It is no secret that obesity has reached epidemic proportions not only in the USA but other countries as well. And what is more disturbing is that childhood obesity is also on the rise. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2007 an estimated 22 million children under five were thought to be overweight worldwide. Such children are more likely to also be overweight as adults, and to develop a host of health problems—from cardiovascular disease and diabetes to various sorts of cancer (Reprod Toxicol, 2007; 23: 290–6). Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by Peg Smith | Posted in Allergies, Mental Health | Posted on 22-03-2010
It’s amazing the number of cases of ‘mental illness’ that have a nutritional basis. The latest example of this to catch our eye is the likelihood that celiac disease, an allergic reaction to gluten, can cause schizophrenia.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore followed up earlier studies that found that acereal-free diet helped remission levels among schizophrenic patients.
They tested the theory on a group of 7,997 patients who were admitted to a Danish psychiatric unit for schizophrenia.
Even before beginning their tests, they found that four patients, five mothers of patients and three fathers of patients were already being treated for celiac disease. They also tested for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, which have been linked to schizophrenia.
They discovered that those suffering from celiac disease were over three times more likely to suffer schizophrenia than someone who didn’t have the disease, while the risk associated with Crohn’s is lower at 1.4 times, and lower still for ulcerative colitis.
(Source: British Medical Journal, 2004; 328: 438-9).
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