Allergies
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Fibre Helps Asthma - If you like this post - share it with others ! A potential ground breaking treatment for asthma has been discovered by scientists from Switzerland. The treatment simply involves eating more fruit and vegetables. The study, published in the journal Nature Medicine, suggested a connection between the boost in processed food consumption and the increase in asthma rates over the last 30 years. The team of scientists from the University of Lausanne conducted tests on mice and the results found that those with high fibre diets were less likely to suffer with serious inflammatory respiratory symptoms. The team found that the extra soluble fibre, found in fruits and vegetables, was converted into short chain fatty acids, which have an anti-inflammatory action. Whilst adding more fruit and vegetables to the diet is an ideal way to get more fatty acids into the system, an omega 3 supplement would have a similar effect. For further information on the link between asthma and diet please read: Does fast food really increase the risk of Asthma? Can Vitamin D Reduce Asthma Symptoms? Vitamin C helps Childhood Asthma
What is Gluten Allergy & Intolerance? - If you like this post - share it with others ! Gluten is a protein that is found in wheat, oats, rye, barley and oats. You will find gluten in foods such as bread, rolls, cakes, flour, pasta, biscuits, pastries, noodles, pizza, muffins and couscous. These are just a few examples, but you can see that gluten is present in many foods that are consumed in a western diet. We are exposed to a lot of gluten on a daily basis, which may explain why gluten intolerance and allergies are being increasingly diagnosed in the western world. Most people who have gluten intolerance are actually not aware that they have this condition. Before we continue, it is worth noting the difference between an allergy and intolerance. A gluten allergy results in a condition called coeliac disease. If we were to eat a food that we are allergic to, the body immune system reacts in such a way as to protect itself. The immune system produces antibodies (IgE antibody), in response to the allergic food (the allergen). The IgE antibody triggers the release of histamine from mast cells, which are found in the nasal passages, throat, eyes, intestines and other body... [read more]
Top Tips For Preventing Hay Fever - If you like this post - share it with others ! There are some important tips to follow to avoid having your summer ruined by hay fever this year. Apart from taking your natural hay fever remedies, it is useful to follow some general recommendations so that you can enjoy the weather this summer. Avoid drying your clothes outside as the pollen collects on the surface of the fabrics. Shower and wash your hair thoroughly when you come indoors after being outside to remove the pollen that collects during the day. Change your clothes after coming in from outside as the pollen sticks to your clothes, and wash these clothes before wearing again. Shower before going to bed, as the pollen sticks to your skin and hair. Keep all car windows closed when driving. Use a good quality air purifier and air filter at home. This will help to filter out pollens and pollutants from the air. Eat healthily, with plenty of fruits, grains, nuts, seeds and vegetables to help maintain a healthy immune system. Mow your lawn regularly before the grass flowers and releases its pollens. Avoid tobacco smoke which can also irritate your lungs and eyes. Try and... [read more]
National Allergy Week - April marked thestart of National Allergy Week. According to Allergy UK, one person in everyfour is affected by allergies at some point in their lives. Latest figures showthat allergy cases in the UK are the highest in Europe. The startling fact isthat this problem is worsening. Hospital admissions for anaphylactic reactionshave increased seven times since 1990, and the number of cases of foodpoisoning has increased five-fold in the same period.
Probiotics for Hayfever - If you like this post - share it with others ! Probiotics have traditionally been used for digestive complaints and as supplements for the immune system. New research has found that these supplements can reduce the allergic symptoms of grass and tree pollens. Hayfever is an allergic reaction to pollen that causes the immune system to release histamine which causes many of the symptoms such as itchy sore eyes, sneezing, runny nose and itchy throat. Conventional medicines for hay fever are anti-histamines, steroid nasal sprays and eye drops containing sodium cromoglycate. I have noticed, in my work as a pharmacist, that these medications are not as effective as they were a few years ago. Doctors are prescribing anti-histamines such as cetirizine, chlorpheniramine and loratidine in very high doses just to control the symptoms. Most hay fever sufferers take a combination of these products on a daily basis just to get through the day. These medicines do also have a number of side effects, and some people do not find them very effective. The main side effects are drowsiness and dry eyes. A clinical trial was performed on 47 school children in Finland who had an allergy to birch pollen (the... [read more]
