May 27, 2010 THE SHOW THIS WEEK: Vegetables are great, but can vegetarianism be taking a good thing too far? I’ll ask author Lierre Keith. Dr. Andrew Shepherd will discuss nature’s original dietary supplement. Call during the show: 1-800-281-8255. Please help me start a grass-roots health revolution—one tiny step: forward this newsletter to friends and family.
NEWS and views
THE NEWS: TV and newspapers are trumpeting a recent JAMA review of studies about food allergies. The media implies that we’ve been duped or have imagined things—i.e. most people who think they are allergic are wrong. The study itself actually concluded only that there is little agreement among dozens of earlier studies on how to define, test for, count and treat food allergies. The scientists’ best estimate is that between 1% and 10% of the population suffer “food allergies”—that’s a pretty big range.1 Interestingly, public opinion polls might show that upwards of 30% of the public believes they have a “ food allergy”. Is the media right?
MY 2 CENTS: “What we have here is a failure to communicate” as Luke said.2 I believe the problem is semantics. In the study’s technically correct definition of “food allergy,” the immune system mounts a specific and very vigorous response. We can’t eat peanuts on an airplane because just the puff of air from opening the little bag might cause someone to go into a type of shock and die. This serious type of food reaction is generally discovered in childhood and is most often triggered by milk, egg and peanuts. Also high on that list are fish, shellfish, tree nuts, seeds, soy and wheat. Although allergists give desensitizing shots, most people just avoid the offending foods.
The confusion comes because there are many other ways we can react badly to food and, if a pollster called, a person might offhandedly call any one of them an “allergy”. Most common are “food intolerances” such as “lactose intolerance.” A large percentage of the population lacks the enzymes to digest milk. The undigested milk then causes intestinal discomfort. (Probiotics and lactase enzymes are helpful.) Similarly, many are intolerant of the gluten component of common grains like wheat and rye. Supplementing specific gluten-digesting enzymes can help those “gluten-intolerant” folks. Celia disease is an extreme intolerance to gluten where, because of an autoimmune response, the digestive tract becomes so inflamed that serious consequences such as osteoporosis are possible. (With so many ways we can react negatively to dairy and grain, it isn’t surprising that many people feel better if they just avoid them.)
“Food sensitivities” are also common. These can be acquired at any stage of life apparently due to increased permeability (leakiness) of the intestinal wall. When the normal intestinal barrier is in poor repair, elements of food that haven’t been thoroughly digested can be absorbed into the blood stream and alarm the immune system into thinking there is an enemy attack. Symptoms can be most anything, from a chronic rash or wheezing to headache or depression. Here again, probiotics are the best weapon. After a person’s intestines have been healed for a period of time, they often can go back to eating the previously problematic food.
Okay, I guess that was more like 10 CENTS worth of opinion.
SIMPLE FREE SELF TEST
My old friend, the late William Crook, MD (author of The Yeast Connection Handbook and many other books) taught me about the elimination diet. It is useful for tracking down mysterious aggravations caused by food. (Note: not a substitute for an allergist if symptoms are serious.) Buy a used copy of his child-friendly Tracking Down Hidden Food Allergies or devise your own plan. In essence, for about 2 weeks, stop eating the ingredients you usually consume. At least eliminate the common allergens listed above. (A variation is called the “rare foods diet” because you eat foods that you rarely do.) For example, if you don’t usually eat rice—eat rice. If you just never eat lamb—eat lamb. Temporarily adopt a very streamlined diet so you know exactly what you are eating. (E.g. no pre-mixes, sauces, stews, canned soups, casseroles, etc. because there are so many ingredients you won’t know what potential troublemaker it might contain.) After the cleanout period, re-introduce foods one at a time and watch for and record reactions. It’s best not to add more than one major food every two days because reactions are sometimes delayed.
HOME REMEDY
For typical seasonal allergies to airborne pollen (the kind that cause red eyes and runny nose) I’ve often had success with this trick: Buy LOCAL bee pollen as loose granules (health food store or farmer’s market). It is crucial to begin with one single granule to make sure you aren’t super sensitive to pollen. The 2nd day, eat 2 granules. Double the amount each day until you are taking a teaspoonful. Besides imitating the gradual buildup of tolerance we gain from allergy shots, pollen is quite nutritious. The herb stinging nettles and the nutrient quercetin also help.
Don’t suddenly stop medications. Consult your health practitioner. This newsletter is educational and not a substitute for professional advice. Please stay well and help us spread the word that prevention is the best health care reform. You can help the show, as well as family and friends, by forwarding this email to them and encouraging them to subscribe to Health e-Notes. You might also alert your FaceBook friends.
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1JAMA. 2010 May 12;303(18):1848-56. Diagnosing and managing common food allergies: a systematic review. Chafen JJ, Newberry SJ, Riedl MA, Bravata DM, Maglione M, Suttorp MJ, Sundaram V, Paige NM, Towfigh A, Hulley BJ, Shekelle PG.
2No, not a biblical reference, rather from the 1967 movie, Cool Hand Luke.
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