The Wellness Wire           

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Gluten – Friend or Foe?

Gluten is the common name for the proteins in specific grains that are harmful to persons with gluten sensitivity or Celiac Disease. These proteins are found in all forms of wheat (including durum, semolina, spelt, kamut, einkorn and faro) and related grains rye, barley and triticale.  Gluten is also in medications, soaps, shampoos, lotions, and most processed foods.  Even small amounts of gluten in foods can cause health problems to those affected by gluten. Damage can occur to the small bowel even when there are no symptoms present.

One out of 133 people in the United States is affected by gluten.  It varies in severity from intolerance to gluten to Celiac Disease.  Celiac Disease is not a food allergy - it is an autoimmune disease. Food allergies, including wheat allergy, are conditions that people can sometimes grow out of. This is not the case with Celiac Disease.

In these individuals, the villi (tiny hair-like projections in the small intestine that absorb nutrients from food) are damaged when gluten is consumed. This is due to an autoimmune reaction to gluten. Damaged villi do not effectively absorb basic nutrients – proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals and, in some cases, water and bile salts. Left untreated, damage to the small bowel can be chronic and life threatening, causing an increased risk of associated disorders – both nutritional and immune related.

CLASSIC SYMPTOMS MAY INCLUDE:  Abdominal cramping, intestinal gas, distention and bloating of the stomach, chronic diarrhea or constipation (or both), steatorrhea – fatty stools, anemia – unexplained, due to folic acid, B12 or iron deficiency (or all), unexplained weight loss with large appetite or weight gain, osteopenia, joint pain, lack of energy, depression, mouth ulcers, tingling or numbness in hands or feet, and migraine headaches. 

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Preventing Injury With Proper Workstation Placement

Ergonomics is the study of fitting equipment and devices to the human body.  Office workers who sit at a computer station or spend long periods of time are prone to developing repetitive joint injuries.  There has been much focus on workers in fields of manual labour using appropriate tools and equipment such as mats for prolonged standing and placement of equipment on assembly lines and this has helped to improve worker productivity and safety.  It is equally important to set up desks and workstations for those workers who spend a lot of time on the phone or computer.

 Proper placement means that the hips and knees are flexed to ninety degrees and the feet are resting on the floor or other firm surface.  For use of a computer or desk the elbows should be flexed to ninety degrees and wrists level.  Make sure that the chair is adjusted to a height where you do not have to hold up your shoulders or wrists.  Keyboard trays that fit below the desk require a lower chair or one that can be adjusted to a lower height.  The monitor should be placed in front of the employee so that it is not necessary to twist the torso or neck.  Gel pads are helpful for wrist placement for those employees who do a lot of typing.    Make sure that the monitor is at a height that is directly in your field of gaze without bending your neck.  If placement of the chair to accommodate the keyboard or monitor height makes it difficult to reach the floor with your feet use a platform for your feet which is available through office supply dealers.
 

Forth Family Chiropractic
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