YOU MAY HAVE FOOD ALLERGIES & NOT KNOW IT!

Most people think of food allergies as being the most severe kind, involving anaphylaxis, which usually is a reaction of the entire body to a particular allergen. Did you know, however, that excess congestion, runny nose, headaches and joint pain can all be attributed to food allergies?

When the immune system gets run down, and in particular during times of stress, our digestive tracts slow down and digestion gets sluggish. This often means our bodies are not producing enough digestive enzymes to break down our food into its proper constituents (i.e., carbohydrates --> sugars; protein --> amino acids; fats --> triglycerides), leading to poorly digested food.

The undigested food enters our intestinal tract, where low-grade inflammation may result. This low-grade inflammation may go on for years, producing symptoms that are hardly associated with food allergy. This may mean joint pain, mood swings, fatigue, irritable bowel, headaches or migraines, etc. The trickiest part is that we often don’t associate these symptoms with the food that may be causing it, despite how often we eat it (ex: wheat, dairy, corn, etc.).

If you can imagine our intestinal lining to be similar to a nylon stocking in terms of permeability, any inflammation can lead to a “stretching”, or swelling, of the tissue. This becomes truly problematic when undigested protein particles pass through this lining and into the bloodstream. VOILA - you now have a serious immune system reacting to a ‘foreign’ substance.

In order to identify food allergies, you have to work with a nutritionist to eliminate potential trigger foods (for at least 3 weeks) and then re-introduce them and watch for any reaction. In the meantime, you must improve the health of your immune system, while managing stress levels. A HEALTHY IMMUNE SYSTEM WILL NOT REACT FOOD. Here is a manageable way to overcome food allergies or intolerances:

1) eliminate allergic foods for at least 3 weeks
2) strengthen the immune system with plenty of rest and a healthy, whole foods diet
3) heal the G.I. tract with soothing herbs, such as slippery elm or marshmallow root (no, not the puffy kind full of sugar that you roast on a fire)
4) slowly reintroduce the allergic food in small quantity and watch for a reaction (*please note: if you are anaphylactic, you must be working with an MD while doing this)

It is possible to “train” the immune system to no longer react to once-allergic foods. Many people have moved beyond their food allergies to enjoy them on a regular basis. It requires dedication and the patience to allow it to happen. You can consult with a nutritionist to see whether you may have food allergies and begin the road to recovery!

Cholesterol: It can’t be all that bad!

Mention the word ‘CHOLESTEROL’ at a dinner table surrounded by people, and you’ll likely find at least a few of them squirming in their seats. That’s because more and more people are developing high cholesterol and are being prescribed cholesterol-lowering medications, such as lipitor. When we hear the word ‘cholesterol’, it automatically conjures up negative thoughts. It does, however, play a crucial role within the cardiovascular system.

Our liver produces about 80% of the body’s total cholesterol, with the other 20% coming from food (www.heartandstroke.bc.ca). What this means is that it is equally important to ensure your liver is in good working order along with focusing on healthy foods that don’t contribute to high cholesterol.


What does cholesterol do anyway?

Cholesterol is a waxy substance that floats around in the bloodstream and have numerous benefits. It plays a role in the formation of various hormones, it helps make vitamin D within the skin, and it protects blood vessels from further damage by laying itself down on damaged tissue. Trouble arises when too much damage is happening within the arteries and therefore too much cholesterol being laid down by the body, leading to arterial blockages. Taking a drug to help stop production of cholesterol can also have negative side effects, so follow the tips below to help manage it naturally.


What can be done to help lower cholesterol?

Three steps can be taken to help lower cholesterol immediately:

1) Eat more fiber. Soluble fiber helps to bind free-floating cholesterol so that the intestinal tract can excrete it (http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4494). Without enough soluble fiber, the cholesterol gets re-absorbed and will continue to float around in the blood.

Some foods high in soluble fiber include:
- ground flaxseeds
- oatmeal
- oat bran
- apples (skin on) & berries
- nuts (raw & unsalted)

2) Eat good fats. Healthy fats help increase HDL “the good cholesterol”. HDL cholesterol helps to move the bad (LDL) cholesterol away from the arteries so that it can be excreted by the body.

Some sources of healthy fats include:
- cold water fish (salmon, mackerel, trout, sardines)
- flaxseed oil
- hempseed oil
- cold-pressed olive oil

3) Detoxify your liver. A liver that is overloaded with toxins (environmental, pesticides, processed food additives, etc.) will not know when to stop producing cholesterol. Remember that 80% of the cholesterol produced in the body is made by the liver. You must ensure your liver is in good health in order to manage high cholesterol successfully.

Ways to detox your liver:
- Eat bitter foods (stimulates the liver) such as spinach, kale, lemon, apple cider vinegar, artichokes
- Use liver-protective herbs such as milk thistle
- Do a periodic cleanse program (http://www.grassrootsnutrition.ca/GHN/Blog/Entries/2009/2/23_To_cleanse_or_not_to_cleanse....html).


Last but not least, if you or someone you know has a problem with their cholesterol, consult a nutritionist to help make managing cholesterol EASY!