and Type IV hypersensitivity reactions which occur when circulating antibodies or white blood cells release pro-inflammatory molecules.
These pro-inflammatory molecules may cause swelling, inflammation, and pain in the body. By reducing foods that create reaction, inflammation in the body may greatly reduce.
Once inflammation in the body decreases, the body may then be able to tolerate foods that once were problematic. Food sensitivities are not always permanent.
MRT® (Mediator Release Test)
MRT® is done by obtaining blood from a phlebotomist. You can check this map to see if there is a lab draw area near where you live.
By obtaining a MRT® Food Sensitivity Test, you can then follow a LEAP elimination diet. I am a qualified LEAP therapist and I counsel my clients on the elimination and reintroduction of foods and/or incorporation of supplements based on MRT® test results.
MRT® quantifies the inflammatory responses to foods and chemicals. Numerous mechanisms in our body trigger cellular activation which cause a release of proinflammatory mediators in our body.
There are MANY different types of mediators that can be triggered such as cytokines, histamine, ECP, MPE, Amines, prostaglandins and leukotrienes.
These mediators cause inflammation in our body resulting in many unwanted symptoms such as pain receptor activation, increased gut permeability, and tissue damage.
The MRT® food sensitivity test (MRT® 176) looks at 176 different foods or chemicals to evaluate how your body is responding to these foods/chemicals. A full list of these foods and chemicals can be found by visiting Oxford Biomedical Technologies website.
Foods and chemicals are analyzed in a lab to see how your white blood cells (lymphocytes) tolerate the different foods/chemicals.
The MRT® test is able to look at how much of the cell has essentially shrunk because of pro-inflammatory mediators having moved out into the bloodstream. The more the cell shrinks, the higher the reactivity of the food/chemical that was tested.
While you may realize that certain foods make you feel unwell, you may not realize that some foods that you are eating routinely are causing inflammation.
MRT® helps an individual no longer stab in the dark guessing which foods are causing symptoms.
Having your individualized results creates a methodical approach to adding foods into the diet, starting with the least reactive foods while your body has a chance to decrease inflammation and heal.
What is the Difference Between MRT® and Other Food Sensitivity Tests like Everlywell?
Many other types of food sensitivities tests are not looking at the whole clinical picture. For example, per Everlywell’s website, Everlywell looks at “current levels of IgG antibodies for a variety of foods.”
IgG antibodies is just one pathway out of many pathways that can cause food sensitivities. Also, IgG antibodies can be made even when there are no mediators triggered as the end response.
IgG could be released by the body because it is trying to investigate if something is a threat. Just because IgG is released does not mean that you have a food sensitivity.
Summing up Food Sensitivity Testing
Food sensitivities mean that your immune system detects certain foods or chemicals as threats. White blood cells are triggered either directly, involving white blood cells without antibodies (Type IV hypersensitivity reaction), or by triggering antibodies (Type III hypersensitivity reaction).
Many food sensitivity tests that are available over the counter do not look at Type IV hypersensitivity reactions at all and miss many of the possible immune pathways.
IgG antibodies are just one of the many possible antibodies that can result in mediator release. Therefore looking at just IgG antibodies is not especially helpful. Be careful not to do food sensitivity tests that only look at IgG antibodies.
The MRT® test looks at Type III and Type IV hypersensitivity reactions and measures mediator release giving a much clearer clinical picture of which foods and chemicals are causing a reaction.
Work with Me
Many of my clients have gone through food allergy testing as well as testing for celiac disease and are left with no answers as to what is causing their multitude of symptoms. MRT® has helped countless individuals reclaim their lives.
I am passionate about helping my clients feel better and working with MRT® has given me the ability to help so many individuals who may have no answers.
Please check out my Food Sensitivity Package and contact me today to see if you are a good candidate for MRT® test with nutrition counseling.
