Food Allergies: Taming the Health Stealing Holiday Grinch

As the mashed potatoes and gravy call to you and the apple pie and pretty cookies lure you, I ask you to stop and consider the dangers in those foods and explore healthy alternatives like the delicious and festive cookie recipes I’m sharing with you today.

In addition to the blood destabilizing effects of the sugar and flour, these typical holiday foods cause havoc in your immune system.

When your immune system reacts to food as if it were a dangerous bacteria or virus, you experience discomfort and inflammation. We generally refer to these types of reactions as food allergies or hyper-sensitivities.

Hidden food allergies cause many serious health challenges that often puzzle doctors and patients alike. That’s why I am offering a FREE teleseminar:

Turning Food Allergies Inside Out:
The Causes, Culprits, and Cures
Tuesday, January 3rd, 7:30 p.m. Central

Register HERE:
http://www.drritamarie.com/go/TurnFoodAllergiesInsideOut

Are the Foods You Eat Naughty or Nice?

At the top of the list of common food allergens are gluten and dairy.  All your favorite holiday goodies are high in both.

It’s easy to identify and avoid food allergens when they cause obvious signs like hives, diarrhea, or difficulty breathing.

It becomes a bit more tricky when the reactions are not immediate or dramatic. Reactions that are delayed and subtle are less likely to be attributed to the offending food because there doesn’t seem to be a direct cause/effect relationship.

I have worked with thousands of patients over the years. Many say to me that they have no food allergies — wheat doesn’t bother them, dairy is not an issue — only to find out that eliminating these foods and eating more fresh, whole green foods clears up long-standing, chronic problems related to inflammation.

Inflammation: The Grinch that Steals Health

Unfortunately, most doctors don’t recognize the relationship between food and conditions like irritable bowel, celiac, Crohn’s, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, eczema, psoriases, fibromyalgia, lupus, and even MS and heart disease.

Hidden food allergens trigger inflammation. Food allergens in your body overwork, confuse and weaken your immune system. In many cases, the ultimate consequence of not addressing hidden food allergies is autoimmune and heart diseases.

Heart disease, the number-one killer in America, is caused by inflammation. What most people don’t realize is that cholesterol is an anti-inflammatory substance that’s triggered by inflammation in your blood vessels. Inflammation is frequently triggered by toxins, allergens, and improperly digested food.

Inflammation triggers a stress response in your body, leading to overworked adrenal glands and subsequent fatigue and serious health challenges. Many people suffering from arthritis, fibromyalgia, and joint pain can be helped by identifying and eliminating foods that trigger an immune response.

So ask yourself as you reach for the cookies and mashed potatoes with gravy – is it worth the risk?

“I Will Honour Christmas in my Heart, and Try to Keep it All the Year.”

While many of our holidays are centered around food, when we look closely at these gathering times, it’s more about our relationships and celebrations of LIFE.

The gluten and dairy in many foods may leave you bloated, tired, and irritable. Long-term, these foods or other hidden food allergies may lead to debilitating pain and inflammation. They also greatly increase your risk for heart attack and diabetes. They take away from the very thing you wish to celebrate!

So this holiday season, try something different.

I’ve posted a yummy Christmas cookie recipe that is free of gluten, dairy, and sugar. The sweetener is dates, a whole food. If you prefer to avoid all sweets, even fruits, there’s also a low-glycemic version of the recipe there too.

When you choose to make healthy alternatives for your favorite holiday recipes like these cookies on my blog and those in my e-book, Healthy Holiday Traditions: Nourishing Recipes for Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year’s Celebrations, you’ll not only feel more energetic and lighter, enjoy a smaller waistline and clearer thinking, you’ll reduce overall inflammation in your body and set the stage for healing or avoiding chronic pain, auto-immune disease, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

Because inflammation of your intestinal lining impairs the production of serotonin, you’ll also reduce the risk of depression, anxiety, insomnia, PMS, cravings, and attention disorders as well.

A Free New Year’s Resolution You Can Start Today!

So think twice. Prepare in advance and make healthy alternatives this holiday season. Then join me on January 3rd, 2012 for our free teleseminar to find out the full scoop on food allergies and learn:

•     What causes your immune system to attack your food
•     The step-by-step events that occur during a food allergy reaction
•     The most common food culprits that trigger reactions
•     How to clear and cure your food allergies
•     Positive ideas for enjoying your food and loving life

Register HERE:
http://www.drritamarie.com/go/TurnFoodAllergiesInsideOut

I wish you happy, healthy and love filled holidays,

Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo

P.S. I have seen many people think they could get away with “just one cookie” then set foot on a slippery slope into eating too much and compromising both their physical and emotional well being.
Food allergies cause food addiction.

SO do yourself a favor. Make my 6-minute cookies and earn more about how to determine if hidden food allergies are getting between you and your slim, vibrant and energetic self.

Register HERE:
http://www.drritamarie.com/go/TurnFoodAllergiesInsideOut

The Dangers of Undiagnosed Food Allergies: Breaking Down Instead of Breaking Out

Food is intended to replenish your cells, nourish your organs, and give you the energy you need to do all the things in your life that bring you joy. Yet sometimes this process backfires and meal times leave you bloated, exhausted, and unmotivated.

So what goes wrong?

One of the often overlooked causes of feeling “bad” after eating is food allergies and food intolerances.

When your immune system mistakes good food for a foreign invader, it sets up a cascade of inflammatory reactions to “kill it”, leading to pain, inflammation, and dysfunction in your body.

Most people don’t even realize anything’s wrong… at first.

Even If You’re Not Breaking Out, You May Still Be Breaking Down

Conventional medicine discounts the importance of food allergies in solving chronic health challenges and persistent body fat issues, save for those outwardly manifesting allergies that cause an immediate skin reaction or inability to breathe.

For those types of food allergies, the solution is clear from a medical perspective: avoid the food and if you accidentally get exposed, take an anti-histamine medication or a shot of epinephrine.

But what about the other kinds of food allergies – the insidious ones that contribute to chronic symptoms and health challenges? The problem with detecting these types of food intolerances is that the reaction is often not immediate, so it takes a lot of detective work to determine what foods are causing the problem.

Food allergies are tested for and managed by many alternative practitioners, yet there is a lot of confusion and misinformation about what they are, what causes food allergies, and whether these allergies can be overcome.

So, What’s Your Poison?

It’s possible that many “healthy” foods are not so good for you. It is said that “one man’s food is another man’s poison,” and this is so true when it comes to food allergy reactions. Even highly nutritious foods like broccoli or blueberries can induce an immune response that leaves you ill.

Your immune system is a double edged sword. The same reactions that can protect you from dangerous microbes can inflame and damage your essential body tissues and lead to chronic health issues.

What Happens When You Ignore Food Allergies and Intolerances?

Chronic over activity of your immune system can lead to problems like:

• weight gain
  
• depression
• joint pain
• fatigue
• headaches
• indigestion
• asthma
• eczema
• fibromyalgia
• autoimmune conditions
• autism
• attention deficit disorder
• and many more

So what causes your immune system to get confused and attack good food?

We’ll cover a few here and invite you to learn the details at a brand new, hot off the press, FREE teleseminar on January 3rd, 2012 called Turning Food Allergies Inside Out: Revealing the Causes, Culprits, and Cures. You’ll find the details below.

The Causes of Food Allergies

There are many causes of food allergies and intolerances, but here is a list of the most common (References are published below for further reading).

1. Infancy Food Exposure: Exposure to foods other than breast milk during the first few months of life can contribute to food allergies. Your digestive tract was designed to be able to allow larger molecules through during early life so that your mom could nurse you, pass on the protective antibodies from her immune system, and protect you. Unfortunately, what also passes through her milk are her food antibodies too.
   In addition, if you are fed anything other than breast milk in those early months, those openings in your digestive tract work against you and allow proteins from cow’s milk or soy, the most common foods in infant formula, to pass into your blood stream and create an immune reaction. (1) (2)
2. Immunizations: If you were immunized, the goal was to create a protective immune response to the injected substances. Unfortunately, carrier substances injected with the immunizations include things like egg albumin, which can cause you to become allergic to eggs.(3)
3. Antibiotics: Within the first year of life, intake of antibiotics has been associated with increased risk of food allergy. (4)
4. Antacids: The use of antacids impair stomach acid production and leads to the poor digestion of proteins. These undigested proteins irritate the delicate lining of your intestine, eventually eroding it enough so that the larger molecules enter your blood stream and mount an immune system attack. (5) (6)
5. Gluten: Gluten-containing foods inflame and damage your intestinal mucous membrane and result in Leaky Gut Syndrome. As a result large, undigested protein molecules enter your blood stream and your immune system attacks them. (7)
6. Stress: Eating when stressed causes increased cortisol production, which shuts down your digestion and can lead to Leaky Gut Syndrome. (9)
7. Sugar: Eating sugar disrupts normal intestinal flora and disrupts digestion. (10)

How to Tell if You Have a Potential Food Allergies or Intolerance

How do you know if food allergies may be contributing to your health concerns? Take this short self assessment quiz and find out for yourself:

1. Do you feel tired after eating?
2. Do you frequently clear your throat after meals?
3. Do you feel like you need looser pants at the end of the day?
4. Do you crave certain foods (like bread, cheese, and other snack foods) and feel the urge to eat more even if you feel full?
5. Do you feel like your pulse and heart beat become rapid after eating certain foods?
6. Do you have inflammation and pain for which you haven’t found a cause?
7. Have you been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease?
8. Do you experience belching, bloating, gas, or pain after eating?
9. Do you have persistent extra weight in spite of a low calorie diet and exercise?
10. Do you have asthma?
11. Do you have difficulty focusing that comes and goes?
12. Have you lost your motivation for things you used to enjoy?
13. Do you need to urinate frequently?
14. Do you have an irritable bowel?
15. Do you have unexplained bouts of depression, anxiety, or irritability?
16. Do you have frequent skin rashes, eczema, or psoriasis?

If you answered yes even to ONE of these, you might have an undiagnosed food allergy. If you answered yes to 3 or more you most certainly do.

For the full scoop on food allergies and how they are affecting your health, your energy, and your life, join me on January 3rd, 2012 for a free teleseminar:

Turning Food Allergies Inside Out: Revealing the Causes, Culprits, and Cures
Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012, 7:30 p.m. Central

This food allergy teleseminar will cover:

• What’s happening in your body that causes your immune system to start attacking your food
• The step-by-step sequence of events that occurs during a food allergy reaction
• The most common food triggers
• The role of your digestive tract in causing and clearing food allergies
• Elimination diets and how they work
• Lab testing for food allergies
• Retesting culprit foods
• Enjoying your food, loving your life

I’ll go into even more detail about the effects of food allergies, so be sure to join us:

Register HERE!

If you’re tired of being tired, unfocused, and uncomfortable, or if you are sick of the weight that just won’t budge despite your best efforts, you owe it to yourself to explore whether food allergies are contributing to your ill health.

Learn how to become energetic, happy, and productive once more.

Food Allergy References

(1) Analysis of Intestinal Flora Development in Breast-Fed and Formula-Fed Infants by Using Molecular Identification and Detection Methods. Harmsen, Hermie J. M.; Wildeboer-Veloo, Alida C. M.; Raangs, Gerwin C.; Wagendorp, Arjen A.; Klijn, Nicolette; Bindels, Jacques G.; Welling, Gjalt W. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology & Nutrition: January 2000 – Volume 30 – Issue 1 – pp 61-67.

(2) Influence Of Maternal Good Antigen Avoidance During Pregnancy and Lactation on Incidence of Atopic Eczema in Infants. R. K. Chandra; S. Puri; C. Suraiya; P. S. Cheema. Clinical & Experimental Allergy: Volume 16, Issue 6, pp 563-569, November 1986.

(3) Is Infant Immunization a Risk Factor for Childhood Asthma or Allergy? Trudi Kemp; Neil Pearce; Penny Fitzharris; Julian Crane; David Fergusson; Ian St. George; Kristin Wickens; and Richard Beasley. Epidemiology Vol. 8, No. 6 (Nov., 1997), pp. 678-680 (article consists of 3 pages) Published by: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

http://www.jstor.org/stable/3702662

(4) Antibiotic Administration Early in Life Impairs Specific Humoral Responses to an Oral Antigen and Increases Intestinal Mast Cell Numbers and Mediator Concentrations. S. Nutten; A. Schumann; D. Donnicola; A. Mercenier; S. Rami; and C. L. Garcia-Rodenas. Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2007 February; 14(2): 190-197. Published online 2006. December 6. doi: 10.1128/CVI.00055-06.

(5) Anti-Acids Lead to Immunological and Morphological Changes in the Intestine Of BALB/C Mice Similar to Human Food Allergy. Isabella Pali-Schöll; Ali Ö. Yildirim; Ute Ackermann; Tanja Knauer; Christoph Becker; Holger Garn; Harald Renz; Erika Jensen-Jarolim; Heinz Fehrenbach. Experimental and Toxicologic Pathology: Volume 60, Issues 4-5, 5 August 2008, pp. 337-345.

(6) Food Allergy: Recent Advances in Pathophysiology and Treatment. Annual Review of Medicine Vol. 60: 261-277 (Volume publication date February 2009). Scott H. Sicherer and Hugh A. Sampson. The Elliot and Roslyn Jaffe Food Allergy Institute, Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York 10029-6574.

(7) Intestinal Permeability in Patients with Eczema and Food Allergy. P.G Jackson; R.W.R Baker; M.H Lessof; Jean Ferrett; D.M Macdonald. The Lancet Volume 317, Issue 8233, 13 June 1981, pp. 1285-1286.

(8) Stress and Intestinal Disease. By Adam Moeser. http://www.cvm.ncsu.edu/ccmtr/documents/Moeser.pdf

(9) Your Hidden Food Allergies are Making You Fat. Rudy Riera, MD and Roger Davis Deutsch.

(10) The Pulse Test. Arthur F. Coca.

(11) Dr, Mandellss 5 Day Allergy Relief System.

(12) Food Allergy Survival Guide. Vesanto Melinda MS, RD.

Strategies For Effectively Changing Your Health Habits: Goal Setting

If you’re the type of person who has no problem sticking to new behaviors, like diet changes, exercise and meditation when you set your mind to it, despite temptations, then congratulations.  You are certainly not in the majority.  If this describes you, then skip reading this post.  Or, better yet, forward a link to those people in your life who struggle with sustaining healthy changes, despite the pain and suffering it may be causing them.

The fact of the matter is, most people struggle when they make a decision to get healthier, and begin to make changes in that direction.  Emotional eating patterns, favorite food temptations, and social and family pressures are amongst the biggest issues that cause you to deviate from your chosen path, despite your desire to stay on track.

A big part of creating vibrant health is really getting to know who you are and what you want. All too often you start a rigorous health revitalization program, only to fall on your face when temptations take over. A successful health regime needs to start with being and connecting, not doing.

I’m hosting a teleseminar to allow us to explore together what you really want for yourself and what you value the most. This teleseminar “Setting Your Goals, Connecting to your Vision” is a powerful, interactive session intended to supercharge your health and immunity by reconnecting you to the powerful healer within who knows what to do to be healthy.

To sign-up for the teleseminar, download your handout and receive a copy of the recording, please go to

http://www.drritamarie.com/SettingGoalsTeleconference.htm

Turn your have-to’s into love-to’s and consistently make the choices that joyfully create vibrant health.

Love and Health,

Dr. Ritamarie

http://www.FreshnFunLiving.com
http://www.EatYourWayOutofPain.com
http:// www.HolidayThrival.com
http:// www.GreenSmoothieCleanse.com
http://www.GreenFoodMagic.com

E-Mail:  DrRitamarie@DrRitamarie.com

Green Smoothie Power

I’m heading back to Austin after a very exciting extended weekend in Tucson. Not only did I have great family time, but I attended a business strategy retreat that has me buzzing with excitement. Within the next month I will begin to unveil my plans for a program that is unique, affordable and deeply empowering. I can’t reveal the details yet, but over the next few weeks, some of it is sure to leak.

My 8 month old nephew Jason had another green smoothie today, and he enjoyed it immensely. It was so heartwarming to listen to his squeals of delight as my sister, his grandmother, fed it to him with a spoon. I am coaching her to continue to give him green smoothies daily to provide him with an abundance of nutrition and a powerful immune system.

As for me, I’m excited to be doing another green smoothie cleanse next week, I lead a group cleanse every two months or so and I participate fully. Form, it’s the perfect way to give my body a rest from eating on the run, eating too late at night and not sleeping enough. I always feel lighter, more energetic and happier after I complete a Green Smoothie Cleanse. The group support helps me to follow through. I always keep my commitment to others. On my own, I sometimes fail to follow through.

Here’s the green smoothie recipe similar to what I made for 8 month old Jason:

• 1 Peach
• 1 cup pitted cherries, fresh or frozen
• 1 Apple
• A couple of handfuls of spinach
• A couple of leaves of kale
• 1 cup water

Blend and Taste. Add more fruit if needed. Thin with water if desired.

Enjoy a fabulous day.

Love and Health,

Dr. Ritamarie

P.S.  I wrote this on Monday Sept 29 at the airport and just got it posted today.  I am hosting a FREE teleseminar today called “Simple Strategies to Creating Vibrant Health, In Spite of Day to Day Challenges” You can sign up by going to:

http://www.drritamarie.com/greens_teleconference.htm