The Gluten Allergy

There are so many great reasons to go gluten-free...this type of diet, which eliminates food products that contain gluten (including wheat, rye, spelt, kamut and barley), can clear up allergies, bloating, gastrointestinal disorders, and so much more.

Getting started with this lifestyle may require some degree of willpower (as well as an ongoing commitment to trying out new ways of cooking and baking). Luckily, grocery stores and health food emporiums are becoming very sensitive to the needs of these shoppers - they now provide a host of delicious substitute ingredients that will allow you to enjoy familiar foods, such as pizza, bread, and muffins. You no longer have to deprive yourself of good-tasting, satisfying food! Typical substitutions for grains containing gluten include rice flour, cornmeal, quinoa, and potato starches. When you're shopping for food, be sure to spend some time in the "health food" aisle - this is usually the best place to find prepared snacks, brown rice pastas, and other safe products.

Initially, these diets were prescribed to combat the effects of celiac disease...this immune disorder inhibits the proper digestion of glutens. Symptoms of celiac disease include rashes, fatigue, mood swings, gas, and pain in the stomach. Over time, even those who were not diagnosed with celiac disease began to recognize the stress and harm that gluten can cause in the human body. After all, wheat is one of the most common allergens in the modern diet - it can also be quite difficult to digest. These days, there are thousands of recipes and tips for everyone who wants to explore the possibilities of going gluten free...

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.

Melinda Knight-
Wife & mother of a family allergic to gluten, and former Catering Director at three of the largest hotels on the Las Vegas strip, where she planned menus and parties for thousands including the occasional 3,000 person wedding. She now plans meals for her gluten free family and shares her recipes and ideas for living a gluten free life at her blog.

Asthma and Chronic Bronchitis-Causes and Cures

Anything chronic is considered to be a persistent, recurrent and lasting condition. While chronic bronchitis has often been associated with allergies and/or asthma, there are many other causes that can trigger a bronchial infection. Asthma as we know is a lung disease that is characterized by asthmatic events triggered by a variety of factors which cause a constriction of the bronchial tubes and air passages.

A chronic cough, wheezing, breathing difficulties and a tight chest have also been associated with the common smoker's cough. This is unfortunate as there are many environmental factors that can contribute to an infection and caused these types of symptoms.

One such environmental factor is dust. While dust is a common substance found everywhere, it's especially problematic for those of us who may have a compromised respiratory system. A less than ideal breathing tract is found in people suffering with asthma, many allergies and yes even smokers. What's been ignored in many cases however, is that exposure to chemicals can cause a sensitivity to environmental factors such as dust.

As it's recognized that dust is almost everywhere, it's important to try to limit exposure as much as possible. This sensitivity of the person with chronic bronchitis will determine the level of action that's needed to limit dust exposure. Someone who is extremely sensitive may need special air cleaning equipment installed in their home. While another who's sensitivity is not as pronounced may be able to live comfortably in a home simply on a regular cleaning schedule. Check out the link below for free report on tips to eliminate asthmatic and bronchial cough triggers in your home.

Exposure to chemical fumes and odors may compromise an otherwise healthy respiratory system. This in turn can lead to sensitivity to other environmental factors like dust, but also both primary and secondary tobacco smoke. While the validity of the effects of secondhand smoke are continue to be debated, it has been shown to be an important breathing factor for those with a compromised respiratory system. All of these factors can contribute to the chronic cough experienced by many asthma, allergy and bronchitis sufferers.

According to the Mayo Clinic, a well regarded medical facility, bronchitis and the resulting cough can also be caused from stomach acid irritating for food pipe or esophagus. This is better known as acid reflux disease.

Acid reflux can now be successfully treated with many medications.

If you think that someone you know may be suffering from a chronic cough caused by bronchitis or possibly asthma, it's important to understand the lifestyle implications this may involve. The primary focus however, should be to get an accurate diagnosis from a qualified respiratory or pulmonary medical professional.

Abigail Franks has done extensive research into Asthma,Allergies, and their triggers. You can find out more about Bronchitis causes and cures and Asthma Triggers and Treatments on her Asthma website.

Medication and Allergy Remedy Information

Seasonal allergies can wreak havoc on your life. Fortunately, there are many different medication options available to keep the symptoms under control. There are even some treatment options that try to lessen the severity of an allergy, or prevent them in the first place.

Antihistamines

Antihistamines do exactly what their name implies. When your body reacts to an allergen, which is basically seen as a threat to your body, it produces a chemical known as histamine. Histamines cause many, if not all, of the allergy symptoms you suffer from (sneezing, itchy and watery eyes, or runny nose). Anti-histamines can offer symptomatic relief. These medications come in the form of pills, nasal sprays, liquid forms, and eye drops. For most people over the counter and histamines are strong enough to provide and allergy remedy. Prescription antihistamines are available for those who have severe allergies that do not respond to over-the-counter treatment.

Decongestants

Many people who suffer from allergies get the pesky side effect of nasal congestion. Decongestants worked to clear the nasal passages. Decongestants coming in the form of pills, liquids, nasal sprays. Nasal decongestants should not be used for more than three days, as they can cause rebound congestion that is worse than the original congestion.

Allergy shots

An allergy specialist can help determine which allergens are causing you the most trouble. The most common way is via a skin allergy tests, where common allergens are injected directly under the skin's surface. The bigger the skin reaction, the worse the allergy is. Once you know which allergens to target, you may want to seek allergy shots for a more permanent treatment option. Allergy shots are usually given once a month or so, over 3 to 5 years. The idea behind allergy shots is that the body is slowly introduced to the allergen in increasing doses, so your body can build up a tolerance to the allergen.

Nichole Weathers is a freelance writer for many different companies, including Demand Studios and Break. She has an extensive background in the health field, but has a wide variety of interests. For more information on sinuses and allergy relief, which has lots of information on allergy remedies.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4090921

Natural Solutions For Asthma and Allergies

By Jerry Marchbank

Approximately 20 million people in the United States suffer from asthma and 50 million suffer from allergies. Given that some people suffer from both, that leaves approximately 60 million Americans living with one or both of these afflictions.

The costs involved in treating these illnesses due to medicine, emergencies, hospital care and even loss of productivity in the workforce, are enormous. The healthcare and business losses come to approximately $18 billion per year in the United States.

Asthma and allergies are the main cause of absence in American schools. Children affected by these illnesses lose a combined annual total of 14 million school days.

Treatment for either illness involves an assortment of medicines. Asthmas sufferers generally use corticosteroid inhalers. These have become so common that it sometimes seems that everyone has one tucked away in a pocket, bag or drawer. Allergy sufferers take antihistamines, use corticosteroid sprays or, in the worst cases, immunotherapy desensitization injections, which must be taken on a regular basis for years.

What's the worst part of all this medication and treatment? It's a never-ending cycle. Treatment doesn't result in a cure, just a temporary fix that needs to be taken over and again. Medicines and injection treatments target symptoms. They can be successful in relieving these symptoms but they don't eliminate them. What about the heart of the cause? Isn't there something that can be done to fix the underlying problems that create the illnesses?

Chiropractic care is a distinctive way to provide relief from many illnesses, including asthma and allergies. Both conditions can react positively to chiropractic adjustments, which aim to regulate and stabilize the body's communications within itself. It takes away obstacles preventing the body from restoring itself. Once these obstacles have been removed, the body can work on rebuilding the hyper-sensitive areas that cause asthma and allergies, allowing it to reduce the affects of these conditions.

Nutrition is another valuable part of chiropractic care. Asthma and allergy sufferers need to keep themselves as healthy as possible, in order to enable their bodies in preventing the onset of asthma and allergy attacks. Your chiropractor can help you design a healthy, balanced diet, designed specifically to help you increase your body's immune system and metabolism, decrease discomfort caused by nutritional deficiencies and increase energy for physical exercise and day-to-day tasks.

There are many advantages to using chiropractic care in the treatment of asthmas and allergies. If you suffer from either or both of these illnesses, make an appointment with your chiropractor and get some natural, healthy relief.

A critical part of remaining safe and healthy is to be OSHA certified. Check out our Online OSHA Certification classes at The EHS Pros.