Leaky gut syndrome is relatively new in the medical world and is still not fully recognized by doctors, mostly because there is still so much unknown.

So what is this medical mystery? Leaky gut is loosely defined as an increase in gut permeability caused by damage to the intestinal lining. This makes it difficult for the intestines to protect their environment and filter nutrients and other biological substances. This can result in toxins and substances to leak out of the intestines and into the blood stream, causing an autoimmune reaction that can result in the following symptoms

• Gas
• Bloating
• Joint and muscle aches and pains
• Skin rashes
• Confusion

Unfortunately, most of these symptoms are also associated with other conditions, making leaky gut syndrome difficult to identify, adding to the medical mystery of the syndrome.

What could cause this medical mystery? It’s believed that a wide variety of causes could play a role in developing leaky gut syndrome.

These factors include: chronic inflammation, food sensitivities, taking large amounts of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), cytoxic drugs, trauma & burns, stress, radiation & chemotherapy, alcohol, Chron’s disease, type 1 & 2 diabetes, asthma, irritable bowel syndrome, obesity or antibiotics could all contribute to leaky gut syndrome.

What to do if you have been diagnosed or you suspect you may have leaky gut syndrome–

• Consume a diet based in whole foods with minimal food additives and high in anti-inflammatory foods (omega-3 fatty acids, fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, beans, avocados, nuts, tea, etc).
• Look out for food allergies or intolerances and avoid such foods
• Consider a gluten free diet (only after your doctor has ruled out celiac disease)
• Probiotics (**your dietitian may recommend additional supplements on a case to case basis)
• Control stress

 

Sources
www.drweil.com
Today’s Dietitian

Spring Cleaning for your Kitchen

The arrival of Spring brings warmer weather, blooming flowers, and pastel colors! Aside from enjoying the beautiful weather that Spring brings, most people take this time to do some Spring Cleaning- a deep clean our homes. This typically includes closets, bathrooms, bedrooms, offices, etc. Sometimes we forget to do the same in the kitchen. The pantry, refrigerator and freezer are three places that could use a good cleaning out this Spring as well.

Once you get in the kitchen, you may start wondering what to throw out and what to keep. It helps to have a good understanding of what exactly the dates on foods indicate (it’s not always what we think!).

“Sell by date”: tells the store how long to display the products for sale. The consumer should purchase the product before the date expires.

“Best if used by date”: this date indicates when to use the product by for the best flavor or quality. This is not a purchase by or safety date.

“Use-by” date: this is the date recommended for the use of the product while at peak quality and is determined by the manufacturer of the product.

**Use by date is the only date on food packages that pertains to home storage and use after purchase. Even these dates strictly indicate quality, not safety of the food. **

How do you know if food has spoiled and is unsafe to consume?

Foods that have spoiled from bacteria growth will have an off flavor or odor. If your food does not taste or smell like it should, you should not consume it is. This is your best indicator if a food is safe to eat.

Click here for guidelines on refrigerator and freezer storage guidelines.

Sources:

FDA.gov

Did you know…

• 20-40% of the food supply in the USA is wasted? That equals more than 20 pounds of food per person per month.
• Each day American throws out enough food to fill the Rose Bowl Stadium
• Specifically, American households throw out about 25% of the food and beverages that they buy (for an average family of 4, this equates to about $1,400 to $2,300 per year)

Ways to reduce food waste:

• Creating a grocery list. Impulse purchases at the store leading to bulk purchases
• Meal plan. Lack of meal planning and shopping lists, inaccurate estimates of meal preparation and impromptu restaurant meals can lead to food purchased spoiling before it is used
• Over preparing. Cooking meals that are larger than needed to feed your family can lead to leftovers that may not get eaten.
• Put new foods in the back of the refrigerator so that older foods get eaten first, before they expire
• Take home leftovers when eating out.
• Freeze leftovers if you think they will not get eaten before they go bad
• Use leftovers to make another meal. Get creative!

How to use leftovers/food before it goes bad:

• Stale bread: use stale bread to make French toast for breakfast or croutons for a salad at lunch or dinner!
• Cheese: use cheese that is about to go bad to make homemade macaroni & cheese (yum!) or a fondue for dipping with bread and vegetables.
• Chicken: use leftover chicken to make chicken salad, chicken enchiladas, soup, salad, or sandwiches.

Click for more information about reducing food wase: Feed People, Not Landfills

Sources:
Nrdc.org
Huffingtonpost.com
Homefoodsafety.org