ABOUT ME

Dr. Brandon Heath DC CFMP CSCS CCSP

Dr. Brandon is a board certified Functional Medicine Practitioner with over 200 hours of post graduate training in clinical nutrition and functional medicine. He graduated from the prestigious Palmer College of Chiropractic in 2008. Since then he has been in private practice in South Carolina, Colorado, and Florida.

His true passion is helping patients achieve their optimal health potential through proper nutrition & supplementation. He specializes in food sensitivity testing. Thousands of people all over the country have reached a more optimal state of health because of his unique approach to finding the underlying cause of health problems.

Food Sensitivity / Food Allergy Testing

Food Sensitivity and Food Allergy Testing

Food sensitivity or intolerance arises from an inability to properly digest certain foods, primarily within the digestive tract, as opposed to food allergies, which manifest in the bloodstream. These sensitivities exhibit "delayed onset" symptoms, often not appearing for several hours or even days. It's important to note that food sensitivities are not static; they can fluctuate over the course of one's life.

Interestingly, individuals often experience cravings for foods to which they are sensitive. Some researchers propose that our bodies may develop a kind of addiction to chemical messengers, such as histamine or cortisol, released by immune cells in response to allergens. These chemical messengers can provide a soothing effect, increasing the desire to consume more of the problematic food.

It's crucial to understand that both food sensitivities and allergies can change over time. Being diagnosed with a food sensitivity or allergy one year does not necessarily mean it will remain the same for the rest of your life. This is why we encourage people to undergo testing at least once a year.

Food Sensitivity vs. Food Allergy:

Food Allergy: A food allergy represents an exaggerated immune response triggered by specific foods like eggs, peanuts, or milk. In the case of a true food allergy, the IgE portion of the immune system reacts immediately. For instance, a person might consume strawberries and promptly develop a rash on their face. The rapidity of the reaction often makes testing unnecessary because it's relatively easy to identify the "culprit."

Food Sensitivity / Intolerance: Food intolerance or non-allergic food hypersensitivity encompasses a range of physiological responses linked to particular foods or compounds found in various foods. This response involves the IgG portion of the immune system. It's essential to distinguish between the two.

We specifically test for the delayed sensitivity response – not the immediate one. We examine the immune response that occurs 10-12 hours later, sometimes extending to 72 hours, which patients find challenging to pinpoint on their own. The timeframe is too extensive for effective elimination diets, underscoring the importance of objective testing.

The root causes of food sensitivities can include:

Overconsumption of a single food: Repeatedly consuming the same food can lead to sensitivity over time. Many individuals regularly eat a limited range of foods, such as wheat found in breakfast cereals, lunchtime sandwiches, and dinner pasta.
Leaky gut syndrome: Inflammation caused by a food sensitivity can damage the gut lining, creating small openings between the tightly woven cells of the intestinal walls. This condition, known as "leaky gut syndrome," allows partially digested dietary proteins to enter the bloodstream, potentially triggering allergic responses and producing symptoms in the intestines or other parts of the body.
Probiotic deficiency: An absence of beneficial bacteria (probiotics) in the intestines can contribute to leaky gut. These friendly bacteria support intestinal health by nourishing intestinal cells and combatting harmful bacteria. Factors like parasitic infections, antibiotic treatment, stress, poor diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, excessive hygiene, candida overgrowth, and bottle-feeding infants can disrupt the balance of good and bad bacteria.
Overburdened immune system: Prolonged stress, exposure to environmental pollutants, and the presence of pesticides and chemicals in our food can strain the immune system, reducing its ability to respond appropriately to food antigens.
Genetic factors: Food allergies and sensitivities may have a hereditary component. Research indicates that if both parents have allergies, their children have a 67% chance of developing food allergies. If only one parent is allergic, the risk drops to 33%. In some cases, individuals may inherit deficiencies in enzymes responsible for digesting specific foods, such as lactase for dairy digestion. Genetic variations can also predict the severity of sensitivity to certain foods, as observed with nightshade sensitivities and other food-related issues.

Testing

Nutrient Deficiency Testing

While maintaining a well-balanced diet and incorporating multivitamins into your routine are positive steps toward better health, they may not be sufficient to attain optimal nutritional balance. The key principle to remember is that you are not merely what you eat; you are what your body effectively absorbs.

Increasingly, individuals are facing gastrointestinal challenges, such as IBS, leaky gut, Crohn's disease, and gluten intolerance, which hinder the absorption of essential nutrients crucial for optimal health.

With our nutrient deficiency test, we can provide an accurate and objective assessment of your body's specific nutritional requirements and pinpoint where your diet may be falling short. Recognizing that everyone has unique nutritional needs, we strongly discourage guesswork when it comes to your health.

Deficiency testing serves as a valuable tool in identifying these nutritional "shortages," enabling us to devise strategies for compensation. This can involve adjustments to your dietary choices or the introduction of targeted nutritional supplements.

By investigating nutrient deficiencies, we can assist you in crafting a personalized plan for sustaining overall health and elevating your well-being. Furthermore, this testing can uncover underlying root causes contributing to health challenges.

Our nutrient deficiency assessment encompasses a comprehensive analysis of 34 different vitamins and nutrients.

Do You Experience Cravings?

Cravings often serve as indicators of nutrient deficiencies. For instance, a craving for sweets is typically associated with a B-Vitamin deficiency, while a yearning for salty foods may signal a lack of zinc. If chocolate is calling your name, it could be due to a magnesium deficiency.

However, it's essential to note that cravings can also occur when your blood sugar levels fluctuate. It's important to remember that the Standard American Diet (SAD) is characterized by its highly processed, inflammatory, and toxic nature, featuring an excess of sugar and sugar-inducing substances.

Consider the scenario when you consume a sub sandwich or pasta for lunch – this can lead to a rapid spike in blood sugar, followed by a subsequent crash. It's during this energy slump that you may find yourself craving carbohydrates or sweets to help you power through the day.

Sound familiar?

What happens to the surplus carbohydrates consumed during such episodes? Unless you engage in vigorous daily exercise to burn them off, they are stored as fat. Specifically, your body tends to accumulate this excess fat in areas like the abdomen, hips, thighs, triceps, and even the facial region.

This abnormal fat storage pattern underscores the need to transition away from conventional dietary practices and explore alternative approaches to nutrition.