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Minimise Allergic Reactions And More With These 4 Flavonol Benefits

January 25th, 2012 No comments
The flavonols are group of powerful, health boosting phytonutrients that can be found in fruits, vegetables and teas. Their benefits include reducing allergic reactions and keeping your vision strong. In this article I will be taking a deeper look at these plant based nutrients and providing a full breakdown of 4 flavonol benefits.

1) BOOSTING YOUR SKIN HEALTH:

1 of the important flavonol benefits is that they protect the collagen (the main protein in animal connective tissues) in your body from damage. Collagen is crucial for healthy skin and helps to reduce wrinkles and keep it firm.

2) KEEPING YOUR BLOOD HEALTHY:

Your blood has various roles in the human body. It supplies oxygen to the cells that need it, removes waste materials from the body and helps fight disease and infection (in the form of white blood cells). The good news is that the flavonols work very hard to keep your blood healthy

minimise allergic reactions

For starters, they improve circulation and prevent atherogenesis (a condition where hard plaques form within your artery walls). In addition to this they prevent arteriosclerosis (a condition where your arteries harden and lose elasticity) and prevent haemophilia (a condition that causes uncontrollable bleeding and makes it difficult for wounds to heal). Finally, they strengthen the capillaries (the smallest blood vessels in the human body) and lower blood levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (a type of cholesterol that builds up in the artery walls and causes blockages).

3) MINIMISING ALLERGIC REACTIONS:

When you are allergic to something your body responds by releasing histamine (a chemical that causes allergic symptoms such as itching, sneezing, swelling and redness). This can cause you to experience these uncomfortable symptoms every time you come into contact with an allergen. Fortunately, 1 of the useful flavonol benefits is that they act as antihistamines (a substance which works against histamine and negates these allergic symptoms) and minimise the effect allergies have on your body.

4) SUPPORTING HEALTHY VISION:

As you age your vision usually suffers and you are more likely to experience vision disorders. The good news is that the flavonols can reduce the effect age has on your eyes and help you avoid these age related disorders. Studies have shown that they can keep you safe from both cataracts (clouding on the lenses of the eyes) and glaucoma (a disease that damages the optic nerve and reduces vision).

SUMMARY:

Whilst you can technically survive without flavonols, you really should make the effort to include them in your diet. They can be found in a wide range of natural foods with apples, almonds, berries, peppers, spinach and tea being just some of the many sources. So tuck into these foods and start activating these powerful flavonol benefits.

PSYCH-K Success Story – How I Transformed My Corn Allergy

January 18th, 2012 No comments
Four weeks ago my husband asked for me to make him some corn for dinner. No big deal most would say. Yet for me, the moment I touched the freezer door handle was the moment my life would change forever.
PSYCH-KAs I reached in the freezer to grab the bag of frozen corn my past flashed before me. I was 6 years old again, feeling very sad, sitting at my grandmother’s table in Wichita, Kansas for what, in my 6 year old mind, might be the last time ever.

I was moving from Kansas to Colorado. I was leaving my very best friend in the whole world, my beloved grandmother. Would I ever see her again? How long would it be before I could be with her again? I would be moving 500 miles away. I might as well be moving ½ way around the world. It was a gut wrenching, horrible feeling. In fact, it was the most upsetting time in my young life.

My lovely grandmother had made my favorite food for our going away party; Jolly Green Giant Niblet corn with butter sauce in a boilable nylon bag. How cool was that? Yet, it was to be the last time I could eat my favorite food because it was too expensive and my mother would never buy it.

We moved to Colorado and I could no longer eat corn of any kind. Every time I ate it I had horrible gut wrenching pain and had to get to a bathroom quickly. Even at 6, I realized it was the corn. Nobody else made the connection. But I sure did.

Fast forward to my age of 30 and I am diagnosed with an allergy to corn. No kidding! I already knew that. I had abstained from eating corn for 24 years. Now I would abstain from eating it for the rest of my life.

Fast forward another 19 years and PSYCH-K enters my life. After a year of wonderful changes through working with various PSYCH-K process I still had not tackled this most vexing of foods, until I touched the bag of frozen corn in the freezer 4 weeks ago. I thought to myself, I wonder if my corn allergy is tied to this traumatic moment when I was 6 years old? I dumped the bag of corn in the pan and set it to cook on the stove. Then I went to work doing a PSYCH-K Balance. Sure enough, that event had caused the subconscious connection of corn with gut wrenching pain!

I had a gut wrenching experience every time I ate corn as a child through my entire adult life. I had a gut wrenching experience while eating corn during that traumatic departure. The subconscious mind is the master of association and corn had been associated with the gut wrenching trauma of moving to Colorado.

 corn allergies

After doing a PSYCH-K Balance I confidently told my husband I would eat corn that night and have no problems. It was a joyous moment and boy it tasted really wonderful! I had not only one serving, but went back for a large 2nd helping of the golden stuff. NO REACTION! No histamine reaction, no sniffles, no stuffy nose, no gut wrenching trip to the bathroom! I slept comfortably the entire night and had no cramps or discomfort of any kind. After 43 years of avoiding corn one simple PSYCH-K Balance changed everything. SIMPLY AMAZING!

So, when people ask me about allergies I now confidently say, let’s explore that a bit. Most allergies are tied to a person, event or situation that formed a challenging or negative association to a food, environmental element or animal. When we tap into the subconscious mind we are able to make dynamic changes very quickly.

It’s been 4 weeks since my return to eating corn. I’ve had corn on the cob, loose corn niblets, and pop corn now numerous times and still no reaction. So, I sing praises to PSYCH-K for being able to enjoy eating corn again!

Categories: Allergies Tags: ,

Dairy Allergies and Chronic Ear Infections

January 12th, 2012 No comments

Humans are the only mammal on earth that continue to drink milk past infancy. We consume dairy products on a daily basis, often failing to notice that it is not always tolerated by our bodies, especially in small children.

Pediatric patients are often seen for ailments and symptoms that are written off by physicians as “normal.” Ear and throat infections, frequent colds, severe bloating, gas, rashes and colic are some of these symptoms. Bouncing a baby up and down or putting them on antibiotics is a common solution, but it may not be the best way to treat these young people.

Babies who suffer from chronic ear infections usually begin displaying symptoms by a year old. They are most often placed on antibiotics to fight the bug that is causing the infection, but these antibiotics also kill flora in the child’s stomach that is essential for digestion and health. A pediatric patient who suffers from chronic ear infections will experience symptoms repeatedly over a couple of years, with doctors failing to cure the problem. Many times a solution is to place tubes in the child’s ear. It usually gets to this point before a frustrated parent begins to seek alternative solutions.

Allergens may be the root of the problem. To test for allergies, children are often given IgE allergy tests where he or she is poked to find immediate hyper-sensitivity allergies, but this test fails to detect food allergies which are slow mediated.

The most common food allergy is milk, which accounts for 98 percent of cases, and is often found to be the cause of chronic ear infections. The first sign of dairy allergy is colic, rashes and severe gas and bloating. If undiscovered, it will lead to frequent colds, chronic ear and throat infections and later in life, asthma. There sometimes is a pattern with people who develop asthma, strep throat, frequent headaches, gall bladder issues or diverticulitis later in life-they usually have dealt with chronic ear infections as a baby.

Ear infections usually begin to occur chronically around a year old, when the child is taken off of mother’s milk and given dairy products. Detecting a dairy allergy involves a physician sitting down with the parents and talking about what the child has been eating. Most often there has been dairy involved. The child is then taken off dairy products and given probiotics to restore healthy stomach flora. The child usually shows improvement in as little as two weeks.

Having a dairy allergy is different than being lactose intolerant. A dairy allergy begins at birth, perhaps being passed down from the mother through antibodies, while lactose intolerance occurs later in life. Lactose intolerance is actually a deficiency in the enzyme used to break down dairy products, and is not an actual food allergy.

As a healthy substitute for dairy, parents may want to try rice or almond milk (make sure to test the child for almond allergy first). If the child never gets the chance to become accustomed to consuming dairy products, then he or she won’t crave them.

Finding the root of the problem, which may be as simple as eliminating dairy from the diet, will save a child from unnecessary surgery, illness and complications later in life.

4 Things You Should Know About A Basic Food Allergy

January 5th, 2012 No comments

You will be surprised to know how certain everyday foods can trigger a reaction in the body, ranging from a mild irritation to a more serious one requiring immediate medical attention, and that quite a large number of people suffer from food allergy. This generally happens when a certain component in the food is perceived to be harmful by your immune system, which then sets off an alarm within your body.

food allergy and you

Symptoms of a Food Allergy

Swelling: The most common reaction is swelling of the lips, or other parts of your face including eyelids, cheeks and tongue.

Itching: You must also watch out for itching and rashes on the hands, back or anywhere on the skin, like swelling, parts of the face are commonly affected.

Other Symptoms: These consist of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cramps and even a runny or clogged nose.

Anaphylaxis: Sometimes the reactions can be much more severe; these might happen directly or may follow the above symptoms. Rapidly falling blood pressure may result in feeling light-headed or dizzy, and you might lose consciousness. This particular symptom, if not treated promptly can become life threatening.

Common Allergy-Causing Foods

Nuts: Peanuts are one of the most common causes of food allergy, and in cases might be severe. Other nuts are walnuts, pecan and tree nuts.

Milk: Allergy to milk is found mostly in children, and in large number of cases the allergy wears off as they grow. Cow, goat, sheep milk can all cause such allergies because the proteins causing the allergies are found in all these kinds of milk.

Sea Food: Fish, shellfish, crayfish, shrimp, oysters and lobster are the most common kinds of seafood that can cause an allergic reaction.

Grains, Cereals, Etc.: Wheat, rice, corn, barley, oats and rye, in addition to eggs, along with sesame and linseed also cause allergies.

Testing for Food Allergy

Skin Prick and Blood Test: This test involves making a tiny prick on the skin and then placing the allergen (any substance causing the allergy) on the skin, any reaction like swelling or redness can confirm the allergy. Blood tests are also done to verify allergies. However both these tests detect allergies only if caused by the Immunoglobulin E (IgE) type of antibody.

Food Challenge: You will be given an allergy causing food in the form of capsules and kept under observation for any reaction. While this test can also detect other antibodies, they have to be administered by professionals in a hospital or clinic, to contain any possible adverse reaction.

basic food allergy

Prevention and Cure

You can effectively avoid food allergy by preparing an elimination diet, which will contain a list of foods that causes reaction and then simply staying away from them.

Antihistamines like Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or steroids like Corticosteroid may also be given to treat allergies. Epinephrine, which helps to pull up the blood pressure, can be given in case of a severe reaction like anaphylaxis.

The type of foods and the severity of the reaction differ greatly from person to person, but it is something that you should not allow to go untreated.

Mold Alleries – Whose At Risk And Severity Of Symptoms

December 21st, 2011 No comments

Black mold is one of the most harmful kinds of molds in the world. While it may not cause any problem out in the wild, it can cause many problems if it starts to grow indoors. Houses which are infected with mold are not suitable for living and can be quite dangerous.

Black mold in generally harmful for everyone but there are some groups of people who are more prone to the damaging effects of this mold. This includes children, the elderly, pregnant women, and people who already have some health problems such as asthma and allergies. For such people, mold can sometimes even be fatal.

mold alleriesThere are many health effects of mold that make it so harmful. A shot exposure to mold can cause problems such as headaches, stomach aches, vomiting and digestion problems. Many people complain of stomach cramps and diarrhea when they have been exposed to this fungus over a period of few days, and these symptoms can then worsen.

Black mold can cause a number of allergies in people. People who already have allergies can see an increase in the problem when exposed. For example, if you have a skin allergy, mold will trigger it and make it even worse. It also causes flu like symptoms such as watery eyes, headaches and sneezing. This can also be followed by a fever. People with skin problems such as eczema and psoriasis are in great danger because mold can bring on a full attack on the skin.

The respiratory system is also badly affected. If a person is already suffering from asthma or bronchitis, mold can further deteriorate the condition and bring about an attack. Many people have to be hospitalized who have respiratory issues, because it can have severe effects on breathing. The main reason behind this is that this harmful fungus spreads through mold spores, which spread in the air of the house, and breathing in this air can expose the lungs directly to black mold.

If mold exposure is prolonged and spores enter the body for a long period of time, it can cause mold to grow inside the body. In certain cases, it has been seen to grow on entire organs, which can then cause organ failure. In the worst case scenario, death of the patient can also occur. This is why it is extremely important to take care of any black mold infestation problems as soon as they occur.

More Allergies, Auto-Immune Disease – Maybe It’s Us

December 13th, 2011 No comments
It seems as though food allergies and asthma are on the rise. The experts are telling us so. But, I think it’s pretty obvious that more people are dealing with these issues. When I was growing up, I felt like an oddball because I was the only one I knew who had severe allergies. I also had/have asthma, which seems to go hand-in-hand. These days, my son is certainly not the only one with allergies and asthma. From dairy, to peanuts, and even strawberries, more human bodies are rejecting certain foods for some reason. Why? Many articles have been written recently on this subject. Some experts feel it is a combination of genetics and environmental influences. Some scientists say it is an example of human evolution and natural selection in action.

 

more allergies

I am not a doctor, scientist or researcher, but I am sure there are numerous factors contributing to the increase of allergies and auto-immune issues in humans. Environmental causes seem the most obvious. Pesticides and air pollution can’t be good for us, or the foods we grow, and would certainly, it seems, contribute to asthma, allergies, cancers and possibly other increasingly common issues, such as autism. But, then again, what do I know.

We tend to see more and more dairy allergies and intolerance these days, which seems quite logical to me, considering the cows’ food source (unnatural, high-energy feed), the antibiotics and the hormones they’re given. But, when it comes to dairy allergies, such as my son’s (not to be confused with lactose intolerance!) it is the animal protein, casein, that is the problem. His body sees this protein as a foreign substance, unable to process it, sending his body into anaphylactic shock. So, perhaps there is another explanation. Perhaps the human body simply isn’t designed for the consumption of other mammal’s milk.

Consider this; mammals (the females of the species having mammary glands) produce milk in order to feed their young. A wonderful design by nature. Under natural conditions, cow’s milk is nutrient-rich and designed for calves, who gain around 500 pounds in the first 12 months of life. We take this milk and process it to give it longer shelf life and a taste the general population will buy. Of course, you can purchase organic, raw dairy milk, which is fine if you aren’t allergic and is not processed like the homogenized, pasteurized versions in the grocery stores. But, back to my point. We know that some time around 10,000 years ago, and possibly further back, humans started to farm and raise animals and stopped following herds, seasonally moving from one region to another. It made perfect sense. Easier than hunting or moving constantly, and certainly using less energy, breeding animals for consumption was a marvelous idea.

Thus began human’s regular consumption of other mammalian milk, be it by cow or by goat, or any other animal. 10,000 years or more seems like an eternity to us, but it is a mere blink of an eye in the world of evolution. Fast forward to modern times. Maybe humans simply haven’t fully developed the ability to consume dairy from other animals at the rate at which we do so. Add to the bio-evolutionary aspect the fact that we no longer consume milk that comes from cows that graze naturally, as they did 10,000 years ago, during a time when pesticides and hormones were unheard of. It all sort of starts to make sense. The same thoughts come to mind when I think about the eggs we eat, the meat we buy, and the produce we consume. Our foods just aren’t what they used to be.

Now, let’s talk about the increase in auto-immune disease. Again, not a doctor, but it seems reasonable to assume that it may somehow relate, in part, to our consumption of heavily processed, unnatural foods. And as amazing as our bodies are, they are working overtime to process the chemicals we eat, inhale and absorb from our environment each and every day. So, we then develop auto-immune diseases and ailments due to the fact that our bodies are weak from all the stress of keeping us alive and kicking. Ironically, we then go to doctors who prescribe drugs so we can get better, putting more processed, man-made material into our bodies. I’m not saying you shouldn’t. I do. I would stop breathing and die if I didn’t use asthma medication daily.

auto-immune diseaseI can’t tell you how many times I have taken steroids and antibiotics under the supervision of a doctor. Many raw food advocates have been arguing the benefits of their raw food diet for years, claiming a significant decrease, if not complete elimination of asthma, allergies, colds and flu. Now, my husband and I are fairly health-conscious, but I will be the first to admit that I sometimes sacrifice health for ease and convenience. I have popped frozen packages into the microwave without batting an eye. I have and do occasionally stop for fast food simply because it’s easy and I am in a hurry. Although I try, I do not ONLY purchase organic, unprocessed foods at the market. So, I will not throw stones from the porch of my glass house, but I believe most Americans, myself included, are probably lacking in certain nutrients, only found in natural, Earth-made foods.

It may be time for us to consider the effect our choices are having on our health. On a larger, worldwide scale, it may be time to consider the effects of corporate farming and consumerism. At the very least, we should be aware of the plants and animals we consume and the means by which we do so. The sustainability “movement” is gaining momentum, fortunately, and the better we learn to care for the Earth and its living creatures and plants, the better we will be able to care for ourselves. I would be willing to bet we would all feel better physically, and perhaps we would see a decrease in food allergies, auto-immune and other disease. I could be wrong. Remember, I am not a doctor or scientist. But I think it is worth a try.

Food Allergy in Deeper Context

December 6th, 2011 No comments
Having a food allergy means experiencing nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, itching and skin rashes. This can happen when you take even the most tiny amount of food you are hypersensitive to.

These symptoms can be tolerable for some and somewhat life-threatening for others. This is very bothersome especially when you are eating in a restaurant.

To scratch or not to scratch.

Assume yourself dining with your boss and you feel itchy. Or having to excuse yourself because you get stomach upset. In worst cases, you will be rushed to the hospital because of dangerous effects.

Food allergy can do all these to you at the most inconvenient time and unlikely places. It doesn’t mean you’ll be complacent because you already recognize what you’re hypersensitive to.

If you possess an allergy to one member of a food group, then you could be also hypersensitive to others. Take seafood for example, if you have untoward reaction to crabs then it is possible you are also allergic to other shellfish.

If you have untoward reaction to tree nut like peanuts, then you might also have untoward reaction to the other kinds of tree nuts.

Ignorance is Not bliss

This is highly simple yet there are still a lot of people who take this for granted. Unaware to these, you may put harmful risks to you and your loved ones.

When you develop skin rash or swelling, have diarrhea, or anaphylaxis after eating something, it is best to seek medical assist.

Severe kind of allergy which is anaphylaxis, will necessitate quick medical attention. Symptoms includes dizziness, trouble in breathing and change of consciousness. Without emergency treatment, this may be disastrous.

Injecting the person of adrenaline is one cure.

Generally, a shot of epinephrine will stabilize the person. Thus people you hold serious form of allergy should always carry with them an epinephrine injection.

Do not hope the symptoms will disappear by itself. Be on the safe side and go get yourself checked.

When you go to a physician who specializes on allergies, skin testing may be done on you. Blood and hair testing are also other ways to check your allergies.

These will specify what substances you are allergic to.

To be free of these symptoms it is best to stay away from any food that triggers your allergies. It may be hard but it is achievable.

During grocery, study the labels carefully. Ask the chef for the ingredients when dining out or eating at places where other people prepared the food.

Be prepared always.

Never let food allergy destroy your lifestyle. When you go and seek medical advice, you will be given the appropriate treatment. Experts will also hand out educational info to facilitate you manage your allergies.

So to be able to live a stress and allergy free life and enjoy it fully, go and seek professional help. Having yourself tested will the begin of living with your food allergy.

The Worst of Eczema

November 30th, 2011 No comments

This article in particular is important to me, simply because I have lived through the trauma of suffering this horrid affliction and feel it necessary to inform other people.

Being asthmatic all of my life, eczema seemed to be its constant companion. (Not atopic I hasten to add) When I was younger and indeed up to my early 20′s the doctors concluded that worry or stress brought it on. In my opinion an easy diagnosis, seeing as how the same reasons were given to my constant severe asthma attacks.

What was strange is that when eczema flared up it was not always the same, sometimes it was wet and oozed, another time it was dry

The term “Atopic” refers to a personal and family tendency to develop eczema. What you will find written today! But at this part in writing I have to make it clear that never in over 30 years was my eczema ever referred to as Atopic, simply eczema.

It is best to establish at this junction that although at the time my parents were mystified as to not knowing any family member having either! Until one year at 13 years old, we went on a family holiday through what at the time was referred to as “Eastern Block” countries our destination was Poland to visit my grandfather whom my father had not seen since the war. It transpired that he was asthmatic and also had eczema.

At least the mystery was cleared up. The Irony here though was that through asthma I became familiar with the inside of a Polish hospital. Apparently it can skip a generation, as it did with me and subsequently, luckily, my daughters do not suffer from either, albeit the possibility is there unfortunately for their children.

For the past 25 years my asthma is under control and so is the eczema. At least that is what I thought.

3 years ago, whilst having my 20 minutes sunlight around the pool (the best way to get your daily dose of Vitamin D) read my article on sunlight. My foot started to itch around the heel. My first thought was that I had been bitten, but it did not look like an insect bite and therefore concluded it was a bout of eczema. No need to worry it would pass quickly.

For my sins I have to admit to using cortisone cream, which long term is not a good idea and would not recommend it as it seriously thins the skin(as it has done to my shins) the skin in this area is paper thin.

Days went by and instead of disappearing as it usually did, it started to spread. No amount of cream aided the healing.

It spread from my heel, all around my both feet up my legs, both my arms, back. As it got around the neck area it seemed to have an urgency to make it’s way to my scalp.

Eczema does not like water or soap particularly, so I took to having quick showers using organic and natural products.

Now I became panicky and did not know what to do for the best. In the end my husband made me agree to consult a private skin care professional. (Not cheap) Feeling optimistic, we sat in front of the individual, who quickly diagnosed the problem as being Atopic eczema. He had no idea what caused it, but thought it might be leather shoes, but really was not sure and other than writing a prescription for some cream did not want to elaborate further, apart from concluding by saying, “Should it not go completely or begin to spread again, please make another appointment.” Needless to say I did not.

Bear in mind this was the height of summer and my choice of footwear has always been Dr Scholl sandals. My gut instinct was to dismiss this theory.

After suffering the disfigurement for 3 months it began to subside as mysteriously as it came. Rightly or wrongly I put this down to radical changes made in my eating habits and the choice of products used on my skin.

*I decided to be radical and changed my diet to vegetarian/vegan
*Using natural 100% Aloe Vera to wash my skin

Because it began on my feet, each day I exfoliate and rub Eskimo cream into the skin to stop it from becoming dry.

Note: Even the national eczema society has no idea what the trigger is and suggests each individual learn to manage the discomfort in daily life.

No solace there then! In my opinion you are generally if not always, left to deal with things yourself. Below is what they say may trigger Atopic eczema

  • Soap and detergents
  • Skin infections
  • House dust mites and their droppings
  • Animal fur, hair and saliva
  • Pollens
  • Overheating
  • Rough Clothing

Many people with atopic eczema find that there is a connection between eczema and stress, although whether the stress causes the eczema or vice versa is less clear.

Categories: Allergies Tags: ,

Allergies or Mold Infestation?

November 14th, 2011 No comments

Coughing, wheezing, and runny nose? Is it time to go buy a bottle of Benadryl for those pesky allergy symptoms, or could these be indicators of a much more severe problem? Symptoms of mold exposure can appear as nothing more than simple, everyday, allergy symptoms, but the long term effects could be much more severe, and in some cases even life threatening. Mold can exist virtually everywhere in both our indoor and outdoor environments, and because the symptoms of exposure appear as nothing more than allergies, it can be difficult to identify unless you are familiar with the other signs of mold growth.

allergies or mold infestationAt a first glance, mold exposure can appear as simple allergy symptoms. Red eyes, difficulty breathing, coughing and even headaches, are all symptoms that most people can experience due to a simple change of the seasons. These are also the same symptoms that most people will develop if they come into contact with mold spores. The levels of symptoms can, and often do, vary from individual to individual. Infants and elderly people are the most at risk to develop allergic reactions to mold spores, but anybody who has an immune system deficiency is more susceptible to the symptoms of mold exposure. These are not the only people that can have allergic reactions, but they are usually the first in a house hold that will develop the symptoms.

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Due to the fact that symptoms to mold exposure so closely resemble normal allergies, it is important that you be familiar with the other signs of mold growth besides just the symptoms. If you have had any moisture build up or water damage prior to the onset of the symptoms, then that is usually a good indicator of mold growth since moist environments greatly accelerate the growth of mold spores. If you begin noticing a strong musty smell in the affected area, then you should definitely keep an eye open for physical signs of mold growth. A discoloration of the ceilings or walls in your home, or even a warping of the floor is usually a good sign of mold growth as well. This could be caused from simple water damage, but where there is water damage, mold is usually not far behind.

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It is important to properly treat any mold that you have growing in your home to prevent bigger problems from developing in the future. If you simply bleach the affected area, but do not remove the mold in its entirety, you may still have an allergic reaction to the dead spores. Mold is not something that should be taken lightly, and if you are unsure about how to properly remove the mold, then contacting a certified professional is probably your best approach. It may be a bit pricy at times to have a professional remove the mold, but it’s a lot better than replacing an entire section of your home, or even worse, getting hospitalized. Getting a mold inspection early on could make all of the difference when dealing with mold!

Adult-Onset Allergies

November 4th, 2011 No comments

I clearly remember the day it hit. I was driving in Maine, on my way to visit an account, and my nose was running, my eyes were itchy, and I felt like my face was about to explode through the windshield. I began to wonder if I was getting sick but as I watched the clouds of pollen float by, it occurred to me that I was suffering from allergies – for the first time – at 30 years old. That was the beginning of a path that led me, and eventually my husband, to start our mornings, every day for months, with an Advil Cold & Sinus and a Claritin for breakfast. Flash forward ten years and lo and behold… my allergies are gone. No drugs, no symptoms.

Before I tell you how I did it, let me explain a little about allergies and how the immune system works. Allergies are an over-reaction of the immune system to a foreign substance – often a protein. In a healthy, balanced immune system when a foreign protein (aka the “allergen”) enters, your body examines it and determines if this is a serious threat or a harmless invader. Things like pollen, animal dander, and peanuts should not cause the body to freak out. Your body should recognize these as harmless and move on to searching for actual threats. In the case of moderate to severe allergies, your body goes into Red Alert mode and does everything possible to attack, kill, and expel this invader. Your immune system comes in “Guns A’Blazin’!” The sneezing, coughing, and running nose and eyes are your body trying to flush out the allergen. Special white blood cells go to work to attack the invader and your immune system becomes preoccupied with eliminating the supposed thread. Inflammation occurs, often in the respiratory tract, to increase blood supply to the war zone and bombard the offending pollen grain with everything it’s got. In a healthy, balanced immune system, you might sneeze once or twice to clear your nasal passages of the pollen, but your immune system would stay on patrol and not go into attack.
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Here’s my theory on why so many people develop allergies as an adult… because their immune system is so preoccupied with managing toxins from our diets, environment, and lifestyle that it is no longer capable of handling a simple pollen grain. You see; every day, the average person consumes a diet of processed food and soft drinks loaded with artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, and preservatives that their body has to process and eliminate. I call these ingredients “anti-nutrients” because they bring zero benefit to the body while requiring a concerted effort to get rid of them. Over time, your immune system gets tired, overwhelmed really, with handing chemical, after chemical, after chemical, to the point where it becomes so disoriented that it begins to overreact to common, natural proteins.

Flash forward ten years… Today, my husband and I eat a whole-foods diet that consists of mostly plants. We no longer purchase, prepare, or eat processed foods packed with artificial ingredients, and our allergies are virtually gone. There is no soda in our house. There is no high-fructose corn syrup here. You won’t find sodium benzoate, monosodium glutamate, aspartame, or FD&C yellow #5 in our pantry. You will find brown rice, kidney beans, homemade chutney, honey, and sweet potatoes, though.

Within a year of transitioning to a whole-foods, plant-based diet, we noticed our allergies had declined significantly. Within two years, our allergies had virtually disappeared. To this day, we very rarely show any signs of allergies and when we do, a shower seems to take care of it. You see, by putting natural ingredients into our bodies, our immune system was no longer distracted by the artificial ingredients we had been eating and it began to come back into balance. My mother experienced a similar result after transitioning to a whole-foods, plant-based diet; she was no longer allergic to my cats! It took many years to get our immune systems to the point where they just couldn’t function properly anymore and it only took a year or two to get back into balance. The body’s capacity for healing is amazing if you provide it with the right environment.

So if you’re one of the millions of people who developed allergies as an adult, and you’re tired of the misery and the pharmacy, consider healing yourself from the inside and getting back into balance. Start by reading the labels on anything you intend to eat or drink and ask yourself what your immune system might think about that Dorito.