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"Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food." - Hippocrates
When it comes to nutrition, we are all constantly overwhelmed with a multitude of opinions coming from all different sources. One day we are told to eat more kale and the next day we are told to eat less kale. One article recommends the keto diet and the next outlines the importance of carbohydrates. We don’t know if salt is good or bad for us, we don’t know whether to be omnivores, vegans, or carnivores. All of these fad diets can be confusing to say the least. All of these unknowns, fluctuations, and contrary thoughts and ideas…why?
I would argue that most of the confusion around nutrition and “healthy eating” is due to a lack of personalized data. Sure, we subjectively notice how we feel on a day-to-day basis, but we don’t know the root causes of those feelings. And there are so many factors that contribute to how we feel from the time we wake up to the time we go to sleep - stress, sleep, exercise, diet, mindfulness, purpose, relationships, etc. As the days, weeks, and years all compound, it only becomes more difficult to pinpoint why you may be feeling better or worse at any given moment.One thing we do know is that nutrition is a foundational pillar to our overall health. We are, in many ways, literally what we eat. Our food choices determine our energy output and have a direct affect on our mood, cognitive ability, immune regulation, physical performance, hormone balance, physical structure, and physiology as well as general well-being. As human beings, food is our fuel source and we need to take our relationship with it seriously.
It seems that the only common consensus within the nutrition community is that excess sugar is bad for us. Outside of that, it would be difficult to understand your personal relationship to food(s) without actually measuring it. That is the beauty behind The Feel Good Lab’s Food Inflammation Test. Imagine getting specific metrics and data showing your individual inflammatory response to various foods and additives. Thanks to our FIT this is finally possible. After all, it is very difficult to change what you don’t measure. The Food Inflammation Test allows people to better understand their personal relationship to the foods and additives they consume on a daily basis.
“Fatigue diminishes, sleep and mood improves. All kinds of medical conditions that have formed chronic inflammation improve when the foods that show a reaction in the blood test are removed from their daily food intake. Dermatitis, psoriasis, eczema and acne get better or heal, arthritis and joint inflammation improves.”
- Silke Heine PhD | Simplify Holistic Nutrition Consulting
The Feel Good Lab’s Food Inflammation Test (FIT) is a patented, multi-pathway delayed food inflammation test. The test uses patented technology that measures both the IgG and Immune Complexes, the most common food-related pathways in the body. This enables the FIT test to identify food sensitivities, inflammation, and leaky gut from a single test.
It’s one thing to avoid processed foods, toxic preservatives, refined sugars, artificial sweeteners, and refined carbohydrates, but it’s a whole different story to take the next step and begin to understand which “healthy” foods are actually healthy for you. All too often people are struggling with GI issues, auto-immune disorders, fatigue, and joint pain without knowing they are eating foods that cause them excessive inflammation. For example, my personal test showed bananas as having the most inflammatory response in my body amongst all others. At the time, I was really struggling with severe cramps post-exercise and thought bananas were a healthy daily choice given their high levels of potassium (an electrolyte often recommended for cramps). Without the FIT test I would have still been eating bananas daily without realizing the internal stress I was putting on my body. That is the beauty of this at-home diagnostic tool - it puts the power in the hands of the individual and gives you the data you need to better understand your personal relationship to a wide array of foods.
When a food shows up as being highly inflammatory on your blood test it does not mean you have to eliminate that food forever. Rather, you would most likely eliminate that food for a 12-16 week period which allows the body’s immune cells to potentially reduce the production of the pro-inflammatory complexes and possibly be able to consume that food again on an intermittent schedule. After the elimination period you can slowly reintroduce the foods that were causing inflammation previously and re-test to get your new baseline. It can be tough to cut out certain foods you are accustomed to eating as part of your routine, but committing to the process will allow your body to recover properly, heal itself, and set you up for better long term health. It comes down to two things - first, avoid the food for the recommended elimination period; second, there needs to be strict compliance for the recommended gut health regimen based on your results. That is why having a professional consultation after your first test is so important. The FIT Test comes with a professional 1x1 consultation with a certified nutritionist. Members can also continue their work with a nutritionist if they want help building out a long term strategy which may include meal plans, shared recipes, meal tracking, meal timing protocols, and other lifestyle changes.
Example FIT Report Summary
Symptoms are just the tip of the iceberg. Chronic, low-grade systemic inflammation will set you up for the development of chronic disease even if it does not exist yet. The true takeaway is that there is no such thing as “healthy foods” for everyone. Every human being is unique and we all have different reactions to different foods. Sure, some foods are generally recognized as being safer compared to others, but in order to really understand your personal connection to the food you consume you have to test and get a baseline. The Food Inflammation Test is a great way to do this. Whether you’re trying to heal from an existing condition or want to be proactive and preventative, the FIT test is a great way to kick off your personal wellness journey.
Here at Rhone, a few of us had the opportunity to test out these FIT tests. While we’re anxiously awaiting our results and diving into new ways to approach our personal dietary needs to enhance overall well-being, we thought we’d share some feedback on our experience thus far.
First things first, the test itself is painless, we promise, and extremely easy to navigate. Everything comes pre-packaged and there’s simple step-by-step instructions, leaving no question unanswered. It really is as simple as pricking your finger, providing your samples, adding to the envelope and shipping away to the lab. The instructions also provide some background into what you might expect in regards to your results.
