Couples that Test Together, Thrive Together

Meet Alana Matzen and Steve Berman – young, attractive, active gym members who look picture-perfect. As a couple, their health and fitness are a top priority. They lead an active lifestyle of weight training, running, walking, and practicing yoga. They rise before the sun, often starting their day with a long 3-mile walk and sometimes up to an 8-mile walk. They train at the gym as often as they can, at least 5-6 days a week, unless work takes them away from their regular routine. 

Steve & Alana 

Steve is a self-employed entrepreneur who runs a successful business. Alana is a flight attendant for private business and personal jets. Both travel the world for work and pleasure. They are “foodies,” often seeking the ultimate in culinary experiences. To say they want to be the best versions of themselves is an understatement.

As a couple inspired and motivated to live their best lives, they were both struggling internally. Symptoms, albeit subtle, were suddenly becoming constant. Digestive issues, hormonal imbalances, and immune system problems were recurring to the point that they could no longer be ignored. So, how does a couple who eat well, live well, and exercise regularly suddenly feel unhealthy?

When Steve first came to see me, his main complaints were digestive issues, including gas and bloating. He was also experiencing major stress over his job, causing anxiety that was affecting his mood and impacting his ability to sleep well. As the owner of a global company, he has many 3 am work calls with Associates in different time zones, halfway around the world.

He did his best to eat organic, whole foods, but his busy schedule left him eating out a lot. He also started relying on extra cups of coffee to get through the day. These habits not only resulted in digestive distress but also dehydration, insomnia, and frequent sugar cravings.

Alana’s job was also affecting her health. As a flight attendant for private jets, she often travels to other parts of the world, leaving for days and sometimes weeks at a time. The shift in time zones was affecting her circadian rhythm, which is the internal clock that regulates our sleep/wake cycle. When traveling, your energy levels correlate with the time zone you came from rather than the one you’re in. When your internal clock no longer matches up with the light cycle in the time zone, your body becomes distressed. The irregular pattern in Alana’s schedule impacted her nervous system, which in turn created a disruption in her digestion and hormones. This explained her main complaints of gas, bloating, constipation, fatigue, and menstrual irregularities.

Metabolic Chaos

As a Functional Diagnostic Nutritionist, we use the term “Metabolic Chaos” to describe hidden stressors in the body that compound over time and create dysfunction. One of the first places this dysfunction impacts us is our reaction to the foods we eat. Food sensitivities occur when a person’s immune system reacts to certain foods in a way that doesn’t involve the immediate, life-threatening response typical of a food allergy. Symptoms can vary widely and include digestive issues such as gas, bloating, diarrhea, or constipation; skin problems like rashes or eczema; joint pain or inflammation; headaches or migraines; fatigue, sleep disturbances; and mood changes including anxiety and depression. Over time, constant exposure to foods that trigger sensitivities can lead to chronic inflammation, creating an increased risk for auto-immune diseases, metabolic disorders like obesity and diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Identifying and addressing food sensitivities can be crucial for improving a person’s overall health and well-being, particularly for individuals dealing with chronic conditions where inflammation plays a significant role.

To the Tests!

Alana and Steve both took the MRT Food Sensitivity Test my practice offers and were surprised to learn that they were having reactions to most of the healthy foods they were eating every single day. Their results showed that each of them had over 20 different food sensitivities, and both had Leaky Gut, a condition that allows bacteria and toxins to enter the bloodstream. They followed the 90-day Elimination and Anti-inflammatory diet plan, and the results were astonishing. Here’s what they said about their experience:

Steve: “I have been working out diligently for over two decades. I am in good shape, yet I don’t often give myself enough credit. I have high standards, so it’s important that I set the bar high when it comes to my health and fitness, as I do in every area of my life. Although this is a top priority, I still struggled to look and feel the way I knew I could. I took the food sensitivity test with the goal of losing extra belly fat around the middle and to help with my stomach issues. I have not only achieved those goals but so much more than I ever expected. When I started the program, I weighed in at about 238 lbs. I am now a solid 221 lbs. A whopping 17 lb weight loss!! I have more energy and feel less bloated. This test and diet plan helped me break through walls I had been stuck at for so many years. I took the InBody scan, and my results were impressive. Even Corinne Brown herself commented that my score was one of the best she had ever seen for a man. That compliment gave me so much confidence!

It’s been a few months now, and I still do my best to be mindful. My test results showed that I was highly sensitive to gluten and dairy. I have introduced certain foods again, and I am less restrictive, but all wheat and gluten are permanently out of my diet, and I do my best to eliminate dairy as much as possible. In addition, I’ve eliminated soy and seed oils as they have both proven detrimental to my health and limited all processed foods. I no longer eat out for lunch. My go-to staples are apples and nuts. I cook more at home than I used to.

The biggest takeaway was the mind-body connection I now have. I really listen to the feedback it gives me. I embrace that certain foods are just NOT good for me, no matter what. This experience has also taught me how disciplined, strong, and capable I am. I would actually like to start the whole process over again, eat only what’s on my list for six weeks, and see how I do the second time around!” 

Alana:  “I took the MRT Food sensitivity test with the goal of being more in tune with my body so I could better understand why I was having so many bad symptoms. I never would have known that almost all the healthy foods I consumed daily were having an adverse effect on me. My food sensitivities included bananas, avocados, pineapple, spinach, apples, and limes, all of which were part of my daily diet. I am highly sensitive to cow’s milk and soybeans, which [unbeknownst to me] before taking this life-changing test, are in almost everything! Imagine my shock! What means most to me is that I sleep through the night without interruption and feel great! I also didn’t expect to lose weight; however, within days of following the plan, my body had such positive results, and weight loss was just an added bonus! I’m truly happy from the inside out.

I love continued education, which is exactly what this test brought into my life. Because I travel for work, meal prepping was very important and very much a new part of my routine. Reading labels, trying new recipes, and learning about myself has forever changed my life and my lifestyle with my partner. The bonding experience and the relationship Steve and I have are all for the better! Witnessing Steve’s results makes me so proud and impressed.” 

Help Yourself Thrive!

If there is one profound and immediate way to influence your health and well-being, it would be your diet. Your body needs essential vitamins and nutrients to function at its very best. Without it, you’re setting yourself up for numerous problems. You can go to the gym, drink your water, and take your vitamins, but if you’re eating foods that your body is reacting to, you will still be inflamed. The MRT Food Sensitivity Test helps identify food triggers that could be causing you inflammation that is preventing you from losing weight and gaining optimal health. More importantly, it helps to identify your BEST foods outlined in a 90-day anti-inflammatory elimination diet. If you are interested in learning more, contact me at 631.629.9942 or  marytufano@therootcausesolution.com.  Follow Mary on Instagram and Facebook @therootcausesolution

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Mary Tufano

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