Thursday, 2 February 2012

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

Friday, 6 January 2012

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.


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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.

Thursday, 5 January 2012

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

Monday, 2 January 2012

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.


 

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.

Articel Source

Looking for information on Food Intolerance? You can find it here, along with articles that will help you sort out any confusion you might have with a Food Intolerance.

Wednesday, 7 December 2011

Food Allergy Test

When Foods Becomes Toxins – Submitting to a Food Allergy Test
Why is fish healthy for you? Let me count the ways. Fish is healthy for you because the essential fatty acids in the Omega 3 which is found in fish help to keep our heart healthy.

They also play a role in our mental health. Omega 3 has anti-inflammatory properties. In fact a New Zealand company makes an oil out of Tuna and Hoki fish that has double the anti-inflammatory properties of other highly concentrated oils.


This oil has found a huge market for those that suffer from rheumatoidarthritis and other arthritic diseases.
When you ask why is fish healthy for you? I must tell you, fish may be good for you, but the heavy metals and the toxins found in most fish are not.

You see, the oceans of the world, with a few notable exceptions are polluted with mercury, lead and PCBs. These are all highly poisonous, and the toxins especially the PCBs are known to cause cancer.
These days, we really do need to take a daily dose of Omega 3/DHA fish oil to obtain the essential fatty acids that our body craves.

Do not let me put you off eating fish though. You can still eat fish, just do not eat it so often. If you eat fish once a month, you should be OK.

These toxins and heavy metals build up in the larger species of fish. So if you eat the smaller species of fish, you should have nothing to worry about. I like eating flounder and skate.

When you ask,why is fish healthy for you? I mentioned that it is good for our heart. This reminds me of the Greenland Eskimo’s whom the scientists studied years ago.

The scientists wanted to know just why the Eskimo’s did not suffer from heart disease, when they were eating so much fat. They discovered that the Eskimo’s diet was rich in the Omega 3 fatty acids, which helped to prevent heart attacks.

Scientists also studied the New Zealand Maori’s to find out just why they did not suffer from arthritis. The scientists discovered that the Maori’s diet was also rich in the Omega 3 fatty acids.

They also discovered another curious fact. The Maori’s were eating a lot of green lipped mussels. Further study showed that the green lipped mussel helped to protect them from arthritis.

Let me round off this article by saying that fish is OK to eat as long as you only eat small amounts of it, or eat the smaller species of fish.

Article source: rose-articles.com

Order your Food Allergy Test at ALCAT Worldwide.

Friday, 4 November 2011

The Weight Loss Management Insight

Obesity is something very common at or after a certain age. It gets very difficult to maintain a perfect body as soon as age hits people. But it can be fought if you start understanding the needs of your body and controlling the growth to a beneficial way. Nowadays, many people are almost obsessed with dieting, maintaining a perfect body figure or controlling weight. Overweight can be a nuisance at times. So, people don't really ponder much before going through with many weight loss programs. Their sudden decision and lack of consciousness is the reason behind failed dieting. In these cases all the hard put through with a view to losing some weight goes in vain along with the additional risks of damaging the body. If you don't know what you are doing, you could end up worsening your state from where you had started. This is why weight loss management is crucial in getting your desired result.

People are prone to believing that once you get obese; the only way to return to normal is by starving yourself and doing workouts. Extensive workouts or physical exercises in these cases can be fatal to the body tissues and muscles. When the body gets overweight, naturally it requires more energy to go by a daily life. That energy is supplied by the food you eat or the fat you already have. When you start exercising that adds up to the energy consumption, which results in the body losing potential calories really fast. It burns up the fat in the body making it seem as if you are progressing. But in fact, you are risking your health. For instance your heart has to work harder than normal. If you cross your limit, you might end up with a mild stroke or even worse. So, it is important that you never starve yourself while working out. As well as don't over-stress your body. Gradually build up you workout speed and progress. That way, your body gets enough time to get used to the excess calorie burning.

The basic idea is to let your body burn out the unnecessary fat stored in your body, at the same time not let the body get refilled by fat. This is where the balanced diet comes in. You must eat, but eat something that would rather give you needed calories than adding more fat. This means nutritious food containing almost no fat, no junk food, food that would provide vitamins, minerals and other vital food nutrients, most importantly, food that would give you energy, other special recipes that would help dissolving the fat from the body, etc. You could also try some recommended medicines that help in reducing fat from the body. In these sorts of diets, you would be stuck having forced to eat nothing but vegetarian food for some time. Nutritious juices work pretty well though not always appreciated for their taste. You have to make sure that you don't take in any oil at all.
Other than the diet part, exercising calls for precautions. Don't push yourself too hard, be patient. You must progress slowly from bottom to top. Otherwise the muscles might rupture and you might end up with tissue damage. It is important to understand when resting is required and when you can continue working out. These are all part of ingenious techniques to weight loss management.

Article Source: Once you start abiding by such detailed routines, it is nothing but a matter of time before for body starts to respond and you begin to lose weight. So try out weight loss managements and be benefited thoroughly.

Wednesday, 2 November 2011

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