General

+Why Should I Choose BloomRD?

BloomRD takes an integrative and functional nutrition approach, helping you identify and correct imbalances in your body. I value looking at the whole person and really take time listening, understanding, and exploring the underlying causes of your symptoms.

When getting to the root of your health concern, I take into account a person’s history, environment, lifestyle, and genetic factors that play a vital role in long-term health and chronic diseases.

You will be supported along your journey while working with me at BloomRD. It brings me great joy when I see my clients feeling better and achieving optimal health!

+How Do I Schedule An Appointment?

Apply to be a new client here and someone at BloomRD will follow up shortly!

+Do You Work With Children?

While here at BloomRD, most of my clients are adults, I definitely enjoy working with children. I will see children starting at the age of 5 years old. All children under the age of 18 require guardian consent and supervision for nutrition services during the appointment.

+What Can I Expect From My First Nutrition Consult?

After having a Discovery Call, we will set up an initial 90-minute appointment. In that time, we will thoroughly review your Initial Intake Form - discussing current signs/symptoms (i.e. gastrointestinal issues, skin conditions), medical history, diet history, food allergies/intolerances, intake of food/fluids, weight history, sleep habits, stressors, current intake of medications/supplements, and reviewing pertinent labs.

You will receive an action plan that is customized for your lifestyle, along with plan for next steps. This may include nutrition education, recommendations, and referrals as needed. All other consults will be 60-minute appointments. In preparation for this first visit, I request that you please complete the Initial Consultation form and send any current labs at least 48 hours prior to your appointment so that I can review these documents before our consult.

+Do You Customize Recommendations For Each Person?

Absolutely! These are the roots of BloomRD – making personalized recommendations to reduce inflammation, restore health, and rebalance your body to achieve optimal health!

These customized nutrition recommendations are based on a variety of factors that include lab testing results, genetics, activity level, age, stress levels, and wellness goals to name a few.

+Do you Accept Insurance?

No, BloomRD is an insurance-free practice. We develop personalized treatment plans that work specifically for you, and we spend the time needed to focus on you and prevention of illness. I am happy though to give you a receipt that you may choose to submit to your FSA/HSA.

+Do You Accept Credit Card Payments?

Yes, I accept Discover, MasterCard and Visa.

Food Sensitivity

+What Exactly Is A Food Sensitivity?

Food sensitivities can make a person feel sick because the immune system reacts to foods or food chemicals and then causes a release of mediators (i.e. histamines, cytokines, etc.). These food reactions manifest in different areas throughout the body. Even “healthy” foods such as salmon, chicken, quinoa, spinach, or strawberries can provoke symptoms. Conditions (AKA as inflammation) – such as migraines, psoriasis, bloating, IBS, heartburn, sinus congestion, etc. can flair-up anywhere from 45-minutes to a few days after ingestion of reactive foods or food additives. Food sensitivities tend to be chronic, frequent, and are extremely difficult to identify as you can image. Food sensitivities affect an estimated 15-20% of the population.

If you suffer from any of these inflammatory conditions the Food Sensitivity Testing program called MRT-LEAP may finally give you the answers and a solution to your problems. LEAP stands for Lifestyle, Eating, and Performance. The LEAP program uses a blood analysis test called the Mediator Release Test (MRT) to identify trigger foods.

+How Did A Food Sensitivity Come About?

There is still research to be done to learn more how food sensitivities develop. However, the following are widely seen factors of why food sensitivities come about.

1. Poor digestion
2. Unbalanced gut microbiome
3. Chronic stress/severe trauma
4. Immune system overload

+What Is MRT?

MRT (Mediator Release Test) is a food sensitivity blood test that measures your immune response to particular foods or chemicals (testing for 170 total of foods and chemicals. The video below goes over briefly what the MRT test is about.

After getting your blood drawn for the MRT test, you work with a CLT (Certified LEAP Therapist) to go over your results and design an eating plan that is best for you. On average, you work with a CLT for about 8 – 12 weeks and check in around the 3-month mark.

+How Is The MRT Food Sensitivity Testing Measured?

The MRT Food sensitivity testing is done using the patented "end-point" test. This basically means the test indirectly measures the mediators from various white blood cells (ex. cytokines, prostaglandins) that have been released in the body. So, the test goes beyond just looking at the amount of antibodies (IgG, IgA, or IgE) in the blood. It is the mediators that cause the inflammation, pain and other symptoms associated with food sensitivities. Hence, why this is a comprehensive test for determining food sensitivities and has helped thousands of people identify their triggers and put an end to their suffering.

Take a look at the video to get a better idea of how the MRT test measures for food sensitivities. Know that this test is a very accurate test (sensitivity 94.5% & specificity 91.8%) and can identify chemicals, unlike any IgG test.

+What Is LEAP?

LEAP (Lifestyle Eating And Performance) is best described as an immune calming diet. You work with a CLT (Certified LEAP Therapist) to help understand your results and set up a nutrition plan based off your individualized LEAP report. By following this elimination/immune calming diet, you allow the immune system to rest and it allows reactive immune complexes to leave your body. This is why when people follow the LEAP protocol, they are able to eliminate or significantly reduce symptoms and chronic health conditions. It is very common to see clients have a 50% reduction in symptoms within the first two weeks.

LEAP is fairly restrictive program where no processed foods, gluten, or dairy are allowed for several weeks. We then work in phases and as symptoms start to resolve we would incorporate more level green foods. These level green foods on the test basically mean you had little to no immune reaction. This process takes about 6- 8 weeks to complete. We would then add level yellow foods (moderate reaction) back in your diet around 3 months and level red foods (severe reaction) in about 6 months.

+How Long Will It Take Before I See Results?

Most of my clients see a noticeable difference within the 10 days of the LEAP program. This however is determined by several factors:

A. How closely people follow LEAP eating plan.

• Stop alcohol consumption for at least 3 - 4 weeks. Longer is better.
• Have no gluten or dairy 3 to 4 weeks (depending on progress)
• Are OK with not going out to eat for about 3 weeks.
• Are good about writing/logging their food/beverage intake on a daily basis.
• Avoid moderately and highly reactive foods for the specified time period.

B. How long you have had a health condition.

Sometimes it will take a bit more time to reverse damage caused by improper eating or inadequate nutrition. There are times additional functional labs are needed.

C. The degree to which food sensitivity plays a role in your health condition.

Food sensitivities can sometimes be the direct cause of a health problem or just a contributing factor. Again additional lab tests will be looked at in this case.

Functional Nutrition

+What is Functional Nutrition?

Integrative and Functional Nutrition is about helping you get to the root cause of your health concerns and build long-lasting health… in a more holistic way! It is patient centered vs. disease centered.

“Functional Medicine addresses the underlying causes of disease, using a systems-oriented approach and engaging both patient and practitioner in a therapeutic partnership. It is an evolution in the practice of medicine that better addresses the healthcare needs of the 21st century. By shifting the traditional disease-centered focus of medical practice to a more patient-centered approach, Functional Medicine addresses the whole person, not just an isolated set of symptoms. Functional Medicine practitioners spend time with their patients, listening to their histories and looking at the interactions among genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors that can influence long-term health and complex, chronic disease. In this way, Functional Medicine supports the unique expression of health and vitality for each individual.” Source: The Institute for Functional Medicine

+How Do I Handle Functional Lab Tests?

Functional labs are a separate cost outside of BloomRD’s consultation fees. I have contracted with several lab companies to offer the most advanced testing. Some of these companies will work with insurance and you can work directly with the lab company for any insurance information. Pricing for these labs are at a transparent cost.

Please know that labs are often integral part of your treatment plan. Your lab results are reviewed during a scheduled follow-up visit.