Acne & Food Allergies: 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 experienced 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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More information on acne and food allergies at CenterforFoodAllergies.com

Image thanks to creativecommons.org

Babies and Lactose Intolerance

Symptoms of Baby Lactose Intolerance


If your baby has any of the following symptoms, he or she may have lactose intolerance, although a milk allergy is more probable.

• Colic
• Crying
• Spitting up (reflux)
• Gas
• Loose stools
• Eczema
• Ear infections

If your baby has any of the above symptoms, we recommend that you call our clinic at 1-888-546-6283 and schedule an appointment to determine the best way to improve your baby's health.

Why Lactose Intolerance Is a Serious Health Problem?

Inability to digest and absorb lactose leads to irritation of the lining of the intestines. This irritation in turn leads to a weakened digestive system that exposes you to future systemic disorders. In addition to an inability to absorb needed nutrients, a weakened digestive system is more susceptible to attack by parasites, yeast and pathogenic bacteria, which worsens the problems in your intestines and exposes you to chronic disease. 


Case Study: Diet restriction in migraine, based on IgG against foods

This summarized clinical, double-blind, randomised, cross-over trial study comes from the National Institutes of Health. You can view the study in depth on their website.

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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).

Colon Resection and IBS

It has been interesting to note the number of patients that I've seen at the IBS Treatment Center who have had part of or their entire colon removed, or to whom it has been suggested they have their colon removed. Many thousands of people per year undergo this procedure for a variety of reasons.

Unfortunately major surgery is not always the solution to their problem, nor does it always improve their symptoms.

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

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

Chicago Tribune: AMA survey finds processing errors in 20% of medical claims

I usually spend most of my time on this blog talking about digestive health, allergen-free eating, and related issues. But I thought this was worth your attention.

As many of you know, my own practice - The IBS Treatment Center - is not under contract with any insurance company. We made a decision when we opened more than 5 years ago to focus on doing what was right for the patient.

We decided not not to sign any restrictive contracts with any insurance company. These contracts strongly influence doctors by controlling what they get paid for and how much they get paid for various things. Many of these contracts prevent doctors from ordering tests that are needed because the insurance company won't pay for them, and in some circumstances, won't allow the doctor to bill the patient for them.

Most of our patients do get reimbursed by their insurance company and some patients get really great reimbursement with no hassles. But we do hear from patients whose claims are processed incorrectly quite often. Insurance companies have an incentive to process your claim incorrectly if it means they can deny the claim - that way they don't have to pay. Don't let this happen to you. Always resubmit your claim when your insurance company makes an error. And get your state's insurance commissioner involved if you don't get satisfaction.

Giardia lamblia infection in patients with irritable bowel syndrome and dyspepsia: A prospective study.

The following study comes from PubMed.gov.

AIM: To evaluate the prevalence of Giardia lamblia (G. lamblia ) infection in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and dyspepsia and to establish which is the most accurate test to diagnose the infection in this setting.

METHODS: One hundred and thirty-seven patients who consecutively attended the Outpatient Gastroenterology Clinic for the fi rst time between January 2002 and December 2003 due to symptoms of IBS and/or dyspepsia were recruited.

All patients underwent clinical evaluation, first-step haematology and chemistry tests, serologic assays for celiac disease, lactose-H2 breath test, abdominal ultrasonography, and esophagogastroduodenoscopy.

Helicobacter pylori status was evaluated. In patients with symptoms of IBS older than 45 years, colonoscopy was also performed. In all patients, duodenal biopsies and stool samples were examined for trophozoites and cysts of G. lamblia by several methods.

Celiac Disease, Gluten Intolerance and Sample Case Studies

What Is the Treatment for Celiac Disease and Gluten Intolerance? 


The treatment is identical for both celiac disease and gluten intolerance and involves removing all sources of gluten from the diet.

This means that a person with a gluten allergy should not eat bread products, pastas, or processed food of any kind that contains wheat, rye, or barley in any form. Individuals require special dietary counseling.

Fortunately, many alternative sources for gluten free breads, pastas and other foods now exist and are easier than ever to find.

What Are the Results of Avoiding Gluten? 


If you are allergic to gluten, then the result of removing gluten from your diet is generally a reversal of your health problems. Symptoms very often resolve, some faster than others, and you gain a new definition of optimal health. 
Even celiac disease is reversed, usually resulting in complete recovery of the damage to the small intestine. 



What if Someone with a Gluten Allergy Chooses Not to Avoid Gluten? 


Of course, they continue to suffer the symptoms that their gluten allergy is causing. However, the long term consequences are much more severe. People with celiac disease are known to be at higher risk for many conditions, including cancer of the digestive tract, thyroid problems, anemia, osteoporosis, and many autoimmune conditions. If you or someone you know suffers from any of the symptoms listed above, be sure to be screened for food allergies via blood testing.

Case Studies


Case #1:
27 year old male with loose stools, gas, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, inability to gain weight, acne on back, poor endurance, and hypoglycemic/needing to eat every 2-3 hours.

What is Celiac Disease?

What Is Celiac Disease?


Celiac disease is a hereditary allergy to gluten that results in damage to the small intestine. Common symptoms include loose stools, fatigue, weight loss and generally poor health.

However, symptoms can vary widely and include constipation, weight gain, and a skin condition called dermatitis herpetiformis.

What Is Gluten? 


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



How Is Celiac Disease Diagnosed? 


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



Divergence of gut permeability and mucosal immune gene expression in two gluten-associated conditions: celiac disease and gluten sensitivity

The following study excerpts comes from BioMedCentral.com. Visit their website for detailed analysis.

Background

Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune enteropathy triggered by the ingestion of gluten. Gluten-sensitive individuals (GS) cannot tolerate gluten and may develop gastrointestinal symptoms similar to those in CD, but the overall clinical picture is generally less severe and is not accompanied by the concurrence of tissue transglutaminase autoantibodies or autoimmune comorbidities.

By studying and comparing mucosal expression of genes associated with intestinal barrier function, as well as innate and adaptive immunity in CD compared with GS, we sought to better understand the similarities and differences between these two gluten-associated disorders.

Methods

CD, GS and healthy, gluten-tolerant individuals were enrolled in this study. Intestinal permeability was evaluated using a lactulose and mannitol probe, and mucosal biopsy specimens were collected to study the expression of genes involved in barrier function and immunity.

Arthritis Q&A

What Does "Arthritis" Mean? 


The word “arthritis” simply means “joint inflammation.” There are basically two types: osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. 


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

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

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



The Traditional Approach to Arthritis


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

The medical community has focused almost solely on treating arthritis with anti-inflammatory medications, either prescription or over-the-counter. These medications offer temporary relief of the pain and swelling, but they never cure arthritis.

Treating Diverticulitis

Diverticulitis, although not IBS, is closely related to IBS. The real difference is that in diverticulosis doctors can see the damage, thus giving you the impression that they know why you are suffering. Nothing could be further from the truth. In reality people suffering from diverticulitis are no better off than those diagnosed with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) when it comes to providing you with a solution to your problem. And both conditions are treated in the same manner.

What is Diverticulitis?

Diverticulitis is the diagnosis given to people who develop inflammation as a result of diverticulosis. Diverticulosis is presence of weak pouches in the colon called diverticula.

Diverticulosis is generally diagnosed from a colonoscopy or a barium contrast x-ray.

It is estimated that by the age of 70 at least 50% of the American population has developed diverticulosis. Diverticulosis by itself does not cause symptoms, but as a result of it some people will develop diverticulitis and thus pain in the lower abdomen often associated with diarrhea.

What Causes Diverticulosis?

Diverticulosis is generally thought to be caused by excessive pressure in the colon, which may be combined with a weakening of the colon due to age, inflammatory damage, or both. This pressure is likely directly associated with constipation, although many people don’t recognize themselves as having constipation.

Presenting an Advanced Course in Food Allergies, Intolerances, and Sensitivities

Presenting an Advanced Course in Food Allergies with Dr. Stephen Wangen. This course will cover intolerances and sensitivities as well as defining and evaluating test methods & analysis of current research.

What is this course?

Offered in conjunction with the Gluten and Allergen Free Expo, October 1 & 2, this practical, professional course is a scientifically based overview of food allergies, intolerances, and sensitivities. These often interchanged and misunderstood terms will be defined in detail and the differences clarified.

A comprehensive summary of the various signs, symptoms, and medical conditions associated with food allergies, intolerances, and sensitivities will be presented. The spectrum of food allergy and intolerance testing methods will be reviewed and evaluated. Practical information will be presented for the application of food allergy testing in the clinical setting. Many case studies will be examined along with an update on related medical research.

This course is designed for physicians, nurses, chiropractors, dietitians, nutritionists, and other healthcare professionals. However, anyone interested in gaining a better understanding of food reactions is welcome. Food allergies and intolerances are relevant to all medical specialties and impact all systems of the body.

GIG: Scientific Gluten-Free certification is not new.

From the Gluten Intolerance Group of North America:

In 2005, the Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG) launched the first comprehensive gluten-free certification program using a scientific-based standard of 10-ppm gluten, third party auditing using highly qualified auditors in the manufacturing industry, and a robust testing process including random point-of-sale testing by independent labs and regular in-plant testing of finished products, equipment and raw materials.

NFCA and CCA programs, launched similar certification programs in the last few weeks, each claiming they "are the only scientifically-based gluten-free certification program..." Like the claims of these programs, GFCO did extensive research before setting its standards. GFCO has set the industry standard and is the program that organizations like NFCA and CCA are modeling their recently launched programs after.

The Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO) is currently performing audits in 12 countries with certified products sold in four countries.

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:

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.

These drugs change how you experience IBS by forcing changes in the biochemistry of your body. None is capable of curing IBS, because IBS is not caused by a drug deficiency. Treatment with these drugs does not address the cause of your IBS, and once you stop using the drugs the symptoms will return.

The use of these drugs often results in serious side effects and/or negative long-term consequences.

Image thanks to flickr.com

More About Food Allergies: IgE and IgG

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.

5 Reasons It's Hard to Detect Your Own Food Allergy

Reason 1

One major obstacle to figuring out which foods are problematic is that, even on an elimination diet, you may not have truly eliminated all of your allergenic foods.

Assumptions are often made about which foods are allergenic and which foods are not. These assumptions are often wrong. Even on an elimination diet you may still be eating something that will trigger your IBS, even if you are eating foods that you normally don't eat.

In order to solve your IBS you may need to stay away from entire food groups, not just one or two foods.

Food groups are much more difficult to avoid than you might think. One food group that commonly causes problems for IBS sufferers is dairy. Dairy is not just milk. Dairy includes cheese, butter, sour cream, cream cheese, ice cream, and yogurt. It's found in many baked goods such as muffins, breads, and cookies, as well as in many cream soups, some salad dressings, and milk chocolate. Coffee and lattes are another common source of dairy. Even margarine contains dairy. The list goes on and on.

PubMed Study: Rifaximin and Patients with Celiac Disease.

The following study comes from the National Institutes of Health and PubMed.gov.

Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial of Rifaximin for Persistent Symptoms in Patients with Celiac Disease.

Background:

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is one cause of a poor response to a gluten-free diet (GFD) and persistent symptoms in celiac disease. Rifaximin has been reported to improve symptoms in non-controlled trials.

Aims:

To determine the effect of rifaximin on gastrointestinal symptoms and lactulose-hydrogen breath tests in patients with poorly responsive celiac disease.

Methods:

A single-center, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial of patients with biopsy-proven celiac disease and persistent gastrointestinal symptoms despite a GFD was conducted. Patients were randomized to placebo (n = 25) or rifaximin (n = 25) 1,200 mg daily for 10 days.

Friday's Recipe: Gluten Free Popovers from Carol Fenster

The following recipe comes from our friend Carol Fenster. Please check out her newest book 125 Gluten-Free Vegetarian Recipes!

From Carol Fenster:

Popovers are one of the easiest breads to make. You just whip up the batter in a blender, pour it into a popover or muffin pan, and bake away.

What can be simpler than that?

Popover pans are sold in kitchen and discount stores for around $20, which is a good investment for bread that is so easy. Store the batter in the refrigerator overnight, or all day until you're ready to make dinner, then bring the batter to room temperature before baking.

3 large eggs, room temperature
1 cup 1% milk, also room temp.
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
2/3 cup potato starch
1/4 cup Carol's Flour Blend
1/2 teaspoon table salt
1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum

Case Study: Psoriasis in a Nationwide Cohort Study of Patients with Celiac Disease.

The following study can be read in it's entirety on the National Institutes of Health website.

J Invest Dermatol. 2011 Jun 9. doi: 10.1038/jid.2011.162. [Epub ahead of print]

Abstract:

Earlier studies on the association between celiac disease (CD) and psoriasis show contradictory results. The purpose of this study was to assess the risk of psoriasis in patients with biopsy-verified CD.

Through 28 pathology departments in Sweden, we identified individuals with CD diagnosed between 1969 and 2008 (Marsh 3: villous atrophy; n=28,958 unique individuals).

We then used Cox regression to compare individuals with CD with 143,910 sex- and age-matched controls regarding their risk of psoriasis. CD was a risk factor for future psoriasis (hazard ratio (HR)=1.72; 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.54-1.92; during follow-up, 401 individuals with CD and 1,139 controls had a diagnosis of psoriasis).

Fast Facts about Irritable Bowel Syndrome

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).

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)

A Bit About 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.

When is a Gluten Free Diet Necessary?

Question:

I am a 61 year old female. Diagnosed with Graves disease 30 years ago, treated with RAI. Diagnosed with Mitral Valve Prolapse (with regurgitation) about 25 years ago.

Family history of autoimmune disease - other siblings with Graves, father has psoriasis and polymyalgia rheumatica, aunt with vitiligo. Several siblings have gone gluten free and seen remarkable improvements in health so I am giving the diet a try.

Because I am a nurse, I decided to have some blood work done as a baseline. Everything on the celiac panel came back within normal limits except the tTG IGg which came back higher than the normal range.

Symptoms I was experiencing include: gas & bloating, constipation (sometimes severe), heart palpitations & tachycardia, significant hair loss, carpal tunnel left wrist (have already had surgery on right wrist), frequent bouts of severe itching, keratosis pilaris. Since going gluten free I have seen great improvement in these symptoms (some disappearing completely) unless glutened.

Should More Men Eat Gluten Free?

The following article was written by Melissa Diane Smith for Against the Grain Nutrition. The Going Against the Grain Group is a members-only nutrition service for people who eat gluten free or grain free for optimal health.

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"There are good reasons for men to pay attention to symptoms early. Every single person I meet or hear about with gluten intolerance is female. I feel like the only guy who has it," writes one man on a celiac forum.

Do men really have gluten intolerance far less often than women, or do they pay less attention to symptoms that are common signs of gluten intolerance?

No one really knows for sure. No studies have evaluated the prevalence of non-celiac gluten sensitivity in men and women, but two to three times more women than men are diagnosed with celiac disease, an autoimmune disease in the gut to gluten. The difference could be because women tend to see doctors more often than men and therefore are more likely to get diagnosed, some gluten sensitivity experts say.

“I don’t see any reason why there would be that much of a difference in the prevalence between men and women,” says Stephen Wangen, ND, founder of the Center for Food Allergies and author of Healthier Without Wheat. “I think gluten intolerance probably affects just as many men, but men either try to ignore their symptoms, grin and bear them, or don’t realize they’re brought on by something in their diet.”

Heartburn, GERD & Acid Reflux

Acid Reflux and Heartburn: The Underlying Causes


Heartburn or acid reflux or GERD -- whatever the name, if you are like millions of others, you are experiencing this gastrointestinal malady. 
You may take your acid reflux problem for granted and buy your antacids at Costco, but you should be aware of the negative effects this has on your entire body.

You also should know that heartburn is a sign of other problems, and can almost always be treated without acid blockers. 



The Prevalence of Acid Reflux Disease


Acid rising from the stomach and irritating the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), the valve that separates the esophagus from the stomach, results in the feeling of what is commonly called heartburn. 
Some 35 to 45 percent of the population experiences heartburn, often called GERD or "gastroesophageal reflux disease". That’s a whopping 116 million people! It’s also the most profitably treated symptom in America.

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.

Intestinal Microorganisms and Parasites

Our intestines are a rich and thriving ecosystem, when we are healthy. The massive surface of our intestines (about the same as a tennis court) provides everything needed for life - space, moisture, and nutrients.

Given the ubiquity of anti-bacterial products in our society, many people are surprised to learn that they have about 10 trillion bacteria living in their intestines. But not only do we have bacteria lining our digestive tract, we desperately need them.

There are basically three types of micro-organisms living in our intestines: Good bacteria; Bad bacteria/microorganisms; and Disease organisms.

The good bacteria include species and strains that we evolved with, like acidopholus and bifidobacterium. These are an essential part of our digestive systems and we would not survive without them. They help us to digest food by producing enzymes, manufacture some of the essential nutrients that we need to live, assist in the development of our immune system, and prevent infection by occupying the space in the intestines that unwelcome organisms would thrive in, if they could.

Presenting an Advanced Course in Food Allergies, Intolerances, and Sensitivities

Innate Health Services, LLC, in cooperation with the IBS Treatment Center and Dr. Stephen Wangen, is proud to present educational courses for physicians and other healthcare providers, as well as the general public.

The next course (Advanced Course in Food Allergies, Intolerances, and Sensitivities) is scheduled for October 1, 2011 in Dallas, Texas!

More information:

Advanced Course in Food Allergies, Intolerances, and Sensitivities
Defining and Evaluating Test Methods & Analysis of Current Research

October 1, 2011 - Westin Park Central, Dallas, TX

This one day professional course taught by Dr. Stephen Wangen is a scientifically based overview of food allergies, intolerances, and sensitivities. A comprehensive summary of the various signs, symptoms, and medical conditions associated with food intolerances will be presented.

The curriculum includes: Testing for Food Reactions; Laboratory Comparisons; Immunology of Food Reactions, Non-Immunological Food Reactions; Medical Research/Review of Disorders; and Case Studies Review.

Practical information will be presented for the application of food allergy testing in the clinical setting.

Information: InnateHealthClasses.com

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Image thanks to the Wayne Joseph Blog via Creative Commons

Gluten Free Recipe: Berry Almond Muffins

This recipe comes to us thanks to our friends at Gluten Free Life with Jen.

Here is an easy recipe using Pamela’s Products Baking and Pancake Mix.

You could use any berries as this recipe is modified from one on the Pamela’s website that uses blackberries.

Berry Almond Muffins

• 1-1/2 cups Pamela’s Baking & Pancake Mix

• 1/2 cup blanched slivered almonds

• 2 eggs

• 1/3 cup apple sauce
• 
1 teaspoon almond extract
• 
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 
1/3 cup milk (cow, rice, soy, hemp, almond, coconut, etc…)
• 
3/4 cup oil

• 1/2 cup huckleberries or the berries of your choice (plus a few for the muffin tops)

• 2 teaspoons granulated sugar

Directions:

Treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome with a Food Elimination Diet Followed by Food Challenge and Probiotics

This study originally published in JACN.org:

Objective

In Irritable Bowel Syndrome, the gut-associated immune system may be up-regulated resulting in immune complex production, low-grade inflammation, loss of Class I bacteria, and translocation of inflammatory mediators and macromolecules outside of the GI lumen.

Since food intolerance may be one of the reasons for this upregulation, our goal was to investigate the role of food intolerance in IBS patients.

Methods

In this open label pilot study, we enrolled 20 patients with IBS by Rome II criteria (15 women, ages 24–81) who had failed standard medical therapies in a tertiary care GI clinic. Baseline serum IgE and IgG food and mold panels, and comprehensive stool analysis (CSA) were performed.

Sinusitis and Runny Nose - Case Studies

Case #1

52 year old woman (M.S.) with a long history of sinusitis and sinus headaches as well as arthritis, and insomnia from hot flashes.

ELISA blood allergy testing discovered very high allergies to salmon, tuna, crab, lobster, and other seafood as well as beef and pork. The patient stated that she ate seafood almost every day.

Within one month after the removal of these foods the patient said that she felt “great.” Her sinusitis had almost completely resolved, as had her headaches, and her arthritis was already much better. Hot flashes were also greatly diminished and she was sleeping soundly.

Case #2

44 year old woman (E.B.) with 15 year history of sinus problems and headaches. She had 3 previous sinus surgeries that had not resolved her problems. As a child she had many ear infections.

Antibiotics and Surgery May Not Cure Sinusitis

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

The answer is that in these people, the antibiotics are only treating the bacterial infection that is secondary to the inflammation clogging their sinuses.

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

Understanding Dermatitis Herpetiformis

The following information is 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.

Eruptions commonly occur on pressure points, such as around the elbows, the front of the knees, the buttocks, back face, and scalp but can appear anywhere on the body. Eruptions are usually bilateral - occurring on both sides of the body. 60% of those diagnosed are men and the most common age at diagnosis is 15 to 40 years old. Although it is uncommon to diagnose young children with DH, we are seeing more cases of early childhood DH.

High Blood Pressure and 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.

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).

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.

PubMed Case Study: Infant nutritional factors and functional constipation in childhood

This study originally posted on PubMed.gov.

Objectives:

Food allergy and celiac disease may lead to childhood constipation. Early introduction of food allergens and gluten in the first year of life has been suggested to have a function in these food intolerances, but it is unclear whether this also holds true for development of childhood constipation.

The aim of this study was to assess the association between the timing of introduction of food allergens and gluten early in life and functional constipation in childhood.

Methods:

This study was embedded in the Generation R study, a population-based prospective cohort study from fetal life until young adulthood. Functional constipation at 24 months of age was defined in 4,651 children according to the Rome II criteria of defecation frequency <3 times a week or the presence of mainly hard feces for at least 2 weeks.

Candida, Yeast & Digestive Problems

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.

While 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.

"I Can't Possibly Have a Food Allergy.."

This is a comment frequently spoken (or thought) by patients and non-patients alike. You probably assume that it would be obvious if you had a food allergy.

Or you may not have had symptoms until more recently, and you’ve been eating the same kinds of foods all of your life. So how can you possibly have an allergy to one of those foods now?

People make many assumptions about food allergies and intolerances. One of the most common assumptions is that you’ll always have symptoms, or that your symptoms will always be the same. Neither is true.

Symptoms can change significantly over time, and they can come and go. Symptoms can also begin to show up at any time in life. This is just as true for celiac disease (a form of gluten intolerance) as it is for most other food allergies and intolerances.

Friday's Recipe & Contest from Jules Gluten Free

This week's recipe comes from our friend Jules Gluten Free.

Please note that she is currently running a contest with special giveaways! Follow the links to add your comments to her website and get a free care package. But do it soon - only the first 500 receive the care package and they are up to 281 as of today...

From Jules Gluten Free:

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:

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.

PubMed.gov - Case Study: Vegan Diet Free of Gluten Improves the Signs and Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis

From PubMed.gov:

A vegan diet free of gluten improves the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis: the effects on arthritis correlate with a reduction in antibodies to food antigens.

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.

Hypothyroidism: Case Studies

Hypothyroid Case Studies

Case #1: 30 year old woman with complaints of fatigue, weight gain and forgetfulness. These had become progressively worse over the last 2 years. Patient was previously told that her thyroid was normal.

Retesting demonstrated that she was in fact suffering from hypothyroidism. Treatment with thyroid hormone completely solved her energy shortage resulting in weight loss and much better cognitive function.

Case #2: 40 year old man with fatigue, weight gain and constipation. This patient complained of feeling very sluggish. Testing showed that he had a hypothyroid condition. Treatment with thyroid hormones quickly turned around his fatigue, resolved the constipation and made it possible for him to lose weight.

Case #3: 51 year old woman (M.M.) diagnosed with hypothyroidism 2 years ago and recently diagnosed with celiac disease. TSH testing showed fluctuating thyroid levels for over 2 years, resulting in repeated changes in dosage of thyroid medication.

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.

NIH Case Study: Food allergy mediated by IgG antibodies associated with migraine in adults.

This study comes from PubMed and NIH.gov:

BACKGROUND:

Migraine occurs with a high prevalence of 18 per cent. Management requires a tailored regimen of pharmacological and other measures based on individual clinical history.

In some patients, allergen-specific IgG has been suspected to be involved in their mechanism, however, serological methods to investigate such possibility, are seldomly used.

OBJECTIVE:

The aim of this study was to investigate allergen-specific IgG in serum of patients with migraine refractory to traditional treatment.