Today's Gluten Free Recipe: Fried Shrimp, Coleslaw & North Caroline Shrimp Burgers from Jules Gluten Free!

This recipes comes to us thanks to Jules Gluten Free. Visit her site to learn more about her certified allergy-free, gluten-free and kosher facility, Jules Gluten Free™ All Purpose Flour.

Fried Shrimp (Gluten Free)
Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups milk, dairy or non-dairy (Earth Balance Soy Milk or So Delicious Coconut Milk)
• 2 Tbs. lemon juice
• 2 cups Jules Gluten All Purpose Flour
• 1/8 cup gluten-free cornmeal
• 1/2 Tbs. black pepper
• 1 Tbs. sea salt
• 2 pounds medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
• Canola oil, for frying (or choose another high heat oil)

Directions:

Pour just enough oil into electric skillet or frying pan and preheat oil to 375 F (medium-high heat).

Line a tray with parchment or paper towels and set aside.

Prepare 2 bowls: in one, combine the milk and lemon juice; in the other, whisk together the Jules Gluten Free All Purpose Flour, cornmeal, pepper and salt. Dredge in the flour mixture first, then the milk, then the flour mixture again.

Kids & Digestive Problems

At the IBS Treatment Center we’ve found that children’s digestive problems are very similar to those of adults, and that the causes are generally identical.

Digestive problems often get worse as you get older, so more attention is given to adults. But that doesn’t mean that infants and children can’t suffer tremendous discomfort and disruption from their upset tummy. It really isn’t normal to have these problems, at any age.

Infants have only two ways of demonstrating their maldigestion. You either see it, or you hear it. Colic and reflux are two of the most underappreciated and misunderstood problems in infants. A healthy baby is generally a happy baby. They cry when they are hungry, or lonely, or need a diaper change. But they shouldn’t be inconsolable.

If you have a colicky baby, then there is a logical reason. Often this is an expression of inflammation in the digestive tract or a painful buildup of gas due to poor digestion. These two problems are most commonly caused by food allergies and bacterial imbalances. Even if a baby is only breastfeeding it can be experiencing a food allergy via mom’s milk. This is a known medical fact, though many doctors are unaware of it.

Sinusitis and Runny Nose - Case Studies

Sinusitis & Runny Nose 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.

Sinusitis & Runny Nose 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.

The Canadian Celiac Health Survey

This study comes from the IBS Treatment Center's Research page and the National Institutes of Health.

The purpose of this study was to characterize the diagnostic process, frequency of associated disorders, family history, and impact of a gluten-free diet in individuals with celiac disease.

All members of the Canadian Celiac Association (n=5240) were surveyed with a questionnaire.

Respondents included 2681 adults with biopsy-proven celiac disease. The mean age was 56 years.

Most common presenting symptoms included abdominal pain (83%), diarrhea (76%), and weight loss (69%).

Testing for Irritable Bowel Syndrome Triggers: Comprehensive GI Functional Panel

The Comprehensive GI (gastrointestinal) Function Panel includes everything in the DNA Microbial Profile as well as several other tests that evaluate the overall function of the digestive tract.

These tests include inflammatory markers, digestive markers, measurement of absorption, pH, occult blood, and several other tests. Each is described below.

Inflammatory Markers

Beneficial Short Chain Fatty Acids (SCFA)

Beneficial SCFA come from dietary carbohydrates that have escaped digestion or absorption in the small intestine. They are also produced by bacteria in the large intestine via the fermentation of fiber.

The production of SCFA in the intestine plays an important role in maintaining the intestinal lining. Beneficial SCFA include acetate, propionate, and butyrate. They affect the bacteria of the colon as well as the health of the colon and the entire body.

Lactoferrin

Lactoferrin is released in inflammatory condition such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. It can help to differentiate between IBS and these conditions, and to monitor improvement in inflammatory bowel diseases.

WBC (White Blood Cells)

White blood cells indicate inflammation in the digestive tract.

Mucus

Excess mucus indicates infection, inflammation, or injury of the lining of the digestive tract.

Digestive Markers

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. For example, people with family members who have IBD are more likely to have IBD. Treatment usually involves anti-inflammatory medications to try to control the inflammation.

Celiac Disease Resources

Today we're highlighting Kids with Celiac Disease, A Family Guide to Raising Happy, Healthy, Gluten-Free Children.

by Danna Korn, 252 pages
Price: $11.59 - $12.57

A practical guide for the families of children and teenagers with celiac disease, a chronic, life-long digestive disorder. One out of 250 Americans is born with this genetic autoimmune condition, which is characterized by intolerance of gluten (wheat, rye, barley, malt, and other food additives) and often goes undiagnosed. The author shows that it's possible for kids with celiac disease and their families to lead happy and healthy lives.

Parents find advice on how to deal with the diagnosis, cope with emotional turmoil, and help their child develop a positive and constructive attitude. Especially important is the guidance on menu planning, grocery shopping, strategies for proper food preparation, and deciding whether or not the entire family should be gluten-fee. There's even a section on junk food!

What about the child who has difficulty sticking with the prescribed diet? Parents find tips on conditioning behavior and how and when to give kids some control over what they eat. Also covered is the challenge of controlling meals outside of the home-at birthday parties, restaurants, camp, and on vacation. Dozens of recipes help parents be creative and offer well-rounded appealing meals and snacks. There's also information about how special education laws can help with services at school.

More resources for celiac disease and food allergies here.

Hypoglycemia

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.

How Do You Diagnose It?

Extreme forms of hypoglycemia will show up on a general blood chemistry panel as a glucose level that is below normal. However, many people who experience hypoglycemia have glucose levels that are within the normal range. Therefore testing your blood glucose level is generally not helpful for diagnosing the most common forms of hypoglycemia described above.

Most Dairy Reactions Are Not Lactose Intolerance

Most reactions to milk are mistakenly considered to be lactose intolerance. Lactose intolerance is defined by a person having a deficiency in the enzyme lactase. Lactase is needed in order to digest the sugar component in milk called lactose.

Many people are lactose intolerant, but millions more have an immune reaction to dairy.

Unfortunately, most people don’t recognize that there is a difference between the two issues.

These people usually do not figure out that dairy is causing their symptoms because they never actually eliminate dairy from their diet, only lactose. Avoiding lactose only partially helps their condition and often doesn’t help at all. What they don’t realize is that even though they are avoiding lactose, they are not avoiding dairy.

The most blatant example is lactose free milk. Lactose free milk is still a major dairy product. If you are drinking lactose free milk you haven’t even begun to eliminate dairy from diet, only lactose. Dairy is used in many products that are considered to be lactose free. Whey protein powder is essentially dried milk, without the lactose. Whey is not only sold as a protein powder, it is also used as an ingredient in hundreds of different food products from bread to soup to candy.

CNN: Are There Degrees of Gluten Sensitivity?

A recent article from CNN (Are There Degrees of Gluten Sensitivity?) continues the trend of citing "experts" in gluten sensitivity and celiac disease that seem to have some of their facts wrong.

In this case, the issue is the fact that celiac disease normally (in the majority of cases) presents with no patient reported symptoms and that non-celiac gluten allergies (which do have blood antibodies, just not those specific to celiac disease) can cause the same symptoms as celiac disease and can be more severe, even causing hospitalization in some cases.

It will take many more double-blind, placebo controlled studies of non-celiac gluten intolerance caused by antibody reactions (allergies) to gluten before most doctors understand it. But the evidence (given the existing studies) shows that many more people react to gluten than just those that have celiac disease and can dramatically improve their health on a gluten free diet.

Excerpt from CNN.com:

Gluten-Free Recipe: Donuts!

This delicious recipe comes from Jane Butler (and the GIG of North Texas) and Living Without Magazine.

Makes 2 dozen, 3-inch donuts.

Ingredients:

• 1¼ cups white rice flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 7/8 cup potato starch
• ½ cup tapioca starch
• ½ cup plus 1 tablespoon chickpea flour or soy flour
• 4 teaspoons xanthan gum
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 ¾ teaspoons baking powder
• 7 ½ teaspoons instant dry yeast
• 1 ¼ cups warm milk of choice or water
• 1 ½ sticks unsalted butter, melted
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 4 cups vegetable oil (or more)
• Extra sugar, powdered sugar or cinnamon, optional

1. Place rice flour, granulated sugar, potato starch, tapioca starch, chickpea flour, xanthan gum, salt, baking powder and dry yeast in a bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat briefly to combine.

Reported symptoms of food hypersensitivity and sensitization to common foods in 4-year-old children.

The following study comes from the National Institutes of Health via the Food Allergy and Intolerance Foundation research page.

AIM:

To characterize reported food hypersensitivity (FHS) among young children in a birth cohort.

Methods:

At 4 years of age a parental questionnaire on FHS and allergic symptoms was evaluated. Blood was collected for analyses of IgE-antibodies to egg, milk, fish, wheat, peanut and soy. Complete questionnaire data was available for 3694 children (90%), and blood samples were obtained from 2563 children (63%).

Results:

FHS was reported in 11% of the children (n=397).

Eczema was the most commonly reported symptom and the only symptom in half of these children.

Nickel Allergies and Digestive Problems

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 blog.

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.

Testing for Food Allergies

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

Vegetables: asparagus, avacodo, broccoli, beet, bell pepper (green), cabbage (white), carrots, cauliflower, celery, cucumber, garlic, lettuce, mushroom, olive (black), onion (white), potato (white), pumpkin, radish, spinach, squash (green), squash (yellow), sweet potato, tomato, zucchini squash.

Nuts: almond, coconut, filbert, peanut, pecan, sesame, sunflower seed, walnut

Legumes: green pea, kidney bean, lentil, lima bean, peanut, pinto bean, string bean, soy bean.

Fruits: apple, apricot, banana, blueberry, cherry, grape (red) grapefruit, lemon, orange, papaya, peach, pear, pineapple, plum, raspberry, strawberry.

Miscellaneous: coffee bean, cocoa (chocolate) bean, honey, baker's yeast, brewer's yeast, sugar cane.

Foods Included in the 15 'Vegetarian' Additional Food Allergy Panel

Vegetables: Atichoke, Bean Sprout, Eggplant, Chili Pepper
Grains: Flaxseed, Kamut, Millet, Quinoa, Brown Rice
Legumes/Nuts: Navy Bean, Cashew Nut, Pistachio Nut
Fruits: Cantelope, Cherry, Watermelon

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.

NIH.gov: The therapeutic effects of eliminating allergic foods according to food-specific IgG antibodies in irritable bowel syndrome

The following study on food allergies and irritable bowel syndrome comes from NIH.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.

Food Allergy And Intolerance Foundation

The Food Allergy and Intolerance Foundation 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.

Causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Stress Reduction

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.

Causes of IBS: Food Allergies

Food Allergies

Most people who suffer from IBS are suffering at least in part because of an allergic reaction to one or more foods. If you're like most people, you're probably thinking, "Not me, I don't have a food allergy."

Most people think they have a pretty good understanding of food allergies. You may know someone who has one and think, "My problem isn't like theirs." Or you may think that food allergies normally result in hives, a rash, or some kind of medical emergency. But even if you've already had food allergy testing, chances are it wasn't very helpful.

You might have a tough time believing that you may have a food allergy because you've eaten the "offending" foods before, some every day, and have not suffered from consistently severe symptoms. Maybe you've had just a little diarrhea or constipation once in a while, until suddenly it gets worse or new symptoms develop.

The Canadian Celiac Health Survey

From the IBS Treatment Center's Research page:

The purpose of this study was to characterize the diagnostic process, frequency of associated disorders, family history, and impact of a gluten-free diet in individuals with celiac disease.

All members of the Canadian Celiac Association (n=5240) were surveyed with a questionnaire.

Respondents included 2681 adults with biopsy-proven celiac disease.

The mean age was 56 years. Most common presenting symptoms included abdominal pain (83%), diarrhea (76%), and weight loss (69%).

The mean delay in diagnosis was 11.7 years. Diagnoses made prior to celiac disease included anemia (40%), stress (31%), and irritable bowel syndrome (29%).

Osteoporosis was common.

Prior to diagnosis, 27% of respondents consulted three or more doctors about their symptoms.

Delays in diagnosis of celiac disease remain a problem. Associated medical conditions occur frequently. More accurate food labeling is needed. Improved awareness of celiac disease and greater use of serological screening tests may result in earlier diagnosis and reduced risk of associated conditions.

Today's Gluten-Free Recipe: Chewy Granola Bars from Jules Gluten Free

This recipe comes from Jules Gluten Free. Please visit her site for a wealth of information on living gluten free!

Chewy Granola Bars

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup flaxseed meal
• ½ cup Jules Gluten Free™ All Purpose Flour
• 3 cups certified gluten-free rolled oats, rice flakes, or quinoa flakes (Jules Gluten Free™ Certified GF Oats)
• 2 tablespoons cinnamon
• 1 cup grated carrots
• ¾ cup baking raisins (or boil raisins in water, drain, then add to the recipe) or sultanas
• ½ cup dried apples, chopped
• ½ cup dried bananas, chopped
• ½ cup figs, chopped (approximately 5 figs)
• ½ cup grated coconut (unsweetened)
• ¼ cup dates, chopped
• ¼ cup dried cranberries, blueberries, cherries or other dried berry of choice
• 1 cup walnuts, chopped (if making nut-free, substitute with sunflower seeds)
• ½ cup agave nectar, honey, or maple syrup
• 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
• ¼ cup Blackstrap molasses
• ½ cup sunflower nut butter (if making nut-free) or “natural” peanut, almond, or cashew butter (Earth Balance® Natural Peanut Butter with Flaxseed)
• ½ cup unsweetened apple juice or cider (Vruit® Apple-Carrot juice)

Directions:

Testing for Food Allergies: The Standard Food Allergy Profile

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.

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.

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.

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 (see list) can be detected.

Today's Q&A

Question: How does the gluten / soy free triathlete get enough high quality carbohydrates?

As you may have noticed, the key to this question is “high quality” carbs. There are many gluten free products, but they are often highly refined and don’t have the nutritional profile of whole wheat.

Getting enough high quality carbs can be a little trickier for an athlete than for the average person, but it’s still very doable.

For example, there are many nice gluten/soy free pastas. Whole grain rice is also an excellent source of carbohydrates. Quinoa is a wonderful carb, as is millet. And corn in the form of polenta, although a grain, still provides a lot of carbohydrate. Gluten free oats is another example.

You may have to learn to prepare some of these, but once you get the hang of it it’s really quite simple. One of my favorite cookbooks is the “Whole Foods Nutrition Cookbook.” It will help you master some of the options and make you an expert in healthy cooking. Happy training!

Question: Is there a link between celiac and asthma?

That is a very astute observation. The simple answer to your question is “Yes!” There have been several small studies on this and very recently a large study that found that there is indeed a higher risk in those with celiac disease to also have asthma.

Those studies include:

Ludvigsson JF, et al. “Celiac disease confers a 1.6-fold increased risk of asthma: a nationwide population-based cohort study.” Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2011 Apr;127(4):1071-3.

Kero J, et al. “Could TH1 and TH2 diseases coexist? Evaluation of asthma incidence in children with coeliac disease, type 1 diabetes, or rheumatoid arthritis: a register study.” Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2001 Nov;108(5):781-3.

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Image thanks to creativecommons.org

Gallbladder Issues

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.

Vegan/Gluten Free Diet Improves Signs & Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Source: PubMed.gov

Department of Rheumatology, Karolinska Institutet at Huddinge University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.

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).

PubMed.gov: Fecal microbiota in early rheumatoid arthritis.

From PubMed.gov:

Objective:

To compare the composition of intestinal microbiota of patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or fibromyalgia (FM), fecal samples were collected from 51 patients with RA and 50 with FM.

Methods:

RA patients fulfilled the RA criteria of the American College of Rheumatology, and duration of their disease was < or = 6 months. Only nonhospitalized patients from outpatient care were included.

Patients having extreme diets or previous disease modifying antirheumatic drug or glucocorticoid medication were excluded, as were those taking antibiotics or having gastroenteritis for at least 2 months prior to sampling. Fecal bacterial composition was analyzed with a method based on flow cytometry, 16S rRNA hybridization, and DNA-staining. A set of 8 oligonucleotide probes was used.

Results:

In comparison to patients with FM, the RA patients had significantly less bifidobacteria and bacteria of the Bacteroides-Porphyromonas-Prevotella group, Bacteroides fragilis subgroup, and Eubacterium rectale--Clostridium coccoides group. Results from the 8 probes showed a significant overall difference between the 2 patient groups, indicating widespread microbial differences.

Conclusion:

These findings support the hypothesis that intestinal microbes participate in the etiopathogenesis (the cause and development) of RA.

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More case studies available at CenterforFoodAllergies.com
Image thanks to wikipedia via creativecommons.org

The Debate Over the Gluten Free Diet Continues

Here we have another doctor saying that it is hard to be gluten free and that it may result in nutritional deficiencies. One simple argument to this point would be that nutritional deficiencies can easily be avoided if you focus on eating good, healthy whole foods.

However, Dr. Jessen seems compelled to write about the gluten free diet of the new Wimbledon Champion, but can't quite seem to get all of his facts straight or even manage to not contradict himself. He agrees that it is helping the tennis player, but doesn't know if he has celiac disease.

Yet in the end says that gluten free only helps those with celiac disease.

And like most doctors who have zero training in nutrition or health, he feels that going gluten free can bring on weight gain or nutritional deficiencies. If you were to ask him to cite one case of this, would he be able to?

Friday's Recipe: Vegan & Raw, Clean Green Pesto Sauce

This great recipe comes thanks to our friends at HailMerry.com:

Clean Green Pesto Sauce

• 4 small cloves garlic
• 4 cups firmly packed fresh organic baby spinach, washed well
• 3 cups fresh basil leaves
• 1/4 cup raw organic olive oil
• 1/3 cup Hail Merry® Chimayo Chili Pecans or Lemon Thyme Pecans
• 1/4 cup Hail Merry® Sunflower Seeds- Salt N Pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• ¼-½ cup water

1. Place garlic in food processor and process until minced. Add remaining ingredients
except the water and process to fine paste.

2. With the machine running add 1/4 cup of water. Continue to add water by the
tablespoon until pesto becomes consistency of a creamy thick sauce. Taste and adjust
seasonings. Use immediately or transfer to a glass container and top with a thin coat of olive oil to prevent the top of the pesto from discoloring.

Pesto will keep for 10 days in refrigerator.

Serving Suggestions:

Raw: Drizzle over sliced fresh tomatoes, thinly sliced red onions, thinly sliced zucchini
and yellow summer squash, thin rings of orange peppers and chopped olives.

Vegan & Gluten-Free: Toss with your favorite gluten-free pasta, baked spaghetti
squash, roasted baby potatoes, or grilled portabella mushrooms.

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Image thanks to university of california sonoma county master gardeners via CreativeCommons.org

Understanding Diverticulitis

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.

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.

The risk for those taking NSAIDS (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), including ibuprofen products such as Advil and Motrin and naproxen drugs such as Aleve, was similar. Heavy users had a risk of high blood pressure 86% higher than those who didn't use the drug. Light users carried a 17% higher risk. (Journal Hypertension November 2002 20(11):2301-2307)

Case Study: Does food intolerance play a role in juvenile chronic arthritis?

From NIH.gov:

Sixty children with juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA) have been examined at the paediatric rheumatology out-patient clinic in Maastricht, of whom three ultimately appeared to have a food intolerance.

In one of these three patients, there appeared to be a relationship with joint complaints. In the course of the elimination/challenge tests which were conducted, severe painful swelling of the knee occurred rapidly after each challenge.

Three challenges were carried out with the same result each time. Since the symptoms did not disappear entirely following elimination of milk, it was concluded that milk intolerance in this case was an aggravating factor in a seronegative monoarticular JCA. In the second and third patients, a strict diet had no positive effect on the joint problems.

In conclusion, the existence of such a connection between food and chronic joint complaints has been made clear, it only plays a role in incidental cases.

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Schrander JJ, Marcelis C, de Vries MP, van Santen-Hoeufft HM.

Source
Department of Paediatrics and Rheumatology, Academic Hospital Maastricht, The Netherlands.

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Image thanks to CreativeCommons.org

What Is Behçet's Disease?

Behçet's disease (also known as Behçet Disease or Behçet's Syndrome) is thought of as an autoimmune disease, but diagnosing Behçet's disease is very difficult because no specific test confirms it. There is no "Behçet's test".

The diagnosis is based on the occurrence of symptoms and signs that are the definition of the disease.

Criteria for Behçet's disease:

• Mouth sores (oral ulcers) at least three times in 12 months
• Any two of the following:
• Recurring genital sores/ulcers
• Eye inflammation with loss of vision
• Characteristic skin lesions
• Positive pathergy (skin prick test)

Skin problems are a common symptom of Behçet's disease. Skin sores often look red or resemble pus-filled bumps or a bruise. Arthritis or joint pain occurs in more than half of all patients with Behçet's disease.

Testing for Celiac Disease & Gluten Intolerance

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.

The IBS Treatment Center is proud to announce that it now offers the most advanced testing available anywhere for the evaluation and assessment of gluten intolerance and reactions to wheat. The following panel (see orange box below, next page) is now available through Cyrex Labs. This testing will allow for greater understanding of patient reactions to gluten.

This blood testing should prove to be far more adept than any previous blood testing at properly identifying those who are gluten intolerant or are reactive to wheat.

If you are interested in having this advanced gluten intolerance testing or would like to know more please contact our office at 206-264-1111 or 1-888-546-6283 or info@ibstreatmentcenter.com.

Causes of IBS: Food Allergies

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

Conclusion:

These data demonstrate that identifying and appropriately addressing food sensitivity in IBS patients not previously responding to standard therapy results in a sustained clinical response and impacts on overall well being and quality of life in this challenging entity."
Drisko et. al. 2006

Food Allergies

Most people who suffer from IBS are suffering at least in part because of an allergic reaction to one or more foods.

If you're like most people, you're probably thinking, "Not me, I don't have a food allergy." Most people think they have a pretty good understanding of food allergies. You may know someone who has one and think, "My problem isn't like theirs."

Reporter News: Gluten Free Diet - Must for some, Fad for Others?

This article focuses on people who are avoiding gluten to lose weight. But it places people in two groups - celiac and fad dieters.

What should be acknowledged is that although only about 1% of the population has celiac, a much higher percentage (some estimate 10% some as high as 20%) have non-celiac gluten intolerance and can make significant health improvements by avoiding gluten.

Excerpt from ReporterNews.com:

Gluten, a protein found in grains like wheat, barley and rye, wreaks havoc on people with celiac disease. It's an unusual disorder in that gluten specifically triggers an autoimmune response in the body, causing damage to the intestines.

As that damage accumulates, it can lead to malnourishment, diarrhea, cramping and other unpleasant symptoms.

Blalock wasn't having nearly that bad of a time, but wanted to try this whole "gluten-free" thing out for a spin. Working at the Natural Food Center certainly didn't hurt.

Friday's Gluten Free Recipe - Rustic Mixed Berry Pie from Jules Gluten Free

This great Independance Day recipe is presented thanks to Jules Gluten Free.

Please check out her site for tons of great recipes and information on gluten free living!

From Jules Gluten Free:

Give this recipe a try with your favorite summer berries – here I used a mixture of strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries. Paired with a yummy vanilla ice cream or non-dairy coconut or soy “ice cream”, it will make a yummy Red, White & Blue flavor celebration this July 4th!

Rustic Mixed Berry Pie

Crust Ingredients:

• 1 cup (16 Tbs.) Jules Gluten Free™ All-Purpose Flour (OR 14 Tbs. Jules Gluten Free™ All-Purpose Flour + 2 Tbs. Mesquite Flour)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 Tbs. shortening, butter or non-dairy alternative (e.g. Earth Balance® Shortening Sticks)
• 3 Tbs butter or non-dairy alternative ( e.g. Earth Balance® Buttery Sticks)
• 2 – 3 tablespoons cold water
• egg wash (1 egg + 1 Tbs. water) OR milk (dairy or non-dairy) for brushing on crust

Filling Ingredients:

• 4 cups fresh or frozen raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries … a mixture is best
• 1/4 cup Jules Gluten Free™ All Purpose Flour
• 1/2 cup granulated cane sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• demerara sugar or granulated sugar to sprinkle on top

Never the Same Since

Does the story of your digestive problem start with the line: “I never really had any problems until… I caught the flu one year.” or “…I got food poisoning.” or “…I had a major illness.” or “…I had surgery.” or “…I went to Mexico.” or “…I was in a car accident.” or “…there was a tragic death in my family.” or “…I went through a very stressful divorce.”?

And then does your story continue with the phrase “…and I’ve never been the same since.”?

This theme of digestive problems seeming to begin after an illness or important event is common among patients at the IBS Treatment Center. Digestive problems often start to manifest themselves more significantly after a sickness, international travel or stressful experience. Or, they simply seem to start altogether after such an event. Why does this happen?

Any type of physical or emotional stress, even if it seemed inconsequential at the time, can affect one’s overall health. And what impacts one part of your body truly does impact the entire system. Stress of any type takes energy to deal with and is a drain on your resources. When you do not recover normally from the flu, food poisoning, etc, it is generally a sign that there is a lot more to your problem than the issue that seemed to trigger it.