Do you experience asthma, eczema, psoriasis, arthritis, ear infections, sinusitis, migraine headaches, irritable bowel, inflammatory bowel disease, anxiety, depression, fatigue, hyperactivity, obesity, or post nasal drip? If so, you may have food allergies.

Food allergies are a common condition in which the immune system reacts to certain foods in the same way that it reacts to bacteria and viruses, namely by producing antibodies.  Food allergies can be immediate and life threatening, as in the case of someone who eats a strawberry and can't breathe, or they can be delayed and much less severe but nevertheless cause significant problems.  The vast majority of people who have food allergies, many of whom don't know it, have the delayed type of reaction.

The reason that many people aren't aware that they have food allergies is because the allergic reaction can take up to two days to occur after eating the allergic food.  This makes it very difficult to associate the symptoms of an allergic reaction to a particular food.  The other difficulty is that food allergies can cause a wide variety of symptoms (as described above) beyond just the hives or anaphylactic shock that many people are aware of.  While estimates of the prevalence of food allergies varies widely, a study published in Annals of Allergy found for example that 78% of childhood ear infections are associated with food allergies.

The foods that people most commonly become allergic to are dairy, eggs, and gluten. Other common allergens include peanuts, corn, soy, citrus fruits, nightshade vegetables (tomato, potato, pepper, eggplant), chocolate, yeast, beans, and nuts.  The list of foods that a person can become allergic to, however, includes everything that he or she eats.  Ironically it is actually the foods that a person eats most frequently that he or she is most likely to be allergic to.  This is because food allergies can lead to a type of food addiction where eating the food can in some ways make a person feel better, while avoiding the food can lead to withdrawal symptoms.

There are many different options when it comes to diagnosing food allergies.  The most commonly used tests include skin prick tests, allergy elimination/challenge tests, and blood antibody testing.

Skin prick tests, while widely used by dermatologists to diagnose respiratory allergies, are not an accurate way to test for food allergies except in the case of the immediate, life threatening type of reaction.  As mentioned previously, the majority of people with food allergies do not have this type of reaction.

The elimination/challenge diet is free and highly accurate, but is the most difficult to do.  It requires eliminating all potentially allergic foods for a period of time, usually two weeks, and then challenging oneself with these foods one at a time.   For this test to be effective, most or all allergic foods must be eliminated and the food challenges must be spaced adequately far apart.  If done properly, a person will feel better after eliminating the allergic foods for 5-7 days, and then feel worse within 1-2 days of challenging with the suspect food.

Blood antibody testing, which is much better than skin prick testing for the common delayed reaction, involves testing a sample of the persons blood with a variety of different foods in the laboratory.  A report is then produced which lists the amount of antibody found for each of the foods tested.  The advantage of this type of test is that 100 or more foods are commonly tested, and the list of foods that need to be eliminated is usually shorter and easier than with the elimination diet.

Complete avoidance of the allergic foods is the most effective way to treat food allergies. This can be very difficult for a person who is allergic to things such as dairy and wheat which make up a large part of most American diets.  Fortunately there are many hypoallergenic alternatives now available for these foods, and numerous dairy and wheat free cookbooks are also available.  The good news is that these foods don't need to be given up forever.  Most people are able to tolerate their allergic foods on an occasional or rotation basis after giving their immune system 3-6 months to calm down.

Rotation diets are a good way of preventing food allergies from developing in the first place, and are the best way to reintroduce foods for those who have been on an elimination diet.  One of the primary reasons that people develop food allergies is from eating the same foods day in and day out.  It is no coincidence that dairy and wheat, the most common foods in the American diet, are also the most common food allergens.  Rotation diets solve this problem by cycling foods through the diet every 4-5 days.  A person allergic to dairy, for example, could only eat dairy once every 4-5 days.

There are also a number of underlying conditions which can promote the development of food allergies, including poor digestion, a "leaky gut" which allows too many intact food proteins to be absorbed into the blood stream, and chronic intestinal infections by yeast, bacteria, or parasites.  Correcting these underlying problems is crucial to healing the food allergies.

Natural supplements that can be especially useful in helping to heal food allergies include quercetin (a bioflavanoid that reduces inflammation in the gut), glutamine (an amino acid that heals the lining of the gut), milk thistle (an herbal medicine that protects and restores liver function), and inulin (a vegetable fiber that promotes the growth of good bacteria in the gut).  These natural products have potent anti-allergic properties in the gut, and therefore help to reduce allergic sensitivity when used in conjunction with an allergy elimination diet.

While elimination and rotation diets may seem overwhelming at first, there are a wealth of resources available to help.  Most people quickly get the hang of it, and the improvement in the way they feel makes it all worth it.

Extremely High Lead Levels in Used Consumer Products

A study has discovered a widespread problem with lead in used consumer products at levels that are far beyond even the most conservative safe upper limits. Many recycled, used or older consumer products widely available for sale - such as jewelry, toys, kitchen utensils, window frames, shutters, common dishware, toy teapots, picture frames and home decor items - contain surface lead concentrations more than 700 times higher than the U.S. federal limit. The researchers purchased the items from antique stores, second-hand shops and junk stores, testing for surface lead with a swab before buying. (Similar items are sold at flea markets.) They then used x-ray fluorescence to determine exact lead content, finding high levels in a number of diverse items. The amount of lead ranged from twice the federal limit in a metal ice cream scoop to 714 times the limit in a salt shaker lid. This study appears in the December, 2010 issue of the Journal of Environmental Health. It is available at http://bit.ly/dERJhL for purchase.

Pollutants May Increase Diabetes and Obesity Risk

A study has found that early life exposure to pollutants leads to higher levels of glucose (blood sugar), greater insulin resistance, and increased inflammation - all risk factors for diabetes - and more abdominal fat, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. At least, that was the finding for mice exposed in early life, five days a week, to pollution seven times greater than ambient air in Columbus, Ohio. (With insulin resistance, insulin does not effectively transfer glucose from the blood into the tissues, where it is used for energy.) The study also found pollution increased blood levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, an inflammatory protein. The extra fat produced among mice exposed to pollutants was both abdominal and subcutaneous (under the skin). The fine particulates to which the mice were exposed, mirroring pollution to which humans are exposed, were 2.5 micrometers or less in size, about 1/30th the width of the average human hair, allowing them to reach deep areas of the lungs or other body organs. Human studies are planned. This study is published in the December, 2010 issue of the journal, Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. It is available at http://bit.ly/gL4Pa0 without charge.

Early Physical Therapy for Back Pain Prevents Later Surgery, Drugs

A study has found that those who receive physical therapy in the acute phase following an episode of lower back pain are less likely to require medical services than those who seek physical therapy after a delay. The medical treatments that those receiving early physical therapy were less likely to need included epidural steroid injections, lumbar surgery, or frequent physician office visits. The window for more effective treatment for low back pain appeared to be the acute phase, classed as within four weeks; the sub-acute and chronic phases were classed as four to 12 weeks, and three to 12 months, respectively. The most common back conditions experienced by patients in the study were nonspecific backache, sciatica, degenerative disk disease, and spinal stenosis. Generalist practitioners under-recommend physical therapies, and their treatment practices may need to modified, suggested the researchers, who concluded this would cut overall healthcare costs. Recently released by the journal Spine, this study will be published in a future issue but is accessible online now at http://bit.ly/enAMLZ with subscription or fee.

Behavioral Problems Linked to Prenatal Cell Phone Exposure

A study has found that pregnant women who use mobile phones regularly have a greater risk of having children with behavioral problems; and children who also start using cell phones early themselves slightly increase that risk. Children exposed to cell phone radiation exclusively before birth were found to have a 40 percent higher risk of behavioral problems. Children exposed to cell phones both before birth and up to age seven, were found to have a 50 percent greater chance of behavioral problems. And children who were exposed to cell phones only after birth were found to have a 20 percent higher risk of behavioral problems. This large epidemiological study confirmed the similar findings of earlier research by the same group. Although the influence of various other sociological factors was taken into account, this link is not necessarily one of cause and effect. This study was released December 7, 2010 and will be published in a future issue of the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. It is available online now at http://bit.ly/i17Bvk with subscription or access fee.

Two Omega-3 Fats May Alleviate Depression

A study concludes that taking two omega-3 fatty acids together - eicosapentenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) - has an antidepressant effect that has not been recognized before, on those with clinical depression. (Omega-3s are polyunsaturated fatty acids that are essential to ingest because the body cannot synthesize them. Greatest sources include cold water fatty fish, such as salmon, tuna and halibut, and fish oil supplements.) Taking DHA alone had no effect on depression but taking either EPA alone, or EPA and DHA together, was linked to reduced depression. Also, results showed no effect on mood or attitude in those without clinical depression. Scientists should undertake a larger human trial to study this effect further, suggested the study team leader, who also stressed that patients should always talk to their healthcare providers before taking omega-3 supplements to treat depression. This study was presented in Miami Beach at the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology's annual meeting, which ended December 9, 2010. It has not yet been published and is not yet available online.

Pomegranate Juice May Prevent Cancer from Spreading within Body

In a study on lab-cultured cancer cells, researchers have that found that components in pomegranate juice inhibit the migration of cancer cells within the body, potentially leading to a new treatment down the road. Cancer cells often metastasize - spread - within the body by breaking away from the cancer location. But pomegranate components increased cell adhesion, reducing the breaking away of cells. They also discovered that pomegranate components weaken the natural attraction that prostate cancer cells have to a protein in bone marrow, which is how prostate cancer cells spread to the bone. (The proteins and genes involved in the movement of prostate cancer cells are essentially the same as those involved in the metastasis of other cancers.) The pomegranate components were identified as phenylpropanoids, hydrobenzoic acids, flavones and conjugated fatty acids. Research is still needed to see whether these pomegranate components have the same effect on live subjects as on the lab culture and without side effects. This study was presented in Philadelphia on December 12, 2010 by Canadian researchers at the 50th annual meeting of the American Society for Cell Biology but is not yet published or available online.

Low-Sugar Cereals Increase Children's Fruit Consumption

A study has concluded that when children are served cereals containing low levels of sugar, instead of high levels, they are more likely to add fruit to their cereal. Both sugar and fruit were made available along with their cereal. Children given low-sugar cereal chose to eat substantially less cereal, more fruit and less sugar. They also increased overall dietary nutrition. Children reported that they liked or loved the cereal they were served, whether they received the high- or low-sugar cereals. Fifty-four percent of children given low-sugar cereal opted for fruit as a topping compared with just eight percent of those given high-sugar cereal. Researchers suggested that despite heavy marketing of sugar-coated cereals at children, children can and will make good nutritional decisions if they are given the chance. This study was released December 13, 2010 by the journal Pediatrics and is now available online at http://bit.ly/dQPyAy without subscription or fee.

Omega-3 Fats May Help Prevent Age-Related Muscle Loss

A study has found that supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids can stimulate muscle synthesis in older adults, possibly preventing or treating sarcopenia - the loss of muscle mass, strength and function that occurs with aging. Sixteen, older, healthy participants received either omega-3 supplements or corn oil for eight weeks. The rate of the manufacture of muscle protein was measured immediately after absorption and again during hyperaminoacidemia-hyperinsulinemia - meaning when amino acids and insulin levels are very high in the blood. Corn oil had no effect on muscle production. The omega-3 oil had no post-absorptive effect on muscle production either but boosted muscle protein synthesis during these other times, when blood levels of amino acids and insulin were high. Researchers concluded that omega-3 fatty acid supplements may offset sarcopenia. This study was small in size and changes in muscle size and strength were not measured; further study would be helpful. This study was released December 15, 2010 but will not appear in print until a future issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. It is available online at http://bit.ly/gztTnh with fee payment or subscription.

Beet Juice Lowers Blood Pressure and Oxygen Needs

Researchers have concluded that a component of beetroot juice has a two-fold effect on the body that may be especially beneficial to those with heart or lung conditions. Previously, whole beetroot juice caused a stir when it was shown to improve athletic performance by 16 percent. But this new study concludes its benefits are not limited to athletes and that a single component in the juice is entirely responsible for these effects. For six days, some participants consumed regular beetroot juice while others drank juice from which the nitrates had been removed. Those drinking the nitrates-containing juice experienced lower blood pressure and a reduced need for oxygen when performing low-intensity exercises such as walking. Nitrates widen blood vessels, lowering blood pressure, and cause muscle tissues to work on a lower amount of oxygen. The effort required to walk for instance, was 12 percent less and this effect could boost mobility and exercise ability among the elderly or those with poor heart or lung function. Released early, this study will appear in a future issue of the Journal of Applied Physiology. It is now available online at http://bit.ly/gsyKDF with subscription or access fee.

Blue-Green Algae May Help Fight ALS

A study has found preliminary evidence that supplementing with spirulina may protect dying motor neurons in mice with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. This may translate into clinical benefits for humans. (Motor neurons are nerve cells that control muscles. Spirulina are nutrient-rich blue-green algae.) Earlier research suggests spirulina exerts dual protection, reducing both oxidation and inflammation. Current ALS treatments help relieve symptoms but previous studies by this group and others, suggested the causes of ALS might be treated by plant antioxidants, such as those in blueberries and ginkgo. Spirulina contains several types of a potent antioxidant group known as phycocyanins, as well as large amounts of beta-carotene. In the mouse study, spirulina reduced the death of motor neurons, lessened indicators of inflammation, and delayed the onset of ALS symptoms. Research on actual human motor neuron counts, and on whether spirulina supplementation extends the lifespan of human ALS patients, will determine its effectiveness as an ALS therapy, the team concluded. This study was published in the current issue of the Open Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Journal. It is available online now at http://bit.ly/hG8vWV without subscription or cost.

Green Leafies and Olive Oil Reduce Cardiovascular Risk

Researchers have found that higher consumption of leafy vegetables and olive oil may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Only women participated in the eight-year study, which was designed to rule out any interference in the outcome from specific other factors, such as alcohol consumption, smoking, high blood pressure, education, menopause, physical activity, and body type. Cardiovascular events were reduced by almost half, among women who consumed the greatest amount of leafy vegetables, as well as among those who consumed the most olive oil. A higher fruit intake showed no effect on cardiovascular risk. Recently released, this study will be published in a future issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. It is available online now at http://bit.ly/fKsJrN with subscription or payment of an article access fee.

Vitamin D Deficiency in Newborns Linked to Respiratory Infections

Babies born with a vitamin D deficiency have a greater risk of developing respiratory infections during infancy, and experiencing wheezing during early childhood, a new study suggests. Previous studies found that the infants of mothers who took vitamin D supplements during pregnancy were less likely to experience wheezing during childhood but this would not predict accurately, the actual blood levels of newborns. (Wheezing can be a symptom of many respiratory infections and not just asthma.) The new study examined actual blood levels of vitamin D in newborns by testing umbilical cord blood samples. Researchers found a reduced wheezing incidence among infants whose umbilical cord showed sufficient vitamin D levels. Vitamin D has been associated traditionally with bone development but newer research suggests a role for this sunshine vitamin in the immune system. This study was posted online at http://bit.ly/dMoFA0 on December 27, 2010 by the journal, Pediatrics, but will not be published until a future print issue. Online access requires subscription or fee payment.

Allergies Less Common in Children Exposed to Bacteria

Allergies are less common in children exposed during infancy to farm animals and bacteria. In fact, children of mothers who were exposed during pregnancy to cats or farm animals are born with an immune system protection against atopic dermatitis, reports a study released November 26, 2010 by the Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology. (Atopic dermatitis is an itchy and painful skin rash caused by an inherited hypersensitivity to allergens.) These facts reinforce the well-accepted hygiene hypothesis, which suggests that the modern-day obsession with sanitized environments, and early-life protection against bacteria, deprives a child's immature and still-developing immune system from experiencing an appropriate level of bacterial exposure. This may cause immune system over-reactions, or autoimmune disorders, throughout life.

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