That's Fit

For people with potentially fatal food allergies, every day brings with it a challenge to watch what they eat (or come in contact with). More kids seem to developing peanut allergies for example. In the past half-decade, cases of this nut reaction have risen 35 percent. But there's hope that these allergies can be lessened through new methods of combating their effects.

One example for peanut allergy sufferers has children taking a small dose of the peanut protein -- under a doctor's supervision of course. This has been shown to help mitigate the severity of reactions if peanuts are accidentally consumed. It's called oral immunotherapy and the treatment has helped grow their tolerance.

Even though over two million school kids have such allergies, there's hope that through more studies and treatments doctors may be able to curb the reactions altogether! Will we see a pill that can cure allergies someday? Maybe not, but if this research has any implications, then we may not be far away from a reality close to it.

I didn't overindulge this Christmas. No big breakfast, a simple lunch, the standard turkey dinner, and a serving, well two, of sugar-free strawberry pie. Now I may have gone a bit overboard with the sinful biscuits served for supper and I did have some mashed potatoes but in all, I did pretty well on the diet front. I exercised on Christmas too -- I ran for 3.5 miles -- and best of all, I got some great fit gifts.

I got my very own BOSU this year -- I can't wait to bounce and stretch and crunch on this coveted piece of fitness gear -- and I got my very own food processor too, complete with every ingredient necessary for my favorite healthy fruit and nut bars. I also got an awesome pair of Nike track pants and a sporty LIVESTRONG t-shirt. My kids got scooters, skateboards, soccer nets, and a ball. So we're set for a great year of great fitness, thanks to our great family members who have our good health in mind.

What fit gifts did you get this Christmas?

I'm asking Santa for a food processor this year so I can whip up all sorts of delicious, nutritious treats. Here's one I can't wait to make.

The credit for this Fruit and Nut Bar recipe goes to Canyon Ranch, a health and healing destination in Tucson, Arizona. Let me be the first one to tell you these are absolutely scrumptious -- I gobbled down several while at Canyon Ranch in April -- and the best news of all: they are good for you too.

Fruit and Nut Bar

Ingredients

1/2 cup chopped pecans, lightly toasted
1/2 cup chopped almonds, lightly toasted
3/4 cup honey
2-3/4 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup dried cranberries
3/4 cup dried chopped apples
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup sliced dates, about 10 medium
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Fingers are crossed in North Carolina, where researcher Mohamed Ahmedna is tentatively thinking he may have discovered a way to nullify peanut allergies for the millions of people who suffer them every year. It involves using a food enzyme to deactivate the specific allergens that cause people all the trouble. Without those allergens peanuts would be safe to eat and safe to use in processing without worry of allergic reactions.

The tests that have been done so far have only been on serums drawn from severely allergic people, and since those showed no reaction the next step is full-fledged human trials. Cross your fingers!


Via Slashfood