There is also still time to get your Halloween T-shirt or tote bag from the (Cafe Press) FeingoldShop. See them all

MEDICAL:

Celiac, The Tricky Disease

Celiac Disease (CD) is a disorder in the digestion of wheat protein that has been with us ever since the dawn of agriculture, yet its cause was not discovered until after World War II, when a shortage of bread caused a dramatic improvement in the condition of people who had been suffering from this “chronic indigestion.” At last – after thousands of years of suffering, illness and death - the cause and the cure were both identified.

Today, doctors realize that many more people have CD than they thought. In fact, 99% of them are not diagnosed. They may not have the abdominal distress, which is the symptom that usually leads to consideration of CD. Instead, CD can mimic other disorders. In a recent campaign, the National Institutes of Health urged doctors of all specialties to watch for celiac disease by looking beyond the outdated textbook symptoms of CD (stomach pain, bloating, weight loss and diarrhea) and be aware of symptoms including mouth sores, anemia, constipation, migraines, ADHD, fatigue, yellow teeth, short stature, depression, obesity, seizures, skin rashes and joint pain, or numbness in the hands and feet.

See two excellent articles on the subject: "Surprises from Celiac Disease" by Alessio Fasano and "Gluten for Punishment" by Dia Darcey



Concerta

Some people on the Feingold Program use a combination of diet and medication. One of the more common drugs for ADHD is Concerta. The good news is that the sources of the coloring for the various dosages are "uncertified" colors - colors which are acceptable on the Feingold diet.

But the bad news is that the formulation includes BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene), a petroleum-based preservative that we exclude.

While a compounding pharmacist cannot make the specialized delivery system Concerta uses for its once-a-day dosing, they can make dye-free and preservative-free versions of methyhlphenidate. You should be able to locate such a pharmacist through the web site of the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists. Alternatively, you could ask your physician for a different medication, such as Methylin or Methylin ER (extended release). This is a brand of methylphenidate without artificial colorings or preservatives.

If you are new to the Program, or just considering the Program but are already using Concerta, I would encourage you to begin using the Feingold Diet even while on the Concerta. Some families find that they can combine the two and still have positive results. Of course, there is no way to predict this, but getting rid of as many of the harmful additives as you can is a good idea for anyone, and it's possible that you will see a good response.

FOOD:

New ad campaign to tackle 'viral urban myths' about HFCS

Note that although not even introduced until the mid-1970s, by 2005 corn syrup was consumed at the same level as sugar in the US. In the UK, today, however, corn syrup is not used and sodas are made with sugar.

The Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) has launched a new advertising campaign in an effort to dispel consumer misconceptions about high fructose corn syrup (HFCS)

So who is the CCF anyway? A nonprofit group dedicated to "defending the rights of adults to eat what they want" according to Wikipedia. They are funded by the food and restaurant industry, and were first organized in 1995 by the Philip Morris Tobacco Company which owns many of the major U.S. food companies. What? You're not surprised?

See their article anyway.

A proposed marketing program, called "Smart Choices," is a front- of-the-package nutrition-labeling program designed in theory to help shoppers make smarter food choices.

But as the New York Times exposed recently, the selections are not necessarily healthy. For example, Froot Loops was chosen because "it's better for you than donuts."

Despite the program's dubious standards, it maintained the appearance of legitimacy because researchers associated with the American Diabetes Association and the American Dietetic Association and two universities were on its board.

When thousands of Change.org members sent letters to the presidents of these major institutions urging them to remove their name from the program, three of them did so. Thus, they publicly embarrassed and discredited the program. A doctor from Baylor university apparently still has his name listed as supporting this program. The petition is still active, and if you would like to participate go here.

Congratulations to all of you who might also be members of Change.org!



Crafty Doings at Kraft

In 2008, Kraft removed artificial colorings, like yellow #5, and chemical sweeteners, like aspartame, from the products that they distribute in Britain and Europe, due to consumer concern over scientific studies that link these synthetic ingredients to hyperactivity and asthma in children. But they haven’t done the same thing here in the U.S.

Send a letter to Kraft requesting they remove these same ingredients from their products here. It's time that Kraft value our children as highly as they value the children in other countries!

Here's the link to the suggested letter and easy form, provided by MomsRising.org

The holidays are coming, and along with them will be the many meals with family. Feingold moms share their suggestions for making it a healthy and happy one.

Can a natural salicylate cause someone to have irrational fears? One member describes how otherwise healthy foods brought on troubling episodes.

Why do some parents of ADHD children have trouble changing their diet? The answer may be the the genetic link.

Food additives can be linked to OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder). This article explains why.

Avoid getting the flu this winter!

"Small bladder syndrome"? Maybe there's another answer.