Blisstree » food-allergies http://www.blisstree.com Family, Health, Home and Lifestyles Wed, 23 Dec 2009 02:48:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 Probiotic and Anti-Allergenic Properties of Kefir http://www.blisstree.com/articles/probiotic-and-anti-allergenic-properties-of-kefir-116/ http://www.blisstree.com/articles/probiotic-and-anti-allergenic-properties-of-kefir-116/#comments Mon, 16 Oct 2006 13:59:07 +0000 ruth http://www.eatingfabulous.com/probiotic-and-anti-allergenic-properties-of-kefir/ Post from: Blisstree

Probiotic and Anti-Allergenic Properties of Kefir

]]> Lifeway Kefir Plain Yogurt Drink, 32 fl ozAlthough I live in Europe, I have never tasted kefir, which is supposed to have originated from these parts. Kefir is a fermented milk product, like yoghurt, and results from the labor of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts. The most commonly used strains are Lactobacillus acidophilus and Saccharomyces kefir, although the exact combination of bacteria and yeasts may vary between.

And like yoghurt, kefir seems to have probiotic effects, enhancing the populations of beneficial bacteria in the gut, and inhibit the growth of potentially harmful bacteria. According to a new study on mice, milk kefir and soymilk kefir significantly increased the fecal populations of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli, while it significantly decreased those of Clostridium perfringens.

Additionally, data suggest that kefir may also help prevent food allergies, by inhibiting the allergen specific antibody Immunoglobulin E (IgE), which is responsible for the release of histamine, a chemical which stimulates allergic responses, such as inflammation and constriction of airways.

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Probiotic and Anti-Allergenic Properties of Kefir

]]> http://www.blisstree.com/articles/probiotic-and-anti-allergenic-properties-of-kefir-116/feed/ 1 Genetically Modified Foods and Allergies http://www.blisstree.com/articles/gm-foods-and-allergies-116/ http://www.blisstree.com/articles/gm-foods-and-allergies-116/#comments Fri, 06 Oct 2006 21:18:58 +0000 ruth http://www.eatingfabulous.com/gm-foods-and-allergies/ Post from: Blisstree

Genetically Modified Foods and Allergies

]]> FoodFood crops are being genetically modified usually to come up with more robust -and therefore more productive and profitable- varieties or to improve its nutritional content. Take for example my previous post on tomatoes with enhanced flavonol content.

Those who oppose the use of genetically modified crops, however, are concerned that such food may cause food allergic reactions as they are made to produce snippets of “foreign protein” (GeneticsandHealth has several entries discussing the nitty-gritty of genetically modified food here, here, and here).

As I’ve written in the Allergizer, the Michigan State University has received a $447,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to validate a procedure using animal models to test for the allergenic potentials of genetically engineered crops.

Should this test prove successful, this could be a step in increasing the public acceptance of genetically modified foods.

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Genetically Modified Foods and Allergies

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