Why Suffer Needlessly?

Dr. Harrison, certified Herbalist and Co-owner of Healthy Options, has suffered for 40 years with food allergies that were never identified by traditional medicine. It wasn't until recently that she learned she is allergic to soy, wheat and dairy (which she recognized 20 years ago) by taking a simple and accurate saliva test from an accredited lab. As she has learned, there is no cure for food allergies. You must identify the food you are allergic to, and then avoid it. Sounds simple, but the identification of the foods is difficult; compound that with the labels that don't say the words "wheat, soy, dairy or eggs" and you have a problem.

Dr. Harrison was misdiagnosed with Meniere's Disease by four Ear, Nose & Throat physicians, and two Allergists were unable to find the root of her problem despite testing for wheat and soy using the prick tests. In addition, two Gastroenterologists couldn't nail down the cause of her many digestive distress symptoms. Does this sound like what you have gone through in an effort to get to the root of what's bothering you?

According to recent studies, 60 percent of the population have undiagnosed food sensitivities which interfere with their life and health. Identifying these are difficult, as blood tests and elimination diets don't always pinpoint delayed food allergies.

How do you know if you have a food sensitivity? If you have any of the following, you may be reacting to certain foods.
Do you have:

• Gastrointestinal problems — indigestion, diarrhea, constipation, colitis, irritable bowel, gas, bloating, vomiting, nausea, gastritis or cramping?
• Eye, ear nose & throat problems — itchy & watery eyes, redness, dark circles, blurring vision, discharge from eyes or nose, dry throat, ears stopped up, ear ringing or redness, ear infections, losing your hearing, bouts of vertigo or dizziness? Many patients who have been diagnosed with Meniere's Disease may simply have a food sensitivity.
• Heart problems — racing or fluttering heartbeat, high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, and/or poor circulation?
• Immune system — chronic sinus, frequent colds and flu or mononucleosis?
• Nervous system — migraine headaches, anxiety, depression, fatigue, ADD, irritability, mood swings, mental fogginess, inability to concentrate, hyperactivity?
• Muscular sytem — aches, joint pain, twitching muscles?
• Skin — rash, hives, eczema, acne or other skin problems?
• Respiratory system — trouble breathing, wheezing, sinusitis, congestion, bronchitis, or asthma?
• Other symptoms — can't lose weight, rapid weight loss (no absorption), swelling or water retention?

If you answered yes to any of these symptoms, you may have a food sensitivity that worsens with time. You can find out with 90% accuracy if you have a soy, wheat, dairy, egg or yeast infection by calling us at 410 638-7787. We will mail to you a test kit, which requires either a saliva or stool sample. You take the test in your home at your convenience and mail it to the lab that is identified. The results come back to us within 10 days. At that time, Dr. Harrison will mail you back your results along with a suggested diet to follow. Since soy and wheat, primarily, can be disguised (on food labels) using other names such as dextrin, she will include a list of other names that soy, wheat/gluten, dairy and egg products can be called. In addition, you will receive a proposed diet for your food allergen providing examples of what to eat, learned from first hand experience. Dr. Harrison will also give you some tips on how to stay safe when you are eating out, traveling and going to people's homes for meals. In many cases, your food allergen may be temporary and you will have to avoid the food for 3-6 months depending on the lab results. You may also call Dr. Harrison by appointment for a free consultation which is included in your initial fee along with a suggested supplement list. Please call about pricing for the kit.

There is an emotional side to giving up certain foods and I feel your pain, but think how lucky you will be to identify the cause of your distress and then do something about it. This is not a fatal disease but what it will do for you will be to force you into healthy eating! Good luck, and we hope to hear from you.

We now have an effective product called Gluten Defense which reduces one's reaction to wheat ingestion. Gluten Defense is very effective and recommended for Celiac's as well. Please contact us for more information.

For more information, see www.csaceliacs.org. And be sure to visit our store when looking for foods that fit your specialized diet. We have a great selection.

JUST ADDED !
We are now offering a  new advanced and accurate electrodermal  screening for food sensitivities.  This allows us to screen for  over 5000 foods and give you a print out which is color coded with the foods you can eat, those you need to avoid and those that you can eat every third day.  This is all done in the comfort of our computer room using non-invasive techniques on your hands.

New electrodermal screenings are also available with color coded charts for Chemical screenings  and environmental toxins. We can screen for mold, animal hair, inhalents, general chemicals, pesticides and heavy metals.  Your results will be instant and you will be given a color coded chart of your assessment. 

A new electrodermal screening is now available for vitamin assessments and what you need using an advanced program that is accurate and comprehensive.  Find out what you really need to take for vitamins and supplements to stay healthy.  This program also allows color coding for ease of interpretation. 

Please allow one hour for all of these screenings and no special preparations are necessary except if you are taking the food assessment, be sure not to avoid foods that you think are causing you problems such as milk, soy, gluten and egg.  All assessments require an appointment.  Don’t forget you can buy gift certificates to be used later in the year.