What is the vagus Nerve?
Learn about the vagus nerve, vagus stimulation and vagal tone.
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How exercise affects your hormones
Learn how exercise impacts your hormones.
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Food sensitivities are a symptom
A food allergy and a food sensitivity are two very different things. Food Allergy A food allergy is an IgE mediated immune response. There are three types: 1. IgE-mediated (Example peanuts, shellfish) IgE-mediated food allergy symptoms normally occur immediately in connection to certain foods. The symptoms can be hives, difficulty breathing, skin rash, itching, coughing, and others. An example is an allergy to peanuts or shellfish. 2. non-IgE-mediated (Example Celiac Disease) Non-IgE mediated conditions can have delayed symptoms.A food sensitivity, on the other hand, does not involve IgE antibodies. 3. mixed IgE/non-IgE-mediated (Example: Atopic dermatitis/EOE) IGE Skin Prick testing IgE skin prick testing is a reliable, trusted, and proven method of testing for true food allergies. So what causes food sensitivity? A food sensitivity is the symptom of an underlying problem. Just like when you get a headache and you take a pain killer. The pill works to stop the pain, but the cause of the headache is still there. Food sensitivities indicate a deeper problem, such as: • Low stomach acid • Lack of certain digestive enzymes • Poor diversity of good gut bacteria or an overgrowth of bad gut bacteria • Intestinal permeability • Certain medications/antibiotics • The poor functionality of certain genetic variations • Mold exposure • Histamine intolerance • A combination of any of the above IgG testing IgG tests are not endorsed or recommended by any of the well-known and trusted main allergy organizations. They are also not scientifically proven. The production of IgG antibodies to foods is a normal immunologic reaction. IgG food sensitivity tests are dangerous since they require the person to eliminate many different foods or food groups in order to “fix” the problem. However, doing so can cause further problems such as nutritional deficiencies and an unbalanced gut microbiome. Sources: Gocki J, Bartuzi Z. Role of immunoglobulin G antibodies in diagnosis of food allergy. Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2016 Aug;33(4):253-6. doi: 10.5114/ada.2016.61600. Epub 2016 Aug 16. PMID: 27605894; PMCID: PMC5004213. Beyer K, Teuber SS. Food allergy diagnostics: scientific and unproven procedures. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2005 Jun;5(3):261-6. doi: 10.1097/01.all.0000168792.27948.f9. PMID: 15864086. Hammond C, Lieberman JA. Unproven Diagnostic Tests for Food Allergy. Immunol Allergy Clin North Am. 2018 Feb;38(1):153-163. doi: 10.1016/j.iac.2017.09.011. PMID: 29132671. Stapel SO, Asero R, Ballmer-Weber BK, Knol EF, Strobel S, Vieths S, Kleine-Tebbe J; EAACI Task Force. Testing for IgG4 against foods is not recommended as a diagnostic tool: EAACI Task Force Report. Allergy. 2008 Jul;63(7):793-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1398-9995.2008.01705.x. Epub 2008 May 16. PMID: 18489614. Carr S, Chan E, Lavine E, Moote W. CSACI Position statement on the testing of food-specific IgG. Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2012 Jul 26;8(1):12. doi: 10.1186/1710-1492-8-12. PMID: 22835332; PMCID: PMC3443017. https://www.jaci-inpractice.org/article/S2213-2198%2817%2930704-3/fulltext#sec2 https://www.aaaai.org/tools-for-the-public/conditions-library/allergies/igg-food-test https://www.aacc.org/science-and-research/scientific-shorts/2022/what-is-the-clinical-utility-of-food Gargano D, Appanna R, Santonicola A, De Bartolomeis F, Stellato C, Cianferoni A, Casolaro V, Iovino P. Food Allergy and Intolerance: A Narrative Review on Nutritional Concerns. Nutrients. 2021 May 13;13(5):1638. doi: 10.3390/nu13051638. PMID: 34068047; PMCID: PMC8152468.
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Vitamin A: uses and benefits
{vision, gene expression, reproduction, embryonic development, growth, immune function} What is Vitamin A? Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin obtained through diet. It includes retinol, retinyl palmitate, and beta-carotene. There are two forms: Preformed vitamin A (retinol and retinyl ester) is derived from animal sources such as meat, dairy products, and fish. Provitamin A (beta-carotenoid) is derived from colorful fruits and vegetables. Required for: cell growth immune function Eye health fetal development skin health response to inflammation Helps reduce oxidative stress protection against disease male and female re-productivity Toxicity Toxicity can occur because of the long half-life of Vitamin A in the body. Toxicity symptoms include dry skin, headaches, anorexia, nausea, bone pain, and cerebral edema. Toxicity occurs when a very high dose of Vitamin A has been taken. Therefore you should always consult with your health care provider before taking Vitamin A supplementation for correct dosage. Deficiency symptoms: night blindness xerophthalmia (dry eyes) severely reduced immune competence delayed growth inflamed skin infertility and trouble conceiving respiratory infections slow wound healing Good Food sources Food sources include: sweet potato, spinach, pumpkin and carrots, squash, watermelon, asparagus and broccoli amongst others. DNA TESTING: The DNA Health Skin and DNA Core tests will tell you how well your body metabolises Vitamin A Sources: McEldrew EP, Lopez MJ, Milstein H. Vitamin A. [Updated 2023 Jul 10]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482362/ Debelo H, Novotny JA, Ferruzzi MG. Vitamin A. Adv Nutr. 2017 Nov 15;8(6):992-994. doi: 10.3945/an.116.014720. PMID: 29141980; PMCID: PMC5683001. Cite this Page Institute of Medicine (US) Panel on Micronutrients. Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Silicon, Vanadium, and Zinc. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2001. 4, Vitamin A. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK222318/
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Why do I react to Gluten-free oats?
Oats are known for their Cross contamination issues. They are often grown, packaged or handled in the same area as wheat grains or gluten. Certified Gluten-free oats are better because greater care has been taken in the way they are grown, produced, handled and packaged and have gone through a certification process to ensure cross contamination is not an issue The other reason is something called cross reactivity. This is when your body recognizes certain protein structures as similar to gluten and attacks it the same way it would gluten. Avenin, the protein in oats is a similar amino acid structure as glutenin. Studies show that 1% of people who have Celiac Disease have the same autoimmune reaction to oats, regardless of whether it is certified or not. This is due to a genetic and immune system reaction. PMC8511309/ https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2022.986282/full
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The benefits of cold water immersion
This is something I have been practicing for a while and I find the benefits are many, to name a few: feeling more calm, energized and sleeping better on days I do it. Here are some other benefits: • Increases blood flow because it causes the blood vessels to constrict where the area is submerged, thus directing the blood flow to your organs. • After emerging from cold water, the blood vessels expand, oxygen and nutrient rich blood gets pumped back into your tissues, removing waste and lowering inflammation • Speeds up resting metabolic rate and stimulates the release of catecholmines which are compounds released by your nervous system that activate your immune system • Helps reduce pain and post exercise soreness • Can help ease feelings of depression and anxiety-probably due to the extra blood flow to the brain • The sympathetic nervous system is activated so you feel more energized. • 3-5 minutes is enough to feel the benefits. Give it a go and see how you feel.
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