Vitamin Information Center

If you suffer from Gluten allergy then you will want to avoid wheat, rye, barley and oats as these all contain gluten. This substance is essential for baked foods such as bread because it helps the dough to bind. Many people suffer from gluten allergies, and the symptoms can be horrible. In this article we look at the symptoms of a gluten allergy, what causes these allergies and how a gluten allergy is treated. Foods such as rye, wheat, barley and certain oats consist of proteins, one of these proteins is known as glutenin, also known as gluten, if this is consumed by someone with a gluten allergy it can cause problems. Some people experience minor symptoms whilst others may suffer symptoms that could lead to death. Some of the common symptoms of gluten allergy include swelling, cramps, asthma, vomiting hives, nausea and swelling amongst other symptoms. If an individual suffers an allergic reaction after consuming a food that contains gluten, for example wheat, finding the cause of the allergy is a straight forward process. Basically this will involve a doctor conducting either a blood test or what is known as a skin prick test, the results of these tests will confirm whether or not the patient suffered an allergic reaction as a result of gluten allergy. As mentioned earlier some people have minor allergies to gluten, whilst others could potentially die as a result of a gluten allergy. The method of treatment depends on how the gluten allergy affects the individual. For example, if a person suffers from minor symptoms during an allergic reaction, they may be advised to only eat small amounts of wheat as this may stop allergic reactions in future. This individual may also be given medication such as an allergy shot. However if an individual suffers from major symptoms during an allergic reaction, they are usually advised not to consume products that contain gluten full stop. If a child suffers from minor symptoms after consuming gluten, it is not a big deal as children have a tendency to grow out of allergies. A condition that is often wrongly called a gluten allergy is Coeliac Disease, this is a disorder that can be inherited, and it has terrible effect on the immune system. If an individual with Coeliac Disease consumes gluten, the lining of the small intestine gets damaged. As a result the small intestine loses its ability to absorb nutrients and vitamins effectively. The way the body reacts to this hereditary disorder differs for children and adults, for children the symptoms can be anything from poor appetite to stunted growth. In adults the symptoms include weight loss, diarrhea and constipation amongst others. If you suffer from any of the above gluten allergies you are strongly advised o seek medical advice, a doctor will properly diagnose your condition and will inform you whether or not you need to eliminate gluten from the diet.

Are you popping too many pills along with Alesse and INCREASING your risk of getting pregnant? Find out by checking if you are taking any of these medications and possibly reducing the effectiveness of your oral contraceptive pill.

Alesse is a combined oral contraceptive pill that is very effective in preventing pregnancy when taken correctly. However, did you know that certain other drugs, when taken alongside Alesse, can reduce this effectiveness and possibly increase your risk of getting pregnant? Alesse contains ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel which may react with any of the drugs listed below so please carefully check the package list of ‘active ingredients’ on ANY medications you are taking alongside Alesse.

NB. This includes herbal products, vitamins and minerals, over the counter medications such as pain killers, sleeping pills and other prescriptions you have filled. Check with your doctor if you use illegal drugs as well as Alesse and if you are a heavy drinker of alcohol or smoke to excess.

acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ascorbic acid (vitamin C) •anastrozole •antibiotics or medicines for infections, especially rifampin •aprepitant •barbiturate medicines for producing sleep or treating seizures (convulsions)secobarbital (Seconal), or phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton) •bosentan •carbamazepine (Tegretol) •caffeine •clofibrate •cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune, Gengraf) •dantrolene •doxercalciferol •exemestane •grapefruit juice •hydrocortisone •letrozole •medicines for anxiety or sleeping problems, such as diazepam or temazepam •medicines for mental depression •medicines for diabetes, including troglitazone and pioglitazone •mineral oil •modafinil •mycophenolate •nefazodone •oxcarbazepine phenylbutazone (Azolid, Butazolidin) •phenytoin (Dilantin) •prednisolone (Orapred) primidone (Mysoline) rifampin •ritonavir (Norvir)or other medicines for the treatment of the HIV virus or AIDS such as modafinil (Provigil) •selegiline •soy isoflavones supplements •St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) •tamoxifen or raloxifene •testolactone •theophylline (Respbid, Theo-Dur) •topiramate (Topamax) •warfarin

………..and possibly certain antibiotics (such as ampicillin and other penicillins and tetracyclines)

WARNING: Do not share Alesse with anyone else and keep the pack of oral contraceptive pills out of the reach of children. Do not use Alesse or any other medication after the expiry date on the pack. Sources: Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Inc.Philadelphia, DrugDigest, Drugs.com The above information is intended as a guide only and should not be substituted for the professional expertise and advice from your doctor or pharmacist.

Everyone gets sick sooner or later. Even though you can’t entirely stop a cold you can prevent it from getting stronger and lasting longer. I would like to share with you today a few things you can do to over come your common colds.

When you get sick it is a virus that has entered your body. You have what I like to call helper cells that multiply to fight the illness that is upon you. The thing is your cells create new cells every time a new virus enters your body. A certain cell is created specifically for the virus that is affecting you at the time. Once your cells have defeated the virus you will never get sick from that same virus again because you have those cells in your body ready to fight before it affects you. There are many different forms of every virus so although it may seem like your getting the flu for the 50th time it’s actually the flu but a different type than the other 50.

Things you can do to over come these colds are simple but very effective. You can get a shot which is pretty much like planting those helper cells in you so they are there to fight instead of waiting till your sick to form and fight. This way is the most effective when it comes to fighting the common colds.

Another way you can prevent the common cold is to make sure you get a lot of vitamins everyday. I know people that have been taking vitamins all there life and they are never sick. Now I’m not saying you won’t get sick, I’m just saying this will help. Vitamins help strengthen your immune system which is like your army for the war against the cold.

A few other things that can be done are what most people do; go get the cold medicine at the local pharmacy or store. The pharmacies are always getting the newest kinds of medicine for all types of aches and pains but sometimes can be very expensive. The other things you can do are eating healthy and take care of your body. Make sure you brush your teeth at least two times a day and take showers everyday. It is also good to have some sort of yearly check ups with your family doctor. If you have been keeping a good hygiene and taking good care of yourself you will be fine.

Not all pregnancy tips that you get from friends and family members should be taken seriously. Many of these are simply old wives’ tales or are told to you just to make you feel anxious about your pregnancy. By reading literature on your delicate situation, you will learn to weed out the good pregnancy tips from the bad ones. Continue Reading…

If you are one of the individuals who suffer from gluten allergy you will need to avoid certain foods, particularly wheat, rye, barley and oats. These foods contain gluten in which is the allergen responsible for a gluten allergy sufferer. The problem with this substance is that it is a key component in baked foods such as bread, in fact it is responsible for giving dough its binding properties. In this article we take a closer look at gluten allergy. Continue Reading…

Nails have a pretty indispensable function to play as far as our health is concerned. They reveal you a lot regarding your interior health and vigor. You can reveal so much regarding a person’s health just by viewing at his/her nails. Please earlier to making any conclusions regarding your health by reading this article do consult your doctor. This article is just for your info and kindly do not adopt this knowledge for self identification.

The initial purpose of nails is to conserve our nerves in our fingertips and toenails conserve from splinter or any injury. Nail is a part of our skin and has no blood in it; it sheds off periodically and is made of a protein identified as Keratin. We can differentiate the appearance of nails into three categories:

The color, the shape and the texture of nails

Watch for The Nail Colors: The customary color of nails is light pinkish. It can be slightly darker in some people but it’s also quite fine. But if this color changes to yellow this is the sign of internal sickness like, respiratory or liver troubles. A greenish nail color can be a sign of infection, either in the nail bed or in our system. Discolored nails are the indication of diabetes, pressure, allergies and simple illness. Bluish nails or bluish nail beds warn against lung diseases such as emphysema or even asthma. A simple dark blue streak in the nail can suggest skin cancer. And if there are any tiny black streaks they pinpoint heart trouble. Reddish brown spots display the scarcity of folic acid and vitamin C or protein.
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Dandruff is a problem that not only affects your looks but can also result in dry hair and weaken it. Severe dandruff sometimes can play havoc with your confidence levels. It is difficult to manage dandruff as it has the weird habit of showing and falling on your clothes. It shines brightly and stands out on dark shirts and jackets. Dandruff becomes more of problem for those who have dark hair. Dandruff is less visible in light hair since it the color masks the presence of the dry flakes. But those with dark hair need to grapple with this problem, day in and day out. Some times dandruff becomes so serious that it forms scales and causes itching. Scratching can lead to flakes that fall all over your shoulders and can cause a lot of embarrassment. It can also causes small rashes to appear on your forehead, increasing the agony that one goes through. Continue Reading…

Here are 10 tips for women to stay fit and healthy: 1. Staying fit and healthy starts with a balanced diet. Know and monitor the right weight for your age. Consult your doctor to learn what food you should avoid and follow your eating discipline routines. If you are trying to lose some weight, foods with high calories should be omitted from your meals. Food with high fiber and low fat should be included a priority in your grocery list instead of red meat, sugars and fats. Continue Reading…

What is fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue?

Fortunately, the medical community now recognizes these disorders as real. Although, it was not long ago that doctors thought the symptoms were made up, or just part of the patient’s imagination. Continue Reading…

Mood can be defined as a state of mind or a feeling. We will all experience low moods, or be down in the dumps from time to time and this is a normal part of the human condition. Our moods are not static; they can be affected by many factors including diet, environmental and biological influences and even our lifestyle. So is there anything we can do to boost our mood and lift our spirits naturally? Continue Reading…