i heard about dr matsen in north van. I have read a book-Eat According to Your Blood Type....excellent!!!! I was getting sick quite often. I was allergic to wheat,flour,milk etc I eat pasta gluten free,whole grains, skim milk etc.... I recommend that book to everyone---at Chapters.. Find out your blood type and on you go!! google alkaline and acidity food-eat accordingly to be healthy. I read a book"Healthy Millionaire" , at Chapters too...excellent I have been on antibiotics for 15 yrs because of my flu/bronchitis,laryngitis symptons....eat yogurt(natural) while on antibiotics. My colon lining is so thin now, got a scope test done.Developed diverticulitis.....so be your own doctor... Research for "natural cures" for every symptons" in google. I was told i was allergic to so many things, then few years later i wasnt... be your own doctor folks, read books, go to van sun-read health articles cheers

This is for Alpha Harper...I also had my allergies tested by an antibody blood test and found I was allergic to everything I was eating...wheat, dairy, eggs, etc. I was devastated but wanted to get healthy so I cut them all out. I felt ok for a few weeks but slowly all my symptoms came back..some worse. That's because my digestive system wasn't working properly. What's happening is that bits of undigested food is getting into places it shouldn't be and your immune system attacks it thus compromising your health as your system becomes overburdened. Some of this food gets absorbed by pinocytosis and can act as a stimulus for an allergic response. This is why a lot of the foods that you are currently eating usually show up on the allergy test. Most likely, if I had taken the allergy test again after cutting everything out, I think I would find I was allergic to all the substitutes I was eating. So then I went to see my Naturopath who is an absolute genius. His name is Dr. Jonn Matsen and he's in North Vancouver, British Columbia. He's written a few books, Eating Alive II and the Secrets to Great Health are two of them, but if you ever have the chance, see him in person as he personalizes natural supplements for your particular issues. I've been going to him for 20 years on and off...whenever I hit rock bottom health-wise and have tried every other gimmick, I realize he has the secret and he always fixes me right up. It is a tough life-style change as it involves giving up alcohol, coffee, sugar, and all processed foods like white flour, etc. That is why I keep falling off the wagon and doing this vicious circle...I love wine! I love coffee! The food part isn't the problem as you eat all the wonderful things you like, as long as it's not processed. You'd think feeling on top of the world and having the pounds melt off would be enough for me to stick with it but sadly it is not. It is the secret though...and slowly but surely I'm realizing that. It's a commitment but if you've tried everything, been to a miriade of doctors, and still don't have the answer, it is worth it. I promise you.

Be very wary of those who tell you that you have a dairy allergy or wheat allergy for that matter. There is a lot of hokum going around about these supposed food allergies. A lot of it is left-wing-let's-all-return-to-the-stone-age silliness. If you investigate further, you may find that there is not a lot of science behind it, just quackery.

Amen to what Susan says--the best way to lose weight is to eat less.

All this and that about weight loss, here's the arithmatic. If you eat too much and the calories went way over, it means you have to work harder to burn them off. You can do this by walking up a sweat, treadmill is good, spin classes, rowing machine is great. Just keep in mind you have to get sweating and keep moving.

Ultimately, the only weight-loss strategy that really works is to simply eat less.

All in all some very good advice ; however I am somewhat puzzled at the advice to see a registered dietician. After years of trying to lose weight and faithfully following programs given by this well intentioned group , I was advised to try different programs as they were not seeing very much success with their program which counsels people to follow Canada's food guide and join a support group such as weight watchers or tops. I have been to an allergist also and I cannot eat wheat(duram,semolina,red,winter or any of the more modern type wheat grains). I have an asmatic-like reaction to dairy products but am watchful of my calcium levels. Dietians don't know how to balance my diet. I know that I am not alone, where is help for those of us who don't fit in the square hole. This is all been followed through with my doctor . Where is the help? thank-you for taking the time to read this from one who refuses to quit trying to get healthy.