Allergy Season

Allergic reactions are becoming more and more common, possibly due to an increase in environmental pollution - we're now each exposed to about 3,000 chemicals every year. These can cause a wide range of reactions in the form of asthma, eczema, hay fever, psoriasis, tonsillitis, sinusitis, mouth ulcers, irritable bowel symptoms, period problems, bloating, fluid retention, blood sugar fluctuations, weight gain, skin rashes, joint pain, poor concentration, depression and emotional disturbances. So what can do you about it?

We are in the middle of a high allergy season now! You might fear what this year's allergy season will bring. One of the ways to treat allergies is to get allergy shots (immunotherapy). Your doctor can inject small doses of substances that you are allergic to (allergens) under your skin. This helps your body to build up a resistance to the allergen, which can result in fewer or less severe symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Your allergist will use an extract of grass, weed, or tree pollen; dust mites, or animal dander for allergy shots. You must first have skin testing to find out which allergen you are allergic to. While alternative medicines might not work as well as allergy shots or conventional proscription medications, you might like to know how altering your diet can help your body deal with allergies with no side effect.

In some cases eating the right products and, more importantly, eliminating the wrong ones, can prevent the allergic reactions. Your allergy may be caused by a certain products, but it is alway your natural defence system that needs to be boosted if you're to overcome the allergy.

First, a diet rich in fish, especially sardines, salmon, or tuna, can help by providing Omega-3 fats that help your body produce inflammation-fighting prostaglandins. Not all prostaglandins fight inflammation, but the kind provided by Omega-3 fats do. Omega-3 fats are available in capsule form, though getting them in your diet is probably better. By the way, when you make your choice for Omega-3 make sure that it is purified from heavy metals, mercury and after taste! In addition, foods rich in vitamin E have also shown to help the body fight allergic reactions.

When your immune system works effectively, it protects you from invading micro-organisms - without going into overdrive. An allergic reaction takes place when your immune system misinterprets a normally harmless substance, such as grass, cat fur or shampoo, as an invader. It responds by producing antibodies, which stimulate the release of saliva and histamine, causing inflammation and constriction of the airways. In the case of a real infection (such as flu), histamine provides vital protection for your body. However, in a false allergic reaction (such as hay fever or a food allergy), the body overreacts to a non-toxic agent, causing unnecessary inflammation and discomfort. In this case, the liver usually comes to the rescue by metabolising the histamine - but if your liver is under stress, it won't be able to function efficiently and the allergic reaction will persist.

In this case an intestinal ditoxification program followed by a liver ditoxification one and combined with not exosting aerobic exercise with resistance might sagnificantly improve your conditions.

For more information visit http://www.tuneup.org.