How to look after yourself this Eat What You Want Day

Eat What You Want Day takes place every year on May 11.

It encourages people to be less stressed about their diet and let go of food hang-ups for the day. This could be as simple as treating yourself to takeout or going out with friends to celebrate in style.

The benefits of Eat What You Want Day

While 50% of Americans try to eat healthy foods regularly, days like Eat What You Want Day do come with their own benefits. Some fitness experts believe that ‘cheat’ days – days where individuals take a break from their diet or regime – can have positive effects on weight loss and fitness. However, that’s not the only benefit of Eat What You Want Day:

• It adds excitement and spontaneity into your day
• It gives you the freedom to choose what you want to eat without feeling guilty
• It’s an ideal day to try a new food or drink
• It’s a fun activity that gets the whole family involved

Everything to consider this Eat What You Want Day

While the thought of digging into your favorite meal and saying yes to an extra cookie might sound tempting, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans advise that a healthy, balanced, and nutritious diet is best. This includes eating plenty of nutrient-dense foods, and being mindful of saturated fats, sodium, added sugars, and alcoholic beverages.

Recent statistics show a growing number of states have obesity rates over 35%. A decade ago, there were no states with an adult obesity rate at or above 35%.

However, obesity isn’t the only risk factor of not being mindful of what you eat. As a leading health testing laboratory, we know that certain foods can trigger health conditions – each of which can cause a number of unpleasant symptoms.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease that develops over time because of a sensitivity to gluten; a protein found in certain cereal grains including wheat, rye, and barley, and commonly used in food products such as cereal, bread, and pasta.

When a person with celiac disease eats gluten, this causes the body’s immune system to attack its own tissue, causing damage to the gut lining and preventing the body from absorbing nutrients from food. If left untreated, it can lead to severe complications, which can negatively impact a person’s quality of life.

Celiac disease affects around 1 in 133 Americans (about 1% of the population). However, it is estimated that up to 83% of Americans who have celiac disease are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed as having another condition, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Lactose intolerance is another digestive issue where the body fails to produce enough of the lactase enzyme, which is required to break down lactose in the body. Lactose is a sugar composed of galactose and glucose and is mainly found in dairy products such as milk.

For those who are lactose intolerant, the body produces little to no lactase, meaning that this sugar remains intact and is fermented by bacteria in the colon, leading to uncomfortable symptoms.

Some of the most common symptoms associated with celiac disease and lactose intolerance include:

• Bloating and wind
• Stomach cramps
• Diarrhea
• Nausea and sickness
• Constipation

However, it’s very important to remember that symptoms can vary from person to person, and having the associated symptoms doesn’t necessarily mean that you have either condition.

As both celiac disease and primary lactose intolerance can be inherited and often run in families, genetic testing is a helpful tool for anyone experiencing symptoms, or for people who have a first-degree relative who has been diagnosed with either condition (i.e. parent, sibling or child).

Genetic testing for celiac disease and primary lactose intolerance

Our Genetic Celiac Disease Test can tell you whether you have the genes linked to celiac disease, while our Genetic Lactose Intolerance Test can tell you whether you have the MCM6 gene variations that indicate primary lactose intolerance.

Our test kits have been specifically designed so you can collect your samples quickly and easily at home, before returning them to our state-of-the-art laboratory.

Each test costs just $109, with only simple cheek swab samples required, and results are available in 5-7 business days.

Whatever your reasons, a Genetic Celiac Disease Test or Genetic Lactose Intolerance Test can give you peace of mind or enable you to seek the correct diagnosis more quickly.

Need advice on whether these tests are right for you? Email our friendly and knowledgeable Customer Services team on info@alphabiolabsusa.com.