Let’s face it. Most of us enjoy a nice drink in the evenings after a meal. Whether it’s a hard day at work or socialising with loved ones, enjoying a glass of wine or a nightcap is a great enjoyment. So, with that in mind, why would you consider Dry January? It sounds like a month of deprivation, right? In reality, Dry January can be a great way to connect to your body and enjoy a stronger sense of self. Plus, it can be just the motivation to order liver function testing to better understand your body’s needs. Are you curious to know more? Read on!
What is Dry January?
This popular month-long event is exactly what it sounds like. It’s committing to enjoying an alcohol-free month from January 1-31. And don’t worry if you’re interested in trying it out but are partially through the month – you can join the challenge anytime. It isn’t too late!
What are the benefits of Dry January?
One of the most exciting things about Dry January is that it has many benefits! Many are often surprised with just how many dry January advantages there are! Take a look at some of the best ones and see for yourself.
Improved sleep
Many people rely on alcohol to help them sleep, but the reality is that alcohol can create or worsen sleep issues! Going dry for January can help reset your body and mind, leading to better sleep. In fact, about 70% of participants in Dry January note that they have better sleep throughout the month!
Mental health benefits
For one reason or another, those with depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions often rely on alcohol as part of a treatment plan. Interestingly, going dry in January can improve mental health in the short and long term.
Saved money and time
Another genuine benefit after a stressful and expensive holiday season is that skipping out on alcohol can save money in a noticeable way. Approximately 86% of participants in Dry January reported saving money, even if they still went out and had a classic social life — just alcohol-free. Many save time, too, which can be a bonus for helping yourself start the new year off just right.
A rebounding body
Alcohol can put a lot of stress on our bodies, especially if we drink regularly, even in moderate amounts. After Dry January, many participants notice improved skin and hair health. Others notice weight loss to the point that clothes fit differently. When you combine that with a proactive approach to health through liver function testing, eating whole foods, and exercising, those benefits stretch even further!
Liver fat content has a lot to do with liver health in the long term. Short-term and long-term alcohol habits can cause fat build-up in the liver. Those participating in Dry January could experience up to 40% liver fat loss, which is terrific. A fatty liver can lead to fatty liver disease, which is often symptom-free.
A key part of understanding what’s going on with your liver is to consider liver function testing, especially if you drink regularly. Understanding where your liver health is at can help you contact a specialist and understand what changes you can make to better provide for your liver, it’s health, and your general overall well-being. Liver fat can be reversed by making short-term and long-term changes to your diet and drinking habits!
Your liver depends on you
Your liver is a vital organ, and it can be easily damaged without you knowing it. That’s why Dry January is a great celebration to consider when you want to take proactive steps to better your liver health.
Many people feel that they have to justify the reason they are participating in Dry January, but the reality is that you don’t need an excuse. Participating in this great challenge is not only just about reducing your alcohol consumption. It’s also an opportunity to meet new people, bond with those doing the challenge with you, and push yourself and your body to a newer, better form! Isn’t that reason enough?
Whether this is your first time hearing of Dry January, or you’ve just been waiting for an excuse to give it a try, why not commit today to the rest of January being alcohol-free? You might be surprised at how much it changes your life in tangible and intangible ways!
For other ways to improve your health, why not check out our testing options here?
If you make a New Year’s resolution, it’s supposed to be one that changes your life for the better. It can be big, small, or somewhere in the middle. If you want to make this year’s resolution the best, you can start by looking at these nutritional New Year’s resolutions. These are designed to help you look at your body’s health potential in a new and unique light! You’ll learn about fad diets and the potential of fun in physical exercise. We’ll also talk about the role of complete body testing and the benefits of planning a menu for the year to come. We also discuss preventative health and how that can factor into your goals for this year.
Practical and nutritional New Year’s resolutions
A New Year’s resolution is a great idea, even if you feel slightly intimidated. Many people will assume it needs to be a huge, sweeping change that modifies every part of their life, but it doesn’t. It needs to be a focused, practical change that will improve your life daily and long term. To help you understand what that could look like, we’ve compiled a list of health-based resolutions to start you off.
Find a suitable diet for you
Many of us make resolutions about eating better, which is great! Some will rely on the current “fad diet” because it can help the follower lose weight quickly. While these diets can be exciting and offer short-term weight loss, they are not often sustainable long-term. If dieting is your resolution for this year, focus on a long-term diet change. This change will have the best chance of providing you with long-term weight loss at a healthy rate of 0.9 kg per week.
Try a series of fun physical exercise activities
There’s a myth floating around out there that unless you are a fitness junkie, physical exercise for weight loss can’t be fun. Realistically speaking, all physical activity — even the fun stuff — has health benefits. If you love to swim, 20-30 minutes of swimming in a pool is a great activity. If you love to dance, many dance-based workouts are great for your fitness goals. Fun exercises are easier to maintain, too, which is another crucial aspect to consider.
There is a lot of science to back up the benefits of whole foods. Eating a diet rich in whole foods is one of the easiest ways to improve your overall health. Eating whole foods is also more sustainable than other types of diets that can help you lose weight. If you are new to whole foods, consider complete body testing as part of your plan. This can help you learn about any potential food sources to avoid if you have allergies or intolerances!
A fun way to transition into whole foods is to design a menu where one meal a week has whole foods. Once you get that down, add a second meal, and so on. Don’t forget to rank the foods you eat so that you know what you like and dislike the most!
Do one preventative health thing per month
Let’s be clear: making nutritional New Year’s resolutions will always be good. If you are in a place where there are things you can do to care for your health preventatively, add that to your list! If you suspect you have intolerances or allergies but have never had testing done, make room for complete body testing. If you have a family history of poor muscle tone in later years, focus on strength-training workouts to help keep yourself as strong as possible for as long as possible. Anything that you do is going to help. Prevention is always the best approach for health, and small daily steps can help you make significant differences to long-term, future health!
Don’t forget to celebrate your achievements
If you’ve got a solid list of nutritional New Year’s resolutions, that’s great! There is one more thing that you can do to add some extra success to your upcoming year. This is to celebrate milestones on the way to achieving your yearly goal. Celebrating important milestones is an essential way to help you see what great progress you’re making along the way, and it helps motivate you to keep on your health journey even after a bad day.
You can achieve your health goals in many ways throughout the year. When you see the variety in this list, it’s reassuring to know that this journey doesn’t have to be hard, boring, or frustrating. It’s just about coming at nutrition from a realistic point of view and finding simple, practical ways to add better nutrition to your daily life! Remember our allergy and intolerance tests are here to help you this year!
Getting the perfect gift for someone doesn’t have to be a mystery. It doesn’t even have to be difficult. You just need to know what to look for in your focus and your choice. Are you hunting for healthy Christmas presents for a loved one? If so, you’ll love the idea of getting them something personalized yet broad enough to give them a benefit, no matter their health-based lifestyle. Below, we’ll show you how complete body testing fits the bill perfectly and why it is the ultimate choice in your guide to healthy Christmas shopping.
Health and the body
Let’s dive a little bit into how you can look at health. For most of us, health involves diet and fitness. It often focuses on physical and mental health. This is true, of course, but it also goes beyond that. Health is a multifaceted part of our lives that deserves a multifaceted approach for the best result. Sometimes, the best ideas come from circumstances you might not normally consider.
Health is always a daily adventure, but you must also play the long game. The better care you take of yourself now, the better your life expectancy is about health issues and conditions. The habits that someone sets in their younger years (regardless of their age) will lead them into a future where those habits come into being. The better the habit, the better the future! Health is a fine example of this.
So, gifting healthy Christmas presents to someone with complete body testing can help them take the first step toward an in-depth look at how their body is doing. This prompts them to make changes daily to help them enjoy easier and healthier lifestyles. As you’ve likely heard before, the better you take care of your body, the better it can take care of you!
The benefits of gifting health to someone
If you like the sound of that, let’s dive deeper into what it means to literally give health to someone. These intangible benefits are impressive and brimming with positivity. Take a look and see for yourself.
Help protects against diabetes, dementia, heart disease
Taking care of your health daily, weekly, and so on helps reduce the likelihood of developing chronic conditions. Some of the most common ones include diabetes, dementia, and heart disease. While no test or lifestyle can 100% guarantee protection from these health conditions forever, preventative care can help reduce their likelihood! This is especially great for those with genetic predispositions.
Can reduce the likelihood of fractures
Our bones naturally start to weaken with age. This can lead to fractures and complex fractures that require surgery and recovery. The stronger you keep your bones through a good diet and exercise, the better your likelihood of staying safe from fractures. Good health goes a long way to protect your body in those later, more vulnerable years!
Can reduce falls
Another wonderful, tangible benefit is that taking a daily approach to health means keeping muscle tone up. The stronger those muscles are, the better someone’s overall physical health will be. Keeping muscle tone as strong as possible helps prevent falls from weak joints or muscles or poor balance. This is especially great for those on your shopping list who love independence!
Testing helps them remember their priorities
When you see all of those benefits to good health, it’s simple to see why it makes such a great gift. There is another great facet to this gift idea, too. It helps your loved one remember what is most important in their life. Getting complete body testing helps them see how their bodies are doing in “real-time.” It also shows them how to take as best care of themselves as possible. Both allergies and intolerances are difficult to self-diagnose. So, the test results can help exclude and identify the reactions.
There are many different types of healthy Christmas presents that you can get for someone you love. Testing is a great choice, but you can combine that with something more tangible. For example, a cookbook for healthy, delicious meals. Or, a fitness program that you can do with them so that you both make positive changes in your lives.
One of the most exciting details about giving health to someone is that there are a million ways you can go about it and a million combinations. This will help you see how much flexibility you have when holiday shopping, and you’ll be in the perfect position to get the truly perfect gift for those special people in your life. Grab your test from Lifelab today
The prostate is an important male organ, making prostate screening and testing very important, just as regular Breast examination is important and encouraged for women. Regular examination, testing and screening plays a key step in the diagnosis and surveillance of a number of benign and malignant diseases.
Let’s start with what is the anatomical location and function of the Prostate.
This organ sits deep inside the groin below the bladder and in front of the rectum. It plays a key role in the reproduction process as it provides a major part of the seminal fluid.
The seminal fluid carries the sperm cells through the male reproductive tract and is important to maintain the motility, nourishment and activation of the sperm cells.
This fluid secreted by the Prostate, is also a signalling agent for the female reproductive tissues to facilitate the process of conception and pregnancy.
The glandular tissue inside the Prostate secretes an enzyme called PSA. In simple words, the main objective of PSA is gel dissolution for active motility of the sperm cells. It is excreted out of the body through urine and semen.
Now that we have discussed the role and function of the prostate, let’s examine what are the various problems that can arise from the abnormal functioning and/or physiological changes of this organ.
Diseases Associated With Prostate
The prostate, like other organs, is susceptible to diseases and is becoming a major cause for concern for men above the age of 40 years. Diseases associated with Prostate include Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), Prostatitis and Prostrate Cancer.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
This a condition associated with the enlargement of the Prostate not necessarily cancerous. It is also referred to as Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy or Benign Prostatic Obstruction. The factors that lead to this kind of problem are very obscure, however, they are narrowed down to age factor (40 years and above), family history of the same condition, obesity, diabetes, heart and cardiovascular diseases, lack of exercise and erectile dysfunction. BPH causes blockage and narrowing of the urethra which leads to urination problems and an increase in the level of PSA.
Prostatitis
The inflammation of the Prostate and areas around it called Prostatitis. It can be asymptomatic or it can involve a lot of pain associated with urination and/or in the pelvis. It has four major types: Chronic Prostatitis, Acute Bacterial Prostatitis, Chronic Bacterial Prostatitis and Asymptomatic Inflammatory Prostatitis. The factors that cause Prostatitis include urinary tract infection (UTI), nerve damage, trauma/injury and bacterial infection in which bacteria travel from the urethra to the prostrate. Complications include: bacterial infection buildup in the bloodstream, prostatic abscess, sexual dysfunction and inflammation.
Prostrate Cancer – This is a form of cancer that develops in men mostly after the age of 50 years and above. Though it is a slow growing form of cancer, it can sometimes become a very serious and malignant disease. The onset symptoms include:
excessive pain and trouble in emptying the bladder completely
burning sensation and difficulty during urination
traces of blood in the urine and/or semen
Prostate Screening Explained
As discussed above PSA is a protein secreted by cells in the prostate gland which are normally discharged out of the body through urine and semen. PSA is Prostate Specific Antigen, which as said before, is eliminated out of the body but a very small amount is absorbed in the blood. The normal PSA level range in blood varies according to age. The scale is adjusted according to the age because as men get older a benign enlargement of the prostate gland occurs. A general normal range of PSA is declared to be 4.0 ng/mL, however the age specific range is:
0-2.5: Normal for a man 40-50 yrs.
2.5-3.5: Normal for a man 50-60 yrs.
3.5-4.5: Normal for a man 60-70 yrs.
4.5-5.5: Normal for a man 70-80 yrs.
A PSA test plays an important role in the early detection of many diseases related to the prostate but the most important role is in the detection of prostate cancer. As a general principle, if the PSA level in the blood is elevated then it indicates that there is an issue with the prostate which requires further investigation.
The physiology of PSA demonstrates variable reliability in measurement with regards to Cancer Detection but it serves as a major baseline for diagnosis of Prostatitis, BPH and Urinary or Prostate infection. Adhyam M. et. al has discussed that the ability of PSA to detect cancers is as yet unclear, however, its most definitive role appears to be in diagnosing recurrences after adequate surgical treatment, and in evaluating response to treatment. Similarly, Michael K. David et. al has also stated that its usefulness in helping determine the extent of the malignancy, tracking its progress, identifying biochemical recurrences, and determining treatment response.
Closing statement
Thus, in conclusion, Prostate screening and testing can have numerous advantages and its importance increases with the age factor in men. As we emphasise on Breast Cancer awareness it is important that we keep in mind that Prostate screening and testing is as important in men. As very rightfully said, “prevention is better than cure”. It’s also important to note the we have a Prostate Health Test, which can help guide you to the answers you’re looking for and offer you peace of mind!
There is so much excitement for little ones around the Halloween season. From dressing up as their favourite superhero or animal to getting lots of free treats, it’s a wonderful adventure. Halloween can be a challenging time of year for those with food allergies or food intolerances. Use this Halloween allergy survival guide to help you learn the basics of celebrating safely with as minimal an impact as possible. There are all sorts of tricks, including staying snack-aware and signing up for complete body testing. You can also learn how to plan your Halloween adventures with allergies in mind. Take a look at the treats below!
Snack-size treats are different from full-size treats
Mini or snack-sized treats sometimes contain different ingredients than their full-size companions. Sometimes, they are processed in a different facility or on machinery that also processes allergen-containing candy. Check the ingredients, and read the labels for everything in your child’s trick-or-treat bag. Remove treats from your child’s stash if necessary. It’s always better to be safe rather than sorry!
Do this with every candy choice you are considering. Then, list the ones that are and are not safe. You can give that list to your child, their teacher, and other caretakers. This will help them know the risks, too!
Have a treat swap with trusted friends
If you know your child will bring home allergen-containing treats, make it into a game. Explain that there are allergens in their treats, and these need to be picked out. Then, put the “bad” treats into a bag to give to a friend, family member, or the mysterious “treat fairy”. You’ll swap these for “good” treats.
If you make this a planned part of the Halloween celebration, your children will never feel cheated. It will just be part of the fun!
Treats aren’t the only possible allergens
Below, we’ll cover how to trick-or-treat with food allergies or food intolerances. But first, take a moment to remember that Halloween comes with more than candy. It also comes with face paint, masks, and other changes to a child’s wardrobe. But, these temporary changes could contain non-food allergens or intolerances (e.g., latex).
Not sure if those will cause an issue for your child? Complete body testing can give you a full profile of problem areas. Once you have those results, carefully check your costume and food details. This way, Halloween stays safe and fun! Plus, that information will be valuable all year long.
Tips for a safe Halloween season
Now, carefully plan an evening of safe trick-or-treating! Use this Halloween allergy survival guide to help prepare and execute the perfect spooky night!
No candy testing
One of the best ways to ensure your little one doesn’t have an allergic reaction is to prevent them from snacking while they’re out. If the rule is to wait until they get home, you can safely oversee ingredient checking and be prepared to help if they do react to something.
Avoid homemade goodies
This should be the rule whether at a party, on their trick-or-treating route, or even at home after the fact. Since they can contain many possible allergens, it’s always best to avoid them. Your little one can learn how to decline homemade treats at parties. Plus, you can swap out homemade treats at home for allergen-friendly goodies instead.
Plan your route
Before Halloween night, plan your trick-or-treating route as a family and try to focus on homes/stops that serve allergen-friendly options alongside classic ones. Since more and more children have issues with food, this has become a lot more common. You can even have a neighbourhood online group where each house specifies what they put out so everyone can plan routes.
Have an allergy-aware friend
One of the most important details is to ensure that your trick-or-treater has someone with them who is aware of their allergies and will keep an eye on them when they are out. This includes watching for a reaction and knowing what to do if one were to occur. Remember that sometimes a severe allergy can be triggered by your child coming into contact with another child who has eaten something with their allergen. It is no one’s fault, but it must still be managed quickly and calmly.
Prepare for Halloween
If someone has food allergies, intolerances, or even non-food allergies, preparation is vital. Before you pick a costume or buy snacks, consider complete body testing for every household member so that you know exactly what is safe and for whom. A safe Halloween starts with accurate information, after all!
Are you ready to unmask the truly scary part of Halloween? You’re now ready to start preparing for a fun, healthy holiday! This Halloween allergy survival guide will give you the support you need and deserve so that everyone is included in your special plans!
Sorting out what your body is doing means having an in-depth understanding of what’s happening. Two commonly confused conditions are gluten intolerance and wheat allergy. How do you know if you have gluten intolerance symptoms or an allergy to wheat? Below we’ll break down the differences for you. This will help you understand why a complete intolerance test could be what you need. It will help you have a fulfilling lifestyle featuring the right dietary staples. Let’s go!
What is gluten intolerance?
Gluten intolerance is a digestion issue in your body. It means that your body can’t digest gluten, a type of protein found in rye, barley, and wheat. The most common gluten intolerance symptoms include nausea, bloating, diarrhoea, and a rash. Intolerance symptoms can be mild to severe, depending on how strong your intolerance is.
There is a lot of confusion between gluten intolerance and coeliac disease. This happens even though coeliac disease is an autoimmune disorder that is different. If you were to eat gluten-containing food with an intolerance, you would be uncomfortable but perfectly okay. If you were to eat it with coeliac disease, you could be causing harm to your body.
What is a wheat allergy?
So, let’s compare what we have learned so far to a wheat allergy. This is an allergic response to a component in wheat itself rather than gluten. The body attacks the wheat and causes a variety of symptoms. An allergic reaction to wheat can happen minutes to hours after eating the wheat.
A wheat allergy is dangerous even in its mildest forms because it is an immune system response. In this way, it’s more similar to coeliac disease than gluten intolerance. That being said, you should keep the two separate since they are different.
You can see why there is so much confusion between the different conditions! They present slightly similar to that inexperienced food lover.
Understanding their key differences
With so much confusion and similarity, you should take the time to understand their key differences to know what you’re dealing with. Here are some differences to help you keep them separate in your mind for your health’s benefit.
Gluten is a digestive issue
If you are gluten intolerant, your digestive system doesn’t contain the proper enzymes to break down the gluten protein. You’ll find that eating any gluten-containing food will cause discomfort, be it bread, processed foods, etc.
Wheat allergy is an allergy to wheat rather than gluten
If you are allergic to wheat, you will have an immune system response to wheat products. This is different because you can eat other gluten-containing foods without a problem. But even small amounts of wheat-containing foods will cause an immediate or delayed allergic reaction.
Autoimmune diseases are different from allergies and intolerances
Dealing with something like coeliac disease is different from the other two. It is a personalised autoimmune disorder that would be diagnosed with an antibody test. You would treat and live with this differently than an intolerance or an allergy.
The importance of testing
When it comes to these three conditions, the best way to find your way forward is to do an at-home complete intolerance test. This is especially a good idea with especially gluten intolerance and wheat allergy. This will help you see your intolerances in clear lab-tested detail so that you can modify your diet in the right way. If you have gluten intolerance, it will appear on this test. If you don’t, you may have a wheat allergy instead.
How to adjust your diet
If you are gluten intolerant, you’ll need to make some changes to help you replace gluten. After all, gluten foods are a great source of protein, fibre, and many nutrients. Gluten intolerance is common. You will find many gluten-free foods in mainstream groceries and restaurants. The beauty is that gluten-free living is not as difficult as it once was.
If your complete intolerance test results show that you have gluten intolerance and others, you should take a more specific approach. Consider the idea of working with a dietician. They can help you create a daily food plan to help you keep your health and nutritional profile steady. This is very important while you adjust to lifestyle changes that may come as a result of this diagnosis. Specialised dieticians can help interpret test results and give you support for a healthy future.
There are key differences between a wheat allergy and gluten intolerance. This is the case even if they sometimes feel the same for someone trying to figure out what is going on. This will guide you toward the right resources and life change you need to help you enjoy food again.
OK, men, this blog is for you. If you haven’t already heard, September is prostate cancer awareness month, but what do you know about your prostate – the small ping-pong ball sized gland located deep in your groin – and what do you know about keeping it healthy? You may have heard of, or already been tested for, prostate specific antigen (PSA) through your GP.
But what is Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA)?
Well, PSA is a protein produced by the cells of the prostate gland. It is often tested when men are over 50 years old, or when they are experiencing prostate symptoms such as:
Frequent urination (during the day and/or night)
Blood in the urine or semen
Urine leakage
Pain or burning on urination
Painful ejaculation
Frequent pain/stiffness in lower back, hips, pelvic/rectal areas, or upper thighs
Some men will have raised PSA with no symptoms, making regular testing over the age of 50 important.
If asking your GP to test your PSA makes you feel uncomfortable, you can purchase a home finger prick PSA test such as our Prostate Health Test. This test will tell you whether you have raised levels of PSA.
What does it mean if my Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) is raised?
If you have a raised PSA it doesn’t necessarily mean prostate cancer – while a raised PSA may be present if prostate cancer is present, in many cases raised PSA is actually present due to a urinary tract infection (UTI), recent prostate stimulation, recent exercise, or other prostate issues such as a non-cancerous enlarged prostate (benign prostate hyperplasia, or BPH).
Should I speak to my GP if my Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) is raised on a home finger-prick test?
The short answer to this is: yes.
The longer answer to this is: if your PSA is raised on a home finger prick test such as our Prostate Health Test, you should speak with your GP who may suggest further tests such as an MRI of your prostate.
What can I do to support my prostate if my Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) is raised, but my GP says it isn’t cancer?
The good news is that there’s LOTS that you can do to support your prostate if your PSA is raised (and even if it isn’t raised – there’s always room for prevention!)
Here are a few prostate-friendly suggestions that you can start from today:
Eat a healthy, balanced diet – lots of fruits, vegetables, and good quality proteins. All organic where possible.
Increase your intake of oily fish – oily fish includes herring, pilchards, salmon, sardines, anchovies, and mackerel, and you should be aiming for 2 portions per week
Regularly consume tomatoes and pumpkin seeds – cooked or sundried tomatoes are the best sources of lycopene (compared to fresh tomatoes), and research has shown that eating higher amounts of lycopene may lower your PSA level. The small but mighty pumpkin seed is a source of zinc, which has been associated with prostate health. You could even combine the two in this delicious pesto recipe
Avoid processed and/or sugary foods – regardless of how convenient or flavoursome you find them, avoid processed foods such as fizzy drinks, takeaways, and microwavable ready meals as these will only further increase inflammation in your body.
Reduce your exposure to chemicals – research in 2004 showed that men use an average of 6 personal care products daily (shower gel, shaving gel, aftershave etc) exposing them to approximately 85 different ingredients. And that’s before we factor in cigarette/e-cigarette vape smoke, non-organic foods, cleaning products, work-place chemical exposure, pollution…. the list of chemicals you may be exposed to each day could go on for a long time! Look at your lifestyle and make changes where you can – whether that’s trying an organic shower gel, switching to natural cleaning products, or ceasing smoking, your body will thank you for every small change you make.
If you have any of the symptoms of raised Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) or are aged over 50, consider getting your PSA tested by your GP or privately, such as our Prostate Health Test. Raised levels don’t necessarily mean cancer, but you should speak to your GP if your levels are raised so that they can test further and/or monitor changes in your PSA levels.
Many of us take so many foods for granted when it comes to enjoying meals, desserts, and snacks. National Peanut Day reminds us that life is very different for those with a peanut allergy, particularly when exploring different foods. Like many other allergies, peanut allergy symptoms exist on a scale from mild to severe. Regardless of where you fall on that scale, you should still pursue allergy testing to know if you are allergic to peanuts rather than tree nuts or something else that could be causing your allergy symptoms. Curious to know more about peanut allergies? Read on!
Are peanut allergies common?
Peanut allergies are common in children, though peanut allergies can last a lifetime. Recently, diagnoses of peanut allergies have increased. About 1 in 50 UK children are diagnosed with peanut allergies.
This is part of why allergy testing is vital to a healthy profile, particularly for young ones. It helps parents and GPs to get accurate information on what is safe for little ones. It’s also common to do another allergy test in later years to see if they have outgrown their allergies with time.
What kind of peanut allergy symptoms are possible?
Many assume that peanut allergy symptoms are always severe, anaphylactic reactions. If their child doesn’t have that kind of reaction to peanuts, then they are safe. Yet, peanut allergies can have a spectrum of reactions. This includes mild, moderate, and severe.
Mild peanut allergy symptoms
There are a variety of mild symptoms, but the most common ones are having a runny nose, sneezing, coughing, and generally feeling sick. Some will also feel that they have an upset stomach or nauseous. These can happen immediately or hours after eating the peanut product.
Moderate peanut allergy symptoms
Right in the middle of the scale, moderate symptoms can also vary in how they present. The most common ones include pain in the face, headaches, or having an itchy, raised rash. Some have hives instead of a rash, but most allergists would consider that a severe reaction. Another moderate allergic reaction is diarrhoea, which can vary in strength.
Severe peanut allergy symptoms
Many are already aware of severe peanut allergy symptoms, but it’s still important to recognise them. The most common symptom people feel is swelling in the face. This includes the face and eyelids. Others will notice swelling in their mouth and throat and a sense of breathlessness.
A severe reaction is different from anaphylaxis, but not by a lot. If someone has a severe reaction to peanuts, it’s a good idea to call 999 or go to a medical emergency centre near you.
Mild, moderate, and severe allergies also have corresponding reaction strengths. The mild reactions can be easy to overlook, while the severe reactions will feel almost impossible to ignore. But even mild allergic reactions should be taken seriously.
What to do if you suspect you have a peanut allergy
If any of this sounds familiar, you can do quite a few things to keep your safety in check and still enjoy food the same as everyone else.
Get tested
The first thing to do is get allergy testing. You will want to ensure that you are reacting to peanuts instead of something else in the food that you are eating. It’s a waste of your time and energy to avoid peanuts if they aren’t the problem, right?
Avoid peanut products
This is going to sound obvious, but it is crucial. An allergy is a serious health condition because it involves the immune system. Even if your symptoms are mild, allergies stress your body, and deliberately eating something you are allergic to is never a good idea.
Read the ingredients
In every aisle of your grocery market, you’ll want to get used to checking the ingredients for peanuts or possible cross-contamination with peanuts. Potential cross-contamination is especially important if you have severe or anaphylactic reactions,
Check with servers at restaurants
When you go to restaurants, inform staff about your peanut allergy and ask them what products are safe for you to eat. Many restaurants are prepared for allergen-free cooking for major allergens (such as shellfish and peanuts). If they can’t give you information that can satisfy your needs, ask to talk to the chef or other food preparers to know for sure. Your health is worth it!
Be aware of “hidden” sources
Peanuts can “hide” in all sorts of foods. This is very common in packaged foods that are mass-produced. It also happens often in baked goods since extracts and peanut butter are common ingredients in many healthy recipes. Ensure you know exactly what is in the foods you’re eating.
On the same note, consider a DIY approach to baking since that can be a fun way to enjoy all the same foods everyone else gets, but make them allergy-friendly! There are many resources online to help you make just about anything you can think of.
National Peanut Day is a great way to enjoy peanut products, the next time you catch yourself in the grocery market, consider looking at the ingredients on the product you are buying to see if they contain peanuts. But remember it’s also the perfect opportunity to get familiar with peanut allergies and their different types of reactions with an Allergy Test.
We may have all heard of the glycemic index (GI), but a little about glycemic foods. The glycemic index is a tool necessary for blood sugar management. Many factors determine the glycemic index of a food, including ripeness, method of preparation (cooking), level of processing the food has undergone, and nutrient composition.
Awareness of the glycemic index helps you be more conscious of the foods you consume and what will enhance or decrease weight loss, blood sugar levels, and cholesterol.
What is the meaning of glycemic?
The glycemic index (GI) is a value used to measure how much certain foods increase your blood sugar level. Foods can be classified on a scale of 0-100 to show low, medium, and high-glycemic foods. The lower the glycemic index of a specific food, the less it affects blood sugar levels. The three glycemic index ratings include the following:
Low: 55 or less
Medium: 56-69
High: 70 and above
The GI rating system shows how quickly food you’ve eaten is converted into blood sugar (glucose) when the food is consumed on its own. Foods high in sugar and refined carbs are easily digested and converted to glucose, making them high-GI foods.
Alternatively, foods high in fibre, protein, and fat have a low GI. Foods without carbs, like meat, poultry, herbs, nuts, seeds, spices, fish, and oils, aren’t assigned a GI. Besides GI, you also need to keep in mind the glycemic load. Glycemic load factors in the amount of carbs in one serving of food.
By factoring in the carbs in every food serving, glycemic load helps determine how a portion of food can affect your blood sugar levels.
Factors affecting the glycemic index of food
The glycemic index of foods explains factors that can influence how fast a specific food raises your blood sugar. Some of the factors that affect a food’s glycemic index include:
Food’s cooking method: How you prepare food can change its GI. The longer you cook your food, the faster your body breaks it down and absorbs glucose. So, longer-cooked food has a higher GI.
The amount of processing a carbohydrate has undergone: Processing, including grinding and rolling, disrupt the molecules amylose and amylopectin. Amylose tends to be difficult to digest, while amylopectin is easily digested. The more a food is refined or undergoes processing, the higher its GI.
The fibre level of food: Adding proteins and fats to a meal slows digestion, reducing your glycemic response to a meal.
Food’s chemical and physical structure: When your food is rich in amylose, it will have a lower GI. However, foods high in amylopectin content have higher GI.
Types of sugars in food: Not all sugars have a GI. The glycemic index of any food depends on the type of sugar it contains. For example, fructose can sometimes be as little as 23 and 105 for maltose.
Food ripeness: Unripe fruits contain complex carbs which convert into sugars. The riper fruit, the higher its GI. For example, an overripe mango’s GI is 56, while that of a raw mango is 51.
Simply put, refined and processed carbohydrates metabolize and are converted into glucose quickly by your body. However, foods with more fibre, protein, and fats metabolize slowly, thus releasing sugar glucose into the blood gradually, hence a low GI. Overcooked foods are already broken down immensely, and when you eat them, it metabolizes easily, and the body absorbs glucose fast.
Low glycemic foods
Low and medium-glycemic foods are ones that the body breaks down slowly, causing a gradual rise in blood sugar levels over time instead of a spike. You don’t have to count calories but swap high-GI foods for low-GI alternatives when following a low-GI diet.
You can choose to have plenty of nutritious foods you can have that have a low glycemic index. Some of these foods include:
Legumes: Beans (various varieties like black, butter, and kidney), chickpeas, lentils and more.
Noodles and rice: Basmati, Doongara, long grain, and brown rice. Vermicelli, soba, and rice noodles.
Vegetables: Zucchini, kale, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, and more.
Grains: Semolina, couscous, barley, quinoa, buckwheat, etc.
Dairy and dairy alternatives: Yoghurt, cheese, milk, and plant milk alternatives.
Bread and breakfast cereals: Multigrain, whole grain, sourdough, rye, bran flakes, and steel-cut oats.
You can use these low glycemic foods to prepare a menu and create a low GI diet. Additionally, some foods don’t contain carbohydrates and hence don’t have a GI value. You can incorporate these foods into your low-GI diet. These include:
Seafood: Salmon, trout, prawns, sardines, and fish.
Herbs and spices: Pepper, salt, dill, basil, and garlic.
Nuts: Macadamia, pistachios, almonds, walnuts, and cashews.
Fats and oils: Avocado, butter, and olive oil among otters.
Animal products: Beef, chicken, pork, eggs and lamb.
Are foods with low glycemic index healthier?
Some foods with a low glycemic index should be part of our everyday balanced diet. These include fruits, whole grains, vegetables, lentils and beans. However, you should refrain from using the glycemic index to determine whether food combinations are healthy because that can be misleading.
Just because some foods have a high GI doesn’t mean they’re bad for you. Similarly, not all low-GI foods are healthy for you. For example, a parsnip can be a high-GI food, while a chocolate cake has a lesser GI value.
You’ll also find that foods containing fats or ones cooked in fats also have a lower GI. For example, potato crisps have a lower GI than those that aren’t deep-fried. However, since crisps are high in fat, they should be consumed in moderation.
If you only consumed foods with a low GI, you might consume a diet ful of fats and otherwise unbalanced.
Low glycemic foods and diabetes
Diabetes affects millions worldwide. When one suffers from the disease, they can’t process sugar as healthy people do. Therefore, their blood sugar levels get affected easily.
Good blood sugar control, however, helps delay or prevent the onset of complications like stroke, heart disease, and kidney and nerve damage. When one’s suffering from diabetes, studies suggest that a low GI diet can help reduce blood sugar levels.
Moreover, according to studies, high GI diets tend to increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. One study with over 205,000 participants showed that high GI diets have a 33% risk of type 2 diabetes in contrast to those consuming a low GI diet.
Understanding the glycemic index is necessary for those suffering from diabetes as it can help them control blood sugar by consuming foods with a low GI level. However, some factors must be considered when following a low GI diet.
For example, studies show that the amount of carbohydrates you consume rather than their GI rating determines your blood sugar levels after a meal. Consuming a diet low in fat, salt, and sugar and high in fresh vegetables and fruits is also necessary. People with diabetes need to consult a diabetes nutritionist before making dietary changes.
Benefits of a low glycemic diet
Besides helping manage blood sugar levels, low GI foods have many other benefits, which include:
Weight loss: Low GI foods may help you lose weight because they can cause blood sugar levels to rise and fall slowly, keeping you full for longer. When you’re full longer, you don’t get the urge to eat more frequently, which can help you manage your weight.
Improved cholesterol levels: According to various studies, low GI diets lower total cholesterol in the blood and, even more so, LDL cholesterol. When high in the blood, LDL cholesterol increases the risk of stroke and heart disease.
May reduce heart disease risk: According to multiple researchers, high GI and GL diets are commonly associated with a higher risk of heart disease.
May reduce risk of cancer: High GI diets, according to certain studies, suggest that high GI diets can increase the risk of cancers like colorectal, endometrial, and breast cancer.
High glycemic foods
High GI foods raise blood sugar promptly and can end up causing health problems if one consumes too much of these foods too often. If you want to manage weight and reduce the risk of diabetes or manage blood glucose, avoiding high glycemic foods should be considered.
Some examples of high-glycemic foods include:
White rice
White bread
Cookies, cakes, and sweet treats
Potatoes and fires
Some fruits like pineapple and watermelon
Breakfast cereals and cereal bars
Sweetened dairy products
Sugary foods, drinks, and sugar
Managing foods with allergies and intolerances
The glycemic index is important in determining foods to eat when you need to control your blood sugar levels and maintain a healthy weight. The best way to discover which foods are healthy is by ensuring you consume less processed foods, more fresh fruits and low glycemic vegetables. But what if you have allergies and intolerances?
When adapting your diet, acknowledging your allergies and intolerances is an important factor to consider. If you’re unsure of your allergies You can discover them by taking our Complete Body Test which analyses your blood sample against 38 allergies and 79 intolerances. For any further information on how to manage your allergy or intolerance in addition to taking control of the glycemic food you eat, you can speak to a member of our team for advice on testing.
Oat allergy has recently struck the headlines because of the rise in gluten sensitivity. Gluten is a protein found in wheat and other grains. Since oats and similar grains are processed and packaged in the factories or warehouses as these grains with gluten, cross-contamination occurs, which results in symptoms upon eating oats or oat products like oat milk. However, oat allergy is also a common occurrence not linked to cross-contamination of grains—oat allergy or oat milk allergy results in the presence of a protein avenin found in oats. When people allergic to oats get this protein into their bodies, the immune system releases antibodies and histamine because it assumes it needs to protect the body from a virus or bacteria. When the immune system releases these compounds, it causes oat allergy symptoms.
Besides oat allergy, some people experience gastric discomfort due to their sensitivity to high-fibre foods. Some also experience gastrointestinal symptoms due to their sensitivity to oats. Oat allergies aren’t as common as nut and tree nut allergies, but they still affect many people, including children. That’s why we’ve created this oat allergy guide so you can learn more about the symptoms, treatment and foods to avoid.
Oat allergy symptoms
Symptoms of oat allergy vary from one individual to the next. They can be either mild, moderate, or severe. Most of these symptoms occur within two hours of contact with oats. Severe cases happen rarely, and they can be life-threatening. The common oat allergy symptoms include:
A man sneezing.
Difficulty breathing.
Anaphylaxis.
Blotchy, irritated, itchy skin.
Itchy eyes.
Nausea.
Vomiting.
Oat allergy rash.
Diarrhoea.
Rash or skin irritation on and in the mouth.
Scratchy throat.
Runny nose or nasal congestion.
Stomach pain.
Oat allergy eczema.
If someone close to or around you experiences a severe reaction like anaphylaxis, you need to call urgent care like 999 or rush them to the emergency room to get treatment. Anyone who experiences anaphylaxis should have an EpiPen to carry all the time in case of emergencies. Even if you use an EpiPen, you still need to visit a hospital for observation because these oat allergy symptoms could come back after a few hours. Symptoms such as allergic contact dermatitis may not show up immediately but have a delayed reaction, which may happen between a few hours to three days later.
Oat allergy in children
Often, children experience food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES). This condition affects the intestinal tract causing symptoms like diarrhoea, vomiting, poor growth, and dehydration. When a child with FPIES remains untreated for a prolonged time, they could end up with lethargy and starvation. Children with oat allergies may also suffer with skin-based symptoms. A study on children with atopic dermatitis found that children and infants had a skin reaction to topical products containing oats {1}. So, if your child suffers from atopic dermatitis, it is best to avoid creams, lotions, and any topical products containing oats since they will be allergic to them. Adults also suffer from skin reactions after using products with oats when they have an oat sensitivity or oat allergy.
Many skincare products, especially children’s, are loaded with wheat, oats, and other allergy triggers that can cause a reaction when used by a child with an oat allergy. A study on children’s products found that out of 276 different skincare products, more than a third of them listed contain food-related allergens as an ingredient. Of the 156 ingredients found, there were ingredients like almonds, milk, eggs, and peanuts which are major food allergens. Oats were listed as an ingredient in 8.3% of the products studied {2}. Therefore, if your child suffers from an oat allergy you should be mindful of products in skincare.
When looking for skincare products to treat dry or irritated skin, it’s most likely that the said topical product will be loaded with oat proteins. Oats are mainly used to treat dry, irritated skin. In topical products, you might find the oat ingredients listed as colloidal or finely milled oatmeal. Adults and children alike experience skin reactions upon using topical products loaded with oats. If you’re allergic to oats, you might also react to barley since both grains contain the same protein as oats (avenin).
Oat allergy treatment
When you have oat allergy symptoms, there are medications to help you feel better when you’re suffering. If you suffer from skin reactions from oat allergies, such as an oat allergy rash or oat allergy eczema, creams such as topical corticosteroids help reduce such symptoms. On the other hand, over-the-counter antihistamines can help reduce other moderate or mild symptoms of oat allergy. But if one suffers from anaphylaxis, it is essential to call 999 or emergency medical help because the consequences are serious. If you already have an EpiPen, you should use it or have someone inject you.
Oat allergy foods to avoid
People with severe oat allergies can experience symptoms by touching or inhaling oats. However, others get symptoms simply through ingestion. Here are some foods that often contain oats:
Granola and granola bars.
Porridge.
Oatmeal.
Oatmeal bath.
Oatmeal lotion.
Muesli.
Oatmeal cookies.
Beer.
Oatcake.
Oat milk.
Horse feed containing oat, such as oat hay.
Oat allergy testing
Basic Allergy Test.
Once you realise that you may have oat allergy symptoms, you need to see a doctor, especially if it’s your child with the issue. The doctor will check for any underlying illnesses causing the symptoms. If none are found, then you may be suffering from an oat allergy. However, food allergies are hard to pin down since we consume so many potential allergens daily in our meals.
To narrow down what could be causing your symptoms, you can take a home-to-lab Allergy Test. This allergy test will use your sample to check for the most common allergens in your food, drinks, and environment. After a week, you’ll receive an email with your results clearly stating foods or allergens in your environment that you should avoid if you don’t want to suffer from allergy symptoms. If you’re also unsure whether you’re suffering from an oat intolerance rather than an allergy, our Intolerance Test analyses your sample against oat.
How to manage oat allergy
The easiest way to manage oat allergies is by avoiding foods that you think may contain oats. Even when picking grains at the grocery store, ensure that the package clearly states that they haven’t been processed in the same place as oats. Such information will help prevent accidents that could lead to oat allergy symptoms. You should also ensure wherever you’re dining, whether out or with a friend, that you tell them of your allergies to prevent these allergy reactions. If you have gluten intolerance and you’re reacting to oats, you might be having this reaction because of cross-contamination. You need to ensure that all your oats don’t contain any cross-contamination. If you’re unsure of what’s causing your uncomfortable symptoms, our recommendation is to take a simple home Complete Body Test, which looks for both allergies and intolerances.
References
Boussault, P., Léauté-Labrèze, C., Saubusse, E., Maurice-Tison, S., Perromat, M., Roul, S., Sarrat, A., Taïeb, A., & Boralevi, F. (2007). Oat sensitization in children with atopic dermatitis: prevalence, risks and associated factors. Allergy, 62(11), 1251–1256. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1398-9995.2007.01527.x
Adomaite, I., Vitkuviene, A., Petraitiene, S., & Rudzeviciene, O. (2020). Food allergens in skincare products marketed for children. Contact Dermatitis, 83(4), 271-276.
