Allergies

5 Foods that will improve your health and reduce your allergies

1. Eat more organic fruits and vegetables Fruits and vegetables are full of beneficial vitamins, minerals and enzymes needed to help your immune system run effectively. If your body does not have the right ingredients it is impossible for the immune system to work correctly. A good multi vitamin / multi mineral is OK for supplementation but not adequate to supply all the essential nutrients. It is better to buy organic because there are more vitamins and minerals and less toxic chemicals. Here is a list of three of the best options.

Broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables (Brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli sprouts) Broccoli contains twice the vitamin C of an orange and has almost as much calcium as whole milk--and the calcium is better absorbed. It contains selenium, a mineral that has been found to have anti-cancer and anti-viral properties. It also has antioxidant properties. It is loaded with indoles that are known agents in protection against cancer, especially breast, prostate and lung cancer. Isothiocyanates in broccoli fight cancer by promoting the production of antioxidants and by inhibiting enzymes that allow carcinogens in cigarette smoke to damage DNA. Men who ate three or more servings of cruciferous vegetables per week had a 41% decreased risk of prostate cancer compared with men who ate less than one serving per week.

Berries are loaded with antioxidants and other nutrients. They can have a huge impact on boosting and maintaining your nutritional health by decreasing your risk of cancer, preventing heart disease and stroke by reducing the build up of so called "bad" cholesterol, guarding against Alzheimer's and other neurological diseases, combating aging and reversing short term memory loss, relieving arthritis inflammation, fighting infection and bolstering the immune system, optimizing vision health and reversing the causes of macular degeneration and blindness, and finally improving motor skills. Epicatechin is found in cranberries and blueberries. It is believed to inhibit the attachment of the bacteria to the lining of the bladder thus causing the bacteria to be eliminated in the urine rather than attaching to the bladder wall, multiplying and causing an infection.

Bright Colored Raw Vegetables: (Carrots, Peppers, Tomato, and Sweet Potato) The more brightly colored the better. The bright color comes from the carotenoids, which are great for eye health, have been shown to decrease certain kinds of cancer and can convert into vitamin A. These vegetables, especially tomatoes and peppers are also full of vitamin E. Researchers found that every additional milligram of vitamin E consumed in the diet lowered antibody (IgE) levels by more than 5% with the beneficial effect leveling off at 7 mg. The nutrients in these vegetables are useful for aiding wound healing, helping scars to fade, and protecting against sun damage.

2. Probiotics: Our body has trillions of bacteria that are supposed to be in our systems. Poor diets and medications such as birth control and antibiotics kill off healthy bacteria. Healthy bacteria help break down food, reduce allergies, decrease inflammation in the gut, make important nutrients, and control yeast, mold, and other bacteria. Probiotics are in fermented foods like sauerkraut, yogurt and kefir. Many strains of probiotics are helpful in eliminating food sensitivities. A good supplement includes multiple strains of healthy bacteria with at least 5 billion live cultures.

3. Essential Fatty Acids: called Omega 3 or fish oil. The ratio of omega 6 to omega 3 fatty acids in both your diet and your body should be 1:1.  Too much omega 6 or too little omega 3 leads to improper cell function, which causes excessive inflammation, decreased immune function and increased susceptibility to virtually every chronic illness.

Oily fish: Especially Salmon or Sardines: These fish contain the most Omega 3. Over 2000 scientific studies provide evidence of the importance of EPA and DHA essential fatty acids for the maintenance and restoration of health and the prevention of disease. Omega 3 is called an Essential Fatty Acid because it is required for health and the cells of the body cannot make it. Omega 3 EFAs play a role in virtually every human function including growth and development, digestion, brain and nerve function, immune function, hormone production and regulation, maintenance of skin and bones, regulation of healing and inflammation, heart function, vision, cholesterol levels, and even emotions and behavior.  Having a diet that is deficient in Omega 3 EFAs creates a pro-inflammatory state within the body.  This is very significant because inflammation is at the root of virtually all of the common chronic illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and depression as well as the autoimmune and atopic diseases such as arthritis, Crohn’s Disease, irritable bowel, psoriasis, eczema, allergies, fibromyalgia, lupus, and multiple sclerosis.  Inflammation is also a major factor in dysmenorrhea (menstrual pain and/or cramping), headaches, and back and neck pain. *Due to the toxic environment of our lakes and oceans most fish is contaminated with mercury so a clean and pure fish oil supplement is highly recommended.

Flax & Walnuts - Eating flax and walnuts are a great way to fend off hunger. Flax and walnuts are loaded with omega 3 fatty acids. It is best if they are raw and unsalted. You can get the similar benefits from almonds, pistachios, filberts, macadamia nuts, hazelnuts and cashews. Walnuts contain an antioxidant called ellagic acid that supports the immune system, and are relatively high in L-arginine, an essential amino acid that is converted in your body to nitric oxide. Nitric Oxide helps keep the inner walls of your blood vessels smooth and allows blood vessels to relax. Flax is great for digestive health. Use organic flaxseeds and grind 2-6 tablespoons in a coffee grinder. The problem results when people, usually vegetarians, use flax as the sole supply of omega-3 fats. That simply won't work. These are also loaded with vitamin E.

4. Digestive Enzymes – Digestive enzymes help break down the food we eat. Enzymes are made by different glands in the body and released throughout the digestive tract. Some enzymes break down carbohydrates, others break down fat, and others break down proteins and amino acids. Foods also contain enzymes; for example a raw apple has digestive enzymes necessary to help our body digest and extract the nutrients from the apple. Heat from food processing destroys enzymes. Chemicals found in pesticides, fertilizers, medications and foods like soy also break down enzymes. Eating raw fruits and vegetables is a good way to add digestive enzymes to our diet. Supplementing with enzymes is often a good idea due to poor diet.

5. Purified water Our body is made of over 70% water. Water is necessary for almost all body functions from digesting food, to contracting muscles and even brain function. Make sure to drink water that is filtered, because there is massive pollution like chlorine, fluoride, fertilizers, pesticides and estrogen hormones in the water these days. Reverse osmosis can filter out most impurities and toxins. You should be drinking half your weight in ounces of water. Example if I weigh 200 lbs is should drink 100 ounces of water a day.

4 Things to reduce or eliminate from your Diet

1. Artificial Flavorings, Artificial Colors, Artificial Sweetners. These are all man made chemicals that alter the look and taste of foods. Your body is not good at processing these chemicals and when the break down many of them release toxic materials. Many of these toxins have been proven to cause nuerological defects and cancer in humans and animals. Other side effects include headaches, tingling in hands and feet, memory loss, and hyperactivity.

2. The White Stuff - Highly processed sugars like table sugar, high fructose corn syrup, white flower cause a sudden spike in the bodies insulin levels. This causes stress and raises cortisol levels which decreases the immune system and forces your body to store fat. Sugars and other processed foods low the body’s natural ph balance which damages joints and makes an ideal breeding ground for yeast and disease causing bacteria. Without insulin which lowers blood sugar, sugar would literally kill you because of its damaging effects on the nerves.

3. Avoid Dairy - Proteins called casein in milk increases phlegm and mucous production, and contributes to allergies, poor lymph drainage, sinus infections and ear infections.

Allergies – “Dairy products may play a major role in the development of allergies, asthma, sleep difficulties, and migraine headaches.” Pediatrics, 1989, 84(4) Dairy products are the leading cause of food allergy, often revealed by diarrhea, constipation, and fatigue. Julie Klotter, M.D. Townsend Medical Letter, May 1995 “infants with persistent cow’s milk protein intolerance exhibited atopic disease: asthma, rhinitis (running nose), eczema.” Journal of Clinical Experimental Allergy, 1998 Jul, 28:7

Cancer – “Human insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) and bovine (cow) IGF-I are identical.” – Science, vol. 249, August 24, 1990 “IGF-I plays a major role in breast cancer growth.” – European Journal of Cancer, 29A (16), 1993 “A significant association between high circulating IGF-I concentrations and an increased risk of lung, colon, prostrate, and pre-menopausal breast cancer has recently been reported.” International Journal of Cancer, 2000 Aug, 87;4 “IGF-I levels increased significantly in the milk drinking group…” Jounral of the American Dietetic Association, vol 99, no. 10. October 1999.

Diabetes – “Studies have suggested that milk protein is responsible for the onset of diabetes…” New England Journal of Medicine, July 30, 1992 “Introduction of dairy products and high milk consumption during childhood may increase the child’s risk of developing juvenile diabetes.” Diabetology, 1994; 37(4)

Ear Infections – “Cow’s milk allergy is associated with recurrent otitis media (ear infection) during childhood.” Acta Otolaryngol 1999, 119(8)”Dairy products contribute to a surprising number of health problems (including)chronic ear problems…” Benjamin Spock, M.D. Child Care, 7^th Edition

Osteoporosis – Drinking milk does not prevent bone loss. In order to absorb calcium your body needs magnesium. Milk contains only small amounts of magnesium. “Countries with the highest rates of osteoporosis, such as the U.S., England, and Sweden, consume the most milk.” – Nutrition Action Healthletter, June 1993 “Women consuming greater amounts of calcium from dairy foods had significantly increased risks of hip fractures.” Harvard study of 78,000 women, American Journal of Public Health, 1997;87

Stomach Problems – Lactose, a milk sugar, is made up of two sugars, glucose and galactose. Most adults “lack” the enzyme, lactase, to break down lactose. Instead, lactose is broken down by bacteria in the lower intestines. Bacteria eat too. The problem is, after bacteria dine, their own wastes combine with those sugars to ferment into gas and toxins, causing bloating pain, cramps, and diarrhea.” Robert Cohen, Milk A-Z, 2001 pg 26. “Overall, about 75% of the world’s population lose their lactase enzymes after weaning.” Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 1996; 9.

Info from this handout taken from Robert Cohen, Milk A-Z 2001. ISBN # 0-9659196-8-4:

4. Avoid Soy and Soy products - Most soy in the United States is genetically modified and it also has one of the highest percentages of contamination from pesticides of our foods. Soy contains high levels of the heavy metals manganese, fluoride and aluminum.

Brain Damage - Studies showed that men who ate soy had 2.4 times the risk of later developing

Alzheimer's disease, had more cognitive impairment, had lower brain weight and showed faster brain aging.

Low Thyroid – Soy’s goitrogens damage the thyroid which causes fatigue and lowered metabolism

Cancer – Studies show mixed results for cancers like prostate, uterus, breast, and increased risk for cancers such as colon, pancreas and thyroid. Trans fats in soy oil increases the risk of most cancer.

Osteoporosis – Soy’s oxalates and phyates prevent the proper absorption of calcium. This leads to osteoporosis and increases the risk of kidney stones.

Weakened Immune system – Heavy metals and phyates (deplete zinc) damage the immune system.

Infertility, low sex drive and defects in the reproductive system – Soy’s plant hormones mimic estrogen and cause problems in males such as decreased genital size, decreased sperm count, low sex drive and under development. These same hormones in women lead to younger puberty for girls, fertility problems, especially miscarriage, and irregular menstrual cycles.

Digestive problems and irritability – Soy’s oligosaccharides cause bloating and gas. Saponins in soy damage the intestines. Protease inhibitors break down digestive enzymes.

2 Final Recommendations

Get Enough Rest and Aerobic exercise – Your body was designed to move. Think about what happens to animals when they are placed in captivity. Exercise stimulates your brain and increases your metabolism which will trigger your immune system to respond faster. Exercise helps offset damage from mental stress. Studies show the new minimum should be 30 minutes per day, six days a week. Sleep is equally as important. Make sure to get enough sleep because this is when your body recovers. Studies show that people who average less than 6 hours or more than 10 hours of sleep get diseases faster and reduce their life expectancy drastically.

Healthy nervous system. In the first few pages of any anatomy of physiology textbook we learn that all cells, tissues and organs in the body including the immune system are under the direct control of the nerve system. The spine protects the nervous system. Shifts in the spine called subluxations interfere with the normal communication of the nerve system. Subluxation is dangerous because it can lead to problems with the immune system and organ malfunction. Make sure your spine is healthy so that your nervous system has the best chance of optimal function. Chiropractic will help your body run at its optimum by making sure the spine and nerves are functioning at their best. We have seen many testimonials of patients who were able to get off their allergy medications by only getting adjusted.