I was diagnosed with an inflammatory cluster of autoimmune conditions (psoriatic arthritis, psoriasis, Crohn’s & inflammatory eye disease) about 25 years ago.  I have effectively been able to keep those conditions at bay by taking a series of biologics from Enbrel and Humira (TNF inhibitors) to Stelara and Tremfya (IL-12 & 23 inhibitors) over the past couple decades.

Unfortunately two years ago, these types of biologics were rendered ineffective after a terrible bout of Covid in 2020 before vaccinations were available. I have not been able to effectively curb my immune system from turning against me ever since that infection.  So, one day, my nutritionist, Monica Pirez-Garcia, suggested that perhaps my diet was the ring leader in this inflammatory clusterf@cK!  She said, “what if the foods you eat everyday are a major contributor to your body’s inflammatory response?”   After piquing my interest with that question, Monica, turned me onto The LEAP Immunocalm Diet, considered an oligo-antigenic diet, which is a diet that is low in any foods that cause an inflammatory immune response for an individual) based on a blood test called the Mediator Release Test (MRT).  My blood was tested against 140+ different foods from the four food groups including spices, food dyes, and common OTC drugs. I was provided a list of pro-inflammatory foods based on the MRT blood test, specifically, bananas and peanuts, which were considered highly inflammatory but were ironically my go-to food for comfort.  Little did I know that those two foods in particular were making me feel terrible!  In addition to these two foods, garlic/onions, cucumbers, tomatoes, potatoes, soy lecithin, wheat/gluten, and dairy were among several items I use to eat regularly that were considered moderately inflammatory but in the quantities I was eating them more than likely highly inflammatory causing me digestive discomfort, as well as joint pain and swelling.  Once I cut these items out of my diet, after about three weeks, I couldn’t believe how much better I felt!  It was like NIGHT AND DAY!   I ain’t gunna lie, the first three weeks were tough since I was cutting out all of the foods that I have turned to all my life for “comfort.”   If I would have known that these supposed “comfort” foods I was eating were contributing that significantly to my auto-immune issues, I would have started this LEAP Immunocalm diet 25 years ago when I was first diagnosed!  Staying away from all of these pro-inflammatory foods from the get-go may have also prevented me from having to continuously be on biologics for the past two decades.  Better late than never.  I have no words to express my gratitude to Monica for introducing me to this diet and helping me navigate (and cheerlead) through it… she seriously is a nutritional genius and the best nutritional coach anyone could ever have. Plus, the regular check-ins and  recipes she provided me along the way – especially to help me get through the first three weeks of craving – were game changing for me.  God knows, Monica certainly lives up to name of her personalized nutritional company, Yourishment!  Her customized approach to nutrition is beyond reproach!