Frequently Asked Questions
HERE'S A PROVEN SOLUTION
Food Sensitivity Solutions® is your one stop shop for food sensitivity testing, education, and support.
Food Sensitivity Testing to quantify your specific inflammatory response to 176 different foods & food-chemicals
Proprietary personalized eating and lifestyle protocols to calm your immune system and reduce symptoms of food sensitivities such as migraines, irritable bowel syndrome and eczema
Individualized counseling program with our team of board certified Registered Dietitian/ Nutritionists from the convenience of your own home
Lifetime access to our comprehensive membership site that includes educational and actionable resources such as recipes, products, videos, handouts, and articles
and much more
Who does this program help?
This program is targeted for those suffering from IBS, fibromyalgia, and migraines, but is also effective for a number of other medical conditions. Food sensitivities are often involved in a variety of health conditions including autoimmune diseases, skin rashes, sinus issues, and many more.
What is MRT® and how does it work?
MRT® stands for Mediator Release Testing. It is a blood test that quantifies the inflammatory response to 176 different foods & food-chemicals.
MRT® is licensed by Oxford Biomedical Technologies and is available to medical practitioners.
What does MRT® actually test?
Click here for a full list of foods and food chemicals that MRT® tests.
What do MRT® results look like?
The results of MRT® testing are presented using the “stop light” approach (i.e. red, yellow, or green categories). Red foods are highly reactive and avoided for at least 6-months. Yellow foods are moderately reactive and avoided for at least 3-months. Green foods are considered low-reactive, but the MRT® test is able to quantify results, so the LEAP protocol starts with lower-green and progresses as your patient/client feels better in a systematized approach.
How accurate is MRT® testing?
An accepted method of determining the reliability of laboratory testing is via split sample reproducibility. Oxford biomedical performs weekly split sample testing as part of its internal Quality Assurance Program. MRT® split sample testing consistently reproduces greater than 90%. Clinical research confirms that the MRT® method is useful in identifying cell-mediated food intolerance/hypersensitivity reactions and implementing dietary modifications for symptomatic relief from non-IgE reactions to offending foods. Click here to learn more about the science and research behind MRT® testing.
Why is MRT® the best option for food sensitivity testing?
MRT® is the best food sensitivity blood test because it gives the most complete picture of the actual inflammation-generating and symptom-provoking reactions taking place inside the body. It is NOT an IgG test, which has limits regarding the many immune reactions that happen in our bodies.
What’s the difference between food sensitivities, food intolerances and food allergies?
Food sensitivities, intolerances and allergies are often confused. Generally, we like to classify good sensitivities and food allergies as the immune responses while food intolerances are non-immune responses. Intolerances often result from inadequate digestive enzymes required to breakdown food (e.g. lactose intolerance requires the lactase enzyme). True IgE food allergies are a non-dose dependent, immediate immune response to a food, such as commonly developed against peanuts and shellfish. Food allergies affect up to 7.5% of American children and only 1-2% of adults. Food sensitivities are a dose-dependent, delayed immune response to food and are more challenging to pinpoint than food allergies, since sometimes a reaction won’t happen for 24-36+ hours. It is estimated that 10-20% of the population suffer from food sensitivities.
What is LEAP Protocol and Eating Approach?
LEAP stands for Lifestyle, Eating, and Performance. It is a systematic and controlled protocol that allows patients to implement dietary changes with a great deal of success and satisfaction. The LEAP diet plan contains whole, natural foods that are personally recommended for your patients based on their MRT® results and lifestyle and personal preferences. LEAP reduces the guesswork of elimination diets by utilizing a proprietary 3 phase system that brings about a calming effect on the immune system. Lowest reactive (low-green) foods are introduced to the diet first with more foods added back in each subsequent phase. Their diet will become more varied over time with the ultimate goal of reintroducing all of the foods they tolerate and still allow them to feel their best!
How do I get started?
It’s simple...just click here to select on of our programs based on your needs. After you sign up through our secure portal, a testing kit with instructions for the blood draw will be mailed to the address you specify. You will also receive detailed instructions via email to sign up for our informational membership site as well as link(s) to set up your appointment with one of our Registered Dietitian Nutritionists. Make sure to check your spam filter so you don’t miss the information.
Where do I get my blood drawn?
After you receive your testing kit in the mail, you will need to take it to a 3rd party to have your blood drawn. Options for a blood draw location include your primary care physician's office or a local laboratory. Most hospitals have a lab that accept blood testing kits. Mobile phlebotomy services may be available in your area and provide blood draw services right to your home.
Oxford Biomedical offers a blood draw locator service and further instructions at http://nowleap.com/drawlocator/ You may also contact Oxford Biomedical's client services team for specific blood draw location questions as cs@nowleap.com.
Prices generally range from free to up to $50 for a blood draw. It's worth calling around to get the best rate. All services, payments, and liabilities are exclusively between the patient and the blood draw services provider. The cost of the blood draw is not included in our testing packages. Once you have your blood drawn, overnight shipping is FREE to send the completed blood testing kit to Oxford Biomedical for analysis.
Do you accept insurance?
Unfortunately, we do not accept insurance. This is a specialty test that uses an out of network lab. It is not covered by insurance plans. The nutrition support packages are also self-pay. However, many clients choose to utilize their health savings accounts (HSA) to cover the cost of the program. We accept all major credit cards for payment and do offer payment installment plans.
Where are you located?
Jan offers virtual services via phone or Skype to the entire continental US and Hawaii.
How long will it take for me to feel better?
Relief from symptoms often occurs in as little as 10-14 days! However, sometimes individuals will feel a bit worse before feeling better. This feeling may be a mild flu-like withdrawal symptoms usually subsides after the first week on the diet plan. As the program continues, most continue to feel better, with very significant improvement after the first month.
The ultimate goal of the program is to have a varied, balanced, nutritious diet that helps the patient to feel their best! Following a restrictive diet for the long run is not advised. They will be coached through the process of food reintroduction and timing. If they do not feel better based on the results of their symptom survey and self-reported symptoms after the first 2 weeks, we troubleshoot and work to readjust their program to make sure they get the best results.
What is a CLT?
CLT stands for Certified LEAP Therapist. All CLTs complete a comprehensive training developed by a team of dietitians, physicians, immunologists, and medical business professionals with more than 100 years combined experience in treating food sensitivity related conditions.
How is progress assessed?
You will complete an Initial Symptom Survey, allowing you to measure the severity and frequency of your symptoms over the past 1-month prior to starting our program. Thereafter, you will be instructed on completing the Follow Up Symptom Survey at various intervals throughout the program. Other measures used to assess your progress may be weight or other anthropometric measurements, inflammatory markers, blood sugar levels, blood pressure, sleep patterns, etc. These measurements will be discussed with you during your initial appointment.
What if this doesn’t work?
This program is not intended to cure or reverse any disease. It is intended to help you feel better and improve your symptoms. However, if there is no improvement in symptoms with the standard protocol there are additional avenues to explore. We will make a referral to more advanced services that can assist you with your needs.
We offer a full refund for those enrolled in our bronze, silver, gold and diamond packages. If within 30-60 days you are not satisfied with the outcome of your program despite full commitment (based on results of symptom surveys and food diary), FSS will offer you a refund of the package price. For those signed up for the monthly subscription service to our membership site, you may request a refund within 5 days of enrollment if you are not fully satisfied with the information. Our monthly subscription service is invoiced on the monthly anniversary of your initial subscription date. You may cancel the service at any time during the month and you will have access to the service for the remainder of the month. However, we do not offer prorated refunds if you cancel at any time during the month.
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