Friday's Recipe: DAIRY, EGG AND NUT FREE CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFINS

This recipe thanks to Gluten Free Mama!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 c. dairy free margarine (I use Fleischman’s UNSALTED ONLY)
• 2/3 c. soy or rice milk + 1/2 T. white vinegar (let sit for 5 minutes)
• 2 T. water
• 1 1/4 T. good quality vanilla
• 2 c. unbleached all purpose flour (gluten-free)
  
• 3/4 c. granulated sugar
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 c. dairy free mini chocolate chips (I use Enjoy Life for this recipe)

Gastroparesis & Irritable Bowel Syndrome

The word gastroparesis often gives people the impression that their stomach is paralyzed and that there is nothing that they can do to solve their problem.

Fortunately, this is often not the case, certainly not in the same way that someone with a serious spinal cord injury may suffer from paralysis.

The diagnosis of gastroparesis simply means that there is a delay in how long it takes the stomach to empty. It is then typically assumed that this is due to damage to the vagus nerve, which helps control the emptying time of the stomach. In some cases this damage is actually seen or verified. But in many cases is only an assumption of nerve damage based solely on the delayed emptying time of the stomach.

Stress Reduction and IBS

So you think that you carry your stress in your abdomen..? It's a common belief.

If you have been diagnosed with IBS, it is likely that you have been advised to reduce your stress level. You may have been told to get regular exercise and adequate sleep, and to practice stress reduction techniques such as yoga, meditation, tai chi, deep breathing, journal writing, relaxation therapy, biofeedback, hypnotherapy, or psychotherapy.

All of these practices can indeed improve physical, mental, and emotional health. They provide a host of benefits, from improved personal relationships to enhanced productivity to increased energy and mental clarity, and they just might help with your IBS symptoms.

But chances are they won't cure your IBS.

Elimination Diets and IBS: Everyone Has an Opinion

The Winnipeg Free Press recently highlighted a book that promotes a generic diet for those with IBS. In general, it recommends avoiding cow's milk, limiting wheat, etc.

This is a good opportunity for us to discuss the low probability of success with generic diets for a condition that can have very different and very specific food triggers.

If you've done much reading about IBS diets, then you've seen advice urging you to simply:

1. increase fiber if you're constipated
2. increase fiber if you have diarrhea
3. cut back on sugar
4. drink more water
5. avoid lactose
6. avoid dairy
7. avoid bread
8. avoid red meat
9. cut back on yeast
10. reduce spicy foods
11. cut back on carbonated drinks and artificial sweeteners
12. eliminate chocolate
13. eliminate caffeine
14. eliminate alcohol
15. eat smaller meals

And if you just take follow those easy steps, you'll be cured!! :)

Study Shows Potential Reactions in Celiacs to Some Oat Varieties

This recent study (from BMJ Journal's GUT) notes that different strains of oats have a different potential to produce a reaction in people with celiac disease.

This may explain why some people with celiac disease react to oats and others don't, even if the oats are not contaminated and considered gluten free.

From GUT: An International Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology

Diversity in oat potential immunogenicity: basis for the selection of oat varieties with no toxicity in coeliac disease

Background and aims:

Coeliac disease (CD) is triggered by an abnormal reaction to gluten. Peptides resulting from partially digested gluten of wheat, barley or rye cause inflammation of the small intestinal mucosa. Previous contradictory studies suggest that oats may trigger the abnormal immunological response in patients with CD.

Monoclonal antibodies (moAbs) against the main immunotoxic 33-mer peptide (A1 and G12) react strongly against wheat, barley and rye but have less reactivity against oats. The stated aim of this study is to test whether this observed reactivity could be related to the potential toxicity of oats for patients with CD.

NIH.gov: Acid Blockers increased both IgE and IgG production

Acid blockers such as Prilosec, Prevacid and the like, are some of the most overused, misused, and financially successful drugs in our country. The drug (in this study) is very similar to those.

Research tell us that they increase the risk for developing food allergies and increase inflammatory chemicals in our digestive tract.

From NIH.gov:

Cimetidine Enhances Antigen-Specific IgE and Th2 Cytokine Production.

Background

Treatment with anti-ulcer drugs has been shown to enhance IgE production against food antigens. However, little is known about the immunological effects of cimetidine, a histamine receptor type 2 (H2R) antagonist that is widely used as an anti-ulcer drug, in allergy. Therefore, the present study investigated the role of cimetidine in Th2 immune responses in mice.

Gluten Sensitivity: What is it?

The following information comes from our friends at the Gluten Intolerance Group of North America (GIG).

Although I am on the Board of the GIG, I do not necessarily agree with the official statements of the organization, nor do my own statements necessarily represent those of GIG.

Following this article are my own comments on how we approach gluten sensitivities, non-celiac gluten intolerance and celiac disease.

--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.

Causes of IBS: Medications

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:

NIH.gov: Oral manifestations of celiac disease: a clinical guide for dentists.

This study thanks to the National Institutes of Health:

Celiac disease (gluten sensitive enteropathy) is a common disorder affecting both children and adults. As many people with celiac disease do not present with the classic malabsorptive syndrome, delays in diagnosis are common.

Dental enamel defects and recurrent aphthous ulcers, which may occur in patients with celiac disease, may be the only manifestation of this disorder. When dentists encounter these features, they should inquire about other clinical symptoms, associated disorders and family history of celiac disease.

In suspected cases, the patient or family physician should be advised to obtain serologic screening for celiac disease and, if positive, confirmation of the diagnosis by intestinal biopsy.

Dentists can play an important role in identifying people who may have unrecognized celiac disease. Appropriate referral and a timely diagnosis can help prevent serious complications of this disorder.

April's Question & Answer with Dr. Stephen Wangen

Question:

Why is there such a strong connect between Celiac Disease and infertility?

Answer:

There are likely a combination of issues that are tied to gluten intolerance that affect ones overall health and thus affect fertility. The ability to reproduce is largely about the overall health of a species.

Celiac disease is essentially a very clear form of malabsorption of nutrients. This malabsorption of nutrients directly affects the overall health of your body. The poorer your nutrient status, the less likely that you’ll be fertile.

The inflammation that is involved in celiac disease is another factor that may affect fertility. And the potential autoimmune issues that are associated with celiac disease may also affect fertility in ways that we do not understand.

----
Question:

Hi Dr. Wangen! Here we go!

If a Celiac has been gluten free or 13 months (that would be me, lol) and still can't absorb fat, what do you suggest? If I eat anything with over 1-2 grams of fat, I'm in the ladies room and it's not pretty. EEK. Hence, this happens ALL the time and makes me feel terrible. Taking ox bile does help, but it doesn't solve the problem. Eating has been pretty challenging for me with this.

Friday's Gluten Free Recipe: Easter Basket Cupcakes!

Thanks to our friend Jules Gluten Free. Please check out her website for hundreds of great recipes as well as a great deal of useful information on living gluten-free!

Ingredients:

• 3 cups Jules Gluten Free™ All-Purpose Flour
• 1 Tbs. gluten-free baking powder
• 1/4 cup powdered milk (dairy or non-dairy alternative like Vance’s DariFree™ Powder)
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/2 cup butter or non-dairy alternative (like Earth Balance® Buttery Sticks)
• 2 cups granulated cane sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 2 tsp gluten-free vanilla extract
• 1 cup milk or non-dairy alternative (like vanilla coconut, soy, hemp, rice, etc. “milk”)

Understanding Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a diagnosis given to patients when the doctor can’t find anything wrong. It implies that the problem isn’t all that severe and is likely mostly in the patient’s head.

Yet people who suffer from IBS know all too well that IBS can be not only disruptive to their life, but also extremely debilitating. And being given antidepressants or acid blocking medications, to name a few, does little to address the cause of their suffering.

The facts about IBS are very enlightening. At least 35 million people in the United Stated suffer from it. It is a primary cause of lost work days, second only to the common cold. It is one of the top 10 reasons that people visit the doctor, and it is the primary reason people see a gastroenterologist. In fact, it is one the most common problems in our country.

Despite all of this, most doctors know very little about IBS. IBS is rarely talked about, and increasing the level of knowledge around IBS is almost unheard of. The only time IBS is brought up is either by a comedian or a commercial about a new drug that at best temporarily treats a symptom and at worst comes with a host of bad side effects.

High Blood Pressure Can be Caused by Hidden Food Allergies

According to the National Health Statistics Reports for the United States, the single most frequent diagnosis given out by doctors is “Hypertension,” commonly known as high blood pressure.

In 2006, the most recent year for these statistics, over 35 million visits to doctors resulted in a diagnosis of high blood pressure (1).

In simple terms, high blood pressure is an increase in the pressure within your arteries (your pipeline) over 140/90. This increase in pressure is much like an increase in the pressure within a pipe. The higher the pressure, the harder the pump has to work, and the harder it is to contain that pressure within the pipe.

Therefore high blood pressure is well known to increase your risk for heart disease and heart attack (damage to your pump), and to increase the risk of stroke (blow outs in the pipe). An increase in blood pressure is well recognized to be related to weight gain.

However, there are many other causes, and not everyone who is overweight develops high blood pressure. One of the more interesting and certainly overlooked causes of high blood pressure may be food allergies.

Understanding and Defining Celiac Disease

What is celiac disease?

You may have never heard of celiac disease, but it is actually a fairly common problem. In fact, 1 out of every 133 people has it. That is over 2 million people in this country. It is really more of an allergy than a disease, although it is typically called an intolerance to gluten.

What is gluten?

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye, spelt, kamut, triticale, and couscous. People who have celiac disease cannot eat any foods made out of these flours. Gluten is the thing that makes bread, well, bread. It allows bread to rise and keeps it together with lots of nice little air pockets, making your bread light and spongy. Without gluten it is difficult to make bread that is not heavy and dense.

What are the symptoms of celiac disease?

The symptoms vary widely. Celiac disease is typically thought of as a condition that causes diarrhea, abdominal pain, gas and bloating. However, many people do not experience these symptoms at all. They may experience constipation, weight gain, fatigue, headaches, heartburn, skin problems such as eczema and acne, or any number of health problems.

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. 

The real cause of the problem is the inflammation of the eustachian tube. Usually this inflammation is caused by a food allergy, most often dairy.

Children generally drink and eat a lot of dairy. Invariably it's the very first food introduced into the diet. 

A milk allergy is by far the most common cause of ear infections. Removing dairy from the diet will usually result in complete resolution of this problem.

However, occasionally further food allergy testing is required to determine the source of the inflammation.

-------

More information at CenterForFoodAllergies.com
Image thanks to bryanking.net

Dermatitis Herpetiformis - What is it?

This information thanks to our friends at the Gluten Intolerance Group of North America!

Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) is a chronic disease of the skin marked by groups of watery, itchy blisters that may resemble pimples or blisters. The ingestion of gluten (from wheat, rye, and barley) triggers an immune system response that deposits a substance, lgA (Immunoglobulin A), under the top layer of skin.

IgA is present in affected as well as unaffected skin. DH is a hereditary autoimmune gluten intolerance disease linked with celiac disease. If you have DH, you always have gluten intolerance. With DH, the primary lesion is on the skin, whereas with celiac disease the lesions are in the small intestine. The degree of damage to the small intestine is often less severe or more patchy than those with celiac disease. Both diseases are permanent and symptoms/damage will occur after consuming gluten.

Symptoms 
The lgA deposits under the skin result in eruptions of red raised patches of skin, similar to the beginning of a pimple, that can develop into small watery blisters. The itching and burning of the eruptions are severe and the urge to scratch them is intense. Scratching will further irritate the eruptions.

Foods Included When Testing for Food Allergies

The Standard Food Allergy Profile test takes the guesswork out of treating your condition 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.

Meat and Poultry: beef, chicken, lamb, pork, chicken, eggs white (chicken), egg yolk (chicken), turkey.

Grains: amaranth, barley, buckwheat, corn, gliadin (wheat), gluten (wheat), oat, rice, rye, spelt, whole wheat.

Seafoods: lobster, clam, cod, crab, halibut, oyster, salmon, shrimp, snapper, sole, tuna

Innate Health Group - what is it?

The Innate Health Group was designed and created to reintroduce something that has been missing in medicine, a belief that you are capable of being healthier if given a better understanding of your body.

We subscribe to the scientific method and the theory of evolution. We know that in most cases health is something that comes from the capacity of your body to perform according to its genetic design, with which you were born.

Health, excepting traumatic damage to the body, is usually not most effectively achieved by drugs or surgical procedures. Although these have their place, they are grossly overused. And frequently drugs and surgical procedures cause other significant problems that could be avoided by other techniques that not only solve the underlying problem, but avoid additional risk.

As a society we have lost touch with our innate health. We are confused by a medical system and a culture that prioritizes business over health, and by generic mass marketed treatments and fads that treat people as statistics and customers rather than as unique individuals with unique health care needs.

Gall Bladder Issues

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.

When does that gallbladder need to be removed?


In some people, stones develop inside of the gallbladder. These stones, when small, can become lodged in the bile duct, which can cause severe pain and be very dangerous if they also clog the pancreatic duct. Larger stones are not able to pass into the bile duct, but their presence can cause severe pain. Sometimes this is worse when the gallbladder is contracting. In either case, removing the gallbladder usually relieves the pain and you feel much better.

NIH.gov: Diet restriction in migraine, based on IgG against foods

The following clinical double-blind, randomised, cross-over trial comes from NIH.gov.

Introduction

It is well-known that specific foods trigger migraine attacks in some patients. We aimed to investigate the effect of diet restriction, based on IgG antibodies against food antigens on the course of migraine attacks in this randomised, double blind, cross-over, headache-diary based trial on 30 patients diagnosed with migraine without aura.

Methods

Following a 6-week baseline, IgG antibodies against 266 food antigens were detected by ELISA. Then, the patients were randomised to a 6-week diet either excluding or including specific foods with raised IgG antibodies, individually.

Following a 2-week diet-free interval after the first diet period, the same patients were given the opposite 6-week diet (provocation diet following elimination diet or vice versa). Patients and their physicians were blinded to IgG test results and the type of diet (provocation or elimination).

Primary parameters were number of headache days and migraine attack count. Of 30 patients, 28 were female and 2 were male, aged 19–52 years (mean, 35±10 years).

Causes of IBS - Yeast (Candida)

Yeast infections, or yeast overgrowth, are a common result of antibiotic use. Yeast is also considered normal flora at low populations, since it is often found in the digestive tract.

However, remember that normal does not necessarily mean good. Yeast, especially the most common type called Candida, invades tissue and is a general irritant. Its growth inhibits the growth of good bacteria, and its life cycle produces the toxic effects of IBS symptoms in its host - you.

Candida will take advantage of every opportunity it has to flourish. If your system has been wiped clean of friendly bacteria due to antibiotics (which do not kill yeast), Candida will likely pounce, either in your digestive tract or elsewhere in your body. Once it gets hold, it can be difficult to get rid of.

Candida can cause a huge variety of symptoms, including but not limited to all the symptoms of IBS, making it one of the most frustrating and confusing conditions to describe, not to mention endure.

Diagnosing & Treating Lactose Intolerance

How Is Lactose Intolerance Diagnosed?


A simple self-test for lactose intolerance is to drink at least two 8-ounce glasses of milk on an empty stomach and note any intestinal symptoms that develop in the next four hours. The test should then be repeated using several ounces of cheese (which does not contain much lactose). 


If you get symptoms from milk but not cheese, then you probably have lactose intolerance. If symptoms occur with both milk and cheese, you may be allergic to dairy products. 


However, this self-test is not conclusive because you may unknowingly be consuming lactose. Lactose is "hidden" in hundreds of food products and medications. 



Understanding Lactose Intolerance

How Common Is Lactose Intolerance? 


More than 50 million Americans are lactose intolerant. 
Nearly two-thirds of the world's adult population has some degree of difficulty with digestion of milk sugar because of a lactase deficiency:

• 97-100% of African Blacks
• 90-100% of Asians
• 70-75% of North American Blacks
• 70-80% of Mexicans
• 60-90% of Mediterraneans
• 60-80% of Jewish descent
• 10-12% of Middle Europeans
• 7-15% of North American Caucasians
• 1-5% of Northern Europeans

Lactose Intolerance Symptoms 


The most common lactose intolerance symptoms are:

• Intestinal cramps or discomfort
• Gas
• Bloating
• Diarrhea

One study has suggested that women with lactose intolerance are more likely to have depression or PMS (premenstrual syndrome). 
Lactose intolerance symptoms are almost identical with symptoms of other chronic disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome or celiac disease.

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 can be detected.

Generic Dietary Changes and 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.

Or maybe 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.

Case Study: The Therapeutic Effects of Eliminating Allergic Foods in IBS

From PubMed.gov:

OBJECTIVE

To explore the therapeutic effects on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) by eliminating the allergic foods according to food-specific IgG antibodies and to clarify the etiopathological role and mechanism of food allergy.

METHODS

The food-specific IgG antibodies to a panel of 14 different food antigens in serum were detected with ELISA in fifty five cases with diarrhea-dominant IBS, thirty two with constipation-dominant IBS and eighteen normal controls.

The frequency and severity index of symptoms and scores of Irritable Bowel Syndrome Quality of Life (IBS-QOL) in thirty five cases with positive food-specific IgG were observed before and after elimination of allergic foods for two months.

Digestion Basics: 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.

The Bad and Ugly Bacteria

What makes a bad bacteria bad?

The worst bacteria (the ugly) either directly destroy tissue by feeding upon it or produce a toxin that destroys tissue. Other bacteria (the bad) react negatively to food, or are poor fermenters of food, creating IBS symptoms like gas and diarrhea.

Some species of yeast and bacteria are bad simply because they take up space, thereby crowding out the good bacteria and depriving your body of all the health-giving benefits that friendly bacteria provide. This then results in the poor digestion of food and the poor absorption of nutrients.

The ugly bacteria are never regarded as normal flora within the body. They are not usually considered to be causes of IBS, but they do cause severe, often life-threatening, conditions. Ugly bacteria include Salmonella, Shigella, Yersinia, Vibrio cholerae, Campylobacter, and certain strains of E. coli. Just a tiny amount of the most virulent strains of bacteria in a person's body is enough to begin the process of infestation.

Treating Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease

We often receive calls asking if we treat Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn’s Disease, and the answer is an emphatic “Yes!”

Though the clinic was originally founded with an emphasis on treating IBS, patients with Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s, which together make up IBD (inflammatory bowel disease), are also welcome and receive unique and highly specialized treatment at the IBS Treatment Center.

Do These Issues Have Anything in Common?

IBD, like IBS, is not a particularly useful acronym for the person suffering from the problem. In both cases the acronym provides a label for describing the condition, but it does not provide any information for understanding the cause of the problem or to attempt to cure it.

Our goal is to find the cause of the problem so that it can be cured. And IBD sufferers are just as surprised as IBS sufferers to discover that there is much more to learn about digestive health than what they learned from their gastroenterologist.

Why Skin Testing Generally Isn't 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.

Everyday Painkillers, High Blood Pressure and Stomach Damage

Americans consume an estimated $2 billion per year in over-the-counter painkillers like Tylenol, Advil and Motrin. The most common reason for taking them is for arthritis.

However, these drugs are not without side-effects. It also doesn’t take as much as you might think to cause damage. And the variety of side effects includes high blood pressure, stomach ulcers, and other problems.

A study of more than 80,000 women found that women who used acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, for 22 days or more a month had the greatest risk of high blood pressure, estimated at twice that of non-users. And even those who used the drug as little as one to four days a month had a 22% greater risk of having high blood pressure than non-users.

Friday's Gluten Free Recipe: Banana Nut Muffins!

This wonderful recipe thanks to Annalise Roberts!

Even if you didn’t think you were a banana bread lover, this simple, flavorful recipe will convert you. Loaded with ripe bananas and sweet walnuts, these muffins are full of vitamin B, vitamin C, potassium, dietary fiber, and omega–3 fatty acids.

They take just a few minutes to make and they keep well in the refrigerator and freezer so you can enjoy them for several days, or even weeks after you make them.

Makes 12 muffins or three 5 x 3–inch loaves.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Brown Rice Flour Mix (see below)

• 2/3 cup granulated sugar 

• 1 tablespoon baking powder 

• 1 teaspoon baking soda 

• 3/4 teaspoon xanthan gum 

• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 
1 teaspoon cinnamon 

• 1 packed cup very ripe chopped banana (about 2 medium bananas) 

• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, optional 

• 2 large eggs 
1/2 cup milk (or rice milk)

• 1/2 cup canola oil 

• Granulated sugar for garnish, optional

Facts About Irritable Bowel Syndrome

What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)?

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is defined by a set of symptoms affecting a patient’s gastrointestinal system. These symptoms, or immune system reactions, can be produced by a wide range of different medical conditions.

Most often, IBS symptoms are caused by one or more of the following: chemical mechanisms resulting from reactions to certain foods; microorganisms in the gut including bacteria and parasites; yeasts; or celiac disease (gluten intolerance).

Facts About IBS:

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects 10-20% of the general population, with women 20-40 years old accounting for the majority of patients. (Astegiano et. al. 2008)

Irritable bowel syndrome affects approximately 10-15% of the European population and up to 70% of individuals with IBS may not be formally diagnosed. (Quigley et. al. 2006)

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.

GIG: The Connection Between Celiac Disease and Thyroid Disease

This article is provided by the Gluten Intolerance Group of North America:

Researchers have found autoimmune thyroid diseases to be more common in people with CD than in the general population.

The reasons for this relationship are not clear, but these are the facts we do know:

• It is likely CD and thyroid disease will occur together because they are both common autoimmune diseases.
• There is evidence CD may predispose individuals to develop other autoimmune diseases, such as thyroid disease.
• Thyroid disease is often diagnosed before CD; physicians may test for thyroid disease more than CD because it is so common.

What does the thyroid gland do?

Your thyroid is a small gland just below your Adam’s apple. This gland produces thyroid hormones, hormones whose main job is to regulate metabolism. These hormones affect every system in our body and help to control its functions, for example temperature regulation.

NIH.gov: Understanding Positive Serum Antigliadin Antibodies Without Celiac in the Elderly population

This study discusses the relevance of gliadin antibodies in arthritis and depression. As expected, it doesn't predict celiac disease.

From NIH.gov:

OBJECTIVE

Antigliadin antibodies (AGA) show good sensitivity but low specificity for celiac disease and can also be found in healthy individuals. However, data suggest that AGA positivity might be related to distinct disease entities such as allergy and gluten ataxia. Our aim here is to explore the clinical relevance of positive AGA in the elderly population.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Serum IgA- and IgG-class AGA and IgA-class tissue transglutaminase antibodies (tTGA) were determined in 2815 individuals aged 52-74 years. Equal numbers of AGA- and tTGA-negative participants of similar age and gender, but without known celiac disease, were randomly selected as controls. Information on clinical history was obtained from hospital records in all groups.

NIH.gov: Does gluten cause gastrointestinal symptoms in subjects without coeliac disease?

Another study on non-celiac gluten intolerance for your reading pleasure...

From NIH.gov:

AIM

To determine the evidence for the effect of gluten ingestion on gastrointestinal symptoms, intestinal permeability and other indices of small intestinal injury in non-coeliac, gluten intolerant individuals.

METHODS

A literature review was performed searching for interventional studies that addressed the issue.

RESULTS

One unblinded study that identified symptomatic response to gluten did not effectively exclude patients with coeliac disease, since many had intraepithelial lymphocytosis. A double-blinded, randomised, placebo-controlled rechallenge trial was recently reported in patients in whom coeliac disease had been excluded by either normal duodenal histology on a gluten containing diet, or absence of the HLA DQ2 or DQ8 haplotype (56%).

An Important 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.

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.

Dealing with a Nervous Stomach

Does stress or anxiety make your digestive problems worse?

Have you been told that you have a nervous stomach? Does that make you think that your digestive problems are all in your head?

Getting over this misconception is one of the biggest challenges that we have when we treat people with digestive problems and begin to educate them about the causes behind thier physical problems. The overwhelming “conventional wisdom” for dealing with digestive problems, for which there is seemingly no answer, is to blame anxiety and the somewhat mythological gut/brain connection.

Yes, the stomach and the brain are certainly are connected, but everything in the body is connected! And yes, the digestive tract does contain a fascinating second brain. But taking antidepressants or antianxiety medications is highly unlikely to cure your digestive problem. If you’re lucky, then you may see some benefit when taking these types of medications. But they are not treating the cause of the problem - they are treating a symptom.

When stress or anxiety impacts your digestive tract and triggers your symptoms, then it’s easy to be convinced that those things are the cause. But stress and anxiety will exacerbate any health problem, and they will generally find your weakness and make it even worse.

A Closer Look at 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.

This Week's Gluten Free Recipe: Southwest Chopped Salad

This wonderful recipe thanks to our friends at Gluten Free Life with Jen!

In a large bowl combine:


1 handful cherry tomatoes, sliced in half (or one medium tomato, diced into 1/2″ pieces)

3/4 cups canned black beans, drained

4 green onions (just use the white part), sliced

3/4 cups, jicama, cubed into 1/2″ pieces

1/3 cup red pepper, diced

a large handful of fresh cilantro, chopped

In a small bowl combine:


1/4 cup ranch dressing
1/4 cup barbeque sauce

Mix dressing from small bowl with ingredients in large bowl.
Serve over lettuce with lime slices.


3 cups lettuce, chopped

1 lime, quartered

Our salad also had 1 cup of diced chicken pieces (from a rotisserie chicken). And some diced mango and roasted corn would be delicious, too!

Patient Testimonial from IBS Treatment Center

We can't tell you how proud and happy we are to receive messages like this. Our goal at the IBS Treatment Center is to get people healthy and focused on living life again! And it's just wonderful to have our patients reporting such excellent results!

If you have any questions or are interested in learning more about curing your IBS, please email us or call our office (1-888-546-6283). Thank you!

Patient Testimonial:

Dr. Wangen and Staff at the IBS Treatment Center.

I wish I could shout it from the highest mountain top to let everyone know just how wonderful you all are.

It's been almost a year since I've had the pleasure of visiting you with my IBS - D problem. I have had IBS-D for about 30 years and when I finally discovered you I was very miserable.

Headaches, Migraines and Allergies

Many people with chronic headaches suffer from them for years with no permanent relief.

Whether or not you have migraine headaches, tension headaches, sinus headaches, or an undetermined form of headache, it is very possible that you are suffering from food allergy-induced inflammation. Recent research on migraines indicates that food allergies mediated by IgG-type antibodies are specifically to blame.

A headache is really a symptom of something else. It is obviously pain in the head, but the common factor is that headaches of all types usually involve inflammation. If the immune system reacts to one or more of the foods that you eat, then an inflammatory reaction is taking place that can potentially affect your head. Such reactions are far more common than many people realize.

The inflammation and thus the headache will resolve once the triggering food or foods are removed from the diet. Sometimes this is easier said than done, because the foods that we eat are often complicated combinations of numerous base foods. But once the problem is understood, the results can be dramatic.