DIET THERAPY
Diet therapy is based on healthy natural foods. Diets are designed to fit each individual based on: digestive patterns,
food intolerances, food allergies and sensitivities, metabolism, life style, exercise, and food preferences, plus the
genetic patterns inherent in your Biotype.
EVALUATING DIET
We have multiple ways to evaluate and improve your diet. These include:
1. DIET ANALYSIS: Diet Sleuth Software
The Diet Sleuth Software evaluates your current diet for macronutrients (proteins, fats, carbohydrates) and other factors,
based on the USDA nutrient database. Or it can be used to design new menus. Fee = $25/day analyzed.
2. DIET THERAPY: Food Pharmacy® Software
The Food Pharmacy Software recommends which foods to eat, limit and avoid related to your diseases, allergies, blood
type, and other factors, based on published scientific studies, including Dr. Power’s research, which is licensed to Food
Pharmacy. Fee = $25.
3. BIOTYPE DIETS ®
Biotype Diets are diets for your biological type. These are based on Dr. Power’s 20 years of original patented and
published research correlating ABO blood types to 4 kinds of food allergies each. This includes 6 blood types: A1, A2,
B, O, AB, and Rh-negative blood type. These are correlated to: IgE antibodies, IgG antibodies, T-cell responses, and
lectin reactions. These help predict your probable food allergies based on research, and represent your best long-term
diet based on evolutionary patterns in diet. This is not to be confused with other diet systems based on blood types.
See “Biotype Books” for Dr. Power’s research on Biotype Diets.
4. TESTING FOR OPIOID PEPTIDES (Morphins)
The Morphins are opiod peptides and include: Casomorphins in dairy products, Gliadorphins in gluten grains, and
Soymorphins in soy products. Soy products also contain some casomorphins and gliadorphins. These can be addictive
for certain people, and cause severe behavioral and physical reactions. This occurs when people have poor digestion of
specific proteins plus intestinal permeability. This allows small opioid peptides to bind to opioid receptors in the gut and
the brain, slowing gut motility and mimicking the addictive and debilitating effects of opiate drugs like heroin and
morphine. These are often seen in children with developmental delays. They can be identified by a simple urine test.
5. FOOD ALLERGY TESTING
There are 5 kinds of food allergies. Our clinic can test for 4 of these, including both immediate and most delayed.
Testing for food allergies will give you a precise way to identify your most reactive foods, those that are marginal, and
those that are safe. See below for details.
FOOD ALLERGIES
WHAT IS A FOOD ALLERGY?
"Food allergy (hypersensitivity) is an exaggerated immune response to a food, involving glycoprotein components in
foods." Reactions can vary by the person, the food, and the type of response. Reactions may be divided into two
general groups: immediate IgE reactions and delayed non-IgE reactions. There are actually five different types of
immune responses that cause food allergies or hypersensitivities. These reactions can cause a wide variety of physical,
mental and emotional symptoms, some acute (obvious, immediate) and some chronic (hidden, delayed), and can
aggravate or cause a number of diseases. Unfortunately, some of the worst reactions are to common everyday foods.
There are several kinds of allergy tests, some better than others, depending on the type of allergic response and the
type of food.
WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON SYMPTOMS?
There are a wide range of mental, emotional and physical symptoms, from classic asthma, rhinitis & hives to
autoimmune conditions and kidney disease. If you suspect food allergies, take my online food allergy questionnaire.
WHICH ARE THE MOST ALLERGIC FOODS?
Unfortunately, these include many of the foods we eat most often: milk, cheese, eggs, soy, wheat, oats, seafood,
tomato, nuts, beans, citrus fruits, strawberry, cantaloupe, chocolate, and spices.
HOW CAN WE TEST FOR ALLERGIES?
All the allergy types can be identified by blood tests. But these will not be accurate if you have avoided a food for 6 to
12 months or more. See below for testing details. Also see our Food Allergy Questionnaire.
WHAT ARE THE 5 KINDS OF ALLERGIES?
These are based on the 4 Gell-Coombs immune responses plus the new IgD.
TYPE 1 - IgE
Type 1 allergies are immediate and usually occur within 1 to 60 minutes. They often involve dairy, seafood, nuts and
beans, and aero allergens (ragweed, pollen, etc.) In this reaction IgE antibodies attach to food allergens on mucus
membranes, which then release histamine and other inflammatory cytokines. They cause classic symptoms, such as:
asthma, rhinitis, (running nose), hives, eczema, flushing, red cheeks and ears, and anaphylactic shock. Type 1 occurs
in only 20% of our patients, but it is the most dangerous type of allergy, and can be life threatening. The best tests for
this are the modified RAST–IgE blood test or the Immuno Cap-IgE blood test. These can also be identified by skin prick
tests; but these are not as sensitive to fat-soluble food antigens, and may provoke allergic reactions in highly sensitive
people.
TYPE 2 - Lectins
Type 2 reactions are delayed and occur within 8 – 72 hours. Many lectins are found in beans, seafood, and vegetables.
In this reaction lectin allergens bind to the digestive lining or to red or white blood cells. This can cause severe digestive
swelling. In the blood this attracts IgG antibodies and killer cells, which destroy red blood cells, leading to anemia.
About 70 known food lectins attach specifically to A, B or O blood type antigens. Most lectins are destroyed by cooking
and digestion and rarely cause serious problems, but commonly cause chronic digestive problems. These allergens
have been identified by the scientific literature for each blood type.
TYPE 3 - IgG
Type 3 reactions are delayed and occur within 8 – 72 hours. They often involve milk, eggs, and gluten grains (wheat, rye,
barley, oats). In this reaction IgG antibodies bind to food allergens and neutrophils (white blood cells), which clump
together to form large immune complexes in the blood. These deposit in the organs and tissues, where they cause
inflammation and tissue damage, leading to inflammatory diseases and autoimmune conditions. Only high IgG scores
are considered valid -- but these are seen in 80% of our patients. The best test for this is now the ELISA-IgG. Formerly
it was the mRAST-IgG.
TYPE 4 - T-cells
Type 4 reactions are delayed and occur within 8 – 72 hours. They most often involve dairy, nightshades, sugars, and
chemical sensitivities. In this reaction macrophages (white scavenger cells) engulf food allergens and transfer these to
T-Cells. Both cells release interleukins (cell messengers) that stimulate the immune system, causing tissue damage,
inflammatory diseases and autoimmune conditions. The best test for this is the ELISA/ACT LRA blood test.
TYPE 5 - IgD
Type 5 reactions have only recently been discovered and published in the scientific literature. They have symptoms in
common with both immediate and delayed responses. They most often involve reactions to specific small molecules,
such as: sulfites, chemical dyes, food additives, iodine, alcohol, and gluten grains. In this reaction IgD antibodies are
released in the blood and in secretions (saliva, digestive juices), and react with small molecules. Symptoms can include
both fever and inflammation, but can also include hives and eczema like IgE, but not consistently to the same foods as
IgE. No commercial tests are available at this time except for total IgD.
For illustrations of the first 4 allergy types visit Dr. Power's Biotype website.
GENERAL REFERENCES for FOOD ALLERGIES
1. Dean Metcalfe MD, Hugh Sampson MD, Ronald Simon MD. Food Allergy: Adverse Reactions to Foods and Food
Additives. 2nd Edition. Blackwell Science, Cambridge, MA. 1997.
2. Janice Joneja, PhD, RDN. Dietary Management of Food Allergies & Intolerances. 2nd Edition. J.A. Hall
Publications, Vancouver, B.C., Canada. 1998.
3. James Breneman MD. Basics of Food Allergy. 2nd Edition. Charles C Thomas Publisher, Springfield, Illinois.
1984.