Food Allergens: Testing How the Body Responds

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Food allergies occur when the body has an adverse or abnormal response to a food. An allergic reaction can be immediate and life threatening, such as with peanuts. Or it can be delayed, taking three to five days to show up, causing hay fever-like symptoms, digestive distress, eczema or other skin irritation, or changes in behavior and mental focus. This delayed reaction is called “food sensitivity” and is usually not life threatening.

A true food allergy can be permanent – whenever you eat or are exposed to that food it will provoke an immune reaction that will exist over your lifetime.

A food sensitivity happens gradually. Triggers include: stress, infection, poor eating habits (e.g., over-consumption of foods with additives, preservatives), or foods exposed to toxins such as pesticides and pollutants. Food sensitivity can lead to chronic health problems, including ADHD, digestive disorders, and persistent infection.

The immune system triggers the body’s response to a food allergen. Protein molecules called immunoglobulin (Ig) circulate in the body via white blood cells. Immunoglobulin (a.k.a. antibodies), very specifically recognize and bind to bacteria, fungus, viruses, or other foreign substances so the immune system can destroy them. Think of immunoglobulins as goblins gobbling up invaders in the body. Once an antibody is produced against a specific invader, the next time it enters the body, the immune system “remembers” it and produces more of the same antibodies to destroy the invader.

If the root cause of a medical condition can be identified as a food allergy or sensitivity, we can use “food as medicine” to correct the imbalance. To do this, a blood test of Ig activity in response to different allergens is done.

Testing for Food Allergies

There are several Ig types that have different yet synergistic roles in the immune system.

IgE antibodies cause the body to react, at times violently and immediately, to things such as pollen, fungus, insect stings, medications, milk and other foods. IgE levels are often highest in people with allergies, including food allergy. An IgE test covers the major food allergens that produce immediate reactions in the body, such as nut, egg, cow’s milk, shellfish, and soy.

IgG antibodies fight bacterial and viral infection. Found in all body fluids, this antibody is typically associated with food sensitivity.

IgA antibodies protect body surfaces exposed to outside foreign substances. It’s abundant in mucus found throughout the body, including the gut; a deficiency in IgA could be tied to adverse responses to food.

The IgE test can be combined with IgA and IgG tests for a more comprehensive test of nearly 200 allergens including meat, dairy, starches and grains, mold and other environmental substances.

There are many ways your health practitioner can approach testing and help you make dietary modifications based on test results, current health concerns, and lifestyle factors. It’s not just about eliminating a food. It’s about looking at the whole picture of your health and the role food plays as both nourishment and medicine for you and your family members.

References

The ADHD – Diet Connection

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Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): an abnormal defect of moral control in otherwise high functioning children.

Two generations ago that was the definition and the belief. Today, we know better. And we know more. Lots more.

What is ADHD?

Today, ADHD is viewed as a multifaceted condition triggered by varying behavioral, biological and environmental factors, including certain foods and food additives. The hallmarks of ADHD are an inability to focus and/or impulsivity that is not developmentally typical for a child’s age. Symptoms fall on a spectrum from predominantly inattentive on one end to predominantly hyperactive at the other end. Certain criteria must be met for a doctor to diagnose a child as having ADHD.

The Role of Food in ADHD

While there are many ways to use “food as medicine,” for some children, food and its additives can actually trigger ADHD. Because diet plays a crucial role in ADHD, it’s important to examine issues such as food intolerance, food allergy, and the additives and chemicals associated with food production. There are various tests to determine both food allergy and intolerance. Your holistic practitioner can advise you about the most appropriate test and then help with interpretation and treatment.

Artificial food colors (AFCs) are widely used by manufacturers to create visually attractive food products. The FDA certifies, for purity and safety, the use of these dyes. However, the amount certified has risen from 12 mg/capita/d in 1950 to 62 mg/capita/d in 2010.

AFCs are not natural to our food system, and surely not to our bodies. These artificial molecules can bond to food or body proteins, which means they can “hide in the body,” avoid detection, and disrupt the immune system. This can have significant immunological consequences that affect gastrointestinal function, auto-immunity and even brain and behavior. For some children, ADHD can be triggered and worsened by synthetic colors, flavors and preservatives.

The Feingold Diet for ADHD

In the 1970’s, Benjamin Feingold, M.D. studied the effect of food chemicals and the role of nutrition in addressing learning disabilities and behavior disorders. He pioneered an elimination diet that removed food dyes from the diets of children. Over the years, Dr. Feingold extended the elimination diet to include petrochemical preservatives BHA and BHT. He has reported rates of 30-70% improvement in children with ADHD, depending on the diagnostic criteria used and adherence to the diet.

Over the decades, studies in Europe and the U.S. have tested the Feingold and similar diets. While research has not established a direct cause-and-effect, the evidence indicates restriction/elimination diets have value and can bring about a change in behavior if properly followed. In response to concerns that children will dislike the Feingold Diet, families can find a wide range of tips for adjusting recipes and food selection, making it easy to incorporate changes and still enjoy favorite foods

In addition to eliminating AFCs, BHA, BHT and food allergens/intolerances, additional support may be needed for some children. This may include educational adjustments, behavior modification or counseling, nutrition supplements, and additional dietary changes. Like any medical or behavioral intervention, treatment benefits will vary based on many factors, such as when a child is diagnosed, the ADHD symptoms present, co-occurrence of other immune or medical conditions, and ability to adhere to dietary changes.

As research continues to explore the relationship between diet, food and behavior, we anticipate that many more children – and adults – with ADHD will be helped by the medicinal power of food.

If your family struggles with the consequences of ADHD, ask your doctor or holistic practitioner for suggestions and guidance. You do not need to walk this path alone.

References

Quinoa Pudding (dairy-free)

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Craving rice pudding? This dairy-free alternative pairs the health benefits of gluten-free quinoa with coconut, cinnamon and vanilla. The result is a dish that even the choosiest of kids (or grown-ups) will enjoy for breakfast or as an after-dinner treat.

Ingredients

4 cups of coconut milk (or substitute almond milk)
1 cup of quinoa
1/3 cup of coconut nectar
1 cinnamon stick
1 tsp of vanilla powder (or extract)
Diced or sliced fruit of choice (e.g., berries, apple, pear)

Directions

Soak the quinoa in lukewarm water for 20 minutes; rinse and drain.
Combine all ingredients into a medium-sized saucepan and bring to the boil.

Once boiled, stir and reduce the heat to a low simmer.

Allow to simmer for 30 minutes, stirring frequently throughout the given time. About 20-25 minutes into simmering, the quinoa will begin to swell and absorb the milk, creating a thick porridge texture.

When the quinoa has thickened and turned transparent, serve with your favorite fruit.

 

Peach-Spinach Chia Smoothie

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Sip-for-delicious-sip, except for the color, you’ll hardly notice the spinach in this green smoothie. Frozen peaches create a slushy-sweet base further enhanced by apple juice. Chia seeds give an energizing boost to this yummy low-cal and nutrient rich beverage. Perfectly refreshing after a long workout.

Ingredients

1 1/2 c. frozen peaches
1 c. apple juice
1/2 c. water
2 T. chia seeds
1 1/2 c. baby spinach leaves

Directions

Combine the peaches, apple juice, water, chia seeds, and spinach leaves in a blender; puree until smooth, about one minute. Serve immediately.

Recipe Source: http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/peach-spinach-chia-smoothie

4 Tips to Healthy Glowing Skin

I admit it. I love skin. It’s such an important part marker of your overall health. Your skin is the window to your  gastrointestinal, hormonal and nutritional health. Being the largest organ in the body it has some big responsibilities.

  • Elimination and detox
  • Making vitamin D
  • Protecting our body

Good Nutrition is the foundation of healthy skin

Healthy skin starts from the inside out. Skin is the window to your general health. No matter how much you spend on expensive skin products  if your overall health is not addressed you will not get the results you want.  I can tell a lot about a person by looking at their skin. There are many factors involved in getting a healthy skin with good nutrition being the foundation . Here they are:

  • Diet
  • Water
  • Stress
  • Rest

With the essential cherry on top:

  • Skin care products
  • Sun protection

1. Eat Foods Your Skin Loves

These are the power house  of nutrient rich foods. All the ones with bright beautiful colours, anti oxidant rich and full of all the good stuff your skin will love.

  1. All leafy greens – kale, Rapini, Spinach, Collard greens, Swiss chard, Arugula
  2. Berries – blackberries, blueberries, raspberries and strawberries
  3. Yellow-orange fruits and vegetables – Bell Peppers, Lemon, Pumpkin, Squash, Carrots, Sweet potatoes
  4. Fish – the fattier the better – Salmon, Sardines, Mackerel
  5. Nuts and seeds –  Almonds, Walnuts, Sunflower seeds
  6. Clean proteins – Chicken, fish, turkey, eggs

2. Drink Water…lots of it

Water deserves it’s own full page post but I will keep it short here. We are all made of water. How much of our bodies? 55% for women and 60%  for men to be exact. We need to maintain that balance for our brain and body to function well. Dehydrated skin will appear dry, flaky and be more prone to wrinkles. Yet drinking water is one of the most difficult habits to maintain.

How much should you be drinking? It depends, but my general rule of thumb is if your pee is yellow (and you are not taking B vitamin) you need to drink more.

I recommend 1.5 litres or 6 cups daily. If you lead an active lifestyle then 2 litres or more a day.

3. Cope better with Stress

Who doesn’t deal with this? It is inevitable – unless you live on a mountain top with clean air and food and not a care in the world – but the differentiator for how our body will handle a stressor is how well we cope with it. Your mom could misplace her keys and freak out to the point where no one wants to be around her unless there is security or a life coach. Whereas, you could lose a friend or family member and cope so well everyone is wondering what you are on and wants some of it. Either way, the stressors  exist but the stress hormones vary from each person. Stress hormone  – Cortisol – is not kind to our skin. Cortisol causes dryness, wrinkles, acne, redness and tired looking skin.

Coping mechanisms can drastically turn things around: Walking, Exercise, Yoga, Meditation, Sleep and whatever healthy lifestyle habit that gets you focused on the present moment, remind you to be your grateful and to be kind yourself.

4. Get Rest

Insomnia has got to be one of the top 3 complaints I see in my office. We all need sleep but it eludes many of us.  Certainly, sleep disturbance is a complex issue since there are many reasons that can cause sleepless nights.

A great place to start is making sure you have good sleep hygiene, clean diet with good quality protein, avoid any foods you may be sensitive to, no caffeine after 3pm and meditate at bedtime.

What is your routine to healthy skin?