Author: Jenny

I am a public health nutrition counselor with fifteen years experience in the field of prenatal and early child health and lactation education (breast feeding support). Autoimmune disease, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and genetic defects that can cause nutrient deficiencies are also research interests.
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Wheat is rich in Albumin – so are egg whites and ginger

Albumin is also listed on Dr. Duke’s database as having no biological activities. However it is protein that is essential for healthy plasma and blood pressure control. More importantly at trace levels is the allergy risks. Egg allergies are common and the reactive agent is most typically the albumin found in egg white rather than the nutrients that make up egg yolk. Sensitive individuals may be able to use egg yolk but not egg white or whole eggs.

Albumin would be commonly found in any food that contains egg whites. A very sensitive individual might react to trace amounts rather than just to entree’s that are egg based. Scrambled eggs and omelets are obvious sources but egg white is also in meringue. Marshmallows are based on egg white and coconut macaroons need egg white as the binder. So crispy rice treats could be an allergen due to the marshmallows and  it turns out that grains of wheat themselves might be allergens due to the protein albumin as well as the gluten.
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Albumin  Biological Activities: No activities reported for ALBUMIN

Plant species with highest amount

[Triticum aestivum] L. — Wheat; 30,000 – 50,000 ppm in Seed;
[Zingiber officinale] ROSCOE — Ginger; 4,984 – 45,924 ppm in Rhizome;
[Aloe vera] (L.) BURM. f. — Aloe, Bitter Aloes; 1 – 5 ppm in Leaf;
[Ricinus communis] L. — Castorbean; in Seed;

The Albumin information is from Dr. Duke’s Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases
 [ars-grin.gov/duke/http://www.greenpharmacy.com/ ] (but this no longer goes to the original link.)
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***Interesting list  The presence of albumin in the wheat seed could help explain the increasing frequency of “gluten intolerance:” Actual cases of Celiac Sprue are rare. Celiac sprue is a genetic gluten intolerance characterized by a missing enzyme that is necessary for digesting gluten.

  1. A shared set of predisposing HLA-DQ genes account for the epidemiological overlap of celiac sprue and microscopic colitis. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10950045]
  2. A study in Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2012 Jan;24(1):59-63. links HLA-DQ types of celiac disease with Type I Diabetes-presence of both found in 11% of Libyan children in the study (n=218):  [.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
  3. Persistently positive gliadin antibodies without transglutaminase antibodies in the elderly: gluten intolerance beyond coeliac disease. Dig Liver Dis. 2011 Oct;43(10):772-8. Epub 2011 Jun 8. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
  4. Transglutaminase seems to be involved not only with gluten, albumin, but also with glutamine and calcium and also with the thyroid gland, healthy endothelial tissue and healthy bovine lens tissue (***gluacoma is a disease of the lens that is also commonly found in diabetes patients): [wikigenes.org/]
  5. Relationship between glaucoma and diabetes, hypertension. ScienceDaily (Aug. 17, 2011)[sciencedaily.com]
  • BTW magnesium deficiency is common to diabetes, hypertension and glaucoma.
  • Irresistible Quote about magnesium:

“Mg is very similar to a great opera singer: it is very demanding, but when everything is right, it can perform wonders. It is demanding in that its absorption requires a host of conditions and is inhibited by several factors. Moreover, Mg will leave the body, without hesitation, if any of a series of conditions are not met.”   by S. Johnson,  published in Medical Hypotheses

and more details:   “Mg absorption requires plenty of Mg in the diet, Se (selenium), parathyroid hormone (PTH) and vitamins B6 and D. Furthermore, it is hindered by excess fat. On the other hand, Mg levels are decreased by excess ethanol, salt, phosphoric acid (sodas) and coffee intake, by profuse sweating, by intense, prolonged stress, by excessive menstruation and vaginal flux, by diuretics and other drugs and by certain parasites (pinworms).”    by S. Johnson,  published in Medical Hypotheses

“The multifaceted and widespread pathology of magnesium deficiency”, Medical Hypotheses (2001) 56(2), 163–170 © 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd doi: 10.1054/mehy.2000.1133, pdf [pinnaclife.com]

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***This section on Albumin allergy made it into an attempt to make the Ginger page shorter – cutting out the Albumin section made sense if the goal for a page on ginger was shorter not longer.
***I will be testing gluten free quick bread mixes. I no longer prefer to eat wheat, it makes my symptoms flair up. Had to test the batches though, never having found a written copy of my recipe for the basic mix, but the memory cells were right this time: Pancakes in a jiffy, quick bread mix. Also see the webpage on effectivecare.info, G8. Cookies & Bean Soup.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for educational purposes within the guidelines of fair use. While I am a Registered Dietitian this information is not intended to provide individual health guidance. Please see a health professional for individual health care purposes.
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Pancakes in a jiffy Quick Bread Mix

Pancake mix can be made at home for less money and less packaging. The mix can be easily adapted to make other favorite quick breads like muffins and biscuits. Cornbread can be made if cornmeal is added. Jiffy Mixes are actually a line of Michigan baking products made in Chelsea, Michigan. http://www.jiffymix.com/ (I love Jiffy Mixes but I cheat and make my own!)

This mix is not gluten free, see this webpage with cookie recipes for tips to make your own gluten free versions of quick bread baked goods. It is based on a half and half mixture of white flour for more gluten content, to support a light airy baked good, combined with whole wheat flour and wheat germ to boost the natural nutrients found in the whole wheat berry.

My basic Quick Bread Mix contains dry milk powder so that only water, oil, egg and sweetener will need to be added when making a speedy batch of pancakes, muffins or biscuits.

Basic Quick Bread Mix

(makes about 15 cups of dry Quick Bread Mix)

5 cups White Flour  (or any mixture of 10-12 cups flour)
5 cups Whole Wheat Flour
2 cups Wheat Germ (or 2 cups flour or very finely crushed dry cereal flakes)
4 Tablespoons Baking Powder
2 Tablespoons Salt
3 cups Dry Powdered Milk (optional – if liquid milk or milk substitute is to be used instead of water for baking.)

High Protein Variation with Pomegranate Peel Powder

  • 7 cups Whole Wheat Flour
  • 3 cups Chick Pea Flour
  • 1 cup Coconut Flour
  • 1/2 cup Ground Flaxmeal
  • 1/4-1/3 cup Pomegranate Peel Powder (inner peel dehydrated and ground, see G13.Pomegranate)- if stored the powder may need to be sifted or smash any lumps by hand – it clumps – absorbing moisture from the air. Pomegranate peel has antioxidants that give a preservative effect to the baked good, and to our health.
  • 2 Tablespoons Cardamom powder
  • 4 Tablespoons Baking Powder
  • 2 Tablespoons Salt

Using the Mix:

Pancakes  

makes about 8-12 three inch diameter pancakes.

1 1/2 cups Quick Bread Mix
1 egg

Pancake batter is drippy but not watery.

1 Tablespoon Sugar (helps brown the surface)
1 Tablespoon Oil
1 cup water plus extra 1/8 cup water as needed – if batch is thick or if thinner pancakes are desired.

Pancake batter is fairly runny but will mound slightly and the back of the spoon may be used to spread out the pancake batter to an even thickness. Fresh or thawed blueberries or chocolate chips can be dropped in the dough in each individual pancake or mixed in the batter. The sticky sweetness can burn to the pan more.

Pancakes take about 2-3 minutes per side on a medium hot skillet or large pan. Watch the surface for air bubbles to begin bubbling to the top and flip them for the first time after the bubbles have started to pop but haven’t all stopped rising to the surface. The second side can take just 1-2 minutes. The skillet may need to pulled from the heat if the pancakes are burning but are still raw in the middle.

Biscuits

makes about 9 three inch square biscuits
(bake for about 30 minutes at 375-400F)

3 cups Quick Bread Mix
1 stick margarine or butter
– using two knives, your hands or a pastry blender crumble the mix and butter together until granular – like floury rice crumbles instead of obvious bits of butter.

1 cup water – add and mix together.

Dump the dough onto a lightly floured work surface to fold the mass onto itself, squish down, fold again, squish down, repeat.

Add a little extra water by sprinkling on a spoonful or two if the crumbles aren’t sticking together well.

Powder the cutting board or table before the folding process or during as needed. If a little too much water was added just add a little more sprinkling of the Quick Bread Mix over the dough.

Eventually form the dough into a rectangle roughly 6 inches by 12 inches and about 1/1/2 inches thick  and then cut into 9 to 12 pieces. Perfect rounds was never the goal – crunch and taste but a more moist dense biscuit can be expected when using part whole wheat flour.

Basic Muffins

Makes one dozen. (about 25-30 minutes at 375 F)

2 1/2 cups Quick Bread Mix
1/2 to 3/4 cup Sugar
2 Eggs
1/2 cup Oil or 1 stick melted Butter or Margarine
1 teaspoon (tsp) Vanilla Extract *** and/or other flavor combinations and add ins
1 cup Water
or 1 cup Applesauce plus 1/8 cup water if needed
or 1/2 cup cooked pumpkin or cooked pureed sweet potato plus 1/2-3/4 cup water *

*Possible substitutions for the liquid. When milk powder is in the mix many other liquids can take the place. Orange juice or other fruit juice concentrates can be used in the concentrate form as a substitute for the liquid in the recipe and for part of the sweetener – depending on the family’s sweet tooth.  (Milk protein does add stability to the chemical mixture. Split pea soup powder that was made with no onion or other savory seasonings is a protein substitute worth trying in baking.)

Spiced Apple Muffin variation:

  • 1 cup Applesauce instead of water. Flavoring: 1 teaspoon Vanilla plus 2 teaspoons Ginger powder, 1/2 tsp Cardamom powder and 1/2 tsp Nutmeg powder.
  • The Applesauce muffin flavor could be the simple vanilla – up to 1 Tablespoon of Vanilla could be used if that is the only flavor. 1/2 teaspoon to 1 teaspoon of cinnamon would be typical with applesauce.
  • Possible add-ins: 1/2 to 1 cup of raisins, currents or other chopped dried fruit – rehydrate for a few minutes with 1/4 cup very hot water; 1/2 to 1 cup chopped nuts; 1/2 to 1 cup finely grated carrot; a half package of chocolate chips; or a cup of blueberries fresh or thawed slightly; 1 cup finely diced raw apple or pear; – With additions the one dozen muffin cups get too full and a mini muffin pan can usually be filled in addition to the regular size muffin pan resulting in roughly 12 regular and 6-8 mini muffins / tart pan.

Cornbread

8 inch square pan – (bake for about 30 minutes at 375-400 F)

1 1/2 cups Quick Bread Mix
1 cup Cornmeal
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/4 to 1/2 cup Sugar
1/4 teaspoon Salt (a pinch)
1 stick Butter or Margarine – melted or Oil
2 Eggs
1 cup Water – add 1/8-1/4 cup extra if needed – let the pan stand for a few minutes out of the oven to allow moisture to hydrate the cornmeal and powdered milk granules. (the milk granules will remain visible.)

Disclaimer: This information is provided for educational purposes within the guidelines of fair use. While I am a Registered Dietitian this information is not intended to provide individual health guidance. Please see a health professional for individual health care purposes.
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Cell Wall Deficient Pathogens – L-Forms

Rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases are actually the body’s attempt to find and kill human cells that had been colonized by pathogenic bacteria or fungi. At the microscopic level single celled organisms can exist in forms that are as different as the baby tadpole to the fully grown frog. During times of better health of the host the parasitic pathogen can change forms and hide from the better armed immune system within a few infected cells. During times of sickness, when there may be a flair up of the chronic symptoms, the colonies of cell wall deficient microbes multiply within the infected host cells and the host cells divide. Eventually the number of infected cells increase to another level of the pathogens life cycle and the host cells can split open and release pathogens that have the outer wall again which might increase risk of spreading the infection to other hosts.L-forms are referring to a “Life-form” stage of bacterial growth in which the bacterium can lose its outer wall and start growing within the interior of a human cell or other host cell. The following article by Amy Proal goes into extensive detail about the history of research in the field of autoimmune disease and cell wall deficient pathogens. http://bacteriality.com/2007/08/18/history/

Lida Mattman, a pioneer in the field of L-form microbes, is pictured at her microscope. She died at age 96 in 2008.  Obituary: http://www.lymenet.de/literatur/lida_mattman.htm

Sue Massie is a mother who found that Lyme’s disease was a problem for her husband, herself and their 6 children. She shares her family’s medical journey – they all were sick with low grade chronic symptoms. Dr. Mattman is quoted near the bottom of the article regarding the potential risk of infection from physical contact with a human carrier of Lyme’s disease (Borrellia burgdoferi):

“Dr. Mattman believes that touching can spread Lyme disease. The Lyme spirochete can actually occur in tears, and therefore can be transmitted to hands, which contaminates doorknobs, pens, people shaking hands, etc. This appears to be consistent with the observation that whole families often culture positive for Lyme and present with symptoms.” http://www.springboard4health.com/notebook/health_lyme_disease.html

  • A link to the book by Lida H. Mattman, Ph.D in Immunology from Yale University, “Cell Wall Deficient Forms: Stealth Bacteria“: http://www.lymebook.com/cell-wall-deficient-forms-mattman
  • A book review about Lida Mattman’s book, Cell Wall Deficient Forms: Stealth Bacteria:
    From Book News, Inc.
    Mattman (immunology, Nelson Medical Research Institute, Warren, MI) explores pleomorphic forms of bacteria and fungi, which are inconvenient to deal with but allow a much more precise identification of a pathogen and diagnosis of disease. She provides information to help researchers determine the organisms that should be added to the childhood vaccine, especially for boys; the bacterium found in its pleomorphic state in direct smears of synovial fluid of rheumatoid arthritis cases; the chronic disease for which an acid-fast organism is routinely found in smears of 72-h blood cultures in any routine medium; the bacterium that has a life cycle in the human erythrocyte as complex as that of Plasmodium malaria; the common pathogen of which the L form can permanently damage mammalian myocardium; and other microbes. No dates are noted for previous editions. Book News, Inc.®, Portland, OR http://www.personalconsult.com/articles/lymecellwalldeficiency.html
  • Excerpt from the book “The Top Ten Treatments for Lyme Disease” http://www.lymebook.com/marshall-protocol:  “In the past, sarcoidosis patients have received only minimal benefit from antibiotic therapy. But Dr. Marshall discovered that, upon reduction of 1,25-D levels, sarcoidosis patients can actually be cured with antibiotic therapy.”

Coinfections are a frequent problem within autoimmune disease sufferers. Sarcoidosis patients have had a variety of different species of pathogens cultured from blood samples. A weakness in immune strength may leave some people more susceptible to be a host for the types of pathogens that can survive in the L-form and colonize within human or other host cells. The good news is that the same treatment plan helps the human’s immune system to recognize the infected cells and reduce the infection without chemotherapy or other immune suppressing medications.

Benicar is a medication used in the Marshall Protocol, the treatment plan developed by Trevor Marshall, a biomedical engineer who worked on finding treatment for his own case of sarcoidosis.

Benicar acts to block the Angiotensin Receptor on cell surfaces. It may help the host defense by removing the disguise of “self” that the colonized cells may be using to confuse the healthy uninfected white blood cells. The overactivity of white blood cells is the characteristic response of autoimmunity that adds to long term degeneration. Previous medication strategies have been to suppress the overactive response. The use of Benicar every 6 hours maintains a constant inhibition of the Angiotensin Receptor that may help the healthy WBC identify the sick ones. Another benefit of Benicar therapy would be to reduce wasting of magnesium resources by the kidneys.

Excerpt from “The Stealth Pathogen Theory”  http://www.shoptown.com/Dean/ALS2Lyme.htm:

In the case of rheumatoid arthritis, Dr. Hoekstra has found that virtually all the patients he has studied have had significant amounts of a bacteria called Propioni bacterium acnes. “This is the genus and species of the organism we believe is responsible for propagating and perpetuating this disease,” says Dr. Hoekstra. “It is a very common bacteria in an altered state of being–it’s cell wall deficient.”

 The bacteria was first identified and described in 1981 by G.A. Denys at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. “This bacteria is passed transplacentally, from mother to fetus, and this may be responsible for rheumatoid arthritis showing up in generations in a single family,” says Dr. Hoekstra.

 Why this bacteria is prevalent in seemingly all cases of rheumatoid arthritis is not clear; overuse of antibiotics may be a factor encouraging its growth. “The use of antibiotics is one of the most potent ways of inducing cell wall deficiency; bacteria seem to do this as a survival mechanism.”

 In other words, when a bacteria is transformed into a cell wall deficient form, it assumes different characteristics from the whole or native type of microorganism it used to be, Dr. Hoekstra explains. “The organism remains intact except it loses its cell wall and its antigenic characteristics, enabling it to function as a cellular chameleon.” When it loses its antigenic signature, the bacteria is able to mask itself against destruction by the immune system’s antibodies which can no longer recognize it as an antigen (foreign protein).

 Dr. Hoekstra’s mentor, Lida Holmes Mattman, Ph.D., also of Wayne State (now professor emeritus of biology), confirmed the causal role of P. acnes in a laboratory experiment. Dr. Mattman extracted the bacteria from the synovial fluid (which lubricates joints) of human arthritis patients, and injected it into chicken embryos. The chicks then exhibited symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. When she treated the chicks with antibiotics known to disable P. acnes, the disease disappeared.

Disclaimer: Opinions are my own and the information is provided for educational purposes within the guidelines of fair use. While I am a Registered Dietitian this information is not intended to provide individual health guidance. Please see a health professional for individual health care purposes.

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Quarks, bosons, and Abbess Zenkai Blanche Hartman

Believing more in the power of self healing and less in lab tests could buy more health. Working harder on defining life expectancy instead of death expectancy could lead to more quality of life or maybe just a little less worry along the way. More time to pick wildflowers could be an inexpensive bonus for anyone – they can be virtual flowers for allergy sufferers.  Any type of nature in symbols or actual plants have been found effective towards reducing stress and improving health.

How could a picture of flower heal? – Maybe it is calming energy – nature recognizing the beauty of organized nature, intimate to the connection of ourselves with our world.

Queen Anne’s Lace, solar art.

Excerpt from ”’A Beginner’s Mind”’ by Abbess Zenkai Blanche Hartman, [http://www.intrex.net/chzg/hartman4.htm]

‘In China, there was a teacher named Dizang (J.: Rakan) who had a student named Fayan (J.: Hogen). Dizang saw Fayan all dressed in his traveling clothes, with his straw sandals and his staff, and a pack on his back, and Dizang said, “Where are you going?” Fayan answered, “Around on pilgrimage.” Dizang said, “What is the purpose of pilgrimage?” Fayan said, “I don’t know.” Dizang said, “Not knowing is nearest.” Sometimes it’s translated as “Not knowing is most intimate.” Not knowing is nearest or most intimate.’

”Not knowing is most intimate” – the most intimate or personally unique level may be the sub-atomic, quark-ian level.

Our protons and neutrons are made up of a balance of energy from three pairs of quarks. Their energy states change and the whole atom ‘s energy field is a result of the average of the three pairs of quarks. Our internal world may be a binary one with an on/off switch within every atom of our bodies – and our health.

A positive attitude versus a negative attitude can change the form that water freezes from a beautiful ornate crystalline lattice (snowflake) into a amorphous blob of ice. The work done on photography of water crystallizing into snowflakes by Dr Masuro Emoto shows us that a blessing or prayer before a meal might help align the fluid in the foods. Crystalline structure that is organized might promote better health. His work in water therapy has not been verified with replication but the idea that water crystals have to align to make an organized snowflake makes sense chemically. That is how a water droplet is formed, from alignment of the positive and negative areas of each individual molecule of water. Snowflake alignment might be showing the effects of organization at the subatomic quark-ian level.

Not knowing is intimate to believing that an outcome can be open-ended.

/speculation/    We may not need to look in a subatomic explosion to find the boson or God particle. The scientist standing behind the safety glass has been found to direct the outcome of particle/energy wave experiments. Thought influenced whether the mass would be energy or particle.

If we think positive then the placebo, healing effect, averages 38% with no other medicine involved. The reverse is also true (no statistic on hand though). The nocebo response refers to negative responses that occur when an inactive substance is given to a control group in research. The negative or positive effects occur at the individual level, one person might experience positive effects from an inactive placebo while another experiences negative effects from the same inactive substance. The placebo and nocebo effects are not well understood at this time, more research is needed.

Meadow flowers, captured by solar energy.
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An excerpt from a lecture about sitting zazen, a type of meditation, titled, “A Natural Action,” by Abbess Zenkai Blanche Hartman,

“We want to attune ourselves carefully to our body and mind so that we can notice when we are out of line with our deepest intention, so that we can feel it when we are out of line with our deepest intention. We want to cultivate that intimate knowing without words and ideas, that intimacy with our self, so that we can tell if we are living our life the way we really want to.”  ____   [http://www.chzc.org/hartman3.htm]

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The intestinal tract has brain cells that send information to the brain but not in a vocalized set of data. Emotions and information about allergens and pathogens and the state of the seasonal food supply may be included in the neuron signals from the GI tract. A gut instinct is very real at a biologic and cerebral level but not at the neocortex style of verbal thought. Learning to recognize and understand the difference between the gut sinking, big mistake feeling from the excited new love, twitterpated feeling can help in life.

When the timing is right it may feel right at a gut level. The moist spring air might remind the subconscious of previous fun bike rides. The fresh smell might lead right to getting the bike tuned up and out on the road without ever verbally saying out loud “I plan to ride my bike today because the air smells of springtime.” Tuning in to hunger and fullness signals isn’t always about eating or drinking. The gut knows more than we realize. There are more neurons in the intestinal tract than in the spine or rest of the body (except the brain). Thinking about a snack yet?

***The article suggests that psychiatrists may need to treat this second brain (the GI tract) as well as the regular brain. Talk therapy would be a challenge and more pharmaceuticals won’t really nourish the miles of intestinal tract like food could. The benefit of sitting meditation is the time of stillness to slow down and consider what the twinges at an emotional level might be trying to say about real world events.

Gut knowledge can be very informative but it can be very wrong/misunderstood. Like blogs and anything – think twice, act with care. Pain and discomfort is the body’s signal that something happening is wrong and should be changed. Blocking pain regularly blocks the wisdom that could help heal the underlying problem.

Disclaimer: Opinions are my own and the information is provided for educational purposes within the guidelines of fair use. While I am a Registered Dietitian this information is not intended to provide individual health guidance. Please see a health professional for individual health care purposes.