​When a new protein is introduced to your body, your body decides whether that protein is a friend or a foe.  Once a protein is labeled a foe, the next time you eat or drink it, your immune system is ready to attack.   Your body is the battle ground and this is what causes your food sensitivity symptoms.

Your body uses multiple Mechanisms (mostly white blood cells) to release multiple Mediators (such as histamine, cytokines, and prostaglandins) to defend itself.  There are different tests designed for Mechanisms and/or Mediators.  I recommend the Mediator Release Test (MRT), because it measures all mediators. ​ 

Food sensitivities are not all or nothing; your body reacts more strongly to some foods than to others.  With MRT testing, 150 foods and chemicals are tested and each item comes back with a unique result, allowing me to tailor an eating plan specifically for your body.

Click below to learn more about Food Sensitivity Testing:

For three years my husband and I battled with trying to figure out what was causing our daughter’s chronic hives and how to keep them under control.  On good days she was just itchy and had some red hives, but on bad days it was horrible.  She would literally vibrate with the itching pain and her lips, hands, and feet would swell and burn.  In the beginning, we eliminating all fragrances, lotions, etc. from our lives with no improvement.  Then we went to our pediatrician, who referred us to an immunologist, who did allergy testing.  The tests did not find any conclusive causes and we left with a plan to give her an over-the-counter medication daily.  The medication did keep the hives from getting too bad, so at least we had somewhat of a plan.
Then we started receiving phone calls from our daughter’s school.  They said she was acting irritated and anxious.  They said that they knew this was unusual for her, so they wanted to let us know and to see if we could do anything about it.  My first thought was that she was having break through hives and I thought, “well, you try being covered in hives and see how irritated and anxious you become.”  But then I calmed the mother bear in me and tried to get to the bottom of it.  My husband and I did a little digging about the medication she was taking and found that behavior changes, such as irritability and anxiety, could be a side effect.  We switched to a different over-the-counter medication and thankfully, her behavior was back to normal and her hives were still under control.

January 2012
It was nagging at me that my daughter was taking daily or every other day medication for such an extended amount of time (three years), but I couldn’t let her suffer with hives either.  At this time, I was in school for dietetics and attended a nutrition conference.  One of the speakers presented on food sensitivities and MRT testing and my eyes were opened to the possibility of controlling symptoms with food instead of medication.

I did the MRT testing for our daughter and created her LEAP plan.  I knew it was going to be a challenge, because while the 25 foods she was limited to during phase 1 were easy to prepare and foods that she liked, they were not easily found at restaurants and school cafeterias.  I went grocery shopping and got ready.  The day she started, I gave her the medication, made her breakfast, sent her lunch with her to school, and made a special dinner.  The next day an amazing thing happened, in the morning when I usually gave her the medication, she did not have any beginning signs of hives.  I decided to send her to school without the medication, but let the teacher know that I could be there in minutes if she started to get hives.  I did not have to give her medication for months after that!

The LEAP Phase 1 is 10 days long, after that I began adding some foods back during phase 2 and still no hives.  After a couple months of caution, I decided to see what would happen if she had some of the foods she is sensitive to.  Now I have learned where her limits are and what she can get away with.  I’ve learned that if she has a fever, she is going to have hives.  I’ve learned that there are some special occasions when it is just worth it to let her have what she wants and take the medication.  I’ve learned that when she is healthy, she can get away with a little bit extra almost every day.  I’ve also learned how to create wonderful treats that she loves with the foods that are good for her. 

I am thankful for MRT testing and the LEAP protocol!
Click the image below to learn more about Food Sensitivity Testing:

Want to know why I include so many nature photos on my nutrition website?

Nature is a powerful reminder of just how awesome our God is!  So, on days when I am struggling, looking at nature helps me realize how much power is backing me up.

It also doesn't hurt that my husband is a wonderful nature photographer and lets me use his photos :-).

Each one of us has a unique paradigm and it just may be holding us back from being who we want to be.

A paradigm is a way of looking at something; it's our perspective towards an idea, situation, belief, etc.

Nutrition is no exception to the rule - we all have our unique paradigm or perspective and it affects how we eat and how we think others should eat.  By choosing to look at nutrition through a new set of glasses we can stop judging others for their nutrition ideas/beliefs and we can examine our own nutrition ideas/beliefs.  The following are some questions to ask yourself:

• What experiences in your life have shaped a particular belief?
• Have you ever examined it or have you just accepted it as fact?
• Have you become rigid about this belief?
• Have you judged others based on this belief?
• Where could you find new information about this belief?
• Have you asked God about this belief?

It's too late to register for the challenge.

These three words best describe the Nourish U Cafe philosophy and mission.

Power:  We focus in on the power of God’s nutrition.  God has given our bodies the ability to heal themselves and He has given us the tools we need in the food He provided.  Don’t doubt it for a minute – choosing God as your nutrition expert and using His power to heal and prevent disease will transform your life.  You will have the energy and health needed to focus on heavenly things and fulfill your purpose.

Purpose:  Are you able to embrace that you have a purpose – a special assignment to fulfill while you are on this planet?  God gave you the will and the ability to fulfill your purpose and what’s more is that it is for His good pleasure.  

Pleasure:  Our creator could have used whatever method He wanted to.  He could have had us pull nutrients from the ground like plants do.  He could have made food more like a capsule that we take, but don’t taste.  He chose to give us a variety of textures, flavors, colors, and nutrients – He chose to make eating a pleasurable experience and a work of art.  

So there you have it – Power, Pleasure, and Purpose – the core of Nourish U Café.  If this video resonated with you and you would either like occasional friendly reminders or if you would like to dive in deeper – join our free community (there is a form on the right side of this vlog).  When you subscribe to my mailing list, you will receive our 4 free foundation lessons along with an invitation to join our online community where we support and encourage each other.  We would love to get to know you better.