Did you know food allergies could affect your weight?

Are you doing all of the right things...eating well, exercising, controlling stress, etc...yet cannot lose weight? Do you feel tired, bloated, achy, or get headaches? Food allergies/sensitivity may be to blame.

We are not talking anaphylactic allergies, those you know such as peanut or shellfish allergies, that send you to the hospital and are extremely dangerous. We are talking about non-life threatening food allergies or sensitivities to certain foods.

Food allergies cause damage to the gut which can lead to leaky gut and overproduction of unhealthy gut bacteria. Leaky gut releases toxins and exposes food particles to the immune system triggering an immune response, ending in systemic inflammation. Systemic inflammation causes hormone imbalances and  insulin resistance. Since insulin is a fat-storage hormone, when more insulin is released, there is more fat storage overall, especially around the abdomen and midsection. Chronic inflammation also causes stress on the body which releases cortisol. Excess cortisol is also linked to l fat storage around the mid-section.

Eliminating any IgG sensitive foods from the diet may help control weight by decreasing the immune response and inflammation throughout the body. By eliminating food allergens, your body will no longer be in a continued state of inflammation and triggering the immune system. In turn, this will make you feel better overall with less stomach discomfort, more energy, and decreased achiness or headaches. In addition, it is possible that you may lose some weight as your body balances out!

If you want to know more about food allergy testing, reach out to us at Hover Chiropractic, 630.832.4476 for a consult.

Alletess finger prick test - 96 allergens

Alletess finger prick test - 184 allergens

Is Cow's Milk Really Necessary?

Due to the recent events at Fair Oaks Farms in Indiana, I figured it would be a good opportunity to discuss the lack of necessity of cow's milk in one's diet.

Yes, cow's milk does provide protein, calcium, and vitamin D. However, it is also high in sugar, fat, calories and is pumped full of antibiotics and hormones. Cows only lactate when they are pregnant, therefore mother cows are kept nearly constantly pregnant in order to continue to produce milk. They are also injected with additional hormones to help them continue to produce more milk than they would be able to naturally. In addition, since these cows are continuously milked, they tend to get infections often which leads to pus in the milk. According to the USDA 1 in 6 cows become infected, which leads to greater than 90% of their somatic cells being neutrophils which form pus. THE AVERAGE SOMATIC CELL COUNT IN U.S. MILK is 1,120,000 per cup. If that's not enough to turn you off, I don't know what is! Repulsive thought #2, do you really want to drink another animal's breast milk?!

Now let's talk alternatives, as there are healthier alternatives to cow's milk. Cow's milk is not the best nor only source of calcium, protein and vitamin D, it is simply one source of them. If you eat meat or a protein based, plant diet, rich in beans, nuts, and healthy grains you need not worry about protein. If you eat other dairy items (yogurt, cheese, etc), beans, nuts/seeds, leafy greens and beans, then you are getting enough calcium as well. And aside from 20 minutes of sunlight daily, vitamin D can be found in many fatty fishes, egg yolks and cheese. Almond milk is low in protein but is usually fortified with calcium and vitamin D. It is also lower in calories, fat and sugar (assuming you stick with the unsweetened versions or make your own). Soy milk has more protein and is typically fortified with calcium and vitamin D as well. However, too much soy can be a concern for some people especially since majority of soy comes from modified plants.

My personal recommendation is to stick with unsweetened almond milk and be sure to get protein from other sources. Also taking a multivitamin will help with any concerns about lacking vitamins.

What's in your sunscreen?

Summer is finally here! But that means sun, sunburn, and sunscreen! We all know how important sunscreen is, but do we all know just how dangerous it could be as well?

Store-bought sunscreens contain some of the most toxic ingredients we can apply to our bodies. And the worst part is that sunscreen is typically slathered on, over the entire body. The FDA raised concerns about the dangers of oxybenzone, its potential to affect hormone levels and the increased absorption susceptibility of children (FDA 2019). Lab studies have shown that some chemical UV filters may mimic hormones. Oxybenzone is a known endocrine disruptor that messes with human sex or thyroid hormones. Oxybenzone was detected in roughly 96% of Americans. That means that 96% of Americans have an endocrine disruptor, that could affect their reproductive and/or thyroid hormones, lurking on their skin. Higher oxybenzone measurements were correlated with significantly lower total testosterone levels in  males. (https://www.ewg.org/sunscreen/report/the-trouble-with-sunscreen-chemicals/).

Luckily, there are a few reputable brands that make reliable and safer sunscreens. Beauty Counter, Garden Goddess, ThinkBaby and Badger are all mineral-based and do not contain unnecessary, harmful ingredients. Do some research into the products you are using, you might be surprised just how unhealthy most everyday products can be, with very little regulation protecting your safety.