The Role of the Immune System in the Digestive Tract

The huge surface area of your digestive tube must be protected against injury from bad bacteria, viruses, parasites, and other toxins that may get into the digestive system with food or by any number of other routes.

The immune system is critically important in helping the intestines respond to these challenges.

Possibly the greatest challenge to the digestive tract's immune system is to correctly tell the difference between what is bad (such as viruses and bad bacteria) and what is good (such as nutrients and good bacteria).

Your immune system must determine whether or not to develop a tolerance to everything you put into your mouth. Whenever you try a new food, it must decide, "Do I like this or do I attack and kill it?"

The Importance of Fiber

Increasing fiber intake is one of the most popular treatments for IBS. Although your fiber intake might not be ideal, it's unlikely that it's causing your irritated bowel. By now you've probably already figured that out.

However, there are many good reasons to get fiber in your diet, so it's worth discussing. Below you will find some good information about fiber that will increase your understanding about this important component of food.

Soluble vs. Insoluble Fiber

Fiber can be soluble, meaning that it partially dissolves in water, or insoluble, meaning that it doesn't.

Although neither type typically cures IBS, soluble fiber (which is also called viscous fiber, and is found in foods such as oatmeal, okra, or legumes, such as garbanzo beans) can be helpful in treating IBS symptoms, especially constipation and diarrhea.

Insoluble fiber is more of a "scratchy" fiber; it adds bulk to the stool. A good example of insoluble fiber is celery.

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 



Stomach Acid: Why You Need It

Stomach acid is vital to good health.

It is the first major step in breaking down your food, which is so critical to proper nutrition. The myth is that you are what you eat. But in fact, you are what you absorb.

Acid is especially important for breaking down proteins into amino acids and is required for the optimal release and preparation of minerals such as calcium, magnesium and iron for absorption.

Vitamin B12 also isn’t adsorbed without it. The same cells that produce acid produce intrinsic factor, which is required for B12 absorption. Without B12 you become B12 deficient, leading to fatigue and neurological problems.


Decreased acid levels can also cause digestive problems further on down the line. Pancreatic enzymes, bicarbonate and bile are all released in the small intestine in response to the acidic load that normally leaves the stomach.

Without these digestion continues to degenerate, resulting in a far less than optimal nutritional gain from your food and potentially damaging byproducts. The pH, now off in the entire digestive tract, damages the environment for billions of normal/good bacteria, critical to proper digestion and good health.

Stomach acid is also your primary defense against food-borne infections. Bacteria don’t usually survive the stomach, therefore decreased acid increases your risk of food poisoning.

Nutrients provide the building blocks for our entire biochemistry. Optimal health requires optimal nutrition. And that is why you need stomach acid.

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Image thanks to medicineworld.org

Encopresis: An Intimidating Word and a Solvable Problem

If you have never heard of Encopresis then consider yourself fortunate.

Those who are familiar with it wish they had never heard of it. It is a big fancy word used to define the symptoms of constipation followed by urgent and unpredictable bowel movements or explosive diarrhea.

Needless to say, it is a very disruptive and embarrassing problem. However, if you have this problem then what you do not know is that it is almost always solvable. Encopresis is another way of saying that your bowels irritate you, so it essentially a more specific type of IBS.

Like IBS, it is basically a meaningless diagnosis, it does not give you any more information about your problem then you already know.

However, there is good news, we have seen many patients who have been diagnosed with Encopresis and have found that it is usually preventable. It is caused by the same types of triggers, food allergies and bacterial imbalances, that cause most digestive problems.

Questioning the Effectiveness of SIBO Testing

A recent paper (published by NIH.gov) has raised new questions about the connection between Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).

This popular diagnosis has long been championed by Cedars Sinai's resident expert Dr. Mark Pimental and depends on a test of hydrogen in the breath, after administration of a dose of lactolose or similar sugary substance.

As a part of the test, researchers checked to see why hydrogen was rising and found that it is due to the speed with which the dose reaches the first part of the large intestine - the cecum (Canadians and Brits spell it caecum).

Dr. Pimental's big push is to get his antibiotic approved for IBS, under the theory that it treats bacterial overgrowth. This paper puts a large whole in that theory by showing that you can't tell (using this test) if someone has overgrowth and whether or not IBS is in fact being caused by small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).

Elimination Diets

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.

Antibiotics, Surgery and 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.

So 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.

Friday's Recipe: Gluten-Free Muffins

The sorghum flour blend and this great recipe was developed by Jennifer Cinquepalmi, author of "The Complete Book of Gluten-Free Cooking."

Step 1

Create a basic sorghum flour mix. Stir together 7 cups of sweet white sorghum flour, 2 cups of potato starch and 1 cup tapioca flour. Measure out 4 cups for the muffins and put the rest in a sealed container or bag for later use.

Step 2
Preheat a conventional oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 3
Combine one large egg, 1 cup milk, 1 cup sour cream and 6 tbsp canola oil in a large bowl.

Step 4
Stir together the 4 cups of the sorghum flour mix, 1 cup granulated sugar, 5 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp xanthan gum in a separate bowl. Add all at once to the egg mixture. Use a wooden spoon or silicone spatula until ingredients are just combined--there may be some lumps.

A Hidden Epidemic: Reflux and Food Allergies

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.

In Review: SIBO Testing and Irritable Bowel Syndrome

SIBO stands for “small intestine bacterial overgrowth.”

It is currently popular in some parts of the IBS medical community to view SIBO as the primary cause of irritable bowel syndrome, and to use special testing and special antibiotics to treat SIBO. This article will explore the facts and science behind this approach to IBS.

A bacterial overgrowth of the small intestine is the concept that the wrong kind of bacteria have colonized and over-run the small intestine. This means that bacteria other than Lactobacillus (acidophilus) and Bifidobacter have set up shop and are wreaking havoc with your ability to properly digest your food.

In order to figure out whether or not you are suffering from SIBO a physician may have you undergo a breath test. Breath testing is of course not a direct measurement of the bacteria, but an indirect measurement. The idea is that when you are given something to digest, then you will produce more hydrogen or methane in your breath if you have bad bacteria in your digestive tract.

This may sound plausible, but there is significant research indicating that having the gases at increased levels in your breath does not indicate bacteriological imbalance. Most of the published research on successfully using this type of testing is by, or associated with, one individual doctor who has reported financial connections that pose a potential conflict of interest. That doctor has a financial relationship with the pharmaceutical company that makes the specific antibiotics most often used in SIBO studies.

A Deeper Understanding of Probiotics

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.

The Good News About Behçet’s Disease

The good news about Behçet's disease is that it is not really a disease.

Unfortunately, the diagnosis provides no benefit to the patient other than to rule out other conditions. Although most patients are told that there is no cure for Behçet's disease, there is a published study implicating food allergy as a cause of Behçet's disease.

Even more importantly, we have seen Behçet's disease at our clinic and found that food allergies seem largely responsible for this condition. Yet most Behçet's patients are not adequately evaluated for food allergies, and testing for food allergies can be more complicated than most doctors realize.

We would like to help you too. We believe that there is a cure for Behçet's disease. It is not as simple as having everyone who has Behçet's eat the same diet, because not everyone has the same food allergens. But we think that there is an excellent chance that we can help you figure out what is triggering your problem.

The Food Allergy Solution to 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.

Food Allergies: IgG and IgA

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.

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.

Hypoglycemia and Food Allergies

Do you find that you need to eat every 2-3 hours?

Do you feel like your blood sugar drops to a point where you can’t function
anymore?

Do you get tired, shaky, or dizzy and find that if you eat something you feel better?

Do you get irritable when you get hungry?

Do your friends know when it’s time to get some food into you?

What is Hypoglycemia?

People suffering from one or more of these problems have what is commonly referred to as hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar. Technically, hypoglycemia is not diagnosed until it is very severe, so you are unlikely to have your doctor diagnose you as having hypoglycemia. But in the general public this problem is commonly referred to as hypoglycemia. Unfortunately, many doctors will not explain the difference to you or acknowledge that you may have a form of hypoglycemia.

Some people assume that hypoglycemia is risk factor for developing diabetes. However, diabetes involves an elevation in blood sugar and is therefore the opposite of hypoglycemia.

The only connection is that when people who have diabetes are overmedicated they can develop low blood sugar, which can be very dangerous if blood sugar levels get too low.

Announcing the Most Advanced Gluten Intolerance Testing Ever Available

Testing for celiac disease and gluten intolerance has in the past been grossly oversimplified.

Traditional celiac testing has involved screening for one or maybe two tissue transglutaminase antibodies. Gluten, the culprit in celiac disease, is not really just one protein but rather is composed of a group of various gliadins and glutenins.

Until now none of the many gluten components have been available for antibody testing. And since reactions to wheat can involve proteins other than those involved in gluten, the testing has had its limitations.

Previously physicians have only been able to offer testing for reactions to whole wheat, barley, rye, and spelt. Although these tests have been very successful in diagnosing individual food allergies, new tests are now available which can offer much more specific information about reactions to wheat and different kinds of gluten reactions.

PubMed.gov: Questioning the Bacterial Overgrowth Hypothesis of IBS: An Epidemiologic and Evolutionary Perspective.

Very nice little review of SIBO and IBS from the National Institutes of Health and PubMed.gov.

All based on the science, except for comments like the brain-gut hypothesis making more evolutionary sense.

One could also argue that SIBO makes more sense from an evolutionary perspective.

From NIH.gov/pubmed:

Although studies indicate that small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is prevalent in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), it remains unclear whether SIBO causes IBS.

This review presents an epidemiologic and evolutionary inquiry that questions the bacterial overgrowth hypothesis of IBS, as follows:

(1) although the hypothesis may be biologically plausible, there is also a strong rationale for competing hypotheses; it is unlikely that SIBO is the predominant cause of IBS in all comers, because competing explanations are sensible and defensible.

Moreover, data indicate that the test used to promulgate the SIBO hypothesis - the lactulose hydrogen breath test - may not have measured SIBO in the first place.

(2) We do not have evidence of SIBO being absent before IBS symptoms, and present after IBS emerges.

(3) There is not a dose-response relationship between small intestinal microbiota and IBS symptoms.

Friday's Recipe: Fudge Brownie Pie (Dairy, egg & nut free)

This great recipe comes from Food Allergy Mama Kelly Rudnicki. She has some wonderful recipes and resources for those dealing with food allergies.

From FoodAllergyMama.com:

Like many of you, our family doesn’t go out to Baker’s Square to get our free pie on Wednesdays because of John’s allergies. I only go when I am taking my non FA 10-year-old daughter for a Girls Only night out (our house is obviously ruled by too many boys:) Chloe loves it as much, if not more than me. She flips through the pie chart and reads every single line describing the deliciousness of each pie. Me? I have become fixed on only one type of pie lately; the Fudge Brownie Pie. But it has dairy, eggs and OMG nuts. Lots of them.

I couldn’t stop thinking about this pie, so I decided I had to recreate it at home. John and the boys just had to know what magic this pie holds. Lucky for me, it is so easy to make that you could literally throw it together on a weeknight as a special treat, or better yet, for company coming for dinner. I do have three rules when making this pie:

1. Serve Warm
2. Serve with dairy free ice cream
3. Serve with either a Chocolate Drizzle or Strawberry Puree Drizzle

These three rules are a must, or else the pie won’t be as special as the one served in Baker’s Square. Enjoy and Happy Baking!!

Medscape.com: Celiac Disease More Prevalent in Multiple Sclerosis

Interesting article from Medscape Today on the prevalence of celiac disease in patients with multiple sclerosis:

Celiac disease is more prevalent in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and their close relatives than in the general population, clinicians from Spain report.

Increased efforts aimed at early detection and dietary treatment of celiac disease among MS patients with tissue IgA–antitransglutaminase-2 antibodies "are advisable," they conclude in a report published online March 7 in BMC Neurology.

"We have found a prevalence of celiac disease among MS patients that is 5 to 10 times higher compared with the general population all over the world, which is between 1% and 2%," said first study author Luis Rodrigo, MD, from the Gastroenterology Service, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, in Oviedo, Spain.

Dr. Rodrigo and his colleagues note, however, that celiac disease is often underdiagnosed and therefore underestimated.

Arthritis: Inflammation with a Cause

Arthritis is one of the most debilitating conditions in our culture. It is actually the number one cause of lost work days at Boeing.

Unfortunately, treatment is limited and almost solely focused on anti-inflammatory medications, not on eliminating the original trigger of that inflammation.

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.

Testing for IBS Triggers: The Standard Food Allergy Panel

The Standard Food Allergy Profile test takes the guesswork out of treating your IBS and saves you a great deal of time, effort, and discomfort.

And if by chance your test happens to be negative, you can quickly move on to other potential causes of your problem without spending valuable time on an unsuccessful elimination diet and then wondering if you actually did it correctly.

Food allergy testing is a highly specialized procedure performed only by doctors trained in recognizing and treating non-anaphylactic food allergies, and only in laboratories especially equipped to handle the sophisticated testing required. In order to give you an accurate result, this test must be a blood test, and must include both IgE and IgG antibodies.

If it does not evaluate both antibodies, there is a strong possibility that the testing will miss your food allergy.

Foods Included in the Standard Food Allergy Panel - 96 foods

Dairy: Cow's milk, whey, casein, mozzarella cheese, cheddar cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt, goat's milk.

Lab Testing for IBS Triggers

Because IBS has been conventionally defined not by what it is, but by what it is not, successfully discovering its cause has been impossible, because the cause was thought to be unknown. 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 we can define the cause of your IBS, and therefore treat it. IBS symptoms are almost always caused by either food allergies, bacterial imbalances, yeast, or parasites. 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 recommended – food allergy testing, which is a blood test; and testing for bacteria, yeast, and parasites, which is done by stool testing. Problems in any of these areas can alone cause IBS, but most people who suffer from IBS have a combination of both a food allergy and a bacterial imbalance.

The Connection Between Diabetes & Celiac Disease

A brief overview of the relationship between Diabetes and Celiac Disease.

From the Gluten Intolerance Group of North America:

What is Celiac Disease?

• A malabsorption disease caused by eating gluten - a protein found in foods made with wheat, rye and barley.
• Causes damage to the small intestine.
• Can cause food and medications to be absorbed poorly. This can lead to symptoms of starvation, nutrient and medication malabsorption.
• The only treatment is a strict gluten-free diet. If the diet is followed, the intestinal damage will slowly heal. This can take several months.
• The disease is lifelong. Intestinal damage occurs each time gluten is consumed.
• Celiac disease affects one person in every 133 people in the United States.

Diabetes and Celiac Disease: The Link

• There is a genetic link between Type 1 diabetes and celiac disease.
• Developing one of the diseases increases the risk of developing the other.
• The prevalence of celiac disease in people with Type 1 diabetes is about 6% worldwide.
• When a family has two children with Type 1 diabetes, there is a much higher chance some in the family will have celiac disease.
• Symptoms of celiac disease vary widely, but are often absent in persons with diabetes.
• Celiac disease can cause unstable blood sugar control.

GIG: Understanding Gluten Sensitivity & Celiac Disease

Excerpts thanks to the Gluten Intolerance Group of North America:

Gluten Sensitivity

What is it?

Some individuals who experience distress when eating gluten-containing products and show improvement when following a gluten-free diet may have gluten intolerance, instead of celiac disease. These individuals are unable to tolerate gluten and develop an adverse reaction when eating gluten. This may be due to a variety of causes. Intolerances generally worsen over time.

However, with gluten intolerance, there is no indication that gluten consumption causes damage to the small intestine.

Gluten intolerance has not been well researched, but there is a significant amount of clinical evidence supporting the existence of this condition.

Symptoms

Symptoms seen in gluten intolerance may resemble some of the gastrointestinal symptoms that are associated with celiac disease. Some of the symptoms are due to an intolerance of gluten and some may be due to under consumption of nutrients because of illness.

Diagnosis (from IBS Treatment Center)

Two kinds of tests are recommended – food allergy testing, which is a blood test; and testing for bacteria, yeast, and parasites, which is done by stool testing. Problems in any of these areas can alone cause IBS, but most people who suffer from IBS have a combination of both a food allergy and a bacterial imbalance.

Blood and stool tests provide an easy way to sort this out. These tests are available, reasonably straightforward, and affordable, especially when you consider the benefit of having better health for the rest of your life. There is no need to continue wondering, guessing what is wrong and blindly spending money trying to find something that will help you.
You can know. And then you can do something that will end your IBS for good.

Understanding and Treating Abdominal Pain

People often think that IBS has to involve diarrhea or constipation, but often it does not.

For many people the only obvious symptom is abdominal pain. And the pain can vary from a mild discomfort to incredibly debilitating.

Chronic abdominal pain is one of the top 5 reasons that people to go to the doctor. Unfortunately, for many it is also very poorly treated. The typical approach is to rule out ulcers, appendicitis, gallstones, uterine problems, or cancers.

This may be done with blood work, scopes, scans, ultrasound or other imaging, depending on the problem.

If you have one of the aforementioned problems and it’s found, then your problem should be solved. But many people with abdominal pain do not have an ulceration, appendicitis, gallstones, uterine problems or cancer.

For them, all of the tests come back negative. They are told that nothing is wrong and left with the impression that it’s all in their head.

Acne Case Studies

Case #1:
15 year old male with severe facial acne.

This patient had undergone several rounds of antibiotics, which had temporarily treated his acne. However, the acne continued to return.

ELISA food allergy testing demonstrated a high antibody reaction to several foods, including dairy and eggs.

The removal of the offending foods resulted in noticeable improvement within 2 weeks, and over several weeks the patient’s his skin had cleared for good.



Case #2:
25 year old male with acne, predominantly on the back.

This patient had experienced back acne and mild facial acne since his early teenage years. He also experience periodic digestive problems, including diarrhea, and had fatigue and frequent itchy skin. Following food allergy testing and the removal of gluten and dairy, both of which were positive, his acne gradually cleared and his other symptoms resolved. 



Case #3:
20 year old female patient with acne.

Patient was otherwise very healthy and ate a healthy diet. ELISA food allergy testing demonstrated high antibodies to dairy. The removal of dairy from her diet resulted in the clearing of her skin. 



No More Acne!

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Image thanks to segwayofoakland.com

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.

Common Misconceptions About IBS

The biggest misconception is that IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) defines a specific medical condition. IBS is, by definition, just a group of symptoms affecting the digestive tract that haven’t been explained.

Unlike cancer, a stroke, or the flu, IBS is more of a starting point than a diagnosis, because it doesn’t provide any new information. Once a person has the symptoms it is necessary to do additional testing to identify the cause of those symptoms - what you might call an actual diagnosis. Once you have an actual diagnosis, then you can treat whatever it is that causes the symptoms and usually stop them.

A second common misconception is that IBS is only caused by one thing. Nothing could be further from the truth. The digestive tract is very complicated, but can only display a limited range of symptoms. There are many things that can cause constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, gas, bloating, etc. Any individual might have one or more of the causes at any one time.

There is a wide range of causes of IBS and many patients have more than one cause, sometimes several causes, at the same time.

Understanding Candida and IBS

One of the more common causes of digestive problems is Candida, or yeast. Although there are other types of yeast, Candida is the word usually used to describe a problem with yeast.

Although many people think of yeast infections as a female problem, yeast is an organism that can colonize any orifice. In the mouth it is known as thrush. In the digestive tract it is often called a yeast overgrowth, or simply candida. These do not have to occur together. However, they are essentially the same problem.

What are the symptoms of Candida?

Yeast can cause a large number of symptoms, including all of those of irritable bowel syndrome – gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.

How do you get Candida?

Candida are a normal part of the environment. However, a problem occurs when they get out of balance with the normal good bacteria found in your digestive tract. Then they can develop into an overgrowth of yeast in the digestive tract and cause problems there as well as elsewhere in your body.

Friday's Recipe: Gluten Free Strawberry Shortcake

Thanks to Gluten Free Mama for this wonderful (and easy) recipe!

Strawberry Shortcake
Traditional “Biscuit” Style

Ingredients:

2 cups Mama’s Pancake Mix
6 Tbsp. butter, room temp
2/3 cup milk (dairy, soy, rice, nut)
1 egg

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In a bowl place pancake mix and butter. With a fork press butter into mix until it
becomes mealy. (pea size pieces) Add milk and egg. Mix well by hand.

Form 8, 4 inch rounds about 1/2 inch thick. Smooth out sides and tops with
lightly floured hands.

Bake for 12-14 minutes or until tops begin to lightly brown.

Serve warm.

Layer one biscuit, whip cream, strawberries and then top with another biscuit. Or
serve open-faced.

What is a Food Allergy?

Food allergies may be one of the most prevalent health problems in our country and are certainly the biggest problem that I see in my clinic. But if you're like most of my patients, you're probably thinking, "Not me, I don't have a food allergy." 


Most people think they have a pretty good idea about food allergies. They may know someone who has one and think, "My problem isn't like theirs." Or they may just think that food allergies normally result in hives, a rash, or some kind of medical emergency. 
In fact, food allergies can be the cause of many chronic health problems.

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" or "food intolerance."

Fatigue, Thyroid Function and Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is a serious condition found in people with and without food allergies.

However, people with food allergies, particularly those with celiac disease (a gluten allergy), frequently suffer from hypothyroidism. 


Hypothyroidism causes fatigue and weight gain as well as other problems, and is often overlooked and misdiagnosed due to complexities in thyroid testing and symptoms which may overlap or contradict the symptoms of food allergies. These issues are discussed in this article.

What Is the Thyroid Gland?


The thyroid gland sits in the neck in front of and on both sides of the trachea and secretes thyroid hormones. These hormones regulate metabolism and thus affect many aspects of health.

What Are the Symptoms of Hypothyroidism? 


Lack of adequate thyroid hormone production may result in one or more of the following symptoms: fatigue, weight gain, constipation, cold extremities, inability to focus, forgetfulness, dry skin and depression. 



PubMed.gov: Vegan Diet Improves Signs & Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis

From PubMed.gov:

Objective

Whether food intake can modify the course of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an issue of continued scientific and public interest. However, data from controlled clinical trials are sparse. We thus decided to study the clinical effects of a vegan diet free of gluten in RA and to quantify the levels of antibodies to key food antigens not present in the vegan diet.

Methods

Sixty-six patients with active RA were randomized to either a vegan diet free of gluten (38 patients) or a well-balanced non-vegan diet (28 patients) for 1 yr. All patients were instructed and followed-up in the same manner. They were analysed at baseline and after 3, 6 and 12 months, according to the response criteria of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). Furthermore, levels of antibodies against gliadin and beta-lactoglobulin were assessed and radiographs of the hands and feet were performed.

Arthritis and Food Allergies

Arthritis is one of the most debilitating conditions in our culture. In fact, it is actually the number one cause of lost work days at Boeing.

Unfortunately, treatment is limited and almost solely focused on anti-inflammatory medications, not on eliminating the original trigger of that inflammation.

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.

Good Bacteria Deficiencies

Healthy people live in harmony with their "good" bacteria, or normal intestinal flora. This is called symbiosis. We provide the bacteria with a home and food, and in return they do some great things for us. These bacteria are called "probiotics."

Although there are thousands of different bacteria, the best-known friendly bacteria are Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium. Lactobacilli are also the bacteria that change milk into yogurt, and they are present in acidophilus milk. Bifidobacteria, which have been shown to provide many health benefits, are particularly high in the intestines of breast-fed newborns. A healthy intestinal system has more of both these friendly bacteria than other unfriendly bacteria.

One of the most important services good bacteria provide is preserving the correct balance of bacterial populations within the body. By their very presence they prevent the establishment and spread of "bad" bacteria and yeast, because harmful bacteria and yeast generally have no place to grow if friendly bacteria are thriving. You can never have too many of these great bacteria.

However, eating yogurt, drinking acidophilus milk or taking acidophilus supplements does not guarantee that you will have adequate colonies of good bacteria. Many people are so deficient in good bacteria that only larger doses will replenish the digestive tract, and often the presence of another bacteria or yeast/Candida must first be treated before good bacteria will be able to colonize and take hold. As well, many acidophilus products are woefully inadequate, and do little to replenish good bacteria.

The presence of good bacteria can be measured with a simple test. For more information on this type of testing please click here.

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Image thanks to nih.gov

Crohn's, Colitis, and IBS

There is a lot of confusion concerning Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are two forms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). There are differences between the IBD and IBS, but they are not necessarily exclusive conditions and may occur simultaneously.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) often presents as a group of symptoms very similar to those of IBS, but usually with the additional symptom bright red blood in the stool. Diagnosis is made by performing a colonoscopy, and often a biopsy. Detection of ulcerations in the colon confirms the IBD diagnosis. IBD is diagnosed as ulcerative colitis if it is restricted to the colon and Crohn’s disease if it is also found in the small intestine.

The cause or causes of IBD have not been identified. However, evidence points to activation of the immune system via environmental triggers and to a potential genetic link.

Stomach Acid: Why You Need It

Stomach acid is vital to good health.

It is the first major step in breaking down your food, which is so critical to proper nutrition. The myth is that you are what you eat. But in fact, you are what you absorb.

Acid is especially important for breaking down proteins into amino acids and is required for the optimal release and preparation of minerals such as calcium, magnesium and iron for absorption.

Vitamin B12 also isn’t adsorbed without it. The same cells that produce acid produce intrinsic factor, which is required for B12 absorption. Without B12 you become B12 deficient, leading to fatigue and neurological problems. 
Decreased acid levels can also cause digestive problems further on down the line.

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. 



Sinusitis and Runny Nose: Q&A

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. 



DNA Microbial Profile: Measuring Intestinal Bacteria, Yeast (Candida), and Parasites

If you suffer from IBS and other digestive problems then it is very possible that you have a microbial imbalance in your digestive tract.

The IBS Treatment Center is proud to be one of the few clinics in the country where you can now get DNA testing to measure the presence of the bacteria, yeast and parasites in your digestive tract. This is done via a stool sample. All microbes have DNA, and that DNA can now be detected and quantified with Nobel Prize-winning PCR (polymerase chain reaction) technology, which is commonly used in other forms of DNA testing.

DNA testing is far superior to all previous tests that assessed the presence or absence of microbes in the digestive tract. In the past, bacteria and yeast had to be grown or cultured on a Petri dish, and parasites and yeast were looked for under the microscope. In both cases there were numerous factors that could affect the test and result in inaccurate results. With DNA testing these problems have been eliminated, and an incredible range of microbes (click the image to see a larger version of this list) can be detected.

Medications and 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).

Note that these drugs are categorized by the type of symptom that they treat. None of them cure IBS.

The Importance of Fiber

Increasing fiber intake is one of the most popular treatments for IBS. Although your fiber intake might not be ideal, it's unlikely that it's causing your irritated bowel. By now you've probably already figured that out.

However, there are many good reasons to get fiber in your diet, so it's worth discussing. Below you will find some good information about fiber that will increase your understanding about this important component of food.

Soluble vs. Insoluble Fiber

Fiber can be soluble, meaning that it partially dissolves in water, or insoluble, meaning that it doesn't. Although neither type typically cures IBS, soluble fiber (which is also called viscous fiber, and is found in foods such as oatmeal, okra, or legumes, such as garbanzo beans) can be helpful in treating IBS symptoms, especially constipation and diarrhea.

Insoluble fiber is more of a "scratchy" fiber; it adds bulk to the stool. A good example of insoluble fiber is celery.

Soluble fiber forms a thick gel that helps to properly form the stool in the digestive tract and move it through the bowel; it also adds bulk to the stool. Because it slows the stool's transit time, it helps to prevent diarrhea. Soluble fiber also prevents constipation, because the colon becomes filled with gel, as opposed to being clenched tightly around dry, hard stools.

Basically, fiber moves bulk through the intestines and helps to balance the pH (acidity) level in the intestines. It is also helps to keep healthy the good bacteria that live in your digestive tract.

Digestion Basics: Dealing with Diarrhea

As you might suspect, diarrhea indicates that too much water is being retained (and therefore is not being absorbed) in the digestive tract.

There are several possible causes for this. For example, food may be moving through the tube too quickly for water to be absorbed, creating stools that are watery instead of formed.

This can happen if your muscular tube starts contracting faster than normal as a defense against something bad that you've eaten. The immune system signals to the tube that it should get the bad stuff out quickly. It can go up or down, whichever is faster. If it goes up, you vomit. If it goes down, you have diarrhea.

Another cause is an immune response that leads to irritation or inflammation of the intestines.

This can slow the absorption of water through the tissue walls, causing an imbalance in the tube's water level. Toxins in the tube can also cause water to flow into the tube rather than being absorbed. Any of these problems will result in diarrhea.

Parasites...are Everywhere

It is often assumed that people living in the United States do not have parasites. For this reason, most people are not tested for parasites unless they have traveled to a tropical or third world country, or they have engaged in risky behavior, such as drinking from a stream.

Contrary to popular belief, it is not so unusual to find parasites in North Americans. However, you can’t find what you don’t look for. And since most people don’t get tested for parasites, most physicians therefore assume that parasites don’t exist here.

Complicating matters is that even if you have been tested for parasites, traditional stool testing is fairly ineffective at detecting most parasites.

Almost all testing for parasites involves a microscopic analysis of a stool sample. This means that a very small smear of a much larger stool sample is viewed under a microscope.

The parasite, or more likely the eggs from the parasite, must be present in that smear, and must be present in a significantly high amount to be found during the microscopic exam. And the lab technician must be proficient at recognizing it when they see it.

In Support Our Friends in New Zealand

We wanted to share excerpts from a recent post from our dear friend Dr. Rodney Ford. His clinic is in Christchurch, New Zealand - where the recent earthquake hit.

We are glad to hear that he is okay, but share his feelings about the losses there and the desire to help. We invite you all to donate to the Red Cross in New Zealand, or to the relief organization of your choice to support those affected by natural disasters all over the world.

From Dr. Ford:

Hi Friends,

We are now at day-5 following our last massive earthquake. Christchurch, up until 6 months ago, had not ever had a significant quake. Now it has!

My reaction has been mixed, up and down. When it struck, I was in clinic, with a patient (a little 8-month old boy with cow’s milk allergy). His mum scooped him up in her arms and dropped to the floor, protecting him. It dawned on me that this was a BIG shake, and so ducked under my desk.

The violence of this shaking, of this 6.3 magnitude quake, lasted for about 15 seconds. I finished our consultation and escorted the shaken mum to reception and got her into her car.
Initial calm. At that moment in time I had no idea how bad this earthquake had been – our clinic had not been too damaged – fallen books, cascading glass and crockery. But no injury. (see the damage in this video.

Medical Research on Gall Bladder Issues

We receive a great deal of feedback from readers who utilize the studies that we share. So from time to time, we like to pass a few along for your consideration. These studies are in reference to the previous article that discusses the gall bladder.

Corazziari et. al. (2008)
Gallstones, cholecystectomy and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) MICOL population-based study. Dig Liver Dis. 2008 Apr 9. [Epub ahead of print]
"

Conclusions: Irritable bowel syndrome subjects have an increased risk of cholecystectomy that is not due to an increased risk of gallstones, but rather to abdominal pain, awareness of having gallstones, and inappropriate surgical indications."

Cole et. al. (2005)
The incidence of abdominal and pelvic surgery among patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Dig Dis Sci. 2005 Dec;50(12):2268-75.


Conclusions: The incidence of gallbladder surgery was threefold higher in IBS patients than the general population. Patients with IBS have an increased risk for abdominopelvic and gallbladder surgery and, thus, an associated risk for experiencing morbidity and mortality associated with these surgical procedures.

Understanding the Gall Bladder

Patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and other digestive problems such as constipation, diarrhea or abdominal pain often wonder if they have a problem with their gallbladder.

Problems with the gallbladder can indeed cause these symptoms. However, many people find that having their gallbladder removed did little or nothing to help their IBS, or even made it worse.

What does the gallbladder do?


The gallbladder does exactly what its name describes; it is a small bladder that stores gall. Gall is more commonly known as bile. Bile is produced by the liver and piped over to the gallbladder via the bile duct.

What is bile?


Bile is a highly concentrated yellow green fluid that contains bile acids. Bile acids are important for digesting fats. When you eat, your gallbladder contracts and secretes bile into the small intestine to help you digest your food. If your gallbladder has been removed then it will be more difficult for you to digest fats. In such cases, eating too much fat may cause loose stools.

Is Skin Allergy Testing Effective?

For several decades skin testing has been the standard way to test for allergies. The potential allergen is injected under or scratched into the skin, and any resulting inflammation (also known as wheal) is measured.

The size of the wheal supposedly determines whether or not an allergy is diagnosed. This technique leaves a lot to be desired because we don't inject food into our skin when we eat, nor do we necessarily get a red bump when we have a food allergy. This is also a subjective test. There is no scientific standard for the amount of swelling required for a positive result.

Equally important, this test can measure only an IgE antibody reaction. And even so, it often is negative, missing elevated IgE levels that are evident with a blood test. The IgG antibody is not tested for at all.

Many people are incorrectly told after skin testing that they do not have a particular food allergy. Others seem to react to everything that is tested. Skin testing is probably relevant only for life threatening (anaphylactic) types of food allergies, but in these cases the patient often already knows that he or she has the food allergy.

IgE and IgG Allergy Testing

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.

The problem with this type of testing is that most food allergies are not IgE reactions, but are rather IgG reactions, which usually show up hours or even days after ingestion of the allergen.