- Allergies increase asthma risk & may even harm the heart : 2 studies found IgE, an antibody produced by the body during an allergic reaction is associated with an increased risk of heart attack.
- Peanut allergies are one of the most fatal or even near-fatal food allergies in peanut-sensitive individuals. The nuts can trigger a potentially life-threatening swelling on the lips and airways that is accompanied by a dangerous drop in blood pressure.
- Experts believe that heavy use of antibiotics can pose a problems – studies show that repeated rounds of antibiotics in the first year of life increases a child’s chances of developing asthma and all types of allergies. As for adults, antibiotics disrupt the healthy balance of gastrointestinal flora which will bring out yeast growth. An abundance of yeast disturbs the gastrointestinal mucosa, which is a protective barrier that helps prevent undigested food particles from passing into the blood stream. When this barrier breaks down, those food particles slip through, making the body think that they are dangerous, therefore triggering food allergies and even possibly makingg the body more sensitive to other allergens including pollen and pet dander or causing existing allergies to worsen.
- Cut down on foods like meat, eggs and dairy products even if you are not sensitive to them. They contain arachidonic acid which the body uses to produce inflammatory prostaglandins and leukotrienes.
- Common foods that cause allergies are eggs, dairy products, nuts, shellfish, wheat, oranges and strawberries. To check if you are allergic to any of them, stop taking them for at least 4 months then if allergic symptoms like skin rashes, nasal congestion, tiredness, joint pain or frequent infectns disappear or lessen, chances are you are allergic to them. Add the foods one at a time, one per week, then see if symptoms return or worsen. Once you have identified the food, avoid it for at least 4 months before you re-introduce it into your diet, in small quantities until you are able to find a level that will not trigger symptoms.
Chapter: Allergies :: 3 May 2007
