Fibromyalgia and a Diet That Is Gluten Free

If you are suffering from fibromyalgia, you likely have a variety of symptoms that can include wide spread pain, muscle soreness, low energy, difficulty concentrating, digestive problems and more. You may be seeking a variety of treatments and strategies to help alleviate these problems. As diet can play a big part in controlling your symptoms, you may be wondering if you should give up gluten as part of your fibromyalgia diet.

Currently, there is no cure for fibromyalgia, and there is no known cause for it. Experts are often baffled by this mysterious syndrome that seems to have a strong genetic and gender component. There is no definitive test for this illness, but rather a serious of tests to eliminate other conditions. But if you are one of the millions of people in this country that suffer from fibromyalgia, you know that it is a very real problem with very real effects on your life.

Because there is no known cure, fibromyalgia treatment consists of piecing together a variety of strategies that address each individual's symptoms. These may include prescription medication, exercise, relaxation techniques and diet. Many people have sensitivity to gluten which can lead to digestive discomfort and other reactions. Your physician or dietician may advise you to try a gluten free diet to determine if this is the best course of action for you.

What is Gluten?

Gluten is a protein found in grains such as wheat, rye and barley. It is very common in foods consumed in a western diet. Gluten can typically be found in anything that contains these grains, for example breads, cereals, pasta, pizza dough and more. Any food that contains wheat flour contains gluten. If you are allergic or sensitive to gluten, a gluten free diet can help alleviate many problems such as itchy skin, digestive problems, headaches and more. Even if you are not fully allergic, cutting out grains for a time can give your body a break from digesting this tough protein. Typically, a gluten free diet is a very low carbohydrate diet, so you may find that if nothing else, you lose weight during this time.

How to switch to a gluten free diet

Because of the prevalence of wheat in western food, switching to a gluten free diet may seem a daunting task, but consider the potential benefits. If you rely heavily on foods such as bread, pasta and cereal, you may think that going gluten free is impossible. Start by substituting alternative foods such as oats, rice and other grains like quinoa. You will need to read packaging carefully as wheat may be known by names such as durum or semolina.

Make a list of foods that you love already that are gluten free and concentrate on adding more of these to your diet. Increase your consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables by adding more salads and steamed veggies to your menu. Purchase meats such as grass fed beef or vegetarian fed chicken and eggs for the best results.

A great source of fresh produce is your local farmers market, where you can get seasonal fruits and vegetables that are often organic or chemical free. Buying in-season produce is often much cheaper as well.

A visit to your local health food store will reveal a whole host of gluten free alternatives and substitute products. Pasta made from rice, bread made with tapioca and potato starch flour and cereals that use oats can help you make the transition. Because this diet has greatly increased in popularity over the past few years, the staff will likely have good advice and recommendations to help you.

Make a commitment

One great strategy when making a major dietary change of any type is to enlist the help of friends and family. Rather than thinking about all the things you can't eat, come up with ideas for foods that you can. Ask your kids, spouse and friends to support you in trying new recipes and foods. Make it a fun challenge.

The benefits that you can receive from becoming gluten free as part of your diet can help greatly to alleviate some the fibromyalgia symptoms that you are experiencing as part of your condition. While this approach may not work for all people, isn't worth the time and effort to try it to see what benefits you can receive?

All About Nutmeg Oil!

Nutmeg oil is a volatile essential oil.  It's produced by steam distillation from fresh, dried, ground nutmeg seeds.  It has a colorless to light yellow tint, with a sharp, spicy, woody, aroma and a thin consistency.  It's used as flavoring for foods, in cosmetics,  pharmaceuticals, soaps, lotions, creams, candles, perfumes, hair dyes, toothpaste, mouthwash, as incense and more!  Nutmeg has a variety of healthful benefits for the body, inside and out!

The Myristica fragrans is an evergreen tree that grows tropical fruit.  Inside this fruit is an egg shaped seed,  nutmeg, with a dried reddish covering called mace.   This tree is harvested seven to nine years after planting.  It's native to the Mollucca Islands of Indonesia but, also,  grown in Malaysia, the Caribbean, (especially in Grenada), and southern India.  Nutmeg is usually used in ground, powdered or grated form.  Nutmeg oil is often used as its replacement.

 

HEALTH BENEFITS & USES

Nutmeg can relieve:  constipation, bloating, stomach aches (caused by excess gas), fatigue, nausea, neuralgia, poor circulation, rheumatism, arthritis,  sore muscles, inflammation, toothaches, gum problems, coughs and slow digestion. 

It stimulates and invigorates the mind, allowing recovery from fainting spells.  It helps to boost concentration. It has aromatherapy benefits.  Blends with nutmeg oil induce a warm spice of inspiration and incense sticks have a woody fragrance.  Nutmeg can be effective against anxiety or depression.  Use nutmeg blends as a room freshener.

Nutmeg has antioxidants benefits!  Toxins can build up, overtime, within the body from diet, stress, pollutants, medications and other external causes.  Nutmeg helps clean the liver and kidney of toxins.  It helps prevent and dissolve kidney stones.  

Chickenpox - Getting The Facts Right

Chickenpox is a common illness, caused by the varicella-zoster virus, that causes an itchy rash and red spots/blisters (pox) all over the body. It is most common in children, but one can get chickenpox later on in life if one has not had the chickenpox vaccine.

Chickenpox is generally a mild, self-limiting disease in healthy children but it can cause problems for pregnant women, newborns, adults, and people who have lowered immunity.

What Causes it?

The Varicella-zoster virus

What is the Incubation Period?

10 - 21 days

For How Long is one Infectious?

Chickenpox is highly infectious for 1-2 days prior to the onset of rash, up until 5-7 days after the appearance of the vesicles until scabbing occurs.

How is it Transmitted?

Chickenpox is highly contagious. It is spread mainly via the airborne route (through respiratory secretions from coughing or sneezing), but may also be transmitted via direct contact with the fluid from vesicles.

What are the Clinical Features?

Chickenpox often begins with a fever, body aches, headache and general feeling of lethargy. Other symptoms may include fatigue and a loss of appetite. The typical rash of chickenpox usually appears 1 to 2 days later. The fever usually abates once the rash has completely appeared. Occasionally, there may be the appearance of rash without any of the usual preceding symptoms.

The chickenpox rash goes through several stages. It generally begins as a reddish bump or blister, then it bursts, dries up and crusts over. Groups of new lesions appear in crops over 4 to 7 days. In general, the scalp, face, limbs and trunk tend to develop the rash, whilst sparing the palms and soles. Occasionally, there may be involvement of the oral mucosa and conjunctiva (outer covering of the eye).

What are the Possible Complications?

1. Bacterial skin infections - secondary bacterial infection of the vesicles/rash may occur, and if it develops, antibiotics is usually required

2. Encephalitis - inflammation of the brain causing acute cerebella ataxia (mainly in children) and diffuse encephalitis (mainly in adults)

3. Pneumonia - occurs more commonly in adults (about 1:400 cases)

4. Hepatitis - this generally occurs in those who are immunocompromised

5. Reye syndrome - occurs in children with aspirin use

6. Infection in pregnancy:

(i) Infection with the chickenpox virus in early pregnancy (8 - 20 weeks) carries a 2% risk of congenital malformation.

(ii) Infection in the later stages of pregnancy predisposes the infant to herpes zoster.

(iii) If the mother develops chickenpox within 5 days prior to delivery and within 48 hours post delivery, the newborn is predisposed to severe neonatal infection and the use of VZIG prophylaxis is indicated.

How is it Diagnosed?

Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and proceed to examine you. This is usually sufficient to make the diagnosis of chickenpox. In the very early stages, it may be difficult for your doctor to confirm the diagnosis, so you may be asked to return for review in 24 hours.

Very occasionally, should there be a need for more timely confirmation of diagnosis (eg. in a pregnant mother where the use of VZIG is being considered), or in atypical cases, viral antigen detection by immunofluorescence (IF) or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can be done from vesicular fluid or cell smears.

How is it Treated?

Most uncomplicated cases may be treated symptomatically with anti-pyretics (for fever/pain), and anti-histamines (for itch). Anti-virals (eg. acyclovir, famciclovir and valcyclovir) may be used to treat chicken pox, and in uncomplicated cases, they have been shown to cause shorter periods of new lesion formation, fewer lesions, and more rapid healing but only if started within 24 to 48 hours of the onset of the rash. Oral anti-virals is more strongly recommended for children with underlying skin disease such as eczema, newborns, adults, and in those who smoke, as these groups have a higher risk of complications from chickenpox infection. Intravenous acyclovir is used in those who are immunocompromised.

Infection Control and Prevention

Proper hygiene and isolation of infected individuals are key to preventing the spread of chickenpox. One can transmit the virus via respiratory droplets, or via direct contact with the lesions during the infective period (see above). Fortunately, the varicella virus is susceptible to disinfectants, desiccation and heat, so simple hygiene measures like washing with soap can kill the virus.

Vaccination:

Vaccination against the varicella virus can prevent one from contracting chickenpox, and it is recommended for those who are non-immune to chickenpox, especially in those who are at increased risk of contracting the disease (e.g. healthcare workers and those living in institutional settings).

Vaccine dosage regimes are as follows:

(i) For children (i.e. those < 13 years of age): 2 doses required. 1st dose at age 12-15 months, and 2nd dose at 4 - 6 years of age.

(ii) For adults and those > 13 years: 2 doses required 4 to 6 weeks apart.

As the chickenpox vaccine is a live attenuated viral vaccine, it should not be used in those who are severely immunocompromised or in pregnant women.

Post-exposure Prophylaxis

Varicella-zoster immune globulin (VZIG) provides maximum benefit when administered as soon as possible after exposure to the varicella virus. However, it may still be effective up to 96 hours after exposure.

VZIG may be considered in certain conditions eg. in newborns whose mothers had onset of chickenpox within 5 days before and 2 days after delivery.

Varicella vaccination may be effective in preventing illness or reducing severity if used within 3 days, and possibly up to 5 days of exposure.

Home Remedies for Candida - Treat This Problem Naturally

Candida or candidiasis is the overgrowth of yeast called candida albicans in the body. This yeast can form in the moist folds of the body like the mouth, vagina etc. Candida results mainly due to unhealthy diet patterns, which means a diet low in nutrition, or a lifestyle revolving around excessive use of antibiotics.

One can begin to sense the symptoms of candida, when one experiences a sore throat, and pain while swallowing food or saliva, and a coating of soreness on the inner cheeks and tongue.

The symptoms for candida in the vagina are constant itching, pain while passing urine or during intercourse, and a slight burning sensation in the vagina. Sometimes itching under the breasts could also mean candida.

Worse still is the systemic candida, which kills the good bacteria in the body. The microorganisms overgrow and travel to penetrate different parts of the body, which results in sinus, respiratory problems, fatigue and frequent headache and migraine.

Candida is curable and there are many home remedies for candida to check and cure it. The simplest of home remedies for candida is making alterations in one's diet. Unhealthy foods like those containing yeast and starch must be discontinued immediately. Dairy products and foods containing sugar should be avoided as much as possible.

Gargling is also one of the most convenient and inexpensive home remedies for candida. By mixing a few drops of tea tree oil in warm water and gargling the mouth thoroughly with it, one is sure to get relief on the tongue and the inner cheeks.

Grapefruit seed extract is an excellent candida cure too. This is used in combination with anti-Candida diet, and can be consumed in the liquid form or in the form of capsules.

Tea tree oil also helps in the treatment of vaginal yeast infection. A few drops of this oil can be applied onto a tampon or gauge bandage and left in the vagina for few hours. This should be changed 3-4 times a day for effective results.

Yogurt contains live lactobacillus acidophilus, which is good bacteria and can be consumed to keep the candida albicans away. A tampon or gauge bandage can be dipped in it to insert the same in the vagina, and be changed 3-4 times a day for 2-3 days to experience relief.

Another one of the useful home remedies for candida could be douching to clean the vagina. A solution can be prepared by mixing 1-tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 1 garlic clove, and 2 cups of water, and letting it rest for a while. The vagina can then be douched with this.

One could further take precautions by not spraying any deodorants and perfumes near the vagina. Also, women should avoid nylon underwear, as it does not permit free inflow of air. Instead loose fitting cotton undergarments should be used.

In cases where there is no relief from home remedies for candida even after 2-3 days, or if the symptoms cannot be clearly understood, it is best to take medical advice without any delay or hesitation.