LEAP/ MRT
All you need to know
What is a Certified LEAP Therapist?
A Certified LEAP Therapist (CLT) is a Registered Dietitian who has undergone advanced training in food sensitivities. CLT's use the LEAP protocol to create a customized meal plan to calm the immune system.
What is LEAP?
Lifestyle Eating and Performance (LEAP) is an elimination diet designed just for you based on your MRT results. Foods are reintroduced, beginning with the least reactive, over the course of 30 days. The first 10-14 days include your least reactive foods, typically between 25-30 foods. Foods are then gradually added back into your diet, one at a time or as tolerated.
What is the Mediator Release Test (MRT)?
MRT tests 170 common foods and food chemicals which may be causing symptoms of inflammation. It works by measuring changes in the liquid to solid ratios of your blood after exposure to a food or food chemical and quantifies the reaction. The tested foods and chemicals are then categorized as either Reactive, Moderately Reactive, or Non-Reactive. Your personalized LEAP diet begins by consuming your least reactive foods for a specified amount of time and gradually including more variety. MRT/ LEAP helps determine what foods you CAN eat, not foods that you can not. MRT is the most accurate food sensitivity test available (94.5% Sensitivity, 91.7% Specificity)
Food Sensitivity/ Allergy/ Intolerance
Food Sensitivity
Food sensitivities may take from 1-hour to several days before symptoms develop. This delayed response makes it difficult to determine the exact cause. They affect many organs and tend to be chronic in nature. Food sensitivities are often dose dependent.
How Food Sensitivities Cause Inflammation
Food Allergy
Food allergies often affect the airways and GI tract. The onset of symptoms is acute, typically from seconds to 1-hour after ingestion of a particular food. As little as one molecule of the food could cause a reaction.
Food Intolerance
Food intolerance may cause GI discomfort, but does not involve the immune system. Lactose intolerance is a condition where not enough lactase, the enzyme which breaks down lactose, is produced. This results in bloating, diarrhea, and gas because lactose begins to ferment inside the gut.
What conditions can LEAP help with?
The LEAP protocol is effective in treating the following conditions:
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Crohn's Disease
GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease)
Migraines
Fibromyalgia
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Psoriasis
And Many More!
How long before I see results?
Patients tend to see significant improvement in symptoms in the first 10-14 days, with continued improvement over the following 4-6 weeks.
What is a Registered Dietitian?
A Registered Dietitian (RD) has a minimum of a bachelor's degree in dietetics, completed a 1200+ hour internship accredited by the Commission of Dietetic Registration (CDR), and passed a national credentialing exam. RD's are required to complete 75 hours of continuing education every five years to maintain their credential. Many RD's further their education by earning a masters or completing specialty training. RD's use evidence based guidelines and are considered experts in nutrition.
MRT
This short video will help to better understand how MRT works to identify food sensitivities.