Welcome to February's newsletter.
This newsletter can also be viewed online:
www.foodcanmakeyouill.co.uk/newsletters/feb10.html
Allergy to beer can be caused by a number of possible allergens including barley, rice, and wheat. It can also be part of a more general sensitivity to ethanol.
Nusem and Panasoff report on the case of a 21 year old man who experienced a severe reaction to beer. Within minutes of drinking a glass of beer he suffered a generalized reaction consisting of urticaria, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, and vomiting. He rarely drank beer before but had no problem drinking other alcoholic beverages. After extensive tests were carried it was decided that barley (from the hops) was the offending substance.
Van Ketel described the cases of two people who reacted with urticaria and angioedema after drinking beer. In both cases the substance causing the problems was found to be malt.
Herzinger et al reported that a 59-year-old man experienced angioedema, generalized urticaria, and unconsciousness after drinking beer. In this case the problem ingredient was wheat.
Bonadonna et al described two cases of severe reactions to beer, one required emergency room treatment for anaphylaxis. In both cases the allergic substance was found to be barley.
References are available in the online version.
“Oral mite anaphylaxis” is a syndrome characterized by severe allergic reactions after the intake of foods made with mite-contaminated wheat flour in susceptible individuals.
Sánchez-Borges et al note that this syndrome is observed more frequently in tropical/subtropical environments. It is often triggered by pancakes and for that reason it has been designated “pancake syndrome”.
Because cooked foods are able to induce the symptoms, it has been proposed that heat resistant allergens are involved in its production. To prevent mite proliferation and the production of anaphylaxis, it has been recommended that wheat flour be stored at low temperatures in the refrigerator.
References are available in the online version.
Sometimes finding a safe, and healthy, cooking oil can be difficult. A recent newcomer to our supermarket shelves is Rice Bran Oil which, initially, appears to be a very welcome alternative to the more usual suspects. There have also been quite a number of positive health benefits linked with rice bran oil so it can seem like an even more attractive product to reach for.
Beware. Most of the rice bran oil that is readily available is described as being ‘cold filtered’ – this does not mean it has been cold pressed. In fact ‘cold filtered’ simply means that in the stage of manufacturing that is filtration they used a cold method. Most rice bran oil is extracted using various types of chemical solvents so may not be quite as healthy a product as you originally thought. The other clue to it not being the same as cold pressed is that it is usually sold in plastic bottles.
Examples of the stages of extraction and processing are outlined on the two pages below:
http://www.thaiedibleoil.com/english/product_process_01.php
http://www.thaiedibleoil.com/english/product_process_02.php
For anyone with a Salicylate Sensitivity or chemical sensitivity finding a safe shampoo can be quite a challenge. I used a fragrance free brand produced by Suma for years but when they rebranded the product they changed the ingredients. I now use a clay alternative.
As this is not a directly food related issue I'll refrain from giving you the
full story in the newsletter but if it is of interest you can read the tip in
its entirety online:
http://www.foodcanmakeyouill.co.uk/library/articles/shampoo.html
High street food allergy tests mislead consumers
Health tests available at private clinics and high street shops, including Holland & Barrett, are misleading consumers by convincing them they have “allergies” that may not exist.
[If you need help with identifying food problems you can use a Food Diary -
there is one available for free download on the Food Can Make You Ill web site:
Free Food
Diary.]
Food Additives Hidden In Food Labels
MSG Added To Thousands Of Processed Foods; May Be Cause Of Numerous Health Symptoms
Sharp rise in number of people with fatal allergies
Worrying trend sees increasing numbers of older adults developing allergies for the first time
Aspartame has been renamed and is now being marketed as a natural sweetener
A rebranded version of aspartame is apparently to be called "AminoSweet".
Doctor Worries About 'Weed In A Can' Drink
This news article raises concerns about the use of Valerian root in soft drinks.
Engineered maize toxicity claims roundly rebuffed
MONSANTO, the giant of genetically modified crops, has for the first time been forced to release raw data from toxicology studies it carried out on three strains of its modified maize. An external analysis of the data claims it shows that eating the maize could result in damage to the liver and kidneys, but this has been dismissed as unsupportable by a government agency and independent toxicologists.
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Visit the Food
Can Make You Ill site for articles and information on food allergies and
food intolerance.
Free
Food Diary
Information on Salicylate
Sensitivity
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Copyright: Sharla Race 2010
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Food Can Make You Ill
Your Complete Guide to Food Intolerance and Food Allergy
www.foodcanmakeyouill.co.uk