Growing up, I’ve always had a love-hate relationship with food. I used to be one of those kids who was always punished to stay at the table until I finished all the food on my plate (no, parents, that punishment doesn’t work because the more I didn’t eat my food when this was done to me). I preferred to eat junk food, so I saved up all my money to buy chips, chocolates, biscuits and pretty much anything sugary. As a result, I was painfully thin growing up and I always had brain fog (I didn’t know this until I cut down on refined sugar). I used to think I liked to daydream a lot, and was just shy and quiet but no, it was the sugar.

When I hit puberty, I forced myself to eat because I was so skinny. I began implementing the same punishment that was done to me, and nope, it still didn’t work! I just had no appetite for real food, because I was so accustomed to eating junk. And so I led a life eating mostly sugary treats every single day, without thinking about it (I had a if you cant beat ’em, join them attitude at this point). And then I got pregnant and had Tristan, and everything changed.

It was a blessing in disguise. Because as soon as I had a baby, my concept of food changed. I wanted Tristan to eat only the purest and healthiest food, and I couldn’t stand the thought of him eating the same things I was. And so my husband Carlos and I decided to go on the Ketogenic Diet (you can read all about it HERE), and finally, I was able to know what it was like not to be high on sugar. It finally hit me–food is medicine, and we literally become what we eat. If you keep consuming empty calories, your body suffers and weakens, which makes you prone to sickness. But if you eat a diet of amazing green leafy and colored vegetables, as well as a great assortment of meats, seafood and fats, well, you look and feel your best! It’s common sense, but we tend to forget this. Our food is our fuel, and if you put cheap, inefficient fuel that makes you hungry (and hangry–a crazy combination of hungry and angry), well, that’s how you will be throughout the day. But if your fuel is slow-burning, effective and healthy, well then you don’t really need to eat so many times in a day (as you are bound to be less hungry), your mood is stable and you can actually think clearer and better. It is all affected, and it is an amazing feeling when you find out the truth behind food.

That’s when I really got interested in discovering the power of food and how it affects our bodies, which is why I sought out LifeScience’s Food Intolerance Test. I had heard about it from a friend who had done it before, and she told me how life-changing it was to be able to know what your body can or cannot process. I was already feeling great from the Ketogenic Diet I was doing, so I was definitely in. I wanted to know more about my body, so that I can I can truly feel healthy and happy.

During my first visit, I honestly didn’t know what to expect. Around 2-3 weeks prior to my first visit, the staff of LifeScience went to my home to get my blood sample which they used for the Food Intolerance Test. They also asked me to answer a very comprehensive questionnaire about my health history, so they can pinpoint what I am feeling at the moment and assess how to make it better. This was all very quick and easy, though the questionnaire was super long (haha). This is all super important though, especially when you haven’t been feeling well or have health issues.

When I got there they made me undergo a Tanita Body Composition Analyzer, which showed that I was a bit underweight, and under exercised. This was true as I was coming from the Keto Diet and haven’t really incorporated any exercise at that time. I’m working on changing all that–I am now enrolled with GuavaPass so I get to do pilates, yoga and zumba on a regular basis. Also, it showed my fat percentage, fat mass, muscle mass, BMI, and metabolic age. Can I just share how happy I was to find out my metabolic age?! It’s 20!!!

After the test, it was time to discuss the results of my Body Composition Analyzer, the Food Intolerance Test and the comprehensive health questionnaire I answered. I had lengthy talks with a representative of LifeScience, a nutritionist and a dietician who all discussed my body, health and food that I can or cannot eat. It felt great to know more about my body and how it processes food. It felt empowering to know all this, and be able to use it to my advantage.

As I found out, food affects everything. Not only does it cause allergies and inflammation, as well as sickness, but also affects our mental and emotional health. It then trickles down to our relationships, work, sleep, exercise, etc. How amazing to find out all of this–it really pushes me to eat better and healthier.

Then, they suggested a program for me to recalibrate my body and prevent a leaky gut (which is caused by eating unhealthily over the years). They suggested I do this through the 5Rs: Remove, Replace, Reinoculate, Repair and Rebalance. This is essentially removing all the food that I am intolerant to, replacing it with food that my body is agreeable with and eventually reintroducing it and getting another test that will hopefully say that I am ok to consume these foods again. And finally, finding that balance that my body is looking for and perhaps a diet that will keep me healthy and happy.

They also explained the difference between Food Intolerance and a Food Allergy, which really straightened things out for me. Now I know the long-term effects of certain elevated foods and why I should do everything to avoid them (before slowly reintroducing them again as part of the program).

It is all easier said than done though. Because to be honest, when I saw the list of foods that I should avoid I nearly fainted. There are just so many different kinds of food that my body cannot seem to process. It made my head reel, as I was consuming most of these for my Keto Diet. It took me a lot of time, effort and determination to cut out certain foods for my Keto Diet. So to find out I had to remove more, I was a bit alarmed and confused.

Good thing they didn’t leave me in this state. LifeScience explained everything to me and came up with a nutrition plan so I can live and still eat without going hungry. This meant stopping my Keto Diet for two weeks and following this one strictly so I can find out the result of eating food that was agreeable to my body.

What happened next? I followed this diet, of course. I did groceries that allowed me eat just the normal foods on my Food Intolerance Test and I felt great after. Then, after taking another blood test, I then reintroduced certain foods to my diet. This allowed me to get back into the Ketogenic Diet, and basically clean out my gut to be able to absorb healthy food better.

I have to say, knowing what I know now feels liberating and empowering. What we eat affects every aspect of our lives, which is why we must invest in it. Come to think of it, I would much rather invest in good, wholesome food everyday instead of paying a hefty sum when I’ve been hit hard health wise. This has happened time and again to my older family members and family members of friends, and it is no joke. If food can be our daily medicine to help avoid sickness, then that is the best gift we can give ourselves. Health is really wealth!

To know more about LifeScience, go to www.lifescience.ph.