How to Identify and Address Food Allergies and Chronic Infections

How to Identify and Address Food Allergies and Chronic (or hidden) Infections That May be Causing You Pain

If you suffer from chronic pain or inflammation, you’re not alone.

It is estimated that 100 million Americans suffer from chronic pain, and the average cost of treatment is nearly $600 billion! Yes, billion…that’s a ton of medicine, a ton of money, and way too many Americans dealing with a reduced quality of life.

But, what if there were two things you could do to help reduce your level of pain, would you try it?

If you answered yes, then read on!

Food allergies and sensitivities, and hidden infections can all cause chronic pain.

Addressing these health issues can make a big difference in the level of pain you experience every day, and improve your overall quality of life.

Let’s start by talking about what food allergies and hidden infections do to the body.

Food allergies and sensitivities are have become more present as the foods we are consuming today have become less close to what our bodies recognize as food.

Gluten, wheat, corn, and soy are all crops that have been significantly genetically modified over the years, making it very difficult for our bodies to process them. This can lead to inflammation, food sensitivities, and even food allergies.

When we consume foods that our bodies cannot recognize, the body will mount an attack on this food and start creating antibodies. This is a recipe for long-term food allergy and sensitivity issues if the foods are not removed from the diet.

Many people are become allergic or sensitive to dairy and gluten and don’t know it. These are some of the most allergenic foods for people. When it comes to dairy, lactose intolerance could be the cause or a full-blown dairy allergy could be present.

However, dairy poses another issue because of the hormone and antibiotics present in conventional milk. The antibiotics will throw our digestive health out of balance, and the added hormones can cause endocrine disruption.

Food allergies or sensitivities that aren’t addressed, can lead to chronic pain.

Consuming foods that don’t sit well with your body can lead to inflammation, which will then result in pain.

It will also cause an imbalance in your gut flora, and with an imbalanced gut, comes imbalanced health, since your gut is central to your overall health. Consuming foods we react to is a sure-fire way to trigger digestive inflammation and upset.

Chronic or hidden infections can also trigger chronic pain.

The issue with certain infections is that you may not even know that you have one. Many of these are linked to the gut. Things like SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) candida, parasites, and leaky gut can all lead to inflammation in the body, and as you’ve learned.. inflammation eventually equals pain.

Many people suffer from these infections without knowing, because they can be difficult to diagnose. However, being aware of the signs and symptoms can help you uncover whether you believe you are suffering from a chronic or hidden infection, and then take the steps to get that infection under control.

Whew, that’s a lot of information.

But, don’t worry, here are the signs and symptoms of food allergies and sensitivities, and steps you can take to start addressing them today.

Signs & Symptoms of Food Allergies

Food allergies and sensitivities are different, but both can lead to inflammation and pain.

A true food allergy will cause an immune system reaction that can cause issues with different organs in the body. Some allergic reactions can even be life-threatening.

A food sensitivity or a food intolerance is normally less serious than a food allergy, but they can still cause inflammation and digestive health issues. Remember.. with an imbalance in gut health, comes an imbalance in overall health, so removing foods you may be reacting to is essential.

The common signs of a food allergy include:

⚙ Hives
⚙ Rash
⚙ Difficulty breathing
⚙ Persistent cough
⚙ Swelling of the tongue
⚙ Weak pulse
⚙ Dizziness
⚙ Pale or blue coloring of the skin
⚙ Anaphylaxis shock in serious cases
⚙ Vomiting or gastrointestinal distress

Signs of a food sensitivity include:

⚙ Gastrointestinal distress
⚙ Skin reactions such as eczema or rashes
⚙ Fatigue
⚙ Irritability
⚙ Brain fog
⚙ Unexplained weight changes
⚙ Joint pain

How to Address Food Allergies & Sensitivities

If you suspect that you have a true food allergy, it is so important to completely remove this food from your diet. Food allergies can be diagnosed through skin prick testing or blood work. Avoidance is the only way to address a food allergy.

In terms of food sensitivity, it is best to start with an elimination diet.

Eliminate the foods you believe you are reacting to for at least two weeks, and then reintroduce one food at a time. If you react to a food upon reintroduction, that’s a good indication that you are sensitive to that food.

Keep in mind that many people do not tolerate gluten, soy, corn, or dairy as these can be very inflammatory. If you do reintroduce dairy into your diet, opt for organic, grass-fed dairy products to avoid steroid, hormone, and antibiotic exposure which can further inflame the body and cause more pain.

Signs & Symptoms of Chronic or Hidden Infections

When it comes to hidden infections, and particularly hidden infections related to the gut, you will want to watch out for the following symptoms.

❧ Oral thrush
❧ Constipation or diarrhea
❧ Abdominal pain or cramping
❧ Loss of appetite
❧ Nausea and vomiting
❧ Diarrhea
❧ Blood in the stool
❧ Weight gain or weight loss

If you are suffering from any of these symptoms that are not relieved by addressing food allergies or sensitivities, it may be time to work with a holistic health practitioner to run testing to determine if a gut infection is present. Removing the infection can be a huge step in reducing the amount of pain you may be experiencing each day.

If you suffer from chronic pain, it may seem like anything you do just doesn’t make it any better. However, there are so many steps you can take! Addressing diet, and removing foods that simply don’t work for your body is a huge step in the right direction.

Start by eliminating these reactive foods, and see how your body feels.

On top of that, consider supplementing with a high-quality probiotic, and curcumin supplement. Both of which can help support gut health and help fight inflammation.

You should start feeling like a new you in just 60-90 days!

Fibromyalgia and Pain: Natural Treatments

According to the American Chronic Pain Association, fibromyalgia is a medically unexplained syndrome characterized by chronic widespread pain and a heightened and painful response to pressure (allodynia). Fibromyalgia (fī'brō-mī-āl'jē-ə) affects more than 6 million people in this country. Most of them are women, but it does occur in men as well. Other core symptoms are debilitating fatigue, sleep disturbance, and joint stiffness. Some patients may also report difficulty with swallowing, bowel and bladder abnormalities, numbness and tingling (paresthesia) and cognitive dysfunction.

Fibromyalgia is a term that's been used only fairly recently. It is not a new condition. Previous to this, it was referred to as soft tissue rheumatism or fibrositis or non-articular rheumatism.

People with fibromyalgia may experience the following symptoms:

➮ Wide- Spread Aches and Pains
➮ Localized pain in the neck area
➮ Pain in the rib area
➮ Lower back pain
➮ Chronic Fatigue
➮ Tension Headaches
➮ Myofascial Pain Syndrome (means pain and inflammation in the body's soft tissues)
➮ Tender points in the thigh area
➮ Immune Deficiency Syndrome
➮ Depression
➮ Lethargy
➮ Sleep Disruption Problems
➮ IBS and related digestive problems
➮ Problems with concentration
➮ Irritability
➮ Anxieties
➮ Vulvar pain syndrome
➮ Nails and hair brittle and poor quality
➮ Weight gain
➮ Sugar cravings and a form of hypoglycemia

Many people live with pain for years before fibromyalgia is found as the cause.  A recent brain-scan study confirms scientifically what fibromyalgia patients have been telling a skeptical medical community for years: They're really in pain.

In fact, the study finds, people with fibromyalgia say they feel severe pain, and have measurable pain signals in their brains, from a gentle finger squeeze that barely feels unpleasant to people without the disease. The squeeze's force must be doubled to cause healthy people to feel the same level of pain—and their pain signals show up in different brain areas.

The results, published in the May issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism, the journal of the American College of Rheumatology, may offer the proof of fibromyalgia's physical roots that many doubtful physicians have sought. It may also open doors for further research on the still-unknown causes of the disease, which affects more than 2 percent of Americans, mainly women.

Now, more healthcare providers are aware of the condition. This means that it can be addressed sooner. And there is a growing list of treatments that may help.

According to sources such as the National Institutes of Health, American Medical Association, and American College of Rheumatology, little is known about the cause of this type of pain, but the central nervous system does play a role. Unfortunately for this progressive disease, there is no cure for fibromyalgia but there are treatments that can help. Many people have found ways to have a good quality of life in spite of fibromyalgia.

The following are ways to live a more comfortable life with fibromyalgia:

➲ Plenty of sleep

Nap any time that you can.

➲ Move your body

Keep active-walking and low impact sports are great examples.
Meditation helps tremendously. This allows you to separate the mind from the pain

➲ Magnesium and Malic Acid supplements

Consult the doctor or a nutritionist to have your Magnesium level checked. It is a simple painless mouth swab

➲ Epson Salt baths

Take 2-3 warm Epson Salt baths a week (Epson salt contains Magnesium and soaking in a warm tub helps the body to absorb the mineral into the body better. Magnesium aids the muscles in better utilization of oxygen. When body magnesium levels are low, cramps, spasms, and pain may augment.)

➲ Eliminate Sugar from your diet.

No more sugar–sweets, candies, syrups, etc. Instead, use Xylitol 'from birch bark' - sweet with no bitter aftertaste. Xylitol can also help prevent tooth decay. Instead of adding sugar or artificial sweetener to your beverages or food, use Liquid Stevia. Do not use any artificial sweeteners.

More traditionally, Neurologists, Rheumatologists, Chiropractors, Psychiatrists, and pain specialists will address the symptoms of fibromyalgia and focus on the pain aspect in terms of medications. Solutions such as massage, muscle relaxants trigger point injections, nerve blocks, steroid shots and braces as well as surgeries are most popular. More progressive treatments include biofeedback and acupuncture.

❖ Massage Therapy

Massage therapy is another alternative pain treatment that is one of the most commonly tried for fibromyalgia. The benefits of massage are hard to demonstrate in a clinical study, but it does seem to be helpful for many types of muscle pain, including fibromyalgia. Massage is generally safe. It may certainly relieve tightness and promote relaxation, but it is not likely to provide any long-term fibromyalgia help.

❖ SAM-e

This is a great item for natural joint support and mobility, AND for emotional wellness. This very important supplement is backed by over 20 years of research. It helps to support positive mood balance, joint and liver function. SAM-e is found naturally in every cell in the human body and increases levels of important neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine. It also protects the liver from fat infiltration.

❖ Co-Q-10

Research indicates that CoQ10 may support heart health by supporting cellular energy production.

❖ Beta Glucans, with ImmunEnhancer

Beta Glucans gives your body a very powerful nutritional boost for natural cellular defenses. Beta Glucans activates NK cells and is helpful to the immune system and against tumors. For a stronger immune system, take one Beta Glucan tablet a day.

❖ Liquid Calcium Magnesium

Best used in the morning and right before bedtime. People often need more calcium and magnesium than any other vitamin or mineral because they are the primary building blocks of bones, teeth, and muscles.

❖ Source Naturals L-Lysine

This is an all-natural stress fighter and immune booster. It can help regulate your immune system response - especially when you are under extra stress situations. Take extra L-Lysine when exposed to crowds and during flu season.

❖ Emer’gen-C

This handy packet of 1000 mg of Vitamin C and 25 different electrolytes in the ascorbic acid form delivers 8 times more potassium than Gatorade and other sports drinks. When you add water to the Emer'gen-C powder, it immediately effervesces to a powerful, delicious, and healthful activator of your metabolic functions.

❖ Glucosamine Chondroitin plus MSM

This helps with inflammation. MSM is an excellent source of safe and substantial relief. This helpful relief comes from MSM's pain reducing, anti-inflammatory and increased blood-supply properties. Soft tissue inflammation responds well to minerals which improve blood flow.

❖ Vitamin D

Both vitamin D and magnesium levels have been found to be low in people with fibromyalgia, but as of yet, there is no evidence that taking vitamin supplements are an effective fibromyalgia treatment. Vitamin D, known as the sunshine vitamin, does have some effects on nerve and muscle function, and some studies have suggested that low levels of vitamin D may be associated with chronic pain of fibromyalgia. In a small clinical study published online in the In a recent issue of Pain Medicine, fibromyalgia symptoms improved in 30 women after 8 weeks of vitamin D supplementation. However, other researchers have failed to find any association between fibromyalgia and vitamin D levels.

❖ Acupuncture

Acupuncture is one of the oldest forms of treatment for chronic pain and is based on ancient Chinese medical practices. There have been several studies on the usefulness of acupuncture in fibromyalgia. Three studies support the use of acupuncture combined with a pulsed electric current, a treatment called electroacupuncture.

❖ Capsaicin Application

Capsaicin comes from pepper plants and is considered a natural pain reliever. It’s the active ingredient in a variety of over-the-counter sprays and lotions. When applied to a painful area of the body, it stimulates the release of a body chemical called substance P. As substance P is depleted, the pain sensation seems to decrease. Capsaicin has been used for chronic pain in diabetes, cancer, and cluster headaches. It may also temporarily relieve fibromyalgia pain.

❖ Biofeedback

Biofeedback is an alternative therapy that uses the mind-body connection to help you learn to control your chronic pain with the power of your mind. The feedback may come in the form of muscle tension, skin temperature, or brain wave measurements. Biofeedback is helpful for many painful conditions when it is used along with other therapies.

❖ Melatonin Hormone

Melatonin is a natural hormone found in the body, thought to be involved in promoting sleep. Melatonin in pill form is often used as a sleep aid, but it has also been used for depression, chronic fatigue, and fibromyalgia. The experts say there is not enough evidence to support its use for the chronic pain of fibromyalgia. However, many people do get fibromyalgia help from natural and alternative treatments despite the lack of research support.

Resources: everydayhealth.com, webmd, livestrong.com, naturalnews.com, niams.nih.gov

Ouch! Exercising with Knee Pain

What activities tend to be hardest on the knees?

Exercises or movements that involve excessive flexing, especially with weights, such as a full squat or leg press or lots of pounding tend to be worst. Any type of exercise that involves great agility--sudden stops, starts, and pivots, or potentially awkward jumps and landings - such as basketball, tennis, soccer, racquetball, football, rugby or volleyball. Jumping exercises called plyometrics, which focus on increasing muscle power, jumping rope, trampoline, can also be tough on the knee joint. Jumping places a force of two to three times your body weight across your knees, which naturally increases the potential for injury, and people with knee problems would do best to avoid jumps that require a very deep knee bend or could torque the knee on the landing.

What causes knee pain?

Severe knee pain is generally not from overuse, but from a sudden injury - often sustained during quick weight shifts and direction changes, or upon landing from a jump. A frequent victim in these cases is the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), one of the fibrous bands that connect the thighbone to the shinbone. ACL tears are serious and may require surgical repair.

Injuries definitely develop over time, as well, such as from repetitive stress that damages cartilage and other soft tissue in the knee joint. The most common injury is patellofemoral stress syndrome (runner's knee), in which the cartilage of the patella (kneecap) becomes irritated, resulting in pain and inflammation. Iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS) is another source of pain for athletes. The IT band is a stretch of fibrous tissue that runs down the outer thigh and knee; running and other activities cause the band to repeatedly rub against the outside of the knee joint, which may lead to inflammation and pain at the outside of the knee. ITBS is usually seen in long-distance runners and cyclists but can occur in soccer players, skiers and weightlifters. Reducing activities can help ease the pain of any overuse injury, while some may require physical therapy or other medical treatment.

What are exercises for people with knee pain?

Resistance bands

Extremely versatile, inexpensive and can be done anywhere, are these fun rubbery bands. You can tie a big knot in it and wedge it under the door, or you can tie it around a pole. Once you do one of these, you can then tie the other end around your foot and start doing different leg exercises like bringing your knee to your chest, leg extensions, leg curls, leg kickbacks, leg holds with the tube tight, raising your leg out to the side or bringing it across your body.

Swimming

Swimming is a great choice for those with bad knees because of the low impact environment it provides. The water acts as a brace for your body helping to lift and support you as you exercise. Swimming is a great exercise that works all of the muscles in your body, giving you a complete workout while not causing you any discomfort. Swimming also can hold water aerobics activities, which will increase the flexibility of your knees, as well as giving you much needed exercise. If you're interested in water aerobics, many classes are offered at gyms.

Walking

Walking is the most natural exercise for the human body and one of my favorite body movement suggestions to people It is a great exercise for people with bad knees because of how accessible and painless it's for people with bad knees. You can buy a pedometer and keep track of how many steps you're taking to create a better workout (or download an app on your mobile phone). Pedometers allow you to find your limit and stay away from any discomfort. Walking is not as high impact as running because the weight you put on your body is less while doing the actually walking and you don't have to come to a sudden jerky stop while walking. For a challenge, walk in soft sand.

Yoga

Yoga is seen as an ideal exercise for people with bad knees because it has almost no impact and actually increases the flexibility and strength of your knees. Yoga is very accessible in just about any gym or school and can be done at home after you've learned some positions.

These are just three exercises that will help you with your bad knees, research for more low-impact exercises and there will surely be one that's right for you. Bad knees may be annoying, but they don't have to keep you from exercising, keep searching and you will find the exercise that's right for you.

Reclined Floor Exercises

Side-lying Leg Lifts: Wearing ankle weights above the knee, lie on your left side, legs straight and together, with your left arm supporting your head. Keeping your right foot flexed and your body straight, slowly lift your right leg to about shoulder height, then slowly lower. Repeat with your left leg.

Ab Crunches, Reverse Ab Crunches

Side Plank or Traditional Plank

Pilates

Pilates focuses on building strength. Originally developed by Joseph Pilates in a World War II concentration camp, the program uses a series of movements that employ the body's weight as its resistance to train and strengthen muscles. Few movements require strain on the knees and the leg exercises can increase the strength of the quadriceps and hamstring muscles to better support the knee joints. The first movements of Pilates zero in on the "powerhouse" or core area to build muscle support for the spine. By having a strong midsection that can keep the upper body erect, you lessen the strain placed on the knees by poor posture. Pilates can correct and relieve many areas of stress for people with bad knees.

Bicycling

Bicycling can be done outdoors or inside on a stationary bike. This low-impact exercise is fine for people with bad knees, because it uses the leg muscles without straining the joints and it increases cardiovascular health. 20 minutes per day is a good way to start with this type of exercise.

Upper-Body Ergometer or “Kranking”

This is that piece of equipment in the cardio area at your gym that looks like a bike for hands. Treat it like any other piece of cardio equipment—go for a long forty-five-minute stint or pound out a shorter and harder interval session. Special Note* though this may look easy, the Ergometer is actually very challenging. Adjust the resistance slowly and become familiar to the upper’s body use for cardio before going faster or adding resistance.

Elliptical Trainer

Elliptical trainers found in many gyms are the equivalent of riding a bike and walking or running without any pressure on the knee joints. These machines use the lower legs for primary motion. Some elliptical machines have handles that work the upper body for a total upper and lower body workout. These machines offer a low-impact workout that burns calories and leads to weight loss over time.

Rowing Machine

Most gyms have rowing machines and they’re often some of the most underutilized pieces of cardio equipment. Rowing is mostly upper-body work (great for toning up your arms and shoulders), but your legs provide low-impact support by pushing against the machine with each stroke. Always keep the movement fluid and controlled rather than jerking through each motion and push with your legs and avoid hunching forward to protect your back. To minimize pain in knees, keep a slight bend in the elbows and knees rather than locking the joints at full extension.

Upper Body Weight and Circuit Training

Upper body weight training is another exercise for people with bad knees. For weight loss, the best approach is to use less weight with more repetitions (circuit training) and to focus on the middle of the body by doing abdominal crunches. Weight training helps to improve the cardiovascular system, makes you stronger, increases flexibility. and. once you lose some weight. it helps you maintain acceptable body fat limits.

Take Away:

Body movement and a consistent exercise routine is imperative to optimal health and wellness. For people with aches and pains, exercising is very possible, but you may have to substitute certain favorite exercises for another. Put your ego aside and modify when possible. Listen to your body, but don’t fall into the habit of being lazy or not pushing yourself too hard. Maximize your effort with upper body exercises. Plan out daily workouts ahead of time by writing them down and sticking to a weekly routine. Challenge yourself and keep the intensity level up throughout your workouts (a heart rate monitor can assist you with that, for the ones on the cardio machines are inaccurate). Also keep your calories and food consumption charted and eat healthy, whole and organic (when possible) foods (not too much). Livestrong has a great free calorie charter available through their website and a mobile app for those with smart phones. Ice your knees if the pain is too great after your exercises, but do not rely on over the counter pain relievers because it is temporary relief, only masks the symptoms of the real problem and harms the liver.

Resources: EverydayHealth.com, SparkPeople.com, LiveStrong.com, WebMD.com, WellSphere.com, OneResult.Com