The Gluten Allergy

The Gluten Allergy

Gluten isn't just found in typical flour products - it can lurk in some unexpected places. Bouillon cubes, soy sauces and hydrolyzed vegetable proteins are found in many foods, and all of these are likely to contain harmful glutens. Getting the hang of going gluten free is all about knowledge and education - you'll need to understand that even small amounts of gluten will cause a reaction and hinder your efforts to get healthy. As a rule of thumb, most canned soups, noodles, and boxes of cookies should be avoided. Even vinaigrettes, such as commercial salad dressings, can harbor the glutens you're trying so hard to stay away from. Sometimes, making your own meals from scratch is really the best and healthiest strategy. Even foods marked, "gluten-free" may be subject to cross-contamination from other foods. Therefore, how and where food is prepared is very important.
A diet that is rich in lean meats, fish, fruits and vegetables is often the ideal choice for a gluten-free diet. Potatoes, rice, and quinoa can provide extra carbohydrates for greater satiety. Cheeses and eggs are also great choices for mealtimes - neither of these products contains gluten. Seasonings should be free of vinegars and MSG (monosodium glutamate) - olive oil, lemon juice, and spices are safe to use and provide lots of options for sauces and salad dressings.
Dining out can be a little tricky - however, many popular chain restaurants, such as Chili's, offer a list of gluten-free entrees and side dishes you can use to make healthier choices. If you're eating out and you can't find a special, gluten-free menu, consider ordering a basic and burger and fries - minus the bun! Or choose a baked potato or rice for a side dish, along with a piece of grilled meat or fish.
Other popular restaurants that cater to gluten-free clients include: Subway (salads and dressings, not sandwiches) The Old Spaghetti Factory (gluten free pastas and sauces), and Boston Market (their rotisserie chicken and Southwest Santa Fe salads are safe choices for gluten-free diets). Don't be afraid to ask servers about gluten-free dishes - chances are, they've answered these questions before. If a server doesn't have the answer, they can probably check with the chef or restaurant manager to get an answer.
If you suffer from celiac disease, the ingestion of gluten is hampering your body's ability to absorb vital nutrients. If you're allergic to wheat or just intolerant to foods containing gluten, you may be weary of the tiredness, bloating and gastrointestinal distress they bring. Removing all glutens from your diet is really the only way to feel better - once you've started this important lifestyle change, you may notice you have less mental fogginess and more energy - you may also lose weight as you cut gluten-rich carbs out of your daily diet.

Yeast Allergy Symptoms - The Indicators

Yeast Allergy Symptoms - The Indicators

The main yeast allergy symptom is fatigue and sluggishness, as the allergy usually deteriorates the immune system. Another common symptom of yeast allergy is gastrointestinal ache. It causes gassiness, vomiting and diarrhoea. This is an indication that there is something not too good taking place in your intestines. Due to the fact that intestinal issues are also a usual symptom of other food allergies, this also makes it hard figure out what is making your body respond the way it is responding. The symptoms of yeast allergy may take anywhere from hours to days after its consumption to show up and therefore it is usually very hard to figure out what exactly is causing them.
Other yeast allergy symptoms include a runny nose, and prickly eyes. It may also come with sneezing and coughing. These reactions come about as the body's way of rejecting what it deems a foreign substance that can cause it significant damage. They are, in essence, the body's way of alerting you that there is something wrong in your body. In its fight against the yeast, the body releases a chemical known as histamine to counteract the effects. Too much histamine is what usually causes the runny nose and the itchy eyes in persons who are having an allergic reaction to yeast. It can also cause you to go into anaphylaxis in some extreme cases. This is the reason for doctors prescribing antihistamines so that they can counteract the histamine the body produces to warn of the presence of yeast in your body and also to off the body protection from its yeast intake.
Rashes and eczema are also common symptoms of a yeast allergy. Hives may also be a symptom that is developed from having consumed yeast. There is a difference between hives and eczema, in that while eczema is a prolonged condition that is activated by an allergic response, hives is directly related to a response to whatever is causing the symptoms. There is normally a quick appearance and disappearance of the hives. They usually appear and then disappear just within a few short hours.

Skin Cancer - Melanoma

Skin Cancer - Melanoma

Melanoma is a form of skin cancer that metastasizes easily making it often fatal if not treated early enough. Bear in mind, however, that all statistics of melanoma come from tissue that has been examined after some form of excisional treatment or biopsy. Melanoma becomes more common with increasing age but it still appears in younger people.
A melanoma can develop in any area of the skin or from an existing mole. A typical melanoma appears as a small darkened area of skin similar in appearance to a mole. It is recognisable as being different to a mole in four different ways known as the ABCDE of melanoma: Asymmetry, Border, Color, Diameter, Evolving.
Asymmetry: Most early melanomas are asymmetrical: a line through the middle would not create matching halves. Common moles are round and symmetrical.
Border: The edges of melanomas are often uneven and may have scalloped, notched, or blurred edges. A mole has a smooth, well-defined edge.
Color: The pigmentation of a melanoma is often not uniform, with more than one shade of brown, tan, or black. Moles are usually a single shade of brown
Diameter: A melanoma is usually larger than a mole, continues to grow and is often at least the size of a pencil eraser (about 6mm, or 1/4 inch, in diameter).
Evolving: Change in size, shape and color shade.
Types of Melanoma
Melanomas are described according to their appearance and behavior. Those that start off as flat patches (i.e. have a horizontal growth phase) include:
• Superficial spreading melanoma (SSM)
• Lentigo malignant melanoma (sun damaged skin of face, scalp and neck)
• Acral lentiginous melanoma (on soles of feet, palms of hands or under the nails - under the nails is called subungual melanoma)

Colon Cancer - What Are the Causes and Risk Factors?

Colon Cancer - What Are the Causes and Risk Factors?

This cancer starts as small growths on the inside of the colon. There are several factors to determine your chances of getting colon cancer. Some you can change, and some you can't.
The 10 Things That You Cannot Change
Younger adults do get this type of cancer, but as you age, those risks increase. More than 90 percent of the people diagnosed are over the age of 50. If you have a history of colorectal polyps, colorectal cancer, if your polyps are large or if you have had a lot of them, your at an increased risk. Even if you have all the polyps removed, the chances of developing new cancers in other parts of the colon or rectum are greater.
If cancer runs in the family, especially the immediate family, the age when they got it and how many other family members are affected, may also contribute to your chances. If you suffer from IBD, inflammatory bowel disease, then you need to screen more often. There is a 5 percent chance of you getting this disease from an inherited genetic form.
Racial, and ethnic backgrounds, especially among African Americans and Ashkenazi Jews, have the highest incidence. Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, Turcot Syndrome, hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer all contribute to you getting this disease.
Six Things You Can Change
Some things you can do to reduce your chances of getting this disease are simple. A high fat, high calorie, and high protein diet increases your chances. By exercising and eating more fruits and vegetables, you will improve your odds of not getting cancer. If you smoke, stop, and if you drink, have no more than two alcoholic beverages per day. Links to colon cancer have also been made to people who work the night shift or had previous treatments for other cancers.