Overcome Inflammation

What would you do if you were no longer held back by your health?

When your health is no longer holding you back from living, a whole new world of possibilities opens up to you.

The question is, how do you free yourself from your shitty health issues so you can finally focus on building the life you’ve envisioned?

That’s where I come in.

“After about 4 months, the obvious things like the wheezing and breathing problems are gone. I’ve had huge improvements in my migraine headaches, mental clarity, energy levels and depression. I weaned off my depression and anxiety meds with my doctor’s help – pretty proud of this! A great benefit that I didn’t expect – weight loss.”

Sue H.
See the full interview with Sue here

I can help you feel like the absolute best version of yourself so you can be free to live out the best version of your life.

Whether your goal is to drop the bloat and other tummy troubles, say toodles to headaches and migraines, free yourself of aches and pains, bring better balance to those blood sugar levels (and say adios to unnecessary meds in the process), or boost your fertility naturally so you can finally start or expand your little fam, I’ve got your back!

“I know what it’s like to feel terrible, to be so bloated you feel like you’re going to explode, to feel sluggish and drag all day only to feel anxious and awake all night, to have unexpected diarrhea that makes you wonder if you have food poisoning….. It’s a vicious, terrible, painful cycle. Now I have learned, thanks to Amanda’s guidance through this process, what my new normal looks like, tastes like and feels like. Amanda was so knowledgeable, easy to talk to, and available every time I needed her or had a question. I knew what I was hoping for when I began this process, but what I actually got out of it was more than I could’ve ever wished for.”

Tamara Kenworthy
See the full interview with Tamara here

Most mainstream health professionals were trained to fixate on individual symptoms and body parts and ‘help’ people ‘manage’ (i.e. cover up) symptoms with meds or one-size-fits-all advice that doesn’t deliver.

That’s not what I do.

“It has been a year and 4 months that the two of us [started] working together to improve my health. You have been one of my Guardian Angels during this period – you have helped, encouraged, supported, educated and taught me a lot, which got me through tough and painful times. I thank you from the bottom of my heart and wish you all the best that the universe has to offer.”

As a holistic Registered Dietitian Nutritionist trained in integrative and functional medicine, I take a different approach to supporting health than most other health professionals out there: I look at each person as a whole and address the root cause of illness with lifestyle advice and diet recommendations that are 100% personalized based on cutting edge blood testing.

Here's how it works...

I enlist the help of a blood test called the Mediator Release Test (MRT). MRT measures how much inflammation your body produces when different foods and chemicals are present.

Inflammation is what’s at the core of most chronic health issues.

“Amanda Austin you changed my life and taught me so much. Thank you for your expertise and professionalism. Why more people don’t know about MRT tests is crazy. I hope to bring more awareness to the benefit of this life changing miracle I found with you. No pill, no complicated plan or counting calories or points, just straight forward simplicity based on my MRT TEST. A MILLION THANK YOU’s”

When white blood cells come into contact with something that they see as a threat, they release chemical weapons that cause inflammation, which you can experience as any number of symptoms (digestive issues, headaches/migraines, aches and pains, low energy levels… you name it!).

When you take away the foods and chemicals that your white blood cells don't like, symptoms start to disappear (like magic!).

“I just got blood test results from my doctor and I’m no longer prediabetic! Yes, I’m at the very top of non-pre-diabetic (making up words here) but thank you so much!!! Phase 1 did it for me – stopped me from eating out (most of the time) and actually thinking about what I was eating. Thanks again!”

From a client diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, approximately 1 month into her program:

“So, I got my TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) tested on Monday and remarkably, the result was 0.57! This is on the better end of normal! Just as a reference, 4 years ago, my TSH was 12 without medication. During my pregnancy with [daughter], my value was around 3.5 – 4.0, medicated. I haven’t had thyroid medicine for probably 3-4 weeks.”

From a client who was newly diagnosed with Graves’ Disease; she opted to try modifying her diet and lifestyle before resorting to medications:

“I have just gone back to my endocrinologist for further testing for Grave’s disease and we seem to be moving in the right direction. He said my thyroid hormones level are trending upwards and my antibodies level trending down. So we’re delaying medication until my next meeting in 2 months.”

Just about any food or chemical has the potential to trigger inflammation, meaning even foods that would normally be considered to be ‘healthy’ (like lettuce, broccoli, kale, lemon, or others) could be causing your symptoms. This is why MRT is such a helpful tool – it helps to provide a jumping off point for creating a truly customized plan of action.

Testing is only one part of the equation...

… how you use the test results makes a HUGE difference in how much your health is able to improve.

I use a system with a proven track record that is designed to reduce the most amount of inflammation in the least amount of time. This system is a dietary protocol known as LEAP (Lifestyle Eating and Performance).

I combine MRT and LEAP with my own kick-ass expertise in functional medicine to help get my clients feeling better than ever as quickly as possible.

This means that you can get back to living this thing called life sooner than you ever imagined.

“After recently completing the LEAP program with Amanda I can simply say she helped change my life for the better. For years migraines have plagued me and I was desperate to get them under control, that’s when I found Amanda’s website. The program taught me how much the food I am eating affects my health & wellbeing. It showed me that 95% of my migraines were food related. Now, by eliminating my problem foods, my migraines are under control. Going forward I have the knowledge base to eliminate any future triggers that may develop. That for me is worth its weight in gold.”

Marie Whitehall

Ready to get the ball rolling?

Choose from the options below.

Note: after you make your selection, you will be directed to submit an application in order to be considered for the program. You will also have the opportunity to schedule a complimentary phone session before purchase, if desired.

Service add-ons (phone sessions and e-mail support) are available for purchase upon request for both program options.

This program is NOT for you if...

• You’re not willing to avoid foods that are hurting you
• You’re not willing to cook meals from scratch
• You’re not willing to diligently read food labels/ingredient lists
• You’re not willing to follow specific instructions
• You’re not willing to keep records of what you eat (for at least a few weeks)
• You’re easily frustrated and quit at the drop of a hat
• You’re not willing to explore other areas of your life that are interfering with your health

Who benefits from this program?

If you have digestive issues, migraines, weight issues, low energy levels, or other symptoms/conditions with an inflammatory component (which, lets face it, is most of them), you will benefit from this program.

If you just can’t seem to pinpoint what’s wrong and generally feel like shit, you will benefit from this program.

If your health is standing in the way of actually being able to live your life, you will benefit from this program.

If you’re on medications that you’re paying tons of money out the ass for, yet see little to no actual improvements (and maybe even a whole host of side effects), you will benefit from this program.

If you were given perplexed looks by your doctor about what the hell is wrong with you, you will probably benefit from this program.

The only way you wouldn’t benefit from this program is if you don’t put in the effort.

Tell me more about inflammation – what else should I know?

Think of your immune system as being made up of a bunch of tiny little ninjas that fight off bad guys. Anytime your immune system goes into attack mode, it creates inflammation. Inflammation is ok (and completely necessary) in SMALL doses, especially if your immune system’s fighting off things that are of actual threat (like nasty bacteria or viruses or other pathogens that find their way into your body through cuts or food or the air or other top secret passageways).

But sometimes your immune system f*cks up and starts attacking food instead (this is what the Mediator Release Test picks up on, which identifies delayed hypersensitivity reactions, otherwise known as food sensitivities). When this happens, inflammation becomes on-going… and you start to feel all these different symptoms (digestive issues, migraines, low energy levels, you name it). When your body is in a constant state of inflammation, the immune system gets taxed – it has to work a whole lot harder just to keep up… and your health, ultimately, gets a lot worse over time (no bueno).

What causes food sensitivities in the first place?

Oh jeez, how much time do you have?

There are many different things that can contribute to developing food sensitivities – eating the same foods over and over and over again (i.e. lack of variety), eating a lot of faux foods (the packaged crap that’s mostly made up of synthetic chemicals), nutrient deficiencies (especially deficiencies in nutrients that are important for the health of the immune system, such as vitamin D), stress/trauma, parasites, candida overgrowth, other pathogens, frequent use of over-the-counter pain relievers (such as Tylenol, Ibuprofen, etc), certain medications, eating foods treated with harsh pesticides, crappy drinking water (this is the case for most of us in the U.S., unfortunately)… the list goes on and on.

What types of foods can I develop sensitivities to??

You can develop sensitivities to just about any food (even “healthy” ones) – fruits, veggies, herbs, spices, nuts, seeds, legumes, meats, grains, dairy… you name it. Even “anti-inflammatory” foods, such as turmeric and ginger, can be a problem for some people. Everything’s fair game.

Tell me more about MRT – why is testing important?

The Mediator Release Test (MRT) identifies delayed hypersensitivity reactions (food sensitivities) by measuring the changes in immune cells that occur when different foods and chemicals are introduced. There are other blood tests out there that claim to identify food sensitivities through different modalities than MRT, but these tests have been shown to be far less accurate and far less helpful (which is why I’ve chosen to use MRT with my clients). MRT is a SUPER important component in identifying food sensitivities.

Symptoms of food sensitivities can be delayed up to 3 to 4 days and the response is dose-dependent (meaning a small amount may not cause noticeable symptoms, but larger amounts will… and the dose that’s needed for YOU to experience symptoms is different than what’s needed for other people to experience symptoms). Because of this, it’s EXTREMELY difficult (if not impossible) and time consuming to determine which food(s) cause reactions without testing.

Also, some people may have sensitivities to a chemical found in certain foods, but not the food itself. Take solanine, for example, which is found in tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, eggplants, and others. If you’re sensitive to solanine, a little bit of potato may not cause an obvious reaction, but if that potato was eaten along with tomatoes and peppers, you might have a full-blown reaction.

Some other unlucky folks may be sensitive to foods/chemicals that are also found in personal care products and household items. One example of this is coconut, which can be found in detergent, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, and other “foamy” items (usually coconut is listed under the names of sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, or cocomide in these items). So, even if the coconut-sensitive person doesn’t eat coconut, in some cases, they could still have a reaction from non-food items that contain a derivative of coconut. (Tricky business, I know.)

So, again, testing takes much of the guesswork out of the equation, which helps you feel better a lot quicker. If you’d rather DIY-it with a bunch of trial and error instead of forkin’ over the $$ to get tested, expect to be at it for months or years (and you probably still wouldn’t get anywhere near the stellar results that are seen with the appropriate testing and protocol).

If MRT showed that I have food sensitivities, will I always have the same sensitivities?

Maybe, maybe not – unfortunately there’s not really a simple answer for this.

Many people with food sensitivities have found that, months (or longer) down the road (after the immune system has had plenty of time to calm down), they can once again enjoy the foods they were sensitive to, as long as they aren’t over-consumed (and it’s usually best to do some additional gut healing work and incorporate some other lifestyle interventions). I cover all of these topics throughout this program (I got ya covered).

If food sensitivities can change, why should I even bother with getting tested? Can’t I just take turmeric or other foods/supplements to calm inflammation?

MRT will essentially show you a snapshot of how your body is reacting to foods and chemicals right now. When the eating protocol is implemented correctly, it will help reduce inflammation (and, subsequently, symptoms) very quickly. When inflammation is no longer getting in the way, the body can then run much more smoothly.

The problem with taking turmeric or other “anti-inflammatory” foods/supplements is that they can actually be inflammatory for some people (I’m personally sensitive to turmeric, so it actually contributes to my symptoms/inflammation). Also, throwing supplements into the mix before tackling the inflammation can be a waste of time and money, since inflammation often affects your body’s ability to digest/assimilate nutrients (among other things), so your body isn’t in a good position to actually put those supplements to use.

When in a state of chronic inflammation, you body’s primary concern is surviving, not thriving.

After inflammation has calmed down, then it’s a good time to introduce other tools/strategies to help support your immune system (and body in general), since your body will be much more receptive to healing/optimizing health.

So, MRT and LEAP can help you feel better right now and help make other healing tools/strategies much more effective (since inflammation is no longer getting in the way). This has the potential to improve your body’s responses to foods/chemicals over time (so your body doesn’t overreact to foods/chemicals as much as it is right now).

Which foods and chemicals are included on MRT’s test panel?

As of February 1, 2018, the following are included in the panel:

What’s the difference between food sensitivities and food allergies? Does MRT test for food allergies?

Food sensitivities and food allergies are both immune responses, but there are different mechanisms and cells involved. Food allergies are mediated by immunoglobulin E (IgE) and involve mast cell activation. Symptoms of food allergy usually occur in a matter of 30 minutes or less and the reaction can be pretty severe. Food sensitivities, on the other hand, are non-IgE immune reactions and can involve a wider range of white blood cells and mechanisms. Because of the different mechanisms and cells involved, MRT does not test for food allergies.

On the plus side, due to the nature of the LEAP dietary protocol, it’s usually a lot easier to identify any hidden food allergies that you didn’t notice before (as well as food intolerances or other non-food-sensitivity-related reactions).