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Additives adding to your health problems? Recently, a study showed that monosodium benzoate can aggravate non-allergic rhinitis. The symptoms of rhinitis are similar to hay fever which can include chronic nasal congestion, runny nose, and sneezing. People with non-allergic rhinitis may develop symptoms in reaction to things like temperature changes, cigarette smoke or strong odors. The patients in the study did not test positive for food allergies, nor to items which commonly trigger allergic rhinitis: pollen, mold, and pet dander. However, a small percentage appeared to have intolerance to monosodium benzoate. Their symptoms were reduced or eliminated when on an additive-free diet and the symptoms returned when the additives were returned to their diet. Benzoates, specifically sodium benzoate, are of the most widely used food additives. Sodium benzoate is used as a preservative and to disguise the taste of poor-quality food. If you look at almost any fast food ingredient list, you are sure to find sodium benzoate. It is also located in a host of other foods including: jams, drinks, jellies, pickles, syrups, soft drinks, milk products, meat products, relish, baked goods, barbecue sauce, caviar, cheesecake mix, fruit pies, margarine, fruit juice, salad dressing, and oral medications such as Actifed, Phenergan, and Tylenol. This is not the first study to narrow in on sodium benzoate aggravating health disorders. Previous studies have been shown that sodium benzoate can aggravate symptoms in people with asthma and aspirin sensitivity. It is also one of various food additives which can cause behavior changes in children, even children with no history of hyperactivity. Behavior changes a parent should look for include difficulty concentrating, disruptive behavior towards others, restlessness, and temper tantrums. If you are trying to eliminate food additives and artificial colors from your diet and your family’s diet, look for sodium benzoate on your food labels. It’s in more products than you thought. This primarily means you should cut fast food, soda, and other processed foods from your diet. The researchers in the rhinitis study stated that in patients whose symptoms were not completely gone with an additive-free diet, the sodium benzoate was not a root cause of the problem. We see cases like these at Caring Medical. These are people who have been doing an additive-free diet, or another special diet, for a time, but are not feeling significant or total relief of their symptoms. If you fit into that category, you need a more specific program designed to get to the root cause of the problem and enhance your immune system. When you think of Spring, what do you think of? Think color! When you think of Spring, what do you think of? Think color! Eating a rainbow of nutrients is a great way to make sure you are getting the nutrition that you need from your food. Red, orange, deep yellow, purple, and dark green leafy vegetables and or fruits are great sources of carotenoids, particularly beta-carotene. These mighty plant pigments function as antioxidants, helping to protect your body against some forms of disease, including cancer and heart disease, two of the nation’s top killers of Americans. These foods will help strengthen your immune system and keep you healthy throughout the year. Spring is a time when things are changing. The crocuses are coming up in the yard, the tulips are beginning to peak through the dirt. Make a little change this spring. Choose spinach, red bell pepper, okra, leafy greens like kale, collard greens, and romaine lettuce, apricots, cantaloupes, mangos, and sweet potatoes to include in your diet at least once per day. An added benefit of including these foods in your diet is that they contain the necessary plant fiber that helps keep your bowels regular. Ingesting adequate fiber in the diet helps keep the waste moving through your GI tract. When people do not have regular bowel movements, they are at increased risk for colon cancer. None of us want that! As we have discussed before, all fruits and vegetables are not created equal in terms of preventing disease and providing good nutritional content. Unfortunately, many folks that we see at Caring Medical often choose relatively nutrient-poor foods, such as corn, potatoes, iceberg lettuce, and canned fruits and vegetables. Research suggests most of the disease-preventing benefit is found in food choices that are rich in vitamins, beta carotene and fiber, such as dark green and leafy vegetables, carrots, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower. In the March 2004 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, an article by Nanney and associates says that people often choose the wrong fruits and vegetables because they are misinformed about what they should eat or are, at best, confused. Nanney discusses the fact that The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Guide Pyramid provides only "general guidance" about diet, which recommends at least five servings of fruits and vegetables per day, and says little about which foods provide the most disease-fighting benefits and are the most beneficial. As stated earlier, thinking spring, means thinking color. When choosing your fruits and vegetables, you will get the most nutritional value in deep-colored fresh fruits and vegetables. Here are some examples of how to use color to choose your fruits and vegetables: White: Opt for cauliflower and fresh garlic over potatoes, onions or mushrooms. Green: Select dark lettuces, spinach, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts, which are healthier than iceberg lettuce, peas, and green beans. Yellow and Orange: Choose carrots, winter squashes, sweet potatoes, cantaloupe, oranges, and grapefruit more often than corn or bananas. Red: Consume tomatoes, red peppers, and strawberries instead of apples. Blues/Purples: Choose blueberries, blackberries, and beets instead of red onions. Think Spring – and think COLOR…for your health! MAGNESIUM DEFICIENCY IS RAMPANT Ross A. Hauser, M.D. I don’t know what it is but almost everyone we test is magnesium deficient. What is the most likely reason they are deficient? People are most likely deficient because the following deplete the body’s stores of magnesium: Alcohol, Caffeine, Coffee, Soda Drugs, especially water pills (diuretics) Smoking, Sugar and its cousins It is likely also that soil has become deficient of magnesium, therefore our food does not contain that much magnesium. What foods contain magnesium? Vegetables, especially green leafy ones/spinach Whole grains Nuts Chicken Fish (Salmon is best) Oatmeal What does Magnesium do in the body? Co-factor for many enzymes Helps produce energy Metabolism of sugars, starches, fats Production of immune cells Builds strong bones Healthy heart function Needed for good bowel movement Proper nervous system function What are the symptoms of magnesium deficiency? Fatigue PMS Cramps Anxiety Constipation Nausea Myalgias Night sweats Pain What can I do? There is a lot you can do! You could read a book, take a walk, buy some groceries, or watch T.V….oh, you meant what can you do for magnesium deficiency? Eat foods that contain magnesium, but even if you do that you should use supplements. I would also take Magnesium and Potassium (reacted). Magnesium is very important for proper body functioning. If your body isn’t what you ideally want, you should seriously consider supplementing magnesium. |
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