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!

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Osteoarthritis Symptoms, Natural Treatments and Remedies

Osteoarthritis is the commonest form of arthritis mainly seen in old aged people.

Osteoarthritis Symptoms

1. Pain in the form of sharp ache or burning sensation
2. Inflexibility or stiffness of joint
3. Swelling
4. Crepitus or cracking noise while moving the affected joint.
5. Muscle spasm
6. Tendon contraction
7. The affected joint may appear larger than usual.
8. Tenderness at joints
9. Joint effusion due to accumulation of excess fluids within an affected joint.
10. Hard bony enlargements in smaller joints due to osteoarthritis.

Natural Treatments of Osteoarthritis

Medications like Acetaminophen, nonsteroidal pain reducing drugs like aspirin, naproxen, ketoprofen, and ibuprofen are usually recommended for treating osteoarthritis. Glucosamine sulfate supplements are also being prescribed these days. Such supplements increase production of cartilage and have anti-inflammatory properties. If symptoms become too debilitating, one can also opt for joint replacement surgery. However apart from medication and surgery, it is also possible to manage osteoarthritis symptoms by changing life style and diet. Pain management can be done through several home based remedies. Here are some ways to tackle osteoarthritis naturally.

1. Regular exercise, yoga and breathing exercises are very necessary for osteoarthritis patients. Exercise not only reduces joint stiffness, but also strengthens muscles and promotes the growth of cartilages. Range of motion exercises and aerobics should be done by osteoarthritis patients. Breathing exercises relax mind and relieve stress. But high impact sports are to be shunned, for they will only cause further wearing out of damaged joints.

2. Massage therapy is very helpful to treat arthritis. Massaging should be done through smooth strokes and kneading. Massaging reduces muscle spasm and stiffness, improves blood circulation, and eliminates wastes like lactic acid from the joints. Rumatone Gold massage oil, Castor oil, olive oil, mustard oil or hot vinegar may be used for massaging ailing joints.

3. Sea bathing is effective for painful joints. The iodine rich sea water restores and regenerates damaged tissues.

4. Diet should be nutritious and should include antioxidants, Vitamin C, D and E, minerals like Calcium, omega3 fatty acids. Such a diet would keep bones strong and healthy. Thus oily fishes like tuna, salmons, herring, sardines, and mackerel are very useful for osteoarthritis patients. Patients should avoid consuming food items of the nightshade group such as potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers. Red meat is to be strictly avoided. Also orange juice should be avoided, for it acts as a stimulant for osteoarthritis pain. Food cooked in flaxseed oil is very helpful for osteoarthritis patients.

5. Herbal tea like that of alfalfa, ginger can relieve patients from swollen and painful joints.

6. The patient should keep the body weight in check by means of exercise and dieting.

7. Hot compress and warm wax application on the affected area may relieve pain.

Article Source: For more information about Osteoarthritis Symptoms , you can visits alcat.com

Inflammatory Arthritis - Types, Causes and Symptoms

There are many forms of arthritis. Inflammatory arthritis is any form of arthritis that involves the immune system and inflammation. The characteristic symptoms of inflammation are swelling, heat, redness of skin, pain, and loss of function. There are different types of inflammatory arthritis.
Autoimmune Disorders

• The body treats it own tissues as a foreign object and reacts to this foreign object with inflammation
• Rheumatoid arthritis - antibodies produced by the body attack the synovial membrane that encloses each joint
• Lupus - systematically affects connective tissues and organs
• Ankylosing Spondylitis - a progressive form of arthritis that causes inflammation of the spine and large joints
• Reiter's Syndrome - a chronic, progressive disease that can affect the joints, tendon attachments, skeleton, and the eye's conjunctiva and mucous membranes
• Psoriatic arthritis - causes inflammation of the skin and joints
• Inflammatory bowel disease - inflammatory arthritis can be associated with this disease

Other Causes of Inflammatory Arthritis
Inflammatory arthritis can be caused by other conditions, as well. Reactive arthritis is caused by certain types of bacteria and can develop from an infection in another part of your body. The deposit of crystalline structures in the joints causes gout and pseudogout. Elevated blood levels of uric acid, which is a waste product, can form in the joints when the kidney does not properly dispose of the waste.
Symptoms of Inflammatory Arthritis
The symptoms of inflammatory arthritis can include the following:

• Pain in one or more joints
• Swelling in one or more joints
• The affected joint is usually warmer than other joints
• Stiffness and decrease of ability to move affected joints
• Symptoms may appear after a minor illness or emotional stress
• Skin around joints may become red and tender

Treatment of Inflammatory Arthritis
The inflammatory symptoms  can be treated with medicines or natural remedies. However, it is very important to find the cause of the arthritis so that the root problem can be treated as well. Medications can be used to treat the pain and inflammation, but there are many natural remedies that have been more successful in treating the cause of the inflammatory arthritis. If you use medications to relieve the symptoms of inflammatory arthritis, be sure to learn of any side effects or reactions to other medications or food.
Some natural remedies for the treatment of inflammatory arthritis include:

• Exercise - a regular exercise regimen helps to avoid stiffness of the joints associated with inflammatory arthritis
• Water aerobics - endorphins produced in the brain during water aerobics can help ease the pain of inflammatory arthritis
• Valerian - this can be used to treat the pain of inflammatory arthritis. This natural medication is a known sedative and caution should be used - some people have experienced withdrawal symptoms when stopping abruptly.
• Comfrey - a comfrey salve can be used to reduce the inflammation of the affected joints
• Mangosteen - this fruit has been shown to relieve both the inflammation and pain associated with inflammatory arthritis
• Omega-3 fatty acids - can be found in foods such as cold-water fish, walnut, and flaxseeds.

Diet for Inflammatory ArthritisDiet is also another way that you can prevent or lessen the symptoms associated with inflammatory arthritis. A healthy diet is important for overall health. There are some foods that can trigger the onset of inflammation in the joints and some foods that decrease the onset of inflammation. If you suffer from inflammatory arthritis, you should eliminate milk and milk products. You should avoid polyunsaturated fats and products that are made with partially hydrogenated oils. The best kind of diet for those who suffer from inflammatory arthritis is low in protein and high in carbohydrates. Some of the common foods that can trigger the symptoms of arthritis are milk and dairy products, beef, corn, and wheat. Avoiding these foods can help you to avoid triggering the symptoms.
Article Source: In general, a healthy diet and regular exercise can help you to avoid many of the symptoms of inflammatory arthritis.

Fibromyalgia Symptoms

Fibromyalgia (fye-bro-my-AL-gee-ah) is an arthritis-related condition that is characterized by generalized muscular pain and fatigue. The term "fibromyalgia" means pain in the muscles, ligaments and tendons. This condition is referred to as a "syndrome" because it's a set of signs and symptoms that occur together. Fibromyalgia is especially confusing and often misunderstood condition. Because fibromyalgia symptoms are quite common and laboratory tests are generally normal, people with fibromyalgia were once told that their condition was "all in their head." However, medical studies have proven that fibromyalgia does indeed exist, and it is estimated to affect about 2 percent of the U.S. population today.

While there is no specific diet for all fibromyalgia cases, different symptoms may suggest ways of improving your health through diet. As fibromyalgia sufferers often have one condition amplifying another (or several others), relieving even one can increase your quality of life, sometimes substantially. If your body overreacts to certain foods, it could worsen conditions ranging from digestive troubles (gas, bloating, constipation, or diarrhea) to fatigue, migraine headache symptoms, joint pain, mood disorders, muscle aches, and skin problems. Beef, citrus, chicken, corn, dairy, eggs, gluten ( protein in wheat, barley, rye, spelt, and kamut ), soy, sugar, tomatoes, wheat, yeast, etc., are common problems for individuals with food intolerance.

Alcat Chronic Fatigue Symptoms

Chronic fatigue symptoms are different from drowsiness. In general, drowsiness is feeling the need to sleep, while fatigue is a lack of energy and motivation.Fatigue is a feeling of weariness, tiredness, or lack of energy.

Chronic fatigue syndrome causes such devastating tiredness or fatigue that you can't perform all of the normal, daily activities you used to. There are other symptoms as well, but fatigue lasting 6 months or more is the main one. Some people battle CFS for years. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome affects almost 1,000,000 Americans a year.

Common Causes of chronic fatigue symptoms:

There are many possible physical and psychological causes of chronic fatigue symptoms. Some of the more common are:

1) Sleep disorders like ongoing insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, or narcolepsy
2) An allergy that leads to hay fever or asthma
3) An underactive thyroid
4) Use of alcohol or illegal drugs like cocaine, especially with regular use

Chronic fatigue symptoms can also accompany the following illnesses:
1) Infection, especially one that takes a long time to recover from or treat, like bacterial endocarditis, parasitic infections, AIDS, tuberculosis, and mononucleosis
2) Congestive heart failure
3) Chronic liver or kidney disease
4) Anorexia or other eating disorders
5) Arthritis, including juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, which affects children and teens