Office Updates:
Our nest Strategies for Healthy Living will be on Monday, March 15th., at 6:30 pm. Come and find out what Dr. Jackie knows about living a healthy life.
During the week of April 19th, our hours are as follows:
Mon & Wed regular hours and Tuesday will be 3pm to 6 pm
Dr. Jackie has been invited to give a lecture at Kalmbach Memorial Park on Tuesday, March 9th.
You can register for the lecture by calling Kalmbach at 610-965-1140. Hope to see you there!
In health,
Dr. Jackie
The Case Against Casein
The purpose of food is to provide our body with the fuel it needs to do what we require in a day, however, so much of what we consume is pre-packaged and overly processed, leading to a lack of actual nutrition. One of the key factors in living a wellness lifestyle is making wiser dietary decisions; and eliminating casein from your diet may be something for you to consider.
What is Casein?
Casein is a protein found in milk and dairy products, but is also used as a binding agent in many other foods. Technically it is a phosphoprotein that accounts for nearly 80% of the proteins in cow's milk and cheese.
Why Eat Casein-Free?
Eating casein-free, when combined with a gluten-free diet, has reportedly had very positive results for those who have an autistic spectrum disorder, such as: autism, Asperger's syndrome, atypical autism and pervasive developmental disorder.
Additionally, many people that have assumed they are allergic to milk may actually be suffering from a casein allergy. The problem with a lack of awareness as to the true allergy is that casein is found in more than just dairy products. This "binding agent" has technical uses as well as edible and has been used in paints (including fingernail polish), other cosmetics and even glue (or industrial adhesives).
The Problem with Casein
Whether or not you or someone in your household battles with allergies, a digestive disorder or has an allergy to milk or dairy products, everyone in your home can benefit from eating casein free, or at least reducing their daily intake of dairy.
A clinical study by FitzGerald and Bundesanstalt, in 2000, determined that there is a "natural opiate" embedded in casein protein, which may lead to the comfort feeling after digestion and any cravings for chocolate and cheese that are unrelated to hunger.
Studies by Dr. Reichelt in Norway and Dr. Cade at the University of Florida, among others, found that urine samples from people with autism, PDD, celiac disease and schizophrenia contained high amounts of the casomorphin peptide. It has been suggested that the amounts of this peptide may also be elevated in other similar disorders such as chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia and depression based on the reported benefits of a gluten-free and casein-free diet.
The Problems With Milk
While casein is most certainly a concern, it's not the sole problem with milk. A large study led by Catherine S. Berkey of Harvard Medical School and Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston revealed that the con-sumption of milk may be contributing to the growing problem of childhood obesity.
Breast Surgery Chief of
California
's
Seton
Medical
Center
, Dr. Robert Kradjian, reviewed archives of medical and scientific journals and found that milk is
not the "perfect food" it is reported to be. He found that many childhood disorders were, if not induced, certainly aggravated by an increased intake of dairy products, including but not limited to: allergies, ear and tonsil infections, bedwetting, asthma, intestinal bleeding (lesions), colic and childhood diabetes.
The
American
Academy
of Pediatrics advises parents not to give their children dairy milk before their first birthday. Dr. Frank Oski, former Chief of Pediatrics at
Johns
Hopkins
University
Hospital
and the author of Don't Drink Your Milk, believes that milk should not be given to children to drink, ever. Since milk has been associated with iron deficiency anemia, occult gastrointestinal bleeding and various manifestations of food allergies, he believes it would be prudent to recommend that milk not be consumed at all.
Other Dairy Products
These problems with milk most certainly carry over into all dairy products, including butter, cheese, ice cream, yogurt, etc., and, in reality, are compounded by the process of creating these food items.
The process of making cheese removes the water, lactose and whey proteins resulting in the casein being concentrated, increasing the effect of the peptides being released during digestion.
What to Avoid
There are many foods that as matter of course contain casein and should be avoided, these include but are not limited to milk, cream and Half & Half, yogurt, butter and sour cream, cheese (even some soy brands), white or milk chocolate, ice cream, ice milk or sherbet, creamed soups or vegetables, soup bases, puddings, custard and whey.
Foods that may contain casein because it has been added as a "bonding agent" include but are not limited to:
Margarine
Dairy-free cheese
Tuna fish
Semi-sweet chocolate
Hot dogs, sausages and lunch meats
Other Choices
The benefits of a casein free diet are not new and have been being studied and considered for over a decade. As such, many alternatives are available now, these include rice, soy or almond based milks, Pareve creams and creamers, mocha mix, Tofutti brand products, sorbet and Italian ices, soy ice cream (but not all flavors), Soymage cheese, coconut butter, Imagine brand soups and coconut milk.
Learn to substitute when necessary. When a recipe calls for 1 cup of milk replace it with 1 cup of soy, rice or coconut milk or 1 cup of water mixed with 1 egg yolk. If a recipe calls for a cup of yogurt consider the following substitutions: 1 cup of soy yogurt or soy sour cream, 1 cup
Concerned About Calcium
When making a decision to eliminate dairy many parents are concerned about calcium. According to researchers from
Washington
University
in
St. Louis
, food is the best source of calcium, with a cup of spinach containing more than an 8 ounce glass of milk. Other great sources include broccoli, kale, romaine lettuce, cabbage and oranges.
In Summary
Consuming diary products is a matter of choice, but with the potential for allergic reactions, the high fat content and the problems with casein, it's good to know that there are other choices.
While a casein-free diet can be necessary for those struggling with specific disorders, everyone can benefit from making this life-changing decision.
Suggested Resources
www.livingwithout.com
www.austimndi.com
www.gfcfdiet.com
Gluten/Casein Free Grocery Shopping Guide and Gluten/Casein/Soy Free Grocery Shopping Guide available at ceceliasmarketplace.com
The Kid-Friendly ADHD & Autism Cookbook ISBN 1-59233-223-6
The Kid-Friendly Food Allergy Cookbook ISBN 1-59233-054-1
The Chiropractic Office of
Dr. Jacqueline Tramontin
at
173 E. Main Street
Macungie
,
PA
18062
610.966.2726
