Article: Allergy Tips for Spring
Allergy Tips for Spring
by: Dr. Janet Starr Hull, Ph.D., CN
http://www.sweetpoison.com/newsletter/
Most of us look forward to spring. But for many people, the
beauty of springtime comes with a heavy price to pay:
seasonal allergies. Warmer weather and dry winds kick up
pollen, ragweed, and a host of other common allergens.
If you suffer from seasonal or perennial allergies, you are one
of roughly 45 million Americans who suffer from hay fever
or recurrent allergies. That means at any given moment, one
out of every six people in America may be sneezy, itchy, and
stuffed up - or sedated by the drugs that suppress those
symptoms.
A team of researches from Finland found that diet might
play a role in the increased incidence of allergies.
Their study found that children who eventually developed
allergies ate less butter and more margarine compared with
children who did not develop allergies. The allergic children
also tended to eat less fish, although this dietary difference
was less significant.
The study is not the first to suggest that certain types of fatty
acids may play a role in the onset of allergic diseases.
Polyunsaturated fats like those in margarine are thought to
promote the formation of prostaglandin E2, a substance that
promotes inflammation and causes the immune system to
release a protein that triggers allergic reactions.
Their results support the idea that the quality of fat consumed
in the diet is important for the development of allergic diseases
in children. So, no more trips to the donut shop or fast food
breakfast take-out for you or the kids, especially during allergy
season. Processed and packaged foods replete with food
chemicals and preservatives will worsen allergy symptoms.
The possibility of preventing allergic diseases by vitamin
supplementation or by changing the fatty acid composition of
the diet remains to be tested by clinical trials, but when you
adjust your diet and your children's diet during allergy season,
you may notice less sneezing, headaches, and watery eyes.
Here are some tips to reduce allergy symptoms:
Remove sugars and foods that turn to sugar quickly along with
consuming less milk and creamy dairy products.
Don't skip meals. Skipping meals is one of the worst things
you can do for your body. When you're hungry, your blood
sugar drops, stressing your adrenal glands and triggering
your sympathetic nervous system. This causes light-headedness,
cravings, anxiety and fatigue, AND an increase in allergy
symptoms. So, eat steadily throughout the day. Start each
morning with a good breakfast and "graze" healthfully
every
two to four hours so your blood sugar won't take any sharp dips
and you'll feel more rested and energetic and will be more
resistant to allergic reactions.
Remember my 75/25 Eating Plan and eat more raw uncooked
foods. Raw eggs may take some getting used to, but they are
an inexpensive way to increase the amount of uncooked protein
and fat in your diet. And forget the myths of their great risk:
the risk of salmonella from raw eggs is only 1 in 30,000, and
even that risk can be greatly avoided by carefully examining the
eggs prior to eating them. Download my 75/25 pH Balance Eating
Plan by visiting the following link:
http://www.sweetpoison.com/ph-75-25-plan.html
Pay off your sleep debt. During sleep your adrenal glands are
restored and repaired. Unfortunately, most of us are on the go,
and end up getting less sleep than we need, night after night.
The result - your adrenal glands stay depleted and your immune
system stressed.
Avoid toxic chemicals. A variety of toxins in foods and the
environment contribute to a heightened adrenal response and
stress, which in turn, increases allergy symptoms.
Dust-proof your house and perhaps install an air purifier. Look
for one that contains a HEPA filter to remove even the smallest
of allergens. Avoiding animal dander is not always possible if
you have indoor pets, but make your bedroom an animal-free zone.
Do outdoor activities in the morning. Pollen levels tend to be
higher in the afternoon and evening. Also, have your lawn mowed
often. It will help control the pollen in the air around your
home.
Drink two quarts of clean water daily and three quarts during
allergy season. When you're inadequately hydrated, your body
releases histamine (the chemical that constricts the airways
and causes allergy symptoms) as a way of preventing water
loss through your lungs. The reverse is also true: Water acts
as a natural antihistamine. Simply drinking plenty of pure,
filtered water will help reduce the release of histamine and
lessen your allergy symptoms.
Take acidophilus. A recent study conducted at the University
of California in Davis found that people who ate yogurt containing
live L. acidophilus and other bacterial cultures every day had
significantly less hay fever. The beneficial bacteria in yogurt
boost
the production of gamma interferon, a powerful immune protein
that fights off allergic reactions and infections. Eat 1.5 to
2 cups
of yogurt a day for the greatest benefit. (Make sure you don't
get sugar-free yogurt by mistake.) Or take an acidophilus
supplement each morning on an empty stomach. Start now -
it takes about three months to build up enough cultures.
Get natural relief from nutritional supplements. Certain
vitamins, minerals, and herbs act as natural antihistamines
and help keep inflammation in check. Check with your
nutritionist for specific recommendations.
Stay as chemical free as possible, eat whole foods with
natural oils at every meal, drink plenty of water, and keep
your vitamin supplements up during allergy season, and
enjoy this beautiful season of new beginnings.
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1 Allergy 2001;56:425-428
2 http://www.mercola.com/2002/nov/20/reduce_stress.htm
