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An Introduction To Seasonal Allergies By Michael Russell

Dealing With Kiddie Allergies By Charlene Nuble

Food Allergy Expert Reacts to McDonald's News of Allergens in Cooking Oil

Improving Health and Nutrition: What You Need To Know About Food Allergies
By David Saunders

An Introduction To Seasonal Allergies By Michael Russell

Spring and fall. To most people these are wonderful times of year. Spring brings with it a new beginning following the winter months. Trees regain their foliage, flowers and blossoms bloom and in fall the leaves change color making for an entertaining display of color in preparation for the winter to come. However, for allergy sufferers, it's a time of dread and fear. Spring and Fall are the two major times of year for seasonal allergies.

Seasonal allergies are categorized by certain airborne substances, which only appear during certain times of year, most often during the spring and fall months, though summer allergies are common as well.

More commonly known as hay fever, these allergies do not always coincide with summer when hay is normally harvested and rarely includes fever, so the term "hay fever" can be a little misleading.

Hay fever normally causes itchiness of the top of the mouth, the nose, back of the throat, or the eyes. This itchiness can come about very quickly. Symptoms also include a runny nose, as well as a stuffed up nose and sneezing. It often causes watery eyes, at times quite heavily watery as well as possible redness of the eyes and eyelids. The nasal lining in the nose can become inflamed and swollen. It can also cause headaches, irritability, as well as wheeziness. Many who experience these types of allergies also suffer from asthma..

Treatment normally depends on the type of allergy and the severity, but normally these type of allergies can be controlled through use of over the counter antihistamines and decongestants. Cromolyn, a non-prescription nasal spray may also be recommended. Cromolyn has to be used regularly to be effective and may only be effective in those areas to which it is applied. Bathing of the eyes with a regular eye wash may also help to alleviate any irritation of the eyes.

There are many known seasonal allergy triggers based on which region of the United States you may reside in. Those in other countries may use the following as a guideline, though allergy triggers may vary from country to country.

In the spring, hay fever is known to be triggered in the southern, eastern and mid-eastern US by trees like juniper, birch, oak, alder, maple, elm and olive. In summer, grasses, such as, redtop, timothy, bluegrasses and orchard grass, are major culprits and in late summer, ragweed usually becomes a prevalent allergy trigger.

In the fall, Russian thistle and sagebrush are known to cause big problems for hay fever sufferers in the western US. Between December and March, cedar (also known as juniper) is a major producer of pollen. Grass in the South-western US has a longer pollination period, which makes for a longer allergy season for those in the southwest region.

If you believe you may be suffering from any form of hay fever, you can try any of the countless over the counter allergy medications on the market. For most cases, these medications will do the trick. If not, be sure to see a doctor as soon as possible for proper diagnosis and treatment. Doing so could make the difference between a happy season and a miserable one.

Dealing With Kiddie Allergies By Charlene Nuble

Allergies are abnormal reactions of the immune system to certain substances. The body's immune system mistakenly believes these substances to be harmful, and produces immunoglobulin E or IgE antibodies to protect the body.

Allergies basically come in two forms. The first is organ related, which can be as mild as a skin rash, a runny nose, or frequent sneezing and coughing. Yet it can also be escalated as loose bowel movement, vomiting, or an asthma attack.

The second type is the more fatal generalized reaction, where several of the body's organs fail to function. Often caused by food allergies, a generalized reaction, such as anaphylaxis, is characterized by swelling of the lips, tongue, throat, or other parts of the body, difficulty in breathing and swallowing, and loss of consciousness. That's why even if allergies are common, it's best for parents to be vigilant and seek medical help as soon as they suspect an allergic reaction.

The Usual Suspects

Allergic reactions are usually triggered by environmental factors and genetic predisposition. A person doesn't inherit a particular allergy, however, just the likelihood of developing allergies. If both parents have allergies, their child has a 50 to 70 per cent change of developing an allergy. Even with no family history of allergies, a child still has up to 15 per cent chance of developing one.

Substances that cause allergic reactions are called allergens. They can be inhalants (minute particles in the air), ingestants (food, medicine), or contactants (chemicals that skin comes into contact with).

Here are the most common allergens

- Dust and dust mites. Dust mites are tiny bugs that live in house dust, feather dusters, and rage. They breed in damp environments, such as air-conditioned and carpeted rooms. Their droppings may cause mild allergic reactions.

- Molds. These are microscopic fungi that are found in humid areas. They send out small spores that can invade the respiratory tract, causing allergic rhinitis. Thousands of mold variants exist, but only a few are significant allergens.

- Pollen. Pollen, borne through the air, are released from plants to fertilize other plants. But some pollen accidentally land inside human noses and mouths.

- Milk. Most infants who are allergic to cow's milk also react unfavorably to goat's milk and soymilk. Milk allergy, which is different from lactose intolerance, usually disappears between ages 2 and 4. Some children never outgrow it, though.

- Crustaceans. Crustaceans such as shrimp or crab and scaly fish such as mackerel, sardines and tuna are the most common seafood allergens.

In treating allergic reactions, doctors can prescribe antihistamines and oral or topical steroids to relieve certain discomforts like itchiness.

In severe cases, immunotherapy or desensitization is recommended. This entails administering weekly injections of the allergen for five to six months. Breastfeeding is the first step in preventing allergic reactions. During the first six months, breast milk is rich in antibodies that can strengthen a child's immune system. Thus, in order to prevent allergy outbreaks, or to, at least, diffuse its onset, feed your babies breastmilk.

For answers to All your frequently asked questions about allergies, please go to: http://www.allergyanswers.net/

San Francisco, CA (ContentDesk) March 15, 2006 -- After years of misinformation to the public about their fries being free of allergens, McDonalds has recently disclosed that the very oil they cook the fries in has allergens in the form of derivatives of dairy, wheat and gluten in it. Allergy specialist, Dr. Ellen Cutler announced today that she has some deep concerns about the publics health and their absolute need to know about the ingredients in their food.Dr. Cutler is the author of the Food Allergy Cure and says that the ingredients in McDonalds frying oil can cause severe allergic reaction to many and children are the most vulnerable. Even the slightest hint of wheat, for example, can cause highly allergic symptoms such as fatigue, asthma, rashes, ADD symptoms, as well as all the myriad of digestive distress such as heartburn, bloating and irritable bowel, she said.

Dairy can also cause a severe allergic reaction for some people and is very common in autistic children and children with ADHD, Just a little bit of dairy can create severe setbacks, she added. Sometimes even a little bit of dairy can cause asthma, severe digestive symptoms, and anaphylactic reaction in individuals and this is especially true for children. Ellen Cutler, DC, MD has written three books on the prevention and treatment of allergies, obesity and chronic health problems, including Winning the War Against Asthma and Allergies, Winning the War Against Immune Disorders and Allergies and The Food Allergy Cure. Her latest work is reflected in her latest book MicroMiracles, Discover the Healing Power of Enzymes (Rodale Press, September 2005). She is available for interviews on this topic. For media interviews call Connie St John, The St John Group, 415-454-2243..

Improving Health and Nutrition: What You Need To Know About Food Allergies
By David Saunders

Food allergies can be a common source of discomfort and symptoms often go undiagnosed. Many people experience the daily effects of food allergies without realizing their unease is actually a food allergy symptom. One of the most common symptoms of a food allergy is weight gain. In the body, water is retained as a way of attempting to protect the body from the irritation of poisonous substances and food allergens. Fat cells also expand to provide a buffer and protect the body. When loosing weight, water is often shed, but the body retains the fat because it is necessary to protect you from these toxins and allergens.

A food allergy specialist will often first ask a patient to write down their three favorite foods and then eliminate those from the diet. A study published in the Lancet found that common food allergens act like morphine-line drugs. This can result in us actually being addicted to the foods that make us sick! The cravings experienced for these foods are based on the same neurochemical responses that lead to drug additions. Removing the three favorite foods from the diet can not only reveal food allergies, without the need for expensive tests, but it can quickly make us feel great after the short period of “withdrawal” to the addictive substances is over.

If tests are required, a blood test is the easiest way to determine food allergies and one blood sample can be used to test with hundreds of foods. The most common blood tests for food allergies are as follows.

* RAST (Radio-Allergo-Sorbent Test)
* ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immuno-Sorben Assay)
* ELISA/ACT (Enzyme Linked Immuno-Sorbent Assay/Activated Cell Test)

Not all food allergies result in immediate symptoms and blood tests can detect delayed symptoms as well as immediate symptoms. If the simple elimination approach does not detect the sources of a food allergy, a blood test may be the only way to find it.

Foods contain literally thousands of substances. Many of these substances change form depending on how it being raw or heated, how it was heated, how fresh it is, what other ingredients it is combined with and even natural “ebbs and tides” in your own immune system. Because of this, no blood test can be 100 percent accurate.

Other common causes of food allergies include poor digestion, nutrient deficiencies, too narrow a food selection in the diet and leaky gut syndrome. Food allergy relief can often be achieved by applying greater awareness of the need for a broad selection of whole foods, and the limitation or elimination of processed foods.

Quercetin, a flavonoid, and glutamine, an amino acid can bring relief to symptoms of food allergies by acting as an anti-inflammatory and anti-allergy agent and restoring intestinal membrane integrity. Adding glyconutrients to the diet can provide additional benefit by supporting the “parts” required for proper cell-to-cell communication and therefore proper immune system function. While some people may be able to reintroduce foods which once caused allergy symptoms, as they improve their diet and focus on an improved state of wellness, variations in genetics leave some people with permanent allergies to certain foods. In such cases, elimination is the only true “cure” for such food allergies.

Dave Saunders is a wellness coach and national speaker. Discover more vital truths about health and wellness at www.glycowellness.com and www.glycoblog.com.

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