Food allergies start in the gut.

I read an article in today's health news about a doctor who treated (desensitized) a child of multiple food allergies at once with the use of a "powerful drug" along with small daily doses of the allergen. 

What bothers me most about this is this treatment is that it does not fix the underlying issue at the root of the problem... Poor diet resulting in a damaged and compromised gut (immune system)!

Unfortunately like most children in this country (adults as well) this 10-year old's diet most likely consists of excessive amounts of sugar and grains (glucose), which ultimately leads to insulin resistance, chronic inflammation, an unhealthy environment within the gut, and a damaged lining of the intestinal wall (compromised immune system).  And it's my guess that most people are all too familiar with the resulting diseases and disorders; obesity, diabetes, Chron's disease, heart disease, cancer, and basically every other autoimmune disease on record... the list is endless!

But in sticking with the topic at hand (food allergies) whether the allergic reaction is minor or severe one thing is for sure, the damage within the body should be the focus of attention not simply minimizing the resulting side effects.  When allergic reactions occur it means the intestinal wall has been compromised.  As microscopic food particles penetrate the intestinal lining entering the blood stream, an all-out war within the body begins as the compromised immune system battles these foreign intruders.  The resulting allergic reaction with varying intensities causes acute side effects ranging from minor skin irritations to anaphylactic shock.  But it's the chronic effects that will ultimately lead to disease and disorder. 

It has been over seven years since I found out that I am allergic to both (cow) dairy and soy.  And rather than make it my life's mission to find a drug that simply blocks the pain and discomfort, I have made it my mission to find and fix the root of the problem.  Sure in the beginning I was consumed with finding food alternatives to those I was allergic to, but this has since morphed into a journey in search of the true meaning of a healthy diet.  And what I've learned is that a healthy diet is key.  

In short your diet should:

1. Promote a natural healthy insulin response
2. Promote a healthy bacterial friendly environment within the body
3. Inhibit (not promote) inflammation

And this can easily be done with a diet low in sugar and processed foods; gluten free and low in grains; high in healthy saturated fats and high quality protein, high in unpasteurized fermented foods like homemade sauerkraut, pickles and kombucha.  Remember, maintaining a healthy gut is the most important thing you can do to improve your health.  

The POWER to make a difference!

If you're thinking how can I one lowly person possibly make a difference when it comes to our food industry, think again. 

Every time you choose NOT to support the use of GMO's by buying organic; and every time you choose to "buck the (factory farmed) system" by supporting your local organic sustainable farmer, you are no doubt making a difference.

Every time you choose food raised in a humane sustainable manner, you are making a statement LOUD AND CLEAR that says you will not be a part of a failing food industry that poisons its people, animals, and the environment alike. 

Every time you question what's in your food instead of blindly looking the other way, you are setting a precedence.  You are saying I want the right to know what's in my food and I won't let a company's profit and greed overshadow what really matters when it comes to the food we eat. 

So the next time you're thinking what's the use, remember this... a consumer's power to choose may just be the biggest weapon we have!  You don't need legislation to mandate, and you can't rely on others to look out for your health and well-being.  It's your responsibility to educate yourself on what it means to live a healthy lifestyle. 

It's your right to be a part of the solution, supporting those (people, farms, and companies alike) who are making a positive difference, just as it's your right to refuse to be a part of the problem!

Fewer calories does NOT equal weight loss!

Over the past year or so I have learned a lot about what a healthy diet truly means.  That is, what the common misconceptions are and why we should avoid them.  So what I don't quite understand is that if I can "see the light" when it comes to a healthy diet then why can't the medical and nutritionist communities?  It's headlines like this one in today's health news US obesity mystery... that boggles my mind.

So if you are as confused as the "experts" when it comes to obesity, rest assured you are not alone.  But there is something you can do.  Familiarize yourself with 4 of the most common dietary misconceptions, and then do the opposite! 

1. Fewer calories equals weight loss. 
1. This common misconception is one of the major reasons many of the fad diets on the market do not work.  All calories are NOT created equal!  Sugar (fructose consumption) in the form of High Fructose Corn Syrup is metabolized totally differently than glucose, with much of it being turned into fat rather than utilized by the body as a quick energy boost.  And to make matters worse it has been documented that HF corn syrup interferes with the receptors in your brain that would normally tell the body that it has been satisfied.  And for all those hooked on the so called "zero calorie" foods, keep in mind your body isn't fooled.  The body is designed to expect calories to follow sugar intake, and when this caloric intake is not fulfilled the body will continue to crave calories until it is satisfied ultimately causing you to consume more calories!   And one important side note Aspartame, the most common sugar substitute on the market today, is VERY toxic due to the way the human body metabolizes menthol, converting it into formaldehyde. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/11/07/aspartame-causes-blood-cancer.aspx
2. Eating fat makes you fat.
1. This is another big dietary misconception, and has proven to be one of the most deadly!  The move from diets high in healthy saturated fat (organic pastured meats, eggs, organic coconut, etc.) to diets high in unhealthy vegetable oils which become toxic when heated up during cooking due to their weak molecular bonds, has led to a dramatic increase (not decrease) in cases of coronary heart disease then was present in this country a decade or so ago.  The fact is a healthy diet should consist of 50% or more of healthy saturated fat.  Humans were designed by nature to be "Fat burning machines".  http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/05/31/coconut-oil-for-healthy-heart.aspx
3. A high cholesterol diet will cause heart disease.
1. This all too common and all too deadly misconception ties directly into the "fat = fat" misconception.  What's important to remember here is that cholesterol is utilized by nearly every cell in the body, making it probably the most important nutrient that you can consume.  And a number of new studies have pointed to the American push for a "heart healthy low cholesterol diet" as well as the excessive use of  cholesterol lowering drugs, as the leading causes of many of the diseases plaguing our society today.  This is in major contrast to what most all nutritional and medical experts will lead you to believe.  http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/01/16/cholesterol-regulates-cell-signaling.aspx
4. Whole grains are part of a heart healthy diet
1. Grains, especially those containing gluten which are extremely hard to digest, simply put are nothing more than glucose to the body.  That's sugar in Layamon's terms!  And this point cannot be stressed enough; sugar interferes with the body's natural insulin response, causes inflammation, and in excess (which is the case for most American's) is the root cause of most if not all of the major chronic diseases that affect modern society.  http://cookingallergyfree.blogspot.com/2012/11/dont-believe-heart-healthy-advertising.html

Don't Ignore Chronic Inflammation!

I think for our health's sake this point cannot be stressed enough...

Don't Ignore Chronic Inflammation!

Being someone whose journey into the 'world of natural healing' started because of the relentless struggles with chronic inflammation, I feel even more obligated to share every little bit of knowledge I've picked up along the way... and continue to.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/03/07/inflammation-triggers-disease-symptoms.aspx

Whether or not you or someone you know suffers from some form of chronic inflammation (Crohn's, Celiac, Arthritis, Tendonitis, Asthma, Lupus, Heart Disease, Alzheimer's, etc.  ), reading the article link above may be the most important health related news you read all year!  I say this because even if you are not currently aware of a chronic inflammatory problem, if your diet is anything close to the typical American diet high in sugar, grains, and processed foods, you are already most likely years into one of the life threatening diseases.  But don't take my word for it, see for yourself.

Unfortunately in today's world it is nearly impossible, even for the super health conscious, to avoid all forms of toxins.  Fortunately though you can not only control but counteract environmental toxin exposure through a healthy diet low in sugar (including grains) and high in Saturated Fat (from an organic pastured animal source as well as from a raw organic coconut source), Omega-3, Fermented foods (of the homemade non-pasteurized variety) , fresh organic vegetables, Vitamin D (sunlight), and a few extra supplemental antioxidants.

I am not a doctor and I do not have a degree in the medical field.  I do however have years of personal experience suffering from the effects of a poor diet, and more importantly the astonishing positive effects of a healthy diet!

Stay Educated when it comes to your health.

Never assume and always question (the "norm").

And remember that a healthy lifestyle must start in the kitchen!