Friday's Recipe: Blood Orange Champagne Cocktail

Thanks to Epicurious.com for a great drink recipe. Happy New Year's!

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup crème de cassis (black-currant liqueur)
• 1 1/2 cups strained fresh blood orange juice (from about 6 oranges)
• 1 750-ml bottle chilled brut Champagne or dry sparkling wine
• 8 blood orange slices (optional)

Preparation:

Spoon 1 1/2 teaspoons crème de cassis into each of 8 Champagne flutes or other glasses. Add 3 tablespoons juice to each glass. Fill each glass with Champagne, then stir gently. Garnish cocktails with slices of blood orange, if desired.

Yield: Makes 8 servings

The Relationship Between Arthritis & Food Allergies

What Does "Arthritis" Mean? 


The word “arthritis” simply means “joint inflammation.”

There are basically two types: osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. 


Osteoarthritis is inflammation caused by degeneration of the joint and is due to chronic wear and tear. Osteoarthritis is most commonly found in the knees.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a more generic term for inflammation, pain, and swelling of joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis is most commonly seen in the hands, although it can affect just about any joint in the body. In children this is called juvenile arthritis.



The Traditional Approach to Arthritis 


Rheumatoid arthritis is considered by conventional medicine to be an autoimmune condition of unknown cause. This belief ignores a large volume of scientific evidence pointing to food allergies as a major cause of arthritis.

The medical community has focused almost solely on treating arthritis with anti-inflammatory medications, either prescription or over-the-counter. These medications offer temporary relief of the pain and swelling, but they never cure arthritis. Over the long term this type of treatment also comes with a host of side-effects. 



Is It Possible to Eliminate the Inflammation without Drugs? 


Very often it is actually possible to eliminate the cause of the inflammation without resorting to drugs to suppress it. Inflammation is actually caused by the immune system. The important question is, "Why is the immune system creating inflammation?”

Acne and Food Allergies

Acne may be one of the most common conditions known to humans. It can be embarrassing, frustrating, and downright unfair.

Fortunately, most of the time, it is also avoidable...

The Traditional View of Acne and Its Treatment 


Most people assume that getting acne is a normal part of life. But why do some people get acne when others do not? And why do certain people have such bad cases of acne? Commercial treatments for acne focus on keeping the skin clean and clearing clogged pores.

This sounds reasonable, but again, why do some people have to obsessively clean their skin when others do not? And why do some people cleanse, exfoliate, deep clean and still get acne? 



What's Wrong with this Approach to Acne? 


The real problem with this approach to acne is that acne develops from inside the body, not outside. The skin is an organ, and it is an organ of elimination. We eliminate waste products through our skin, just as we loose minerals when we sweat. 
Too many toxins inside the body can lead to inflammation in the skin resulting in clogged pores and acne. In order to treat the cause of the acne we must first remove the toxins. 



Why Do Antibiotics Help, but Only Temporarily? 


The inflamed and clogged pores of acne become infected. This is what causes puss. Antibiotics may help treat this infection. Unfortunately, acne comes back when the antibiotics are discontinued because the underlying cause that leads to inflammation and clogged pores, toxins in the body, still exists. 



Using Medications to Treat IBS

At least 20 million Americans have been diagnosed with IBS. The drug companies are beginning to tap into this hefty target market by offering medicines aimed at relieving the symptoms of IBS.

These drugs alter the physiology and ultimately the action of the digestive tract, but they do not address the underlying causes of IBS, or even claim to cure IBS. These drugs also come with an alarming variety of warnings and side effects.

Six types of drugs are used to treat the different symptoms of IBS. They include the following:

1. IBS-specific drugs to control the speed with which the bowels move (Zelnorm, Lotronex, and Calmactin),
2. Laxatives to treat constipation (such as Milk of Magnesia, Ex-Lax, Perdiem, and MiraLax),
3. Antidiarrheal agents to treat diarrhea (such as Imodium and Lomotil),
4. Antispasmodics to relive the pain from abdominal cramps (such as Donnatal, Levsin, Levbid, NuLev, Bentyl, and Pro-Banthine),
5. Antidepressants to relieve pain (such as Prozac, Celexa, Zoloft, Paxil, and Elavil), and
6. Narcotic analgesics to relieve pain (such as Vicodin, Demerol, and Xanax).

Toledo Blade: The Basics of Celiac Disease

This is a fairly nice (and brief) overview of celiac disease by Dr. Kheterpal in the Toledo Blade.

However, he starts out by making the traditional mistake of assuming that celiac disease is the only form of gluten intolerance. In reality, celiac disease only represents a small portion of gluten intolerance. But it's a classic case of "you don't find what you don't look for."

He also repeats the oft stated comment that people can outgrow food allergies, but not celiac disease. However, if you look up the definition of "food allergy" in the same medical books, you'd discover that celiac disease fits perfectly. And if Dr. Kheterpal had tested people throughout their lives he'd discover that people grow out of symptoms (or more accurately, their symptoms change) far more frequently than they grow out of the actual allergy. There is a big difference.

One other note: malt is always gluten. I am not aware of any instance in which the gluten content of malt is in question.

Excerpt from ToledoBlade.com

You might have noticed a recent trend on food labels and grocery store shelves. More and more products are touting themselves as “gluten-free.”

This phrase doesn't refer to a new weight loss fad or even a food allergy. The most common need for a gluten-free diet is for individuals with celiac disease.

Celiac disease is a life-long, inherited, autoimmune disease. Unlike a food allergy, a person cannot outgrow celiac disease.

From the moment they are born, they have the potential for their autoimmune system to overreact to gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley.

Headaches, Migraines and Food Allergies

Headaches are considered by conventional medicine to be an inflammatory condition of unknown cause, or simply stress is blamed.

This belief ignores a large volume of scientific evidence pointing to food allergies as a major cause of headaches. The medical community has focused almost solely on treating headaches with pain medication and anti-inflammatory medications, either prescription or over-the-counter.

These medications offer temporary relief of the pain and inflammation, but they don’t prevent the headaches from recurring. Over the long term this type of treatment also comes with a host of side-effects.

Is It Possible to Eliminate the Pain and Inflammation without Drugs?

Very often it is actually possible to eliminate the cause of the pain and inflammation without resorting to drugs to suppress it. Inflammation is actually caused by the immune system, which then leads to pain. The important question is, “Why is the immune system creating inflammation?”

What Triggers the Immune System to Create Inflammation?

As you already know, bacteria, viruses, and parasites trigger an immune response. But anything that triggers an immune response also triggers inflammation. This includes foods that are incorrectly identified by the immune system as not belonging in the body. Therefore an allergic reaction to a food can result in inflammation.

Digestion Basics - Understanding Constipation

The two major factors for defining constipation are the frequency of bowel movements and their firmness.

One sign that your digestive system is functioning optimally is that you have at least one bowel movement per day. However, bowel movements that are difficult to pass, very firm, or made up of small rabbit-like pellets qualify as constipation, even if they occur every day. Other symptoms related to constipation can include bloating, distension, abdominal pain, or a sense of incomplete emptying.

If you don't have these symptoms but you rely on extra fiber (such as Metamucil), a stool softener, a laxative, or some other method to prevent these symptoms, then you also have constipation.

Constipation is a symptom of slow transit time, not unlike rush-hour traffic. When the colon is backed up, the small intestine is also backed up. And when the intestines are backed up, the stomach can be delayed in emptying itself of food matter. This is why some people with constipation also experience heartburn and reflux.

Constipation of course affects digestion and therefore can contribute to the malabsorption of nutrients, which can lead to a wide spectrum of health problems. It can also delay the removal of waste from the body, and not just from the colon. The liver is responsible for removing a majority of toxins (including pollutants, hormones, drugs, heavy metals, and even cholesterol) from the blood stream.

Understanding IgE and IgG Food Allergies

The immune system functions like a sentinel standing guard against foreign invaders. In the case of an allergy, the invaders are called allergens.

The primary weapon that it uses against invaders is the production of antibodies. The antibodies cause reactions that result in the offending allergens being removed from the body. In many people, foods act as allergens rather than nutrition. This can result in the symptoms of IBS.

The immune system produces numerous kinds of antibodies, called immunoglobulins. IgE and IgG are acronyms for the two different kinds of antibodies produced by the immune system in allergic reactions to food.

You might be asking why you need to know this.

Conventional allergy testing looks for IgE reactions only. These types of reactions typically occur immediately after contact with or ingestion of the allergen, and in some cases can cause serious, even fatal, health problems. Potential IgE reactions include swelling of the lips and tongue, hives, bloating, abdominal pain, or sudden diarrhea. These are the reactions that people usually think of when they hear the word allergy. However, IgE reactions can also lead to many other symptoms not traditionally recognized as being caused by food allergies.

What Causes Heartburn?

In order to cure acid reflux disease, you must remove the cause of the problem and promote the healing process.

The following are the most common causes: 



Food allergies: In my practice I have found that a majority of cases of heartburn are caused by food allergies. Food allergies often cause a host of other problems and can be diagnosed with a simple blood test. 



Foods: certain foods cause the lower esophageal sphincter to relax, thus leading to heartburn. These include peppermint, coffee, alcohol and chocolate. 



Hiatal hernia: This is a physical condition where part of the stomach protrudes through the diaphragm. It can generally be reduced without surgery, though even when present it is not necessarily the sole cause of heartburn 
.


Low Acid Production: Ironically, low stomach acid levels can result in heartburn. This is much more common than increased acid. This problem can be assessed clinically and is readily treatable. 



Medications: Many medications cause heartburn as a side-effect, including, several acid blockers. These include:

• Acid Blockers: Prevacid, Prilosec, Zantac, etc.
• Asthma inhalers (beclamethasone, flovent, etc).
• Corticosteroids
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen.
• Antianxiety medications, such as diazepam (Valium) and lorazepam (Ativan).
• Osteoporosis drugs such as alendronate (Fosamax).

Q&A: Sinusitis and Runny Nose

Chronic congestion of the sinuses, ears and/or the nose can be an extremely frustrating sinusitis problem that does not ever truly seem to go away. 

All too often I hear patients state that they have not found relief even after many rounds of antibiotics or multiple surgeries. This is because antibiotics and surgery often don’t address the cause of the congestion.

What Causes Sinusitis and Runny Nose? 


Sinus infection (sinusitis) and runny nose are inflammatory conditions that result in mucous production and congestion. This leads to the resulting problems of sinus pressure headaches, a runny nose, or stuffy ears. 



Then What Causes Inflammation? 


Inflammation is caused by anything that can activate the immune system. It can be caused by a bacterial, fungal, or viral infections, or by environmental or food allergies. 
Bacterial and fungal infections are readily treated by antibiotics, and viral infections generally resolve on their own. Food allergies are the most under-rated cause of inflammation and congestion, and frequently exacerbate known environmental allergies. 



How Do Food Allergies Trigger Sinusitis or a Runny Nose? 


An allergy is an immune response, resulting in inflammation and in this case mucous production. Such a response to food can be exhibited in any part of the body, because nutrients are digested, absorbed and circulated throughout the body. This is why food allergies can cause a wide range of problems, including sinusitis and runny noses. 
There are many other conditions that can be caused by food allergies.

Antibiotics and Surgery May Not Cure Sinusitis

Many people with sinus infection complain that after having taken multiple courses of antibiotics or even following surgery, in the end they feel the same as they did before their treatment. Their sinusitis problem returns with a vengeance. What is the problem? Aren’t they getting the right antibiotic?

The answer is that in these people, the antibiotics are only treating the bacterial infection that is secondary to the inflammation clogging their sinuses. Therefore antibiotics don’t get at the real cause of the problem. The same can be said for surgery. Surgery may scrape out the sinuses or open up a bigger hole for them to drain, but these treatments only address secondary problems resulting from the inflammation. Therefore the original sinus problem remains.

The inflammation that is causing the sinus pain requires a trigger. The real question is, “What is causing the inflammation?” Anything that triggers the immune system can be that trigger, because the immune system is what causes inflammation and mucous production. Bacteria, which are treated with antibiotics, are only one cause of inflammation.

One of the most likely causes of chronic sinus infection or nasal congestion is a food allergy. Food allergies constantly trigger the immune system, therefore the inflammation never permanently goes away. This can result in a persistent runny nose, or recurrent sinus infections due to the moist and poorly draining/inflamed environment that is maintained in the sinuses.

If you have either of these problems then be sure to rule out food allergies by undergoing a food allergy blood test. Call 206-264-1111 for an appointment.

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More information on sinusitis and other allergies at CenterforFoodAllergies.com
Image thanks to cheo.on.ca

Celiac Question and Answer

What Is Celiac Disease?


Celiac disease is a hereditary allergy to gluten that results in damage to the small intestine. Common symptoms include loose stools, fatigue, weight loss and generally poor health. However, symptoms can vary widely and include constipation, weight gain, and a skin condition called dermatitis herpetiformis.

What Is Gluten?


Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. Gluten is responsible for the springiness and stretchiness of bread. Without it, bread turns out heavy and dense. 



How Is Celiac Disease Diagnosed? 


Celiac disease can be assessed by blood tests or by a biopsy of the small intestine performed during an upper endoscopy. The blood tests include the tissue transglutaminase antibody test and the newer deamidated gliadin antibody test. The endomysial antibody test is older and is not as senstive as the newer tests. 



How Common Is Celiac Disease? 


The occurrence of celiac disease is much higher than previously thought. A recent study put the prevalence at 1 in every 133 people, making it one the most common genetic diseases known. Once diagnosed, 1 in 22 first degree relatives, and 1 in 39 second degree relatives, is also diagnosed positive.

Colon Resection and IBS

It has been interesting to note the number of patients that have been seen at the IBS Treatment Center who have had part of or their entire colon removed, or to whom it has been suggested they have their colon removed.

Many thousands of people per year undergo this procedure for a variety of reasons. Unfortunately major surgery is not always the solution to their problem, nor does it always improve their symptoms.

A colon resection is also known as a colectomy. It is generally recommended when a person has significant damage to the colon. In many cases this may be due to a major ulceration, severe diverticulosis, or cancer. A colon resection may also be necessary to prevent perforation of the colon, which will lead to a major infection and is life threatening.

Removing a relatively short part of the colon may not be too problematic for the patient. But removing large parts or the entire colon will almost certainly result in diarrhea. This is because we absorb most of our water through our colon wall. In a complete colon removal a person will generally require a colostomy, where the intestinal tract is attached to the abdominal wall and an exterior bag replaces the colon. This is of course an unpleasant lifelong situation, but it is certainly much better than not treating colon cancer or a severely damaged colon.

However, sometimes a colon resection is provided as the last hope of treatment for people with non-life threatening inflammation of the colon due to an unknown cause. These people can suffer from diarrhea, constipation, or abdominal pain, but gastroenterologists can find no reason for their suffering.

CBS News: Placebo Works Even if Patients Know

This report is too funny. Essentially they demonstrated that the leading drugs are no better than a placebo for treating IBS. Neither tends to work for very long, so it's fortunate that they didn't do any long term follow-up either. And then they stated that they were surprised to learn that placebo is quite effective, at least in the short term. But every doctor should be aware of the power of the placebo effect.

The title of the article could just of easily been "Leading IBS Drugs are No Better Than Placebos." But I guess the other way around is a little more interesting. Do you think that the drug reps will be telling doctors this? Or that many doctors will change what they prescribe?

We never use these drugs at the IBS Treatment Center because we are looking for the cause of the problem and for a permanent resolution of IBS, not just to treat the sympoms.

Unfortunately, studies like this just serve to help those who think IBS is all in the head. In my experience that is rarely the case.

Excerpt from CBSNews.com:

Imagine your doctor gives you fake medication and tells you it's nothing more than a sugar pill. Would it still work?

Incredibly, according to a new study of patients with irritable bowel syndrome, the placebo effect, even when patients were in on the secret, worked almost as well as the leading medication on the market.

An Overview of the Digestive System

Think of your gastrointestinal tract as a long, muscular tube.

This tube starts at your mouth and ends at your anus, and, if you were to stretch it out to its full length, would be about thirty feet long with a surface area approximately the size of a tennis court.

It is a highly specialized organ that is designed to do three very important things: convert food into something your cells can use for nourishment and then absorb it; protect you from invading organisms and toxins; and dispose of a large variety of waste products. It is truly amazing that these three vital functions are performed by one structure.

This tube is so specialized that it actually has its own nervous system, often called a second brain. It also has a significant defense system to protect it from outside threats; in fact, the largest part of our immune system resides in the lining of the digestive tract. And to top it all off, this tube contains a highly evolved ecosystem of organisms which are not only critical to proper digestive function, but which are also a vital part of the defense system. You can start to see that a problem in the digestive tract has the potential to indeed be a very big problem.

Food moves down the tube by an involuntary process called peristalsis, a wavelike muscular contraction that carries the nutrients from top to bottom. This movement is controlled by the digestive tract's private nervous system.

6 Easy Steps to Convert Recipes to Gluten (and Dairy) Free

Better Homes and Gardens Christmas Cookies 2010 edition hit the newsstands and features a recipe by gluten-free, dairy-free (GFCF) expert Jean Duane, Alternative Cook.

If you’re on a special diet, you might feel deprived when flipping through these mouth-watering pages with only one gluten-free recipe. Jean shares her tips on how to convert recipes to be gluten and dairy free.

“I am pleased to offer a gluten-free recipe for this publication, says Jean, but why limit yourself with one recipe when converting is so easy”.

Below in this excerpt from Bake Deliciously!, Jean shares her secrets gleaned from years of trials and learning from (many) errors. What follows are general guidelines to convert a traditional wheat-flour recipe into gluten-free.

How to Convert a Traditional Recipe to Gluten and/or Dairy Free

1. Start with a combination of flours in these ratios: 50% grain flour (brown rice or sorghum), 25% starch (cornstarch, tapioca or potato starch) and 25% protein flour (navy, fava, garbanzo, soy, gafava flour) or a different grain flour. One cup of wheat flour translates into 1/4 cup of grain flour, 1/4 cup of bean flour and 1/4 cup of starch.

What is an Allergy?

An allergy is what results when your immune system is inappropriately activated. Your immune system is designed to attack bacteria, viruses and parasites. It is not intended to attack the food you eat. But this is exactly what happens with some people. This is called a "food allergy".

When your immune system is activated, antibodies (also called immunoglobulins) are produced. Antibodies in turn trigger an inflammatory response. Inflammation causes pain and tissue damage, leading to further symptoms. Increased mucous production is another aspect of an immune response.

When a food is broken down and absorbed, it is distributed through your bloodstream to all of your tissues. Therefore an allergic reaction can occur just about anywhere in your body.

We don't really understand why a food allergy can exhibit itself so differently in different people.

However, every individual is unique and seems to have a unique weak point where symptoms of a food allergy show up first.

Most allergists rely on skin prick testing. It is by far the most common type of allergy testing performed in the United States and many allergists do not offer any other types of testing. Skin prick testing can very effectively determine if the patient will develop a skin rash when challenged with a particular allergen (material). Unfortunately not all allergic responses occur as skin reactions. Inflammation can occur in other parts of the body, and can sometimes occur long after the exposure to the material.

Why Generic Dietary Changes and Elimination Diets Rarely Work

If you've done much reading about IBS diets, then you've seen advice urging you to increase fiber if you're constipated, increase fiber if you have diarrhea, cut back on sugar, drink more water, avoid lactose, avoid dairy, avoid bread, avoid red meat, cut back on yeast, reduce spicy foods, cut back on carbonated drinks and artificial sweeteners, eliminate chocolate, eliminate caffeine, eliminate alcohol, eat smaller meals, and so on and so on.

You may be wondering if you can ever eat again without triggering your symptoms.

The problem with this approach is that different foods trigger IBS in different people, and many foods can potentially trigger IBS symptoms - far more than in the list mentioned. Therefore the best diet for you may not be the best one for someone else. Certainly some people have been helped by one of the recommendations above, but most people have not.

Elimination Diets

Ideally, to create an optimal IBS diet, all you'd have to do is avoid a certain food or food group to discover whether it was triggering your IBS. Unfortunately this is easier said than done. It takes a great deal of time, persistence, and education to properly construct a diet that will adequately treat IBS. Proper lab testing can help you avoid all of this.

The purpose of an elimination diet is to identify whether or not specific food groups trigger your IBS symptoms. Essentially, during an elimination diet you stop eating the foods you normally eat until your symptoms improve. If you feel better after you've eliminated a food or stopped eating altogether, then you might strongly suspect that your diet is involved. You may have gone on a fast or a cleansing diet, or simply avoided food for a day or two and discovered that your IBS was much better. Of course, eventually you have to eat, and the trick is figuring out exactly what you can eat.

Gluten Free Online Radio

Just got an email about a great online resource for gluten-free living and wanted to pass it along to you...

Gluten Free Online Radio is proud to offer the next level in media for fellow Celiacs and those that follow a gluten free diet. Listeners can hear the latest news and information on Celiac disease, along with interviews with well known doctors, authors, company execs, athletes and other internationally known GF experts, 24x7. All the information and interviews on Gluten Free Online Radio is free and is constantly changing.

Gluten Free Online Radio did almost two dozen interviews this year, provided weekly GF/Celiac news updates and worked to inspire our listeners with their weekly GF Thought of the Week.

If you listen, let us know what you think!

Gluten Free Online Radio
www.glutenfreeonlineradio.com

New Gluten/Allergen Free eBooks for Smartphones, eReaders & PCs

We wanted to pass along these new gluten and allergen-free 
eBooks that are now available for Smartphones, eReaders & PCs. If you've used one, let us know what you think so that we may share it with our readers!

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Based on the 2011 book, Let’s Eat Out with Celiac/Coeliac & Food Allergies, these eBooks provide a proven approach to various restaurant cuisines with suggested dishes, meal descriptions and potential gluten considerations. At your fingertips, each menu item choice identifies:

• Common ingredients and hidden allergens
• Cross-contamination considerations and food preparation techniques

Click HERE to go to their website.

A Deeper Understanding of Probiotics

With all of this talk about probiotics, we thought it would be helpful to highlight a piece from our most recent IBS Treatment Center e-newsletter.

As many of you know, probiotics are products that contain bacteria. These bacteria are the “good” bacteria, and they are called probiotics to make it clear that they are designed to produce the opposite effect of antibiotics which kill bacteria. The most familiar of the good bacteria are the genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacter.

The GI tract contains around 100 trillion bacteria. Everyone has good bacteria in their digestive tract, but not everyone has the same kinds of good bacteria, or in the same amounts. For the last few decades we have seen the rise of antibiotics, considered wonder drugs because of the lives that they saved. Unfortunately, we have also seen that too much of a good thing can be harmful.

The overuse of antibiotics has directly contributed to the development of antibiotic resistant bad bacteria, such as MRSA. We are only beginning to appreciate that there is another downside to taking antibiotics – they kill good bacteria.

In response to this we are now seeing a rise in the popularity of probiotics. Probiotics are a wonderful tool when used properly, but they are not a cure all, and they are still largely misunderstood. Some processed foods, such as yogurt and acidophilus milk, contain good bacteria. It is now becoming fashionable to put probiotics into all sorts of processed food products in an effort to come up with new and creative ways to give people these good bacteria.

PubMed: Researchers Question Usefulness of Lactulose Breath Test

Just what I've suspected for a long time: that the breath test for small intestine bacterial overgrowth has no validity.

This study was done by the Department of Internal Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

From PubMed.gov:

BACKGROUND

Lactulose breath test (LBT) has been used as a presumptive surrogate marker for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). However, recent reports suggest that abnormal LBT cannot discriminate patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) from the control. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of LBT in IBS.

METHODS

LBT from 76 IBS patients, 70 functional bowel disorders (FBD), and 40 controls were examined. LBT was considered positive if (1) baseline breath hydrogen (H₂) >20 parts per million (ppm) or rise of breath H₂ >20 ppm above the baseline in <90>10 ppm or rise of breath CH₄ >10 ppm above the baseline in <90 mins. The subjects were categorized into predominant hydrogen producers (PHP), predominant methane producers (PMP), combined producer, and both negative group based on LBT.

RESULTS

Peanut-Allergic Subjects and Their Peanut-Tolerant Siblings Have Large Differences in Peanut-Specific IgG

This is a very interesting study. Rarely do we see a study in which both IgE and IgG are measured together in patients with a classic allergy, such as this peanut allergy. And guess what? They were both elevated.

Additionally, neither was elevated in the non-peanut allergy people. Very interesting...

From PubMed.gov:

Abstract

We enrolled 53 peanut-allergic subjects and 64 peanut-tolerant full siblings, measured peanut-specific IgG and IgE, determined HLA class II at high resolution, and analyzed DRB1 alleles by supertypes.

Friday's Recipe: Stuffed Mushrooms with Sausage & Cream Cheese

This week's gluten-free recipe thanks to GFree Foodie.com!

Today's recipe can be made dairy free if you substitute tofutti "Better than Cream Cheese" and Daiya Dairy free mozzerella instead of the parmesan.

And egg-free if you use a flax or chia-seed based egg substitute.

There are lots of great substitutes to common allergenic foods. See the Substitutes page on the IHF Wiki for more details.

FYI...the substitutes page is actually just a subpage of the Recipes page.

Have a great weekend!

Stuffed Mushrooms with Sausage & Cream Cheese

Ingredients

• 24 ounces, weight White Button Mushrooms
• 1/3 pounds Gluten Free Hot Pork Sausage
• 1/2 whole Medium Onion, Finely Diced
• 4 cloves Garlic, Finely Minced
• 1/3 cups Dry White Wine
• 8 ounces, weight Cream Cheese
• 1 whole Egg Yolk
• ¾ cups Parmesan Cheese, Grated
• Salt And Pepper, to taste

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is "Tricky to Diagnose"

Just came across this article in Ontario's EnterpriseBulletin.com.

It just serves as a reminder that there is good information out there. Sometimes, you just have to dig a bit..:)

Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or IBS, affects up to one in five North Americans, but for all its prevalence, it's tricky to diagnose.

There's no test or examination that can confirm IBS -- it's often a "diagnosis of exclusion."

When all diseases are ruled out that would explain your funny bowels, your bloating, your pain and your gas, you've got IBS.

That's problematic for conventional care, which specializes in treating disease.

When there is no disease, the typical approach is to manage symptoms. For some, that's not enough.

The root cause of IBS is usually a functional problem. That means something in your digestion isn't working quite right or is out of balance, including:

Consortium Seeks to Redefine Food Allergy Guidelines

Doctors are again saying that people don't have allergies just because their labwork says so.

An excerpt from LATimes.com:

Another test — the IgG assay that looks for a type of antibody some doctors suggest can indicate a subtle type of food allergy — is not supported by scientific evidence and is not recommended for diagnosing a food allergy, said report coauthor Matthew Fenton, chief of the Asthma, Allergy and Inflammation Branch of the Division of Allergy, Immunology and Transplantation at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

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So I guess that celiac disease doesn't exist. Because it's based on IgG testing, and that apparently is not supported by science. Hmm...

Your Health Is Up To YOU

A recent article in Northwestern University's Medill Reports highlights the huge disconnect between many doctors and patients. It's another reminder that many doctors are much more interested in disease than they are in health.

Ironic, isn't it?

If you want to be healthy, then you have to take it upon yourself to do just that. If you want to have a disease diagnosed, then you have to see someone who specializes in diagnosing disease.

There is a big difference in these two paradigms. Both are important, but you have to be careful when the disease model tells you not to be healthy and starts to come up with illogical reasons for maintaining your disease state.

They imply that celiac disease is more important than other forms of gluten intolerance. But there is no proof of that. And I've never seen that to be the case. And some doctors are now saying that if you are celiac you can eat gluten as long as you don't have any symptoms, because the diet is too difficult to do.

But that doesn't make any sense either.

Seattle Times: Last-ditch method at fighting intestinal superbug

This is interesting, but there is a lot that they aren't telling you (see this article from the BBC). This is a shotgun approach. It's a wild guess. And for many people it doesn't work. In fact, for some people it makes their problem worse. I've seen patients in the IBS Treatment Center who've suffered from having had this treatment done.

I believe that there is a far better and more sound approach to dealing with digestive problems. We can do much more than is currently being done at most clinics to sort out and treat the exact cause of the problem. That is what makes the IBS Treatment Center so unique.

From The Seattle Times:

A superbug named C-diff is on the rise, a germ that so ravages some people's intestines that repeated tries of the strongest, most expensive antibiotic can't conquer their disabling diarrhea.
Now a small but growing number of doctors are trying a last-ditch treatment: Using good bacteria to fight off the bad by transplanting stool from a healthy person into the sick person's colon.

Yes, there's a yuck factor. But reports of several dozen cases in a medical journal and at a meeting of the nation's gastroenterologists this fall suggest that with no more inconvenience than a colonoscopy, people who have suffered C-diff for months, or longer, can rapidly improve. "This is the ultimate probiotic," says Dr. Lawrence Brandt of New York's Montefiore Medical Center, who has performed 17 of the procedures.

Reflux and Food Allergies - Part II

Challenges in adjusting the diet testing is extremely helpful in narrowing down your food allergie(s), but the proper testing isn’t always available, and not always necessary.

One potential way around testing is to eliminate a food from the diet in order to determine whether or not it is causing a reaction. However, this is often easier said than done, even if you know exactly which food to avoid.

Let’s say for example that you know or suspect that your child has a dairy allergy. The first thing that you eliminate is milk. But this is only the most obvious source of dairy in the diet. Dairy comes in many forms. Cheese, ice cream, and yogurt are equally important triggers. So are whey and casein, two important dairy components used in many processed foods. Even butter is still dairy.

In reality, you must know all of these things and then read the ingredients on everything ingested. Dairy products are in bread products, in chocolate, and in lots of other unsuspected foods.

Reflux and Food Allergies - Part I

Possibly one of the most important and most overlooked causes of reflux is food allergy.

Whether in infants or older children, studies indicate the importance of food allergies as a causal factor for reflux. Physicians who focus on food allergies and intolerances frequently see the successful resolution of reflux in their patients.

Unfortunately, this has had little impact on the standard of practice for treating reflux.

Food allergies and intolerances are still widely misunderstood by both the public and physicians. This is especially true when it comes to determining whether or not your child is suffering from such a reaction. This article will explore this fascinating topic and help you gain a fuller appreciation for the complexities involved.

What is a Food Allergy?

Food allergies are much more complicated than most people, including most physicians, realize. Food allergies are typically thought of as relatively uncommon reactions to a few select foods, such as peanuts, that usually result in anaphylaxis, hives, or maybe asthma. This is how most allergy specialists think of food allergies. However, there are numerous research studies that indicate that food allergies cause many other conditions, including reflux.

Technically, an allergy is any reaction that involves the immune system. But the standard of practice in medicine is to use a much narrower definition of the word allergy. Therefore, in order to truly understand the breadth of allergic reactions, it is necessary to define some of the underlying mechanisms involved in allergies.

We Value Your Comments!

We just wanted to remind you all that your thoughts, questions and comments are very much welcomed and appreciated on our blog.

Your feedback helps us continue to improve and make this blog a more informative resource for you.

So please feel free to get involved in the conversation!

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Discussing Nickel Allergies

No, it’s not being allergic to money. But as many of you know, some people are allergic to the metal nickel. This usually manifests as redness of the skin, which occurs when the skin comes in contact with nickel. This is what we might call a more classic allergic reaction, different from the hidden types of food allergies commonly discussed in this newsletter.

A nickel allergy is often discovered when exposure to an item of clothing or jewelry leads to a read rash. This may occur when a fastener made from nickel, such as the button on your pants, comes into contact with your belly and leads to a rash. Or when a piece of jewelry containing nickel, such as an earring, bracelet, watchband, etc. comes into contact with your skin and causes a rash. These reactions are often readily apparent to the wearer and are called contact dermatitis. But nickel allergies can also trigger eczema on other areas of the skin.

What does all of this have to do with digestive problems?

Far more than you might imagine. The digestive tract is a highly specialized extension of your skin. It is a continuation of the epithelial tissue that surrounds the rest of your body. Therefore, it should not be too surprising to realize that if something affects your skin, then it could also impact your digestive tract as well and cause abdominal pain, diarrhea, and other digestive problems. An astute reader recently wrote us and asked why we had never talked about this before. Frankly, it never occurred to us. But upon further investigation, it certainly makes sense.

Reviewing Intestinal Bacteria, Yeast/Candida, and Parasites

Inside the orifices of your body, and primarily in your digestive tract, live an enormous number of bacteria - single-celled organisms that have colonized areas of your body and exist happily there. This may alarm you, because we have been trained to view bacteria as the enemy.

However, we are not sterile beings. Our internal bacteria are actually critical to our health- so critical, in fact, that we cannot survive without them. They are fundamental to the development of our immune system, they help break down our food, and they even create nutrients that we need for good health. And most importantly for you, they play a large role in whether or not we experience diarrhea, constipation, gas, bloating, abdominal pain or IBS.

The bacteria inside us form a teeming, busy ecosystem. Changing or harming one species will have repercussions on the other species and on the host itself. While we are used to thinking of the earth's ecosystems in this way, it may seem strange that these same principles govern our internal environments. This environment is all too easily altered, especially in our world of antibiotics. And many people suffer from IBS due to a microbial imbalance in their digestive tract.

There are three major categories of bacteria: Good bacteria, such as acidophilus and bifidobacterium; Bad bacteria, too numerous to mention but rarely tested for in most clinics;
And then the ugly bacteria, so dangerous that you've probably heard about them before.

Is Gluten-Free Healthy?

I was just reading Dr. Rodney Ford's most recent e-newsletter in which he discusses a recent story on ABC Nightline as to whether or not a gluten-free diet is healthy. I agree 100% with Dr. Ford and wanted to pass along the comments.

From Dr. Ford's e-newsletter:

Talk about a gluten war! There was an article on ABC Nightline with reporter Bill Weir who got comments from Dr. Peter Green, director of Columbia University's Celiac Disease Center. The question was: Could the gluten-free diet be "dangerous" for people who don't have celiac disease?

The answer he gave was disturbingly "Yes!" Surely this must be a mistake? Maybe it was an editing error?

Of course any exclusion diet can be unhealthy - it all depends on what you put in your shopping cart. What and how you replace the missing pieces. The SAD (Standard American Diet) diet is also usually unhealthy - it all depends on the variety of foods that you choose to eat.

Eating gluten-free can be a wonderfully healthy - it all depends on your food choices. My opinion is that it is the eating gluten that is so dangerous for so many.

What do you think?

Today's Question and Answer...

I recently answered some questions for Olga Norstrom for a piece she was writing for First for Women Magazine. As usual, we wanted to share these questions with you all as well. Please feel free to add your own questions in our comment section.

Question

Official celiac disease statistics really just seem to be the tip of the iceberg. Research seems to indicate that there are millions more people out there who are affected by gluten. Can you comment?


Answer

Celiac disease and gluten intolerance are not one and the same. Celiac disease is a specific kind of damage that can result from a gluten intolerance. But 90% of the people who are sensitive to gluten do not have this damage and therefore do not have celiac disease. Celiac disease is essentially a subset of gluten intolerance. And it’s very important to recognize that there is not necessarily any difference in the severity of symptoms between people who have celiac disease and people who have a gluten sensitivity.


Question

Can you explain some of the complicating factors when it comes to testing for gluten sensitivity?
For example, it looks like it's possible to have it without villi damage. 


Answer

Damage to the villi, which is called villous atrophy, is what defines celiac disease. Without it you can’t be diagnosed with celiac disease. But villous atrophy is only one potential result of gluten intolerance. There are literally hundreds of other signs and symptoms of a gluten intolerance. (I’m using gluten intolerance and gluten sensitivity interchangeably. There is no difference between those two.)

Your doctor is probably only going to be looking for this specific damage (villous atrophy), whether it be on a blood test or via a biopsy of the small intestine. The problem is that when the test comes back negative, they often tell you that you are not gluten intolerant. That is not a correct interpretation of celiac testing. What they really mean is that you do not have celiac disease.



Big Steps Made in Gluten Free Breads

Check out this article on using processed corn to make gluten free bread more like gluten-bread.

From Foodnavigator-usa.com:

Developing palatable gluten-free breads has been a major challenge for bakers because gluten – the protein found in wheat, rye, barley and spelt – plays a crucial role in giving bread its chewy, elastic texture. Meanwhile, demand for gluten-free products has increased as more Americans are being diagnosed with celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder in which symptoms are triggered by gluten consumption.

An article published in the latest edition of Agricultural Research Magazine details how ARS chemists Scott Bean and Tilman Schober at the Grain Quality and Structure Research Unit in Manhattan, Kansas have been working on ways to replicate the texture of gluten-containing bread without the gluten. They said they have had some success using non-gluten-containing grains for pan breads, but for leavened breads, the dough tends to spread out too much.

They had previously found that using a corn protein called zein could produce a more wheat-like dough, but the resulting bread was still flatter than wheat bread and lacked dough strength.

However, by removing some of its fat content, they found they could make a bread that more closely resembles wheat bread.

Friday's Gluten Free Recipe: Cranberry Almond Biscotti

Jules Gluten Free has once again outdone herself. Hope you enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 cups granulated cane or evaporated cane sugar (Wholesome Sweeteners®)
• 1/2 cup butter or non-dairy substitute (Earth Balance Buttery Sticks®) - room temperature
• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 tsp. almond extract (McCormick®)
• 1 3/4 cup Jules Gluten FreeTM All Purpose Flour
• 1/4 cup highly chopped toasted almonds (see directions)
• 1/2 cup cornmeal (Arrowhead Mills Organic®)
• 1 cup lightly chopped toasted almonds (see directions)
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder, gluten-free (Rumford®)
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• cinnamon-sugar topping (optional)

Ear Infections and Dairy Allergies

Do you ever wonder why some kids get lots of ear infections, often resulting in multiple doses of antibiotics and eventually tubes in their ears?

Why don't the antibiotics ever completely solve the problem?

Ears require drainage by the eustachian tube, which opens into the back of the throat. In young children this tube is not fully developed and is very susceptible to being blocked by inflammation. Anything that causes inflammation can block the eustachian tube, resulting in a warm moist breeding ground for bacteria in the inner ear.

Antibiotics kill the bacteria, temporarily, but they don't change the inflammation of the eustachian tube or the breeding ground. This is when placing a tube through the tympanic membrane is recommended. These don't solve the inflammatory problem either, but they do get the drainage going.

Studies Indicate Different Microorganisms in Those with IBS

Recent studies have suggested that people with IBS have different microbial communities in the gut than those without the condition.

However, no consensus has been reached regarding the association between specific bacterial groups and IBS.

From 7thSpace.com:

The aim of this study was to investigate the fecal and mucosal-associated microbiota using two independent techniques in intestinal samples from diarrhea-predominant IBS (D-IBS) and healthy controls.

Methods

Fecal and colonic mucosal biopsy samples were obtained from 10 patients and 10 healthy controls. Colonic tissue was collected during a un-sedated, un-prepped flexible sigmoidoscopy. Fecal and tissue samples were processed immediately upon collection for culture under aerobic and anaerobic conditions or frozen for further molecular analysis.

Discussing the Link Between Allergies and IBS

A recent article from About.com discusses the relationship between allergies and IBS.

An excerpt:

This focus differs from the attention given to the relationship between food allergies and IBS. Researchers have coined the term "atopic IBS", pulling from the medical term atopic, to describe a possible subgroup of IBS patients who also suffer from common allergies.

It continues...

Atopic disease refers to conditions in which there is an IgE response to common external stimuli. The IgE response triggers the production of histamines, resulting in allergy symptoms. Common atopic diseases include:

• allergic rhinitis
• asthma
• eczema

The studies referenced in this piece are not really anything new. IgE reactions producing IBS symptoms have been recognized for a long time. For example, my reactions are IgE. They are still food allergies and still are best detected by ELISA methods, rather than skin prick testing.

However, one of my good friends (also a patient) has huge IgE reactions to dairy, but it has never shown up on skin prick testing despite her being tested tens of times over the years.

Sources of Calcium in Food

As we discussed in a post yesterday, the Institute of Medicine has come out with new lower recommendations for calcium.

Most people need about 1000 mg per day. And remember, that means from all sources, not just supplements. So there is usually no need to be taking 1000 mg per day of calcium.

That said, let's take a look at some of the best sources of calcium in the diet. After all, cows don't drink milk - they get their calcium from green leafy vegetables.

Below is one of the handouts that we give to patients at IBS Treatment Center. Click on the image to enlarge.

Review: Celiac Disease and Other Forms of Gluten Intolerance

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye, and is responsible for the springiness and stretchiness of bread. Allergies and intolerances to gluten have been the subject of intensive research over the past decade.

Much of this research has focused on celiac disease, which is a special form of gluten intolerance. It is a hereditary response to gluten that results in a very specific type of damage to the small intestine. Common symptoms, which can mirror those of IBS, include loose stools, constipation, or both; fatigue; weight fluctuation; dermatitis; and more.

Celiac disease is diagnosed by measuring damage to the small intestine, either by blood testing or, traditionally, with a biopsy of the small intestine. A positive biopsy means that the villi, or small finger-like extensions of the intestinal lining, have been damaged; this is known as villous atrophy. However, recent studies have shown blood testing to be as accurate as a biopsy.

People with celiac disease will show a marked reduction in their villi, almost as if the villi have been worn off. Damage to the villi causes a dramatic reduction in the surface area of the small intestine, resulting in both poor digestion and the poor absorption of many nutrients.

New Book Explores Possible Gluten Link with Interstitial Cystitis & Chronic Pelvic Pain

Just discovered The Better Bladder Book - A Holistic Approach to Healing Interstitial Cystitis & Chronic Pelvic Pain, by Registered Nurse Wendy Cohan and wanted to pass it along.

IC (Interstitial Cystitis – a chronic, painful inflammatory bladder disorder) is a disease affecting up to 8 million people in the US alone, with millions more suffering from chronic prostatitis, over-active-bladder, pelvic floor dysfunction, and chronic pelvic pain.

There are now two separate studies linking IC with gluten intolerance or celiac disease - studies driven by the many people who knew they suffered from both IC and celiac disease. This book explores why there is a link.

And although Cohan's book makes a strong argument for a dietary approach, it is mainly a very comprehensive resource, with solid chapters covering stress management, pelvic floor dysfunction, hormones, occult bacterial infection, and alternative or complementary treatments, and much more.

Says Cohen, "I believe in using a holistic approach in treating every chronic illness, and IC and chronic pelvic pain are certainly no exceptions. But, I am also a trained scientist and registered nurse, and I know that traditional Western or allopathic medicine also plays an important role. My life experiences help me to "bridge the gap" between these two healing paths."

Simply put, Cohen's new book is up-to-date guide, written by a health professional, that covers the array of existing IC treatments and works to explore the links that make this disease what it is.

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Click HERE to purchase the book from Amazon

How Much Calcium Do You Need?

People tend to overdue calcium. The Institute of Medicine has come out with new lower recommendations for calcium.

Most people need about 1000 mg per day. And remember, that means from all sources, not just supplements. So there is usually no need to be taking 1000 mg per day of calcium.

More Information on Hyland's Teething Tablets Product Recall

Hyland's Teething Tablets: Questions and Answers

What action is FDA taking?

On October 23, 2010, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned consumers to stop using and discard Hyland's Teething Tablets. The manufacturer is recalling this product.

Why is FDA taking this action?

FDA is issuing this warning because the use of Hyland's Teething Tablets may pose a risk to children. FDA analysis and testing identified some Hyland's Teething Tablets that contained varying amounts of belladonna, a potentially toxic ingredient. FDA has received reports of serious adverse events in children taking this product that are consistent with belladonna toxicity. An ongoing FDA inspection at the manufacturer indicates substandard control of the manufacturing operation.

FDA has also received reports of children who consumed more tablets than recommended, because the containers do not have child resistant caps.

What product is affected by this warning?

FDA is warning consumers about all lots of Hyland's Teething Tablets. This product is widely sold in pharmacies, other retail stores, and on the Internet as an over-the-counter (OTC) homeopathic drug intended to provide temporary relief of symptoms related to teething in children.

What is belladonna?

Belladonna is commonly known as Deadly Nightshade. It is a plant whose leaves and berries are extremely toxic. Belladonna has been used as both a poison and a medicine throughout history.

Lab Testing for IBS Triggers

It's important to note that many of the causes of IBS have been revealed by research and that the right testing (which is not offered by most physicians) can make the difference in getting you the treatment that you need to cure your IBS.

Because IBS has been defined by symptoms and exclusion of other conditions, successfully discovering a single cause has been fruitless - IBS symptoms can be caused by a wide array of conditions.

Since IBS can be caused by many different conditions, no single cause or single treatment will every be right for everyone with IBS. But the conventional approach was to rule out just a few serious causes and then stop testing.

It's really been nothing more than a guessing game, and you get to be the guinea pig. Fortunately that has now all changed.

Now, with good research and a wide array of testing options we can nearly always define the cause of your IBS, and therefore treat it. IBS symptoms are very often caused by either food allergies, bacterial imbalances, yeast, or parasites. There are other causes, but these are the most common.

If you want to learn more about these topics and how they relate to IBS, then this website is for you. You may also refer to the book, The Irritable Bowel Syndrome Solution.

Two kinds of tests are usually key – food allergy testing, which is a blood test for both IgE and IgG antibodies; and testing for bacteria, yeast, and parasites, which is done by stool testing (though not the run of the mill stool testing). Problems in any of these areas can alone cause IBS, but many people who suffer from IBS have a combination of both a food allergy and a bacterial imbalance.

10 Holiday Gift Ideas from Gluten Free Life with Jen

Thanks to Gluten Free Life with Jen for the great gift ideas!

Here are my favorite items that I would want for the gluten free friends that I love.

1. An immersion blender- this stick type blender is hand-held and the perfect wand to make soups, smoothies and sauces. I have had mine since college and I use it at least once per week.

2. An enamel dutch oven. You don't need a fancy Le Creuset anymore. Now you can get a perfectly good model at Costco for much less money. I recommend getting a 5-6 quart version. I make soups, stews and sauces in my dutch oven. And it washes out beautifully right in my kitchen sink.

3. A ticket to the Gluten & Allergen Free Expo. The perfect gift for yourself or a loved one. Tickets are discounted through December 25th. There is no better present than the gift of knowledge and experience. Send someone to the Expo so they can experience a weekend of gluten free bliss.

4. A subscription to a great magazine (such as Living Without) or a really good gluten free cookbook. I recommend: Cooking For Isaiah: Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free Recipes for Easy Delicious Meals, 1,000 Gluten Free Recipes, The Gluten-Free Almond Flour Cookbook and The Allergen Free Baker's Handbook.

Today's Question and Answer

Question:

I have been gluten free since June 2010, following a gluten sensitivity "diagnosis" by my nutritionist. She did not do any blood tests, just kinesiology. I was skeptical, but I figured there was no harm in trying a gf diet for a month before I saw her again...



The results were amazing. I have Crohn's disease and pseudo tumor cerebri (PTC) and both sets of symptoms started to alleviate. I also lost weight (which I need to do for my PTC treatment). It is amazing and I don't mind being gf at all.



I do, however, have this one nagging question in my head: Could I have Celiac disease? I have experienced two gluten-consumption mistakes (last night, Thanksgiving, being one of them) and they have been just plain HORRIBLE - diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache, head congestion and sneezing, nausea, and it is after 3pm and I have been mostly in my bed all day :( I feel like my Crohn's disease and PTC are double teaming me and now I am wondering if it is just Celiac!



Is there any way to test for Celiac while eating gf? I am curious, but I also do not want to torture myself just to find out. Also, if anyone can say, what are the major differences between an intolerance and full blown Celiac? Is there any difference in treatment?

Answer:

Congratulations on figuring out how to feel so much better. You are the envy of many, and you’ve stumbled onto a very interesting connection between gluten intolerance and Crohn’s disease. I’ve seen this before and I hope that researchers are starting to take note of this.

There is no way to test for gluten intolerance or celiac disease once you’ve been off of gluten. Even genetic testing can’t tell you whether or not you have celiac disease. And of course there is no point in eating it just to do a test. You already know how it makes you feel.