Natural Choices — Health Food, Organic Produce, Gluten Free, Vitamins, Supplements — Columbus, Bartholomew County, Indiana

Posts Tagged ‘allergies’

Food allergies account for almost 60% of all undiagnosed conditions such as asthma, bursitis, headache, childhood ear infection etc. It is prudent to step back and review what kinds of food are being ingested into the body to further improve the quality of life. An allergic reaction to peanuts is a clearly defined food allergy. We must, however, know the differences between food allergies and food sensitivities. Food sensitivities take time to develop and  actually affect one’s life. Basically sensitivities are food allergies in slow motion.

The difference between the two is that once the immune system detects a so called “invader” substance it realeases lymphocytes with five antibodies: IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, and IgM. When an allergic reaction occurs, the IgE and IgG antibodies are released to combat the foreign substance. It is unknown why immune systems consider certain foods foreign. Either way the antibodies, when released cause intense reactions inside the body. The culprit of the reactions is the IgE antibodies. IgE is most common in infants, and the immune system tends to lose sensitivity to it as the body ages.

The IgG antibodies reactions are on a time release schedule which can occur hours or days after the food is ingested, making it very difficult to track what the immune system is actually reacting to.

Sensitivity testing of the immune system has been able to show what a person may be allergic to. For example, a person reports symptoms, eliminates a certain food following the sensitivity testing, the symptoms improve, but when the food is introduced again to the body symptoms return. Therefore identifying the allergy the person has conclusively.

Gluten-free EnviroKidz cereals make Mom say, "Okay."

I saw a mother in the local ‘mega-store’ engrossed in one of those teachable moments with her son of about age eight or nine. She was calmly explaining that just because she says, “No” to some request doesn’t mean he should treat her badly. He agreed and said, “Sorry” and not in an angry tone at all. Obviously she puts great effort into her parenting.

After that, I was in Natural Choices in Columbus, Indiana perusing the latest healthy eating options and I saw a display of EnviroKidz cold cereals. This is a gluten-free product that’s brightly packaged and looks yummy. All I could think was “Thank goodness.”

So many more people, and kids, have allergies and health issues now than ever before. Wheat and gluten allergies are especially troublesome. I can’t imagine trying to explain to a youngster why he can’t have all the foods he sees everyone else’s children eat. The packaging of so many products in the cereal aisle of the local grocery makes every kid grab them and run to Mom or Dad squealing, “I want this!” Now, with this cereal, they can grab it, run squealing and actually have Mom say, “Okay!”

The gluten-free selection at Natural Choices is one of the best in the state of Indiana. It is worth a trip to check it out. You will find packaged foods, ingredients to cook from scratch yourself, snacks, even frozen foods. Or, make a list of the kinds of products you would like to have, call the store and have it all shipped right to you. Wouldn’t it be a treat for your child to open a box and find snacks and foods they can open and eat without you worrying about it?

–Ellie of the Natural Choices Blog Team