EP138: Finding Your Food Inflammation Triggers with James White

Perfect Practice

In this episode, Sachin interviews James White, CEO of KBMO Diagnostics about the Food Inflammation Test or FIT, what it does for patients and practitioners, and how it works. James shares his career history and how KBMO Diagnostics came to be a key tool for determining the trigger foods for patients with inflammation. They also discuss the Gut Barrier Panel and the Cardiovascular Inflammation Test and how they could help your patients. Listen in for the details of how you can use KBMO Diagnostics to improve your health and in your practice to improve the health of your clients.

Key Takeaways:

[1:01] Sachin introduces James White, the founder of KBMO Labs. This lab has been instrumental in Sachin’s healing journey with a better understanding of what foods he should and should not be eating. One person’s food could be poison for somebody else.

[1:38] Today we will discuss what functional food testing looks like to get a better understanding of how our body responds to foods that are favorable to it and foods that are not. This can give insight into what might lead to chronic inflammation or pain, despite a healthy and nutritious diet.

[2:04] James ran Sachin’s labs on-site at Mindshare. Sachin made some unexpected discoveries. There could be hidden triggers to people’s underlying issues or even issues they do not know. Sachin loves the convenience and the amazing service provided by the team.

[2:56] Sachin gives a shoutout to Dr. Robert Silverman, who introduced James to Sachin.

[3:05] Sachin welcomes James White to Perfect Practice.

[3:35] James has a background in running diagnostics companies from blood gas analysis to molecular diagnostics. Then he got involved in specialized cardiovascular testing. The mantra of cardiologists at the time was “eat less and exercise more,” without individualized care.

[4:59] James was looking for a better way to address heart issues when he came across Brent Dorval, Ph.D., who had invented the first rapid HIV diagnostic. Dr. Dorval had a new test that he had three providers using. James called each provider and they were unanimous in their praise.

[6:28] That led to James leaving a larger public company and joining Dr. Dorval in the diagnostic lab. They started with two people. Now the lab works with over 10,000 practitioners.

[8:00] KBMO Diagnostics offers the FIT or Food Inflammation Test. It is different from the C3d test. It doesn’t just look at what you are exposed to but also at which foods are causing inflammation.

[9:35] James did a Dry January where he exercised every day and did the KBMO Cardiovascular test and the FIT. Twelve years ago, James did the FIT and it indicated five or six foods. This time, the text indicated five foods. The test is highly accurate and reproducible.

[11:05] James educates the population about what they are exposed to and which foods cause them inflammation. James took an Everlywell IgG test that indicated over 25 foods, versus the FIT, that indicated five foods. Twenty of the foods identified by the IgG test are false positives.

[12:38] Dr. Dorval’s FIT uses a double screen to measure the whole immune system rather than just the front end of it, giving a more accurate result. The accuracy means fewer foods for the patient to eliminate.

[14:21] Sachin tested for 176 foods and for a leaky gut. The leaky gut test came back all clear. Certain foods showed up for Sachin. The two highest were cow’s milk and eggs. Then there were cauliflower and other foods he doesn’t often eat.

[15:21] Because it looks at the inflammatory response, the FIT is helpful for migraines, weight loss, joint pain, and skin-related issues. One patient with back acne learned to eliminate spinach to clear up the acne. You never know which food is going to be the trigger.

[17:21] The FIT also measures colorings and additives that are increasingly found in foods, supplements, and personal hygiene products. One 10-year-old boy was lethargic until benzoic acid was removed from any product he used. After eight weeks, his turnaround was remarkable.

[18:54] KBMO did a study on IBS patients and saw dramatic improvements. Migraines are another issue that shows remarkable improvements for patients who have suffered for years by eliminating a handful of trigger foods. It’s a game-changer.

[20:08] KBMO suggests for their providers to do a symptom checklist. What symptoms are patients living with, that they can eliminate by reducing their inflammatory burden via diet?

[21:00] The test is made simple to help the busy provider and their busy patients understand it and move forward on their journey from a healthcare perspective.

[21:36] Sachin looks at his FIT results as a way to know the foods to eliminate to reduce low-grade chronic inflammation and potentially feel overall better. Food doesn’t only affect the digestion or how you feel immediately. It can add to the load of inflammation in many systems.

[22:34] The two times James took the FIT over 12 years, the list of five foods to eliminate was very similar. Eggs, dairy, and wheat were the big three and then either clam or lobster were the top foods to eliminate. He says he’s a bundle of laughs at breakfast time.

[23:12] When James first bought the company, his triglycerides were nearly 500. After eliminating gluten, eggs, and dairy, within six months his triglycerides were 100 by taking out those three foods. He also dropped 15 pounds in six months. He was also exercising more.

[25:04] One of the things patients and providers like about the FIT is there’s no judgment attached. It’s not telling you your triglycerides, but what your trigger foods are. It gives patients the ability to take control of their health and do meaningful, understandable things.

[26:17] Sachin points out that knowing what to do instead of just knowing what’s wrong is a powerful position to be in. When the doctor tells the average patient “These numbers are off,” it doesn’t mean much to the patient. Sachin thinks everyone should have the FIT done.

[27:23] Sachin especially recommends the FIT for diabetics, autoimmune patients, cognitive decline patients, and IBS and digestive issue patients. James says mainstream evidence links leaky gut to “leaky brain.” Leaky gut may come from food inflammation.

[30:21] James believes 95% of patients most providers see have inflammation. The FIT is a great way to get to what might be causing some of that underlying inflammation burden to try to make the patients feel a bit more normal by taking control of their health.

[31:31] KBMO just did a study in Chengdu, China, on 75 patients with a variety of symptoms. They did a three-month elimination diet. Eighty-two percent of those patients saw an improvement from running the test. All KBMO did was provide the test plates. It’s a robust test.

[35:10] How can a practitioner get the FIT? To sign up, go to [e-mail]. Mention Sachin’s name and that you heard about it on Perfect Practice. They will send you a one-page new account form. Fill it out.

[35:52] The FIT kits are free. They can be sent to your office or drop-shipped to your patients. Your patients can go to the KBMO website and order the kits but they have to have a C-dash number that is linked to you, the provider. Everything is provider-centric.

[36:25] Whether given in the office or the patient’s home, the kit is a finger stick. The patient kit includes two finger sticks. You or the patient mail it in. The patient kit has a stamped, self-addressed envelope back to KBMO.

[36:46] In seven to 10 business days, KBMO puts the results online for you, the provider, to see. You will have 14 days to go over the results with your client. Fourteen days after KBMO sends the results to the provider, the client gets an app to see the results on their phone.

[37:34] The app includes an individualized meal plan for your patient. If you need the 14-day consulting period to be longer, KBMO can adjust it for you so the app comes to the patient later. Having the results on their phone helps the patient to comply with the meal plan.

[38:05] With the app on their phone, patients love to share the results with their friends, talk about their amazing results following the meal plan, and encourage them to go to you to be tested. The app is great for marketing your practice to your patients’ family and friends.

[39:16] If anything’s elevated on the Gut Barrier Panel, there are a number of protocols KBMO has set up with a number of leading supplement companies and has also partnered with Fullscript. The Gut Barrier report will recommend going on a good gut-healing protocol.

[40:35] KBMO can either bill you, the provider, or bill the patient directly, as you choose. KBMO makes the process easy and transparent, and they walk you and the patient through it in a manageable way.

[40:55] Sachin tells how easy it was for him to take the test and get his results. He has his results on the app on his phone, which makes it easy to shop for his meal plan. Sachin notes that you can show the app to your server if you have questions about a menu.

[41:20] Sachin says it’s been a positive experience and KBMO’s customer service is exceptional.

[41:28] James adds that as a provider, when you run your first FIT on yourself or a patient, there is a doctor working with KBMO who can review your results with you. She has been running the test for 12 years in her practice.

[42:24] Sachin thanks James for being on Perfect Practice and he appreciates everything James is doing to make our lives as clinicians better. Clinicians can register for the FIT at [e-mail] or on the website at KBMODiagnostics.com.

[43:25] “Here’s to avoiding eggs, for both of us, and here’s to amazing health and wholeness to everyone listening! Thank you so much!”

[43:33] James thanks Sachin. The time is much appreciated!

Mentioned in this episode

Perfect Practice Live

Mindshare

Fullscript

More about your host Sachin Patel

How to speak with Sachin

Go one step further and Become The Living Proof

Perfect Practice Live

[e-mail]

To set up a practice clarity call and opportunity audit

Books by Sachin Patel:

Perfect Practice: How to Build a Successful Functional Medical Business, Attract Your Ideal Patients, Serve Your Community, and Get Paid What You’re Worth

The Motivation Molecule: The Biological Secrets To Eliminate Procrastination, Skyrocket Productivity, and Get Sh!t Done

Tweetables:

“When I first did the test many years ago, it was five or six foods, and today, it remains five or six foods. It’s interesting, the stability and the reproducibility of the testing over a 12-year period, in my case.” — James White

“We take this unique science and then re-educate the population about it, saying there’s a real advantage in knowing what you’re exposed to but if you take it to the next level, you’re going to find out which foods are causing you inflammation.” — James White

“We measure colorings and additives. Regardless of how clean a lot of us try and live these days, you’re going to get exposed to these colorings and additives. … They’re increasingly in supplements and personal hygiene products.” — James White

“Your patients can go to the KBMO website and order the kits but they have to have a C-dash number that is linked to you, the provider. Everything is provider-centric.” — James White

James White, CEO of KBMO DiagnosticsEmail: [e-mail]