Prevent & Fight Allergies the Natural Way
Some of the most common allergy symptoms are constant coughing, sniffling, excessive mucus formation and a blocked nose. This can lead to or be associated with a variety of diseases of the airways, such as asthma, bronchitis, hay fever, and sinusitis. The most serious and life-threatening of these is undoubtedly asthma.
Even with earlier diagnosis and more hospitalisation, deaths from asthma have tripled and the number of new cases diagnosed each year has increased by 160% since 1980.
Why is this debilitating disorder becoming more widespread and dangerous? The reasons are many: the declining quality of our diets, stressful or inactive lifestyles, increasing exposure to airborne and food allergens, increased incidence of other allergic conditions, chemicals and toxins in our environment, overuse of aspirin and aspirin substitutes, sulphates in white wine as well as dried fruits and other processed foods, and an overdependence on inhalers.
An effective and lasting approach to treating asthma and many nasal or sinus-related problems is to address the underlying causes of airway inflammation and hyper-irritability, instead of merely providing temporary relief for wheezing, coughing, sneezing and shortness of breath.
This begins with the identification and elimination of airborne and food allergens. The top suspects are wheat, and milk and eggs, while colouring, preservatives (especially sulphites) and other chemical food additives may also be implicated, along with dust, mites, mould, animal dander and cockroach antigens.
Improving nutrition will strengthen the immune system and reduce allergic reactions. There are also many excellent natural anti-inflammatory herbs and nutrients that can make a big difference. Among these are quercetin and butterbur.
The one daily supplement that often reduces allergic symptoms across the board is quercetin, a chemical compound known as a bioflavonoid and found in plants. Sometimes the use of quercetin can allow a person to reintroduce allergic foods with no symptoms.
Quercetin is naturally found in wine, but not beer; tea, but not coffee; and the outer layers of red and yellow onions, but not white onions. Apples, lettuce, chives, berries, cherries, algae, tree bark and other plant materials also contain quercetin. The most studies, potent and versatile of all 4000 bioflavonoids, quercetin stabilises mast cells in allergic patients. Most studies have shown that these mast cells are unstable in allergy sufferers, and too readily release large quantities of the chemical culprits behind allergic symptoms. Quercetin is also a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent.
For the best effect, quercetin should be taken in combination with vitamin C and a high-potency bromelain, the enzyme found in pineapple. For most people, the effective therapeutic dose is 500mg of quercetin in combination with approximately 125mg of high-potency bromelain and 250 to 500mg vitamin C, taken 30 minutes before meals, 2 to 3 times a day. For maintenance (after allergic symptoms have been brought under control), reduce to once or twice daily, 30 minutes before breakfast and/or again before dinner.
Questionnaire: Are you allergic to some kinds of foods?
Symptoms
Do you:
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1) Have asthma? |
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2) Have eczema, skin rashes, itches or dermatitis? |
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3) Have a chronic stuffy or runny nose? |
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4) Repeatedly touch, pick or rub their nose? |
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5) Have allergies, including hay fever? |
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6) Have earaches/frequent ear infections? |
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7) Have tonsillitis? |
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8) Have dark circles under the eyes or puffy eyes? |
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9) Have migraines or headaches? |
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10) Have tummy aches, bloating, flatulence or diarrhea? |
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11) Crave certain foods (not sugar), such as milk or bread? |
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12) React to, avoid or omit certain foods due to intolerance or sensitivity? |
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13) React to mould, dust, pets, chemicals, additives? |
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Diet
Do you:
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1) Frequently eat wheat-based foods such as bread, rolls, pasta, biscuits, cakes, pastries or wheat cereal? |
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2) Frequently consume dairy produce such as milk, cheese or yogurt? |
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If you have ticked five or more of the boxes above, chances are you may have a food allergy, intolerance or sensitivity.
Malani du Toit
Dietician
