Today we’re going to talk about hidden food allergies. The first thing that it is important to understand is that there are different types of reactions to foods that we are allergic to. The most commonly understood and easily detected reaction is called a type 1 reaction or IgE reaction. With this type of reaction it is very easy to detect an allergy to a particular food. The symptoms of a Type 1 reaction are swelling of the throat, hives and an anaphylaxis type of reaction, a serious, potentially life-threatening allergic response. We are not focusing on that today because these allergies are very easily detected. The type of allergy I want to talk to you about would more likely fall into the category of food sensitivities which are the result of an entirely different immuno/ biological process altogether. One that instead of being an immediate reaction may take hours or even days to actually become apparent. This is one of the reasons that most people have trouble recognizing the relationship between the symptoms that they are experiencing with something that they ate days prior (type 3 or type 4 reactions), even though type 3 and type 4 reactions are much more common. In fact only 5 percent of the population is affected by the type 1 so that means that most are affected by the type 3 or 4 allergy which is the “hidden” type. How do you recognize whether or not you or someone you know could be experiencing a type 3 or 4 sensitivity or allergic reaction? The most common way of diagnosing such sensitivities is to undergo an elimination process where diet is severely restricted and then one by one foods are reintroduced into the diet (usually one food per week). This can take months or even years to complete!!! Until now this has been the “Gold Standard”! The news I am about to share with you is LIFE CHANGING!!! Say goodbye to the old gold standard because now there is a very simple in home test which will detect hidden food allergies! I know of a woman who suffered migraines for 18 years. She had been through test after test week after week and the doctors kept saying “there is nothing wrong” as they proceeded to prescribe another medication for her migraines. She spent thousands on these tests; in fact one of them cost her $1,200.00! After much arm twisting she took the in home test (for $99.00) and viola!!! The in home test revealed that she was allergic to foods in the mustard family. She is proceeding with the recommended protocol and I am happy to report NO MORE MIGRAINES! Another woman suffered from severe eczema for most of her life. There were times when she was house ridden for the better part of a week. After taking the in home test, she found out she was allergic to dairy. She is now on her way to living a normal life. Now I am not a doctor nor am I saying that we “cured them”. In fact that would be a felony (Thank you FDA). We simply detected the allergy and gave them the gastrointestinal support they needed to heal. Typically once the GI tract has healed itself; it has been found that the food can then be reintroduced with no further reactions! The strange thing is that this type of test has been used by physicians for years with amazing success but it isn’t promoted widely. This is because most doctors tend to focus on Type 1 allergies instead of the other 2. Let’s look at food allergies and sensitivities a little closer; shall we? In a typical type 1 the food antigens can trigger the mast cell mechanism at any point in their journey through the body. Lip, tongue, throat burning and swelling are most obvious symptoms of this. The antigen may not react in gastro intestinal tract but activate Type 1 responses in blood or target organs, especially lungs and connective tissue. The onset of “immediate reactions” may be delayed hours after eating offending foods. Major symptoms include: flushing, swelling, shortness of breath, fast heart rate, panic, pain, and confusion. What happens when dealing with a type 3 or 4 reaction (hidden sensitivity) is quite different. In this type of reaction the antibodies bind directly to the food particles themselves as they enter the blood stream. Then they form different sizes of circulating immune complex. This complex is comprised of the allergens and the antibodies that reacted to it becoming bound together and then circulating in the blood stream. It is important to understand that in this case there is a delayed reaction of symptoms not seen with the Type 1 reaction. Also unlike Type 1 reactions, type 3 and 4 are usually from a food that you eat OFTEN and even CRAVE. In fact cravings are common as are withdrawal symptoms. The numbers here are huge! It is thought that nearly 60 to 80 million Americans suffer from this type of reaction. What are the symptoms of type 3 %26 4 reactions? There are hundreds of them! (Hold on to your chair.) You know someone who is affected by this. Tinnitus, recurrent ear infections, asthma, dark circles under the eyes (allergic shiners also seen in children reacting to vaccines), chronic digestive problems (diarrhea, constipation and heartburn), spastic colon, migraine headaches, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel, fluctuations in blood sugar, joint and muscle pain, fluid retention, brain fog and or mental confusion, irritability, eczema and many others. In fact studies have shown that even (temporary) changes in your voice or hoarseness can take place as the result of these reactions! The good news is that they are reversible but a skin test will not detect their presence. How do we end up with these reactions or sensitivities? Lack of breast feeding is one culprit. When breast feeding became unpopular asthma became epidemic. This is largely due to an immunoglobulin deficiency, as human immunoglobulin is not contained in cow’s milk. Food sensitivities of all types are far more prominent in babies who were not breast fed. Let’s think about that… When a baby is born it is meant for that baby to have mommy’s breast milk. The intestine is somewhat porous. All of the foods going through the intestine are being exposed to the blood stream in a way does not take place after weaning, when porous elements of the intestine gradually begin to close. The food that passes through the intestine from that point forward is not directly exposed to the blood as it would be in earlier years. In fact many people who have wheat allergies were fed wheat based formulas when they were infants!! It is also important to note that when genetically modified soy was introduced into the UK, soy allergies skyrocketed by 50 percent and I suspect that many other GMOs are causing allergic reactions among the unsuspecting populace at large. See the GMO Trilogy for more information on the devastating effects of genetically modified food. If you sit back and think or better yet, keep a mental note of this article, I am sure you will encounter someone you know who meets the criteria or has the symptoms mentioned above. I STRONGLY encourage you to let them see this information because it just might CHANGE THEIR LIFE! Stay tuned for next weeks’ “Custom Health 4 You News” Hidden Food Allergies Part 2. Until then… Yours in health and wellness! Tiffane If you want to learn more about hidden food sensitivities and The in home test; The Allertest visit http://www.customhealth4you.com/Allertest.html Tiffane Coe has been healing herself naturally for the past 5 years! She is a staunch opponent of CODEX ALIMENTARIUS and believes that supplements should remain legal without a prescription. Since switching to a mostly organic diet and supplementing she has not been on any form of medication including antibiotics. Her 9 year old daughter is also medication and antibiotic free for two and a half years. To learn more visit http://customhealth4you.com

Food Allergies – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Food allergies, also known as hypersensitivity, effect between 1-2% of adults and can pose a real challenge for the sufferer. Though may people may have an intolerance for certain foods, a true food allergy is different. When an allergic person consumes an allergen, their immune system responds with a number of symptoms. The appearance of symptoms follows the digestive tract. The reaction may start with tingling or numbness in the lips and mouth, move downward to stomach cramping and digestive upset, then working through the blood stream can result in rashes or hives. The most serious form of reaction, called anaphylaxis, results in lowered blood pressure and swelling of the tongue and throat.Among the first signs of an allergic reaction are coughing and sneezing, a runny nose and red, itchy eyes. Some experience the sudden appearance of an itchy skin rash or hives and a tingling sensation in the mouth, lips and throat.More than 12 million Americans have food allergies, and most of those people are aware of their allergies. Millions more have food sensitivities, and most of them are not aware of it. Patrick Holford, co-author of Hidden Food Allergies, says, “I would estimate that one in three people suffers [from a food sensitivity].” For some people who are allergic or sensitive, avoiding the dangerous food is not difficult and they rarely think about it. For others, food allergies and sensitivities define, dominate and dictate their lives.Signs and SymptomsAny type of allergic reaction, including food allergies, occur as a result of the immune system over reacting to normally harmless allergens. In the case of food, the allergens are typically milk, eggs, peanuts, shellfish and a few other foods.Causes of food allergyHere are some tips if you are preparing “allergen” free food. Egg-Free Diet for those with an over reaction of the immune system in the body, when proteins from the eggs are ingested which causes egg allergy. You need to avoid prepared foods with egg and other egg substitutes if you have allergies with eggs. There are different egg substitutes to use in your cooking recipe such as Tofu and smashed bananas.In a true food allergy, the immune system erroneously identifies a certain food component as an injurious substance. The immune system of the body triggers certain cells of the body to make E (IgE) immunoglobulin antibodies in order to fight food components or the culprit food (the allergen). The next time that you intake even the tiniest quantity of that food, the immunoglobulin (IgE) antibodies easily sense it and alerts your immune system to discharge histamine and various other chemicals into your blood stream.Treat Your FoodEven worse factor is, in some of the cases when you were able to enjoy a certain food or drink , but in meanwhile you have developed an allergic reaction to it. It surely is very unpleasant to hunger after a certain food and to resent it at the same time because you anticipate the disagreeable effects it will have on you. Food and Drink sensitivity The way you get allergic reaction is when a specific enzymes in the product you are having can not tolerate some chemical or natural substance of it.Food Allergy AwarenessIt’s rare that you hear of someone dying from food allergies, but when it happens, it usually reaches national news. Why? Because food is something we eat every day - several times a day - and everyone should be aware of the dangers of food allergies. Some foods such as peanuts contain very strong allergens that are in the food and released into the air as well. That’s why someone with severe food allergies must be extremely careful where and how they dine out. Food Allergy Deaths There are approximately 150 deaths related to food allergies in the United States each year. Food allergies are responsible for more deaths than insect bites as well as reactions to medicines.

Allergies is the most common and probably the most complex cause for red eye symptoms. In general allergies are poorly understood, for example we can not fully explain or cure many allergy induced disorders such as asthma, rosacea or chronic urticaria.

We can be allergic to almost anything, for example some researchers believe Rosacea is caused by an allergy to microscopic mite (Demodex folliculorum) that lives in the hair follicle. Knowing that eyes also provide a broad surface area for the collection of any airborne allergens it would not be surprising that some hidden allergy may be responsible for the adverse reaction, as people may experience allergic reactions limited solely to ocular tissues.

Perennial allergic conjunctivitis may last throughout the year and although itching is the key symptom for diagnosing ocular allergy disorders it is often absent in allergic conjunctivitis. Some types of allergies, for example hay fever, make the eyes itchy, while others may merely produce a chronic redness. It’s not only invisible microscopic particles that are all around us and abnormal immune system that may cause red eye symptoms, hidden food allergies may also create an allergic reaction of the eyes with usual symptoms such as itchy or red eyes.

The first line treatment is identifying allergens and avoiding them. The most popular medicines used in ocular allergy treatment are artificial tear drops (such as systane, theratears or refresh endura) and Patanol which is a combination of anti histamine and mast cell stabiliser. People who do not respond well to first line treatment may be prescribed with Alrex, which is a corticosteroid approved by FDA for the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis. Long term use of corticosteroids have serious side effects such as elevated eye pressure or a possible development of cataract, therefore some specialists use Restasis (cyclosporin) for long term anti inflammatory effect, especially when dry eye symptoms are observed. A new possible trend in allergic eye inflammation treatment may be anti - immunoglobulin E medicine (such as Xolair), which is currently only approved for asthma.

If you have ever had a panic attack, you don’t look forward to another one. The “fight-or flight” response in your body is involuntarily turned on and your nervous system signals your adrenal glands to start pumping out stress hormones to get you ready to either run away or turn and fight.

Your muscles tense, your heartbeat speeds up, and your breathing becomes more rapid. You might feel like you are smothering, claustrophobic or you may experience an urgency to get away. On top of that, you may get hot flashes, sweating, and/or chills and trembling, plus numbness, tingling sensations, dizziness, and nausea.

You become overwhelmed by an extreme sense of fear and impending disaster and you lose your ability to think calmly and clearly while experiencing a distorted sense of time and a feeling of unreality.

In the face of a physical threat, accident, or natural disaster, this type of response is normal and can be life-saving. But panic attacks that occur unexpectedly in the presence of normal events can be debilitating. They may happen with no forewarning, at any time of the day or night, and last several seconds or more than half an hour.

The triggers for panic attacks are unpredictable. Most panic attacks are set off by some minor or major stressor. But panic attacks also can be triggered by changes in emotions, or as a response to certain drugs, foods, allergies (including hidden food allergies), hypoglycemia, and illnesses.

A panic attack is an example of an acute anxiety disorder and can affect teens to middle-agers and beyond. Women are reported to experience panic attacks twice as often as men but some believe that is only because men are more reticent to report panic attacks.

Recent studies point to a complex set of causes and panic attacks are regarded as a treatable psychobiological condition (i.e. having both psychological and biological causes). Successful resolution of panic attacks requires an integrated, multi-modality approach.

Even though panic attacks are not a simple condition and there are no simple answers for their successful resolution, herbal therapy can be useful as part of an integrated, multi-modality approach.

When you experience anxiety, your body releases a set of neurotransmitters called catecholamines, which stimulate your central nervous system and activate your sympathetic nervous system. Sometimes your sympathetic nervous system (the high alert part of your nervous system) can get stuck in the “on” mode leaving you in an ongoing state of anxiety - a fertile ground for panic attacks.

A class of herbs called nervines helps to turn off the sympathetic nervous system by gently facilitating the functioning of the parasympathetic nervous system – the part of the nervous system that prompts relaxation - helping us to wind down and come off “high alert”.

It is a good idea to experiment with different anti-anxiety herbs before you are in a crisis or panic situation. Try out several herbs in varying doses. Start with a low dose and increase if needed so that you will know how the herb affects you and how to use it when you need it.

Some effective herbal nervines to consider using:

Oatstraw (Avena sativa) – the green milky tops of oatstraw provide a wonderful soothing, nourishing and gentle herb for frayed and stressed nervous systems. Oatstraw has a restorative effect on an exhausted nervous system reliably strengthening the whole nervous system after prolong stress. Oatstraw has both an immediate effect (useful when experiencing extreme nervousness and anxiety) and a more long-term restorative effect. Oatstraw is well tolerated by even highly sensitive people and is used for nervous debility, stress, weak nerve and energy force, anxiety, depression, exhaustion, and general fatigue.

German Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla/ Matricaria recutita) – an all time favorite –because it works. Chamomile tones the nervous system, relaxes your muscles and calms nervous digestion. It has mild sedating properties and is not as strong an herbal sedative as valerian or passionflower. However, chamomile is a great option for anxiety in children or teens and for anxiety associated with mild sleep problems. If you are allergic to ragweed, asters, or chrysanthemums you are better off choosing another anti-anxiety herb.

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) –has mild sedative properties and is useful in conditions of nervous agitation with sleep problems and digestive complaints. Lemon balm is especially useful for over-anxiety that causes digestive problems such as nausea, bloating, and colic like pains. Traditionally lemon balm was used to lift the spirits and encourage longevity. Lemon balm is a relaxing tonic for anxiety, restlessness, irritability, and mild depression and its actions will quiet the racing heart that often accompanies anxiety. It has mild anti-thyroid effects and is best avoided by people with hypothyroid problems.

Skullcap (Scutellaria laterifolia) –tonifies and relaxes the nervous system and is useful for anxiety of all types especially anxiety and irritability that is hormonally based such as premenstrual syndrome. It is a sedative nervine and has mild anti-spasmodic and anti-hypertensive effects. Skullcap is a great herb to use when your anxiety is accompanied by a runaway mind that is stuck on worry. It is tolerated well by most people and has few side effects.

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) – one of the most well known anti-anxiety herbs, valerian is a potent herb whose active ingredients, valepotriates, bind to benzodiazepine receptors in the brain (similarly to the drug Valium). The use of valerian does not, however, result in dependence or the development of tolerance but instead tones the nervous system.

Valerian can be used to improve the sleep quality and relax both the skeletal and smooth muscles. Valerian should not be used for those with chronic exhaustion, adrenal fatigue, thyroid disorders, and depression as it may increase anxiety, worsen present symptoms, and/or result in excessive restlessness in these conditions.

Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) – a strong calming, anti-spasmodic herb that is useful for severe daytime anxiety. Passionflower is also a good choice for middle of the night waking terrors, nightmares, and the onset of sudden anxiety feelings. It acts as a central nervous system depressant giving a calming, relaxing and anti-anxiety effect and is specific for anxiety related to insomnia, muscle tension, restlessness, and nervousness due to worry, overwork, hysteria, or excessive excitement. If you are taking an MAO inhibitor, you should avoid taking passionflower except under supervision.

Stress Relief Tea

Here is a simple herbal tea mixture that I have found effective in my private practice working with women having mood and energy problems.

Mix together equal parts of the following dry herbs:

•Oatstraw

•Lemon Balm

•Skullcap

•Nettles

•Orange

•Chamomile

Use 1-2 teaspoons of the mixture and steep covered in 8 oz. of boiling water for 5-10 minutes.

The use of herbal nervines as part of an integrative program can help restore a sense of calm and well being, soothe distress, stabilize a confused and overwhelmed energy system, and foster clear thinking.

If you are taking anti-anxiety and/or anti-depressant medications or other medications, have a diagnosed condition or illness, are pregnant, breastfeeding, elderly or very young it is important to consult a knowledgeable health care practitioner before using herbs. Consult a licensed physician for diagnosis and treatment of any medical conditions.

Copyright (c) 2007 Mary Ann Copson