This coming Sunday is the first in what will hopefully be an annual event to promote a greater awareness of gluten intolerance. The program, called Chef to Plate, is designed for "Celebrating Restaurants Serving Up Gluten-Free Awareness.”
This program is being hosted by GIG, the Gluten Intolerant Group of North America. Restaurants across the country have agreed to participate to help launch May as Celiac Awareness Month.
I encourage you to visit your favorite gluten free restaurant this Sunday, even if they are not officially participating in this event. Tell them why you are there, and refer them to GIG at www.gluten.net where they can learn more about being a gluten free service provider. You can also visit www.gluten.net to learn more about which restaurants have already signed on.
So go eat out!
Oils and Fats Can Be Allergens
I have often heard people give the opinion that you can't possibly be allergic to oils and fats because they don't have proteins in them. This never comes up with regard to gluten, because gluten containing foods don't provide us with any oils or fats. However, this does come up with regard to dairy products and even things such as flax oil.
For many years I have known that people with a dairy allergy also need to avoid butter, because I have seen that in my patients as well as with myself. The same is also true for ghee, or clarified butter. I have also seen patients show up allergic to foods such as flax, and this includes flax oil.
So it seemed obvious to me that fats and oils can be triggers just as well as other foods. However, people who know a little something about allergies often chime in that allergies formed against proteins. This appears to be true, but it is a mistake to assume that there are no proteins in fats. There may not be enough protein to list on the side of the container as having any nutritional value, but there is plenty enough protein to act as an allergen. The same is true for environmental allergens. You typically can't see them, but they sure can affect you.
Fortunately, a group of researchers finally did a study on just this issue. And what did they find? That yes, even refined oils have the potential to be strong allergens. If you'd like to read the abstract for this study you can click on it here: Analytic investigations on protein content in refined seed oils: implications in food allergy. by Ramazzotti M, et al. in Food Chemical Toxicology. 2008 Nov;46(11):3383-8.
And what exactly is an allergy and how does it differ from an intolerance? I will discuss that next time.
For many years I have known that people with a dairy allergy also need to avoid butter, because I have seen that in my patients as well as with myself. The same is also true for ghee, or clarified butter. I have also seen patients show up allergic to foods such as flax, and this includes flax oil.
So it seemed obvious to me that fats and oils can be triggers just as well as other foods. However, people who know a little something about allergies often chime in that allergies formed against proteins. This appears to be true, but it is a mistake to assume that there are no proteins in fats. There may not be enough protein to list on the side of the container as having any nutritional value, but there is plenty enough protein to act as an allergen. The same is true for environmental allergens. You typically can't see them, but they sure can affect you.
Fortunately, a group of researchers finally did a study on just this issue. And what did they find? That yes, even refined oils have the potential to be strong allergens. If you'd like to read the abstract for this study you can click on it here: Analytic investigations on protein content in refined seed oils: implications in food allergy. by Ramazzotti M, et al. in Food Chemical Toxicology. 2008 Nov;46(11):3383-8.
And what exactly is an allergy and how does it differ from an intolerance? I will discuss that next time.
Almond and Garlic. It's not always gluten.
Recently I saw a patient who came to me with the common digestive complaints of gas, bloating, abdominal discomfort and loose stools. This had been going on for many years and she was getting very frustrated with her situation. It interrupted her work life as well as her social life, and she wanted to figure out what was wrong.
We ran some thorough testing for food allergies and guess what? She wasn't reactive to gluten, or to dairy, or to eggs, or to any of the things that people more commonly think of as food allergens or intolerances. In fact, she was reactive to two very simple foods that most people rarely think of as causing health problems: almonds and garlic.
Yes, that's right. Almonds and garlic. Two foods that many people assume are good for you. The reality is that they are no different than any other food. They are good for some people, and not so good for others.
This patient happened to really like almonds and garlic. She ate them almost every day. But for her they were causing all of her digestive problems and affecting her health in other ways as well. Once she removed almonds and garlic from her diet she felt dramatically better. In fact, she was completely fine after she stopped eating these foods.
It is just one example of how we are all different. Everyone is unique, and different people react to different foods. There is no one diet that is truly good for everyone. This is why I don't assume that my patients are gluten intolerant, or have a dairy allergy, or have any other food reactions until I can thoroughly assess them. If you are interested in learning more about this approach please visit www.IBSTreatmentCenter.com.
We ran some thorough testing for food allergies and guess what? She wasn't reactive to gluten, or to dairy, or to eggs, or to any of the things that people more commonly think of as food allergens or intolerances. In fact, she was reactive to two very simple foods that most people rarely think of as causing health problems: almonds and garlic.
Yes, that's right. Almonds and garlic. Two foods that many people assume are good for you. The reality is that they are no different than any other food. They are good for some people, and not so good for others.
This patient happened to really like almonds and garlic. She ate them almost every day. But for her they were causing all of her digestive problems and affecting her health in other ways as well. Once she removed almonds and garlic from her diet she felt dramatically better. In fact, she was completely fine after she stopped eating these foods.
It is just one example of how we are all different. Everyone is unique, and different people react to different foods. There is no one diet that is truly good for everyone. This is why I don't assume that my patients are gluten intolerant, or have a dairy allergy, or have any other food reactions until I can thoroughly assess them. If you are interested in learning more about this approach please visit www.IBSTreatmentCenter.com.
Speaking this Week at SPL and Bellingham
Last week I spoke to a standing room only crowd at Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park, a large bookstore in Seattle. It was rewarding to see the excitement and interest regarding Healthier Without Wheat. There were many good questions, which I was more than happy to answer, and the bookstore sold a pile of books which I gladly autographed for the attendees. Thank you to everyone who attended!
This week I will be speaking at Seattle Public Library in the large auditorium on Wednesday at 6 p.m. And on Thursday I will be speaking in Bellingham, WA at 6:30 in association with the Bellingham Gluten Intolerant Group. Books will be available for purchase at both appearances and I will also be available to sign copies.
For more information about the Bellingham appearance please visit http://www.glutenfreeway.info/calendar.html. I look forward to seeing you this week or in the future.
This week I will be speaking at Seattle Public Library in the large auditorium on Wednesday at 6 p.m. And on Thursday I will be speaking in Bellingham, WA at 6:30 in association with the Bellingham Gluten Intolerant Group. Books will be available for purchase at both appearances and I will also be available to sign copies.
For more information about the Bellingham appearance please visit http://www.glutenfreeway.info/calendar.html. I look forward to seeing you this week or in the future.
Monthly Meetings Now Available via TeleConference!
The first Tuesday of the month we offer a free support group meeting for anyone and everyone who has a food allergy or who suffers from problems and wonders if they have a food allergy. We've had many wonderful speakers and sessions, and until now you could only participate in person. Tonight we are implementing a new teleconference option for people who would like to call in and listen as well as ask questions.
Tonight's speaker will be Julie Starkel, MS, MBA, RD. She will speak about how she helps people make practical choices, find alternatives, and otherwise do the nitty gritty things they need to do to change their diet. In her practice she focuses on IBS and digestion issues as well as autoimmune disorders, food allergies, weight issues, and sports nutrition. As a partner in Greenlake Nutrition Ms. Starkel helps people make the real changes they need to reach their goals. Come hear some practical advice on getting the nutrition you need!
To hear the presentation live, please call the teleconference access number: (712) 432-0850 and use Participant Access Code: 504861# to join the call at 6:30 PM. Long Distance charges may apply. Please mute your side of the call to avoid interfering with the presentation by pressing *6. If the presenter asks for questions from the phone audience, you may un-mute your phone by pressing *6 again. (Thanks to Jim Young for helping us get this set up.)
And please accept my preemptive apology in case things don't go according to plan this first attempt. I'm sure that we'll learn how to do this better as we go along with it.
I hope you'll join us.
Tonight's speaker will be Julie Starkel, MS, MBA, RD. She will speak about how she helps people make practical choices, find alternatives, and otherwise do the nitty gritty things they need to do to change their diet. In her practice she focuses on IBS and digestion issues as well as autoimmune disorders, food allergies, weight issues, and sports nutrition. As a partner in Greenlake Nutrition Ms. Starkel helps people make the real changes they need to reach their goals. Come hear some practical advice on getting the nutrition you need!
To hear the presentation live, please call the teleconference access number: (712) 432-0850 and use Participant Access Code: 504861# to join the call at 6:30 PM. Long Distance charges may apply. Please mute your side of the call to avoid interfering with the presentation by pressing *6. If the presenter asks for questions from the phone audience, you may un-mute your phone by pressing *6 again. (Thanks to Jim Young for helping us get this set up.)
And please accept my preemptive apology in case things don't go according to plan this first attempt. I'm sure that we'll learn how to do this better as we go along with it.
I hope you'll join us.
Speaking at 3rd Place Books This Week
I'll be speaking about my new book, Healthier Without Wheat: A New Understanding of Wheat Allergies, Celiac Disease, and Non-Celiac Gluten Intolerance this Thursday. I'll be at Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park at 7 pm.
Please come and join me as I give you an insiders view of why I wrote Healthier Without Wheat and what it has meant to thousands of patients and readers.
For information about this and other public appearance please visit www.ibstreatmentcenter.com/6_f.htm.
Please come and join me as I give you an insiders view of why I wrote Healthier Without Wheat and what it has meant to thousands of patients and readers.
For information about this and other public appearance please visit www.ibstreatmentcenter.com/6_f.htm.
Grocery Store Tour with Johnna Dietz
On April 25th, Johnna Dietz, local nutritionist, will be offering a grocery store tour of Central Market in Shoreline, Washington. This is an invaluable service for those with food allergies and intolerances, especially in the early days and weeks of learning new shopping habits. However I'm sure that anyone would find it helpful. If you choose to attend, be sure to mention your specific needs and interests.
Shopping Tour at Central Market
When: Saturday, April 25, 9-10am
Where: 15505 Westminster Way N., Shoreline WA 98133
Just west of Aurora Avenue North at North 155th Street
Cost: $10 - to use as store voucher!
RSVP: www.groceryshoppingtour.com
This is what Johnna Dietz has to say about the tour:
If you haven't visited Central Market or haven't been in a while, mark this date on your calendar to experience this amazing newly-renovated space! Join us for a grand tour of this easy-to-navigate spacious haven of beautiful produce, varied seafood and fish - with tanks of live oysters & lobsters, endless bin foods & spices, and an impressive hot food and salad bar.
Topics covered:
Three easy shopping tips to stay on track
Successful bargain shopping for healthy foods
How to find nutritious take-out options
You'll be in food-shopping bliss - don't miss it!
Johnna Dietz
WholeBody Nutrition
Shopping Tour at Central Market
When: Saturday, April 25, 9-10am
Where: 15505 Westminster Way N., Shoreline WA 98133
Just west of Aurora Avenue North at North 155th Street
Cost: $10 - to use as store voucher!
RSVP: www.groceryshoppingtour.com
This is what Johnna Dietz has to say about the tour:
If you haven't visited Central Market or haven't been in a while, mark this date on your calendar to experience this amazing newly-renovated space! Join us for a grand tour of this easy-to-navigate spacious haven of beautiful produce, varied seafood and fish - with tanks of live oysters & lobsters, endless bin foods & spices, and an impressive hot food and salad bar.
Topics covered:
Three easy shopping tips to stay on track
Successful bargain shopping for healthy foods
How to find nutritious take-out options
You'll be in food-shopping bliss - don't miss it!
Johnna Dietz
WholeBody Nutrition
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity and Food Allergies
This week I was reminded about the potentially significant relationship between sensitivities to chemicals and food allergies. To lay the groundwork, someone who is very sensitive to chemicals will get sick from the smell or vapors of numerous chemicals. These chemicals include perfumes, gasoline, exhaust, hair sprays, you name it. They can barely make it through the cosmetic section of the department store.
These people are suffering from an inability to clear toxins from their body. Their tolerance level is much lower than the average person who can tolerate these types of environments. In many cases this is because they have a much higher toxic load than the average person. One reason for this can be food allergies.
This week I saw a patient whom had come to see me for this exact problem. She suffered terribly when around chemicals and often had to excuse herself from situations where people were wearing perfume or cologne. We discovered a couple of months ago that she had a couple of food allergies.
She returned this week to inform me that by avoiding her food allergens her tolerance of chemicals was significantly higher. She could spend time in a lotion or soap shop, or even in a cosmetic section, and not suffer the consequences that she had previously been tormenting her.
The reason for this is that food allergies act as a toxin, just as chemicals do. The body must clear or detoxify all types of toxins, including food allergies. Anything that you can do to decrease the overall load of toxins on your body will decrease your threshold of reactivity and allow you to handle toxins more readily when they do come along.
Anyone who suffers from multiple chemical sensitivities should be thoroughly screened for hidden food allergies. Unfortunately, most allergists are not skilled at doing this. For more information about these types of allergies you can visit www.CenterforAllergies.com.
These people are suffering from an inability to clear toxins from their body. Their tolerance level is much lower than the average person who can tolerate these types of environments. In many cases this is because they have a much higher toxic load than the average person. One reason for this can be food allergies.
This week I saw a patient whom had come to see me for this exact problem. She suffered terribly when around chemicals and often had to excuse herself from situations where people were wearing perfume or cologne. We discovered a couple of months ago that she had a couple of food allergies.
She returned this week to inform me that by avoiding her food allergens her tolerance of chemicals was significantly higher. She could spend time in a lotion or soap shop, or even in a cosmetic section, and not suffer the consequences that she had previously been tormenting her.
The reason for this is that food allergies act as a toxin, just as chemicals do. The body must clear or detoxify all types of toxins, including food allergies. Anything that you can do to decrease the overall load of toxins on your body will decrease your threshold of reactivity and allow you to handle toxins more readily when they do come along.
Anyone who suffers from multiple chemical sensitivities should be thoroughly screened for hidden food allergies. Unfortunately, most allergists are not skilled at doing this. For more information about these types of allergies you can visit www.CenterforAllergies.com.
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