Food Panel Testing

What Is Food Panel Testing?

Food panel testing is used to determine which food allergies and sensitivities you have. A blood sample is drawn and then tested in a lab to see if there is an allergic reaction to the various food allergens in the panel. Several companies provide food panel testing to help customers identify foods that may need to be eliminated from their diet.

Food Panel Testing

Claims
    A blood test that doctors typically perform to tests for food allergies that can cause reactions such as rashes, hives and difficulty breathing is the IgE antibody test. There are also several companies that provide tests for food “sensitivities” that measure other types of immune response not related to the IgE antibodies that white blood cells produce. For example, ALCAT Worldwide uses the antigen leukocyte antibody (ALCAT) test, which they claim can detect food sensitivities that contribute to migraines, aches, fatigue, gastrointestinal disorders and other conditions. Another company, Sage Med Lab, tests for IgG antibody immune complex formation, which they claim can detect food sensitivities that can contribute to arthritis, multiple sclerosis and many other diseases.

Foods Tested

    The amount of potential food allergens tested is extensive. Food panels can include common allergens like nuts, dairy, soy and wheat, as well as less common ones like fruits, vegetables, spices, food additives and food colouring. The number of allergens tested depends on the company. For example, ALCAT tests for either 100, 150 or 200 different food allergens, while Sage Med Lab tests for 132 different allergens.

Cost

    Food panel testing from an independent lab can be expensive. For example, ALCAT currently charges $350 for a 100-food panel test and $595 for a 200-food panel test, plus the cost of obtaining a blood sample. Other companies, such as Sage Med Lab, require a referral from a health care professional, and some health insurance providers will cover the cost of testing.

IgE Testing Accuracy

    IgE antibody testing is considered an accurate alternative to the standard allergy test that doctors use, the skin prick test. The skin prick test involves pricking a patient’s skin to expose him to an allergen and therefore may not be safe for patients that have skin conditions or extreme allergic reactions. The IgE antibody test can be used safely on these individuals, although an estimated 10 to 25 percent of patients may have false negative results for foods that they are actually allergic to.

Accuracy of Other Tests

    Not all types of food panel tests are widely accepted in the medical community. For example, both IgG antibody and ALCAT testing were labeled as “inappropriate” allergy tests in a 2010 review article published in "Singapore Medical Journal." Consult with a medical practitioner such as a doctor or allergist/immunologist when selecting food panel testing procedures.

The ALCAT test will identify food sensitivities. With ALCAT, it is possible to diagnose chemical sensitivity, allergy, or intolerance in food. The ALCAT test is a variation, whereby a mixture of blood and food extracts is analyzed in an automated Coulter counter. For almost 25 years, ALCAT testing has been the key to accurate intolerance testing.

Food Allergy Testing article from ehow.

Common ADD-ADHD Symptoms

ADD or ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is quite common in children and adults. According to several surveys, ADHD may occur in as many an 8-10% of school going children. Experts are not clear about whether children outgrow the symptoms of ADHD. That means that the disorder may be more prevalent among adults than previously believed.

ADD Symptoms

Symptoms of ADHD

In children, the most common symptoms are associated with lack of attention and concentration. They may be hyperactive and might tend to become bored or frustrated easily. Most sufferers act impulsively. The defining feature is that these symptoms interfere with the normal activities of the child. For instance, he might be disruptive in class or she might fail her exams, even though she is bright and intelligent.

Adults who suffer from ADHD find it difficult to concentrate on the work in hand. Organizational skills are lacking. Goal setting may be a problem. They may find it hard to follow instructions and complete projects on time. They may also have problematic relationships and a propensity towards addiction.

There are three major symptoms of ADD:
1.Inattention: The person may feel as if they are moving in a fog. They find it impossible to stay focused and are easily distracted by sounds or sights from the outside. Sorting through information is a tough cookie for these people, and organizational skills are almost nonexistent. Inattention ADD may lead to sufferers losing personal items. They may also live life in a disorganized clutter. They have big issues with time management. The symptoms of predominantly inattentive ADHD are somewhat difficult to identify because the person does not appear abnormal in any way except for the fact that they are slow to respond, lethargic or sluggish.

2.Hyperactivity: These individuals often show very high levels of activity. This may be in the form of physical or verbal hyperactivity. For instance, some children might seem like they are always on the move, as if driven by something. Excessive movement and fidgeting are common. These children try to monopolize conversations and may even give running commentaries of what is going on around them. They may create problems in the school or at work.

3.Impulsivity: These people have trouble controlling their behaviors and responses to external stimuli. They often say things in a hurry and jump into a conversation without understanding what the conversation is about. Since they try to be very fast in everything they do, they are often careless. Their impulsive behaviour may even prompt them to take on risky and dangerous situations without proper thought.

So far, there is no known cure for ADD or ADHD. However, some medications can alleviate symptoms. If treatment is undertaken at the right time, there is no reason why sufferers cannot lead a normal, fulfilling and successful life.

ADD Symptoms - For over 20 years, the ALCAT Test has provided both patients as well as healthcare professionals with a tool to successfully overcome a wide variety of conditions which result from chemical sensitivity and food intolerance.

Learn about the signs and symptoms of adult ADD/ADHD, its effects, and the treatment options at ALCAT.com. The approach ALCAT generally take in treating ADD, or any illness for that matter is threefold. If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of ADHD/ADD, make an appointment with one of the experts at ALCAT. Call (954) 426-2304 today.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2683762

Weight Loss

Weight Loss Management - Are Food Allergies Doing You In?



These days, almost everyone you meet is on a weight management program. Being overweight is a universal problem. More than half the world seems to be battling it. Of course, lifestyle factors contribute to the problem. Fast foods and the lack of exercise are churning out a nation of unhealthy, overweight people. Curiously, even those who are eating healthy and in limited quantities are also unable to keep their weight down.

Weight Loss Management

One of the main reasons for people gaining oodles of weight is intense food cravings. Many of us develop seemingly insurmountable cravings for a particular kind of food. These types of food are high in sugar, salt or fats. Interestingly, these 'comfort' foods have the ability to dump large amounts of sugar into the bloodstream. Some examples include ice reams, pastries, fries etc. Why such foods? Surely, there cannot be so many people who love the same food? Studies show that many people feel the urge to eat these foods because of inherent food sensitivities, which ultimately give rise to metabolic problems that cause them to overeat. This leads to weight gain.

Let us look at a popular example - carbohydrate intolerance.

People who are carbohydrate intolerant are unable to digest carbohydrate and absorb sugars. Thus the carbohydrate entering their body remains unutilized. As a result the body experiences carbohydrate depletion and soon slips into a starvation mode. This is a stage where it clings tightly to existing fat deposits, drastically cuts down on the rate of metabolism and signals ever increasing hunger (so fat deposits can be built). In the end, sufferers end up eating more and their weight increases.

Something similar happens even when you eat other offending foods. Your body reacts by reducing serotonin levels, which in turn triggers the desire to eat carbohydrates. Obviously, when you overindulge in pastas, white bread, potatoes and pastries, you can expect little success in weight loss management.

Unfortunately, even though a very high percentage of people suffer from food cravings related to food intolerance, most people do not recognize the root cause. That is because these symptoms are very subtle. Many reactions occur after a period of one or two days, which makes it difficult to interrelate the cause and symptom. Often, even doctors miss out the correlation. People end up exercising rigorously and yo-yo dieting. All for nothing.

Food sensitivities can affect weight loss management in other ways too. Reaction to different kinds of food can lead to water retention and gastrointestinal problems, which hinder weight loss efforts. Many weight watchers take in supplements as a normal part of the dieting process. However, it is important to verify that the supplements you take in do not contain substances you are allergic or sensitive to. For example, people who are allergic to milk should not take in products that contain whey.

If you are overweight and want to make sure that your weight loss plans actually take off, begin by understanding food sensitivity and food allergies. Avoid offending foods. Weight loss management is a long term effort. Do not expect it to yield results overnight. However, by keeping away from foods that are bad for you, the effort becomes a lot easier. In the end, weight loss happens faster and in a healthier way.

Weight Loss Management - For over 20 years, the ALCAT Test has provided both patients as well as healthcare professionals with a tool to successfully overcome a wide variety of conditions which result from food sensitivity and chemical intolerance.

The ALCAT test method is much healthier when you are trying to lose weight. The ALCAT Diet is a nutritional plan that focuses on avoiding your potential food allergies or sensitivities as opposed to helping you lose weight. ALCAT food sensitivity testing with nutritionist specializing in safe, fast, weight loss, and diet programs.


An article By Tariq Ansar.

Autism Treatment

How To Locate A Good Naturopath For Your Autistic Child
Autism is a big problem for our little ones. Believe it or not, more youngsters are presently identified to have autism compared to Diabetes, Cancer, Down Syndrome and AIDS!

Autism Treatment

Well known remedies have typically considered Autism to be a brain condition with therapies based interventions being advised. When these kinds of interventions are coupled with Biomedical Approach, your kid's condition will improve considerably.

Biomedical treatment may seem to unlock the brain, resulting in enhanced learning total capacity. Your kid can completely focus, remain still and pay attention much better. These types of advancements support greatly, permitting your little one to work with their specialist, getting the most out of the sessions.

Biomedical procedure looks at the entire body, reviewing every aspect of your kid's health, the pregnancy and the genealogy and family history. Autistic children frequently wake during the night caused by bloating and food sensitivities. Most children have gut dysbiosis and an over growing of unfriendly bacteria in their intestines. These germs greatly affect brain function. Typically, amounts of essential body vitamins and minerals are minimal and heavy metal poisoning is higher. A greater amount of children experience pyrrole illness. This tremendously disturbs feelings, sensory processing, resistance, peciali, rest and much more. There's also various other mistakes of metabolic process for example in methylation and sulfation systems.

It is suggested to do your analysis and arrange a time with the specialist to ask doubts and check their relevance. Some Naturopaths offer you a brief assessment specifically for this purpose.

Whoever you choose to help your Autistic baby, it may need time and effort, so be ready to dedicate yourself entirely to the treatment method to find success.

You can also get diagnosed through a food allergy test administered by a naturopathic nutritionist. People with autism are more susceptible to allergies and food sensitivities than the average person; and this is likely due to their impaired immune system. The particular ALCAT check is a food level of sensitivity check accustomed to recognize food that may bring about harmful responses for you to body.

Article source of Autism Spectrum Disorder

Diarrhea Treatment

Easy diarrhea treatment

The ALCAT Test has provided patients with a tool to overcome a wide variety of conditions

Diarrhea is a condition in which patients pass loose watery stools more than three times a day. In acute cases, stools may be extremely watery and may contain mucus. In many cases, the urge to go is so strong that patients may be unable to deny themselves.

Diarrhea Treatment

There are many causes for diarrhea.

Bacterial infection from unhygienic food and contaminated water is the main cause of diarrhea in developing countries. Some viruses may also cause diarrhea. Viral hepatitis and herpes virus are examples. Some parasitic infections may also lead to diarrhea. Intestinal diseases like the inflammatory bowel disease and conditions like piles also lead to diarrhea. Some people experience runny bowels when they take in medications like antibiotics or antacids.

A significant number of people suffer from diarrhea because of food intolerance. Food allergies may lead to runny bowels. Common examples of food that are not tolerated are milk, oranges and sugary foods.

Diarrhea may affect people of either sexes and at any age. Generally, children are more vulnerable because they are more prone to bacterial infections.

In most cases, diarrhea goes away on its own. However, if symptoms persist, it is vital that treatment for diarrhea starts immediately. This is because prolonged diarrhea can lead to dehydration and the loss of nutrients and minerals. In children, particularly infants, diarrhea can even lead to death, in as little as a day.

When should you seek treatment for diarrhea?

* If symptoms persist for more than 3 days

* If you experience severe abdominal cramps or pain elsewhere

* If diarrhea is accompanied by fever

* If you spot blood in the stool

* If you feel dehydrated

A simple home remedy for mild diarrhea is to mix sugar and salt in lemonade and have it every few minutes. Replacing lost water and minerals is vital.

Medications to stop diarrhea might prove dangerous if a bacterial or parasitical infection has caused it because the body is trying to flush out toxins through the stools. Stopping diarrhea will arrest this process.

In case there is no apparent reason for the frequent bouts of diarrhea, it is recommended that victims take a food allergy test. Several foodstuffs like milk, complex carbohydrates, roughage and eggs may lead to flatulence and diarrhea in people. Avoiding such foods is one of the best treatments for diarrhea. Sometimes, spicy food can also cause stomach irritation. The fact is Feature Articles, most people who suffer from intermittent diarrhea never make the connection between their symptoms and the food they eat. The result is that they have to suffer from the condition needlessly. Visit https://www.alcat.com

ALCAT Diarrhea Treatment: Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a disorder affecting the gastrointestinal. The origin of this disorder is still unknown. But its symptoms include bloating, gassiness, abdominal cramps, diarrhea and constipation. ALCAT provide you information on what Chronic Diarrhea is, what are its symptoms and causes. We also give you medical treatments and suggest alternative herbal remedies.

Diarrhea Treatment Article Source

Leaky Gut Syndrome

Generally not recognized by conventional physicians, Leaky Gut Syndrome is the result of damage to the intestinal lining, making it less able to protect the internal environment, and making it less able to filter biological substances and nutrients.  Due to this, incompletely digested proteins and fats as well as some bacteria, toxins and waste that is not normally absorbed can leak out of the intestines into the blood stream. This causes an autoimmune reaction, that can lead to problems such as excessive cramps, gas, fatigue, and abdominal bloating, joint paint, skin rashes, food sensitivities, and autoimmunity.

Diets for Leaky Gut Syndrome

The cause of Leaky Gut Syndrome may be from chronic inflammation, food sensitivities, damage from taking large amount of non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), cytotoxic drugs and radiation or certain antibiotics, excessive alcohol consumption, or compromised immunity.

The Alcat test comes highly recommended.  Many have felt relief by following their Alcat Diet and making smart nutritional choices.  Finding out what foods you are sensitive to, and staying away from them helps to heal Leaky Gut Syndrome.

Leaky Gut is one of the major tenets of the ALCAT Test and a primary contributor to many of the inflammatory conditions that we face every day. Clinical Diagnosis available with ALCAT for Heavy metal toxicity and major gastro-intestinal issues, including leaky gut syndrome.

Asthma Treatment

Asthma Treatment – What Medication You Need

Asthma is a chronic and a common condition that occurs when the main air channel of the lungs and bronchial tubes become swollen. It causes coughing, wheezing, tightness of the chest and difficulty in breathing. Asthma is a treatable condition. Treatments usually seek to reduce the frequency, severity and duration of your asthma attacks.

Though Asthma cannot be cured permanently, asthma treatment if managed effectively can prevent asthma attack. One of the Asthma treatments that are usually followed is using medications which can be taken orally or inhaled in vapour form. They reduce inflammation in your airways and prevent blood vessels from leaking fluid into your airway tissues.

Asthma Treatment

Asthma therapy needs to be flexible according to changes in symptoms, which should be determined thoroughly by your doctor and then the treatment can be adjusted accordingly. In case the asthma is kept well under control, your doctor may prescribe less medicine. However, if your asthma is not kept under control or has worsened, your doctor may accordingly raise your medication dose and also advise more frequent checking.

Asthma can be treated through several types of medications. A combination of long-term control medications and quick relief medications is generally used. The main types of asthma medications include:

Long-term-control medications, also called as preventers are used regularly and are taken long term to control chronic symptoms and prevent asthma attacks. These medications are generally used every day for a long time, in order to control chronic asthma.

Quick-relief medications, also called as relievers are used for speedy, short-term relief during symptoms of worsening asthma attack.

Medications for allergy-induced asthma reduce your body's reaction to a particular allergy and prevent your immune system from reacting to allergies.

Due to a lot of different factors involved in asthma, a treatment plan will be different for different patients. Your doctor may prescribe and change the medications according to the severity of the asthma attack. It is advisable for you and your doctor to work together to control asthma, reduce severity and frequency of attacks and help lead a normal and active life.

Take a look at the symptoms & treatment for the asthma and more. We help you with solutions on the allergy and asthma cure. Treating Asthma & Allergy using The ALCAT test. Know early warning signs, symptoms and treatment for asthma with us.

Asthma Treatment Article Source

Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms

Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can affect many different joints and, in some people, other parts of the body as well, including the blood, the lungs, and the heart. Inflammation of the joint lining can cause pain, stiffness, swelling, warmth, and redness. The affected joint may also lose its shape, resulting in loss of normal movement. RA can last a long time and can be a disease of flares (active symptoms) and remissions (few to no symptoms). RA affects 2.1 million Americans, or about 1% of the adult population in the United States. This disease is 2 to 3 times more common in women than in men, and generally affects people between the ages of 20 and 50. However, young children can develop a form of RA called juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis in the United States, affecting an estimated 21 million adults. OA begins with the breakdown of joint cartilage, resulting in pain and stiffness. OA commonly affects the joints of the fingers, knees, hips, and spine. Other joints affected less frequently include the wrists, elbows, shoulders, and ankles. When OA is found in a less-frequently affected joint, there is usually a history of injury or unusual stress to that joint. Work-related repetitive injury and physical trauma may contribute to the development of OA.

What Foods Cause Arthritis? The body can be allergic to any food; therefore any food allergy is capable of causing inflammation and arthritis. This includes RA, juvenile arthritis, and undefined joint pains. This is why it can be so difficult for one to recognize the relationship between their diet and their symptoms. Let’s use a dairy allergy as an example. If you eat any form of dairy, be it milk, butter, cheese, yogurt, or even dairy in the form of casein or whey in another food product, such as bread or milk chocolate, then you can potentially trigger the symptoms of your food allergy, in this case arthritis. Allergy symptoms may show up hours or even a day later, well after a food is absorbed into your system.

Eating certain foods or avoiding certain foods may help your rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. Cur-cumin has also been shown to ease the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis in people, reducing joint swelling, morning stiffness and walking time.

Read more information about Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms at Alcat.com.

Migraine Headache Symptoms

Migraines are painful, sometimes disabling headaches that are often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light, noise, and smell. When describing migraine symptoms and causes, it first helps to understand what is a migraine.

What is a migraine headache?

A migraine headache is a form of vascular headache. Migraine headache is caused by vasodilatation (enlargement of blood vessels) that causes the release of chemicals from nerve fibers that coil around the large arteries of the brain. Enlargement of these blood vessels stretches the nerves that coil around them and causes the nerves to release chemicals. The chemicals cause inflammation, pain, and further enlargement of the artery. The increasing enlargement of the arteries magnifies the pain.

Migraine Headache Symptoms

Migraine attacks commonly activate the sympathetic nervous system in the body. The sympathetic nervous system is often thought of as the part of the nervous system that controls primitive responses to stress and pain, the so-called "fight or flight" response, and this activation causes many of the symptoms associated with migraine attacks; for example, the increased sympathetic nervous activity in the intestine causes nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

    Sympathetic activity also delays emptying of the stomach into the small intestine and thereby prevents oral medications from entering the intestine and being absorbed.

    The impaired absorption of oral medications is a common reason for the ineffectiveness of medications taken to treat migraine headaches.

    The increased sympathetic activity also decreases the circulation of blood, and this leads to pallor of the skin as well as cold hands and feet.

    The increased sympathetic activity also contributes to the sensitivity to light and sound sensitivity as well as blurred vision.

Migraine afflicts 28 million Americans, with females suffering more frequently (17%) than males (6%). Missed work and lost productivity from migraine create a significant public burden. Nevertheless, migraine still remains largely under diagnosed and under treated. Less than half of individuals with migraine are diagnosed by their doctors.

Migraine headache is one of the conditions that are claimed to be identified by ALCAT testing. We help you in treating Migraine and Headache. ALCAT allergy and food sensitivity testing helps you to find the symptoms of migraines and additional discomforts.

Read more here - What are the symptoms of migraine headaches?

Inflammation Symptoms

Chronic Inflammation Symptoms Can Be Reduced Naturally

Yes, you heard me correct you can naturally reduce the chronic inflammation symptoms with the help of regular dose of a fish oil supplement. Since, you do not have to take strong medications in this case; you do not have to worry about the side effects also.

Before understanding why fish oil is effective in reducing inflammation in the body, let us first understand, why do we have chronic inflammation symptoms at the first place?

Inflammation Symptoms

Inflammation, as claimed by many scientists is the part of body's defense mechanism. In case of an injury or infection, white blood cells present in the blood, get attached to the inner linings of blood vessels around the affected area. Hence results in redness, soreness, and pain in the affected area.

Now, if this soreness is left unattended or because of persistent presence of the foreign body, our body start treating its healthy cells as foreign material and as a defense mechanism attacks on its own tissues. This is known as an autoimmune disorder, and it is responsible for various chronic inflammation symptoms like hay fever, Atherosclerosis, and Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriasis, etc.

To get relieved from pain in such painful conditions; doctors often prescribe Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Motrin, Aspirin, Advil, Alleve, etc. It is worth mentioning that after sometime because the body gets used to these NSAIDs, they also become ineffective in controlling the pain. In addition, because of their side effects like bleeding in the stomach, increased risk of heart attacks, etc., many studies were conducted to find out the effective and natural treatment of reducing inflammation in the body.

Usage of a fish oil supplement to control body's inflammation cycle is the outcome of many such researches. Fish oil is a rich source of DHA omega-3 fat. Once eaten, the body can convert DHA to a chemical called Resolvin D2. This chemical is a proven anti-inflammatory agent. Once the inflammation reduces, pain automatically vanishes.

In one of the clinical trials, it was observed that many chronic inflammation patients, who were put on regular dosage of fish oil, could get away with their prescribed medication to reduce pain.

Recent study has proven that mixture of hoki oil and tuna oil is more than twice effective in reducing chronic inflammation symptoms as in comparison to any other supplements available in the market.

You will be surprised to know that fish oil supplement not only lowers the chronic inflammation symptoms, but also is very effective in neurobehavioral issues like Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Bipolar disorder, Autism, Dyslexia, etc. It also inhibits the plague to get build up on arterial walls thus, reduces the risk of heart attacks, and strokes.

Inflammation Symptoms Article Source

Battling inflammation through food: Though it's an emerging field, proponents of anti-inflammatory diets point to growing evidence that foods like vegetables and fish can ease an overactive immune system. ALCAT system includes a leaky gut and detoxification protocols that appear crucial in reducing inflammatory symptoms in patients with autoimmune conditions.

IBS Symptoms

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is an intestinal disorder that causes abdominal pain or discomfort, cramping or bloating, and diarrhea or constipation. Irritable bowel syndrome is a long-term but manageable condition. IBS is one of the most common intestinal disorders. Most people's symptoms are so mild that they never see a doctor for treatment. However, some people may have troublesome symptoms, especially abdominal cramps, bloating, and diarrhea. The cause of irritable bowel syndrome is not well understood. In IBS, the movement of the digestive tract is impaired, but doctors can find no change in physical structure, such as inflammation or tumors.

IBS Symptoms

Treatment will depend on the types of symptoms you have and their severity, as well as how they affect your daily life, and will likely involve changes to your lifestyle. Active involvement in treatment is important to managing it successfully. Treatment usually focuses on changes in diet and lifestyle, avoiding foods that trigger symptoms, and managing stress.

IBS Symptoms Information Source.

Casein Test

The Importance of a Casein Test

Milk and its associated products such as cheese, butter, mayonnaise or yoghurts are popular foods that are considered to be high in proteins and calcium while being tasty at the same time. Most popular foods like pizzas, pastas, sandwiches contain cheese in them to make them taste good while butter and toast is considered as the staple food for the majority of the population. While most people are able to have these as a part of their regular diets, there are others who suffer from milk allergy and have to refrain from these dairy products.

Casein Test

Casein intolerance

Cow's milk has been identified as one of the leading causes for food allergies among children which may lead to nausea, giddiness, diarrhea and other sickness. Adults are equally affected by milk and experience bloating, nausea, gas and heaviness after consumption. Inability to digest milk proteins happens to adults who are sensitive to milk and it finally leads to allergies. Allergies related to casein have serious symptoms such as vomiting, stomach cramps, and skin irritation and may lead to anaphylactic reactions in the body. In the long run it leads to weight loss as the patient is unable to absorb any nutrients from any food. Casein intolerance is a much more serious condition than lactose intolerance and can prove to be harmful for health. People who are allergic to casein have to avoid any kind of milk or milk based products since even traces of casein in their food might trigger a reaction.

About casein test

Milk constitutes of two important proteins namely Casein and Whey. Casein is derived from Latin caseus which means milk. It is the most important ingredient in milk and account for more than 80% of proteins in cow's milk and cheese. This phospoprotein is not soluble in water and is the thick part of the milk which helps in setting the curd. Whey is the watery part of milk which makes up nearly 87% of the milk. Some individuals are allergic to the casein in milk which others are sensitive to whey. Casein is found in all milks of mammals, but in varying degrees. A casein test helps in determining if a certain food product contains casein.

Research has shown that a casein free diet is better for autistic children since they are able to digest it much more easily. It is proven to be effective in their overall development. A casein test is very important to determine and label food and drinks which are casein free, since consumption of even traces of this allergen can be very harmful for individuals.

Chemical Intolerance - For over 20 years, the ALCAT Test has provided both patients as well as healthcare professionals with a tool to successfully overcome a wide variety of conditions which result from chemical sensitivity and food intolerance.

Casein Test Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3233551

Gluten Sensitivity

Gluten Sensitivity and the Impact on the Brain

Several years ago, parents of a lovely nine-year-old girl, Karen, brought her to see me because she had poor memory. They indicated that she had difficulty in thinking and focusing, and because of these issues she was falling further and further behind in her school work. Interestingly, they stated that at times she was fine, while clearly at other times her brain function seemed to be different. They indicated that she had difficulty keeping her thoughts together and that she became profoundly frustrated when this would occur.

Because of her significant issues with academic performance, her parents elected to home school her. Her academic testing revealed that she was functioning at or below a third grade level in a variety of areas, including math skills, reading fluency, story recall and overall academic skills. Fortunately, she had no significant medical problems in her past and her overall physical, as well as neurological examinations were entirely normal. Routine, typical blood studies were unrevealing, so I was left to reconsider her history to see if there were any clues as to what might be causing this child's problems.

What caught my attention was the interesting fact that her problems were not constant, indicating that basically her brain was intact but something seemed to be detrimentally influencing her from time to time, causing her to have these significant issues with respect to how her brain functioned. In considering what factors change day to day in terms of someone's exposure, certainly diet is at the top of the list.

Recognizing that gluten sensitivity (a protein found in wheat, barley and rye) is extremely common, I decided to perform a simple blood test to determine if this child was gluten sensitive. When the laboratory studies were completed, we were surprised to learn that she was profoundly sensitive to gluten. So at that point I instructed her parents to put her on a gluten-free diet. While they considered this diet to be challenging, eliminating all wheat, barley and rye from her diet, nevertheless they complied. Over the next two weeks, her parents observed a remarkable change in her cognitive function. Karen suddenly was able to focus much more readily on her school work and indicated to her parents that she suddenly noticed she was thinking much more clearly. Her parents maintained her on a gluten-free diet and over the next several months continued to notice further improvements in her school work. At the end of the school year, she was tested and her grade level equivalent for math calculation skills was 5.1, reading fluency 5.6 and story recall 8.4, which is to say, functioning at a level considered "normal" midway through the year for an eighth grader.

Read Full article on Gluten Sensitivity.

ALCAT - Gluten Sensitivity Testing. The ALCAT Food and Chemical Sensitivity/Intolerance Test. State of the art food allergy testing. Find hidden allergies.

Food Intolerance Symptoms

Many food problems are a result of naturally occurring chemicals in foods. To explain further, food is composed of many naturally occurring compounds. Three that can cause major problems for some people are Salicylates, Amines and MSG – Mono Sodium Glutamate. Everyone has a threshold and your level of food intolerance is based partly on that threshold.

Our bodies can’t digest some foods that have high histamine levels because our digestive system lacks the enzymes it needs to ensure we don’t suffer from these symptoms. Eating foods rich in histamines like pizza, fish, some vegetables, and some fruits can cause these often cumbersome food intolerance symptoms. Drinks like coffee, cocoa, wine, and beer also have high histamine levels.

Food Intolerance Symptoms

Symptoms related to salicylates, MSG and amines are hives and swelling, headaches, mouth ulcers, stomach pains, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), nausea, sinus problems and a general feeling of being unwell. Reactions to naturally occurring chemicals can be just as debilitating as an allergy even though they are not the same thing.

Should your symptoms show signs of improvement you may well be intolerant but it is always worth reintroducing the suspected food for a short period to see whether or not the symptoms re-establish themselves. At this point you have identified the offending food but before eliminating it from your diet permanently do ensure you consult with your doctor or dietician considering you will need to replace the nutrients lost by the elimination of this food.

Food intolerance is quite a bit different than an actual food allergy, although many people seem to confuse them. Instead of this being a response by the immune system, it is a problem that occurs in the digestive system. When a food causes irritation to the digestive system or people are not able to break down or digest certain foods, then this is known as an intolerance.

Food intolerance is sometimes mistaken for food allergy. Food allergies cause a person’s immune system to sit up and take notice, while food intolerances don’t involve the immune system. Neither are they linked to contaminated or spoiled foods; those cause food poisoning, not intolerance. Food intolerance describes the adverse physical reaction to the ingestion of certain foods; it is something that affects the digestive system.

Symptoms of food intolerance and allergies can take a bewildering variety of forms. They often include swelling of the lips, throat, and other areas. Skin rashes can result from a food intolerance as well as breathing difficulties. Digestive distress such as vomiting, pain, and diarrhea are also common to people suffering with food intolerances.

Food intolerance symptoms can range from slight bloating to more serious problems like migraines and irritable bowel syndrome. The trouble is that it is not always obvious which foods are making a person feel unwell.

Food intolerance testing is a cheap and easy way to find out which foods you are sensitive to. Food intolerance tests can be bought online or from your GP. The most popular food intolerance tests are simple skin prick tests. Order your ALCAT Food Intolerance Blood Test now!

Article Source

Food Intolerance

Food Intolerance as a rapidly increasing problem that differs from food "allergy" in that symptoms are usually chronic and delayed, perhaps by several hours or even days. Hence they have received relatively little attention. Nonetheless, knowing what food you do not tolerate may be the most powerful tool for improving athletic performance and well being.

 

http://www.alcat.com/

Food Intolerance And Low Carb Diets

Food intolerance is a pharmacological reaction to the consumption of certain foods. In many cases, food intolerance may appear to be the side-effect of pharmacological drugs, but in fact, it is generally caused by the consumption of natural foods products, additives, or the combination of both.

The majority of food products that commonly cause food intolerance are high-protein.

As a low carb dieter, you will have abnormally- high exposure to high-protein food, including dairy products and meats, which means your chance of experiencing food intolerances (if you have any) will increase.

In contrast to food allergies, which are easily identifiable because they affect an almost instantaneous reaction of hives, shock, and a range of other symptoms, food intolerances are somewhat harder to identify.

Food intolerance generally has milder affects, such as minor headaches, general irritation, upset stomach, restlessness, and a loss of sleep. This makes it much harder to identify and treat.

If you are new to your low carb diet, you may have already experienced some of these symptoms, but attributed them to something other than food intolerance.

If you have been exhibiting these symptoms for less than three days into your low carb diet, they are more than likely related to withdrawals from caffeine or carbohydrates. They could also be related to dehydration. Conversely, if you have been exhibiting them for more than three days, they are more than likely the result of a food intolerance.

You should immediately start the process of weeding out foods that could be causing the intolerance.

The following is a list of foods you may be consuming on your low carb diet that are likely perpetrators: eggs, nuts, milk, fish, shellfish, pork, bacon, chicken, cheese, and tomatoes.

You should try to remove one of these from your low carb diet at a time. If you cannot solve your intolerance problem within a week, it would be wise to get off of your low carb diet and contact a physician to determine the source of your intolerance.

This article is for informational purposes only, and is not intended as substitute for medical advice. Before embarking on any diet or fitness program, consult your physician.

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