Monthly Archive for March, 2009

Do I have a Gluten (Wheat) Intolerance?

What is a gluten-wheat intolerance?

Gluten is the general name for the storage of proteins found in wheat, oats, rye, and barley. It is the substance that gives the rubber, elastic texture in bread.  It helps glue the bread and cakes together so they don’t crumble.

What are the possible symptoms of a gluten-wheat intolerance?

More commonly, symptoms that can be the result of food intolerances (allergy type 3) include:
* bloating and gas
* abdominal pain
* constipation
* indigestion
* stomach cramps
* fatigue or
* unexplained headaches

When you have wheat or gluten intolerance, your immune system is hypersensitive to one of the proteins in wheat or gluten so your system reacts against the protein.

The symptoms of wheat-gluten allergy are not the same for everyone; they vary between individuals and can begin a few minutes after eating a wheat-gluten product, or it can take several hours for symptoms to appear.

The most common factor and most recognizable symptom among patients is there is an impaired ability to digest wheat or gluten products that can lead to gastro-intestinal, dermatologic, or respiratory symptoms.

What is coeliac disease - how is it different to a gluten-wheat intolerance?

Conventionally trained doctors only recognise coeliac disease, the most serious type. Coeliac disease is an autoimmune-type reaction in which the body reacts so strongly to gluten that it causes malabsorption of nutrients. It is possible to experience Coeliac Disease symptoms but test negative for Coeliac Disease.

How can I find out if I have a gluten-wheat intolerance?

When we continually eat the same types of food eg. wheat or gluten products, our body can build up a resistance and when it reaches a threshold the result is in the form of physical symptoms such as those described above.

To find out if you have a gluten-wheat intolerance please Contact Us to discuss your food intolerance and allergy testing options & prices.

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GP impressed by comprehensive nature of Imupro Test

I was delighted to receive my results from Imupro recently. I was very impressed by the comprehensive nature of the analysis. As a practicing G.P. ordering pathology tests all the time, one expects a brief set of figures with very little in the way of discussion. This is not the case however with Imupro.

The food intolerance chart is incredibly detailed, covering some 271 separate items.  Reading it is not a daunting task, in fact it is very “user friendly”.  The format is set out in an easy to read style.  The food items are subdivided into related groups.  The severity of the reaction is colour-coded enabling one to skip sections and home in on the significant items.  This style enables the patient to grasp quickly the fundamental points during the consultation thereby making the limited time more productive.

Equally as impressive are the follow-through booklets which accompany the results.  One booklet is devoted entirely to a discussion of each of the food and additives tested, where they originate and more particularly, where they could be hidden.  This section appears written for the novice (like me) and broadens one’s understanding of the nature of the food we all consume…

To read Dr N.J. Barkers testimonial further, follow this link…

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