With obesity and diabetes reaching epidemic proportions, some shoppers are moving away from processed sugars and turning to honey as a natural sweetener.

Nathan Sheets, owner of Texas’ North Dallas Honey, says there’s a movement away from processed foods toward holistic and organic products.

Local growers say raw honey contains antioxidants and pollen from local vegetation that helps allergy sufferers relieve their symptoms.
“So many of the people who eat North Dallas Honey originally start out eating for allergy purposes, and so, I think that the progression in the food of wanting unprocessed, green food is really just a movement that started a long time ago,” Sheets says.

Chef and dietitian Jennifer Hood said she uses honey in her everyday cooking.

Honey is fresh, natural and very versatile and can be used on its own to highlight the sweetness of products such as brie cheese and cranberry sauce.

Hood says she has also found crowd-pleasing ways to use honey in meat or side dishes and, of course, deserts.

“So going green with honey will be fun and delicious and healthier for the entire family,” she says. “There are numerous recipe books using honey as the key ingredient, and there is nothing better than bringing the whole family together for some sweetness at the table.”

http://www.wcsh6.com/news/health/story.aspx?storyid=137959&catid=8

Triclosan is a chemical compound widely used in products such as antibacterial soaps, toothpaste, pens, diaper bags and medical devices. Bisphenol A (BPA) is found in many plastics and, for example, as a protective lining in food cans. Both of these chemicals are in a class of environmental toxicants called endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs), which are believed to negatively impact human health by mimicking or affecting hormones.

Using data from the 2003-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, U-M researchers compared urinary BPA and triclosan with cytomegalovirus (CMV) antibody levels and diagnosis of allergies or hay fever in a sample of U.S. adults and children over age 6. Allergy and hay fever diagnosis and CMV antibodies were used as two separate markers of immune alterations.

“We found that people over age 18 with higher levels of BPA exposure had higher CMV antibody levels, which suggests their cell-mediated immune system may not be functioning properly,” said Erin Rees Clayton, research investigator at the U-M School of Public Health and first author on the paper.

Researchers also found that people age 18 and under with higher levels of triclosan were more likely to report diagnosis of allergies and hay fever.

There is growing concern among the scientific community and consumer groups that these EDCs are dangerous to humans at lower levels than previously thought.

“The triclosan findings in the younger age groups may support the ‘hygiene hypothesis,’ which maintains living in very clean and hygienic environments may impact our exposure to micro-organisms that are beneficial for development of the immune system,” said Allison Aiello, associate professor at the U-M School of Public Health and principal investigator on the study.

As an antimicrobial agent found in many household products, triclosan may play a role in changing the micro-organisms to which we are exposed in such a way that our immune system development in childhood is affected.

“It is possible that a person can be too clean for their own good,” said Aiello, who is also a visiting associate professor of epidemiology at Harvard.

Previous animal studies indicate that BPA and triclosan may affect the immune system, but this is the first known study to look at exposure to BPA and triclosan as it relates to human immune function, Aiello said.

One surprise finding is that with BPA exposure, age seems to matter, said Rees Clayton. In people 18 or older, higher amounts of BPA were associated with higher CMV levels, but in people younger than 18 the reverse was true.

“This suggests the timing of the exposure to BPA and perhaps the quantity and length of time we are exposed to BPA may be affecting the immune system response,” Rees Clayton said.

This is just the first step, she said, but a very important one. Going forward, researchers would like to study the long-term effects of BPA and triclosan in people to see if they can establish a causal relationship.

One limitation of the study is that it measured disease and exposure simultaneously and thus shows only part of the picture, Aiello said.
“It is possible, for example, that individuals who have an allergy are more hygienic because of their condition, and that the relationship we observed is, therefore, not causal or is an example of reverse causation,” Aiello said.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101129101920.htm

“In the past, persons with egg allergy were told not to get the influenza vaccine because the vaccine contained egg protein and could trigger an allergic reaction. Research in the past year now shows that influenza vaccines contain only tiny amounts of egg protein. Clinical studies proved that the vast majority of persons with egg allergy did not experience a reaction when immunized with the influenza vaccine,” said co-author of the paper James T. Li, MD, PhD, FAAAAI.

Based on the examined research, the authors no longer recommend the practice of skin testing to the seasonal Trivalent Influenza Vaccine (TIV), although it may be useful as an extra level of caution in cases where the patient has a documented history of a past allergic reaction to the vaccine.

Anyone with a history of suspected egg allergy should first be evaluated by an allergist/immunologist for appropriate testing and diagnosis. Patients with a confirmed egg allergy can then receive the vaccine safely using one of two protocols: as a 2-step graded challenge or as a single, age-appropriate dose.

“It is not necessary to withhold influenza vaccination from egg allergic patients. Our recommendations provide two flexible approaches to vaccination. Each approach is backed with recent evidence that it is safe,” according to co-author Matthew J. Greenhawt, MD, MBA. “Most allergists should be able to identify with one of our recommended approaches, and as such should be able to vaccinate their egg allergic patients with confidence.”

The authors do note that the safety of these vaccines in individuals with severe egg allergy needs to be studied further.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/204414.php

But if you’re like me, battling your allergies is a year-round affair.

Some days are certainly better than others, but overall, I have been a chronic user of anti-histamines since my teens. Cleratin, Reactine, Aerius, and Life Brand versions thereof have all at one point or another helped me breathe.

So you may imagine my concern when I came across a recent paper published in the journal Obesity discussing a possible link between the use of anti-histamines and body weight.
During a graduate course in neuro-endocrinology I took a couple of years ago, I learned about numerous central signals than control energy balance.

Histamine was not one of those.

Apparently, histamine is a neurotransmitter which, in addition to mediating the inflammatory response, and thus symptoms of allergies, is known to suppress appetite.

Thus, antihistamines, which work by blocking the H1 histamine receptor, may remove this appetite suppressing signal. Indeed, the authors of the current study point out that increased appetite and weight gain is a reported side-effect of antihistamines. (I just checked the packaging of my antihistamines and there was no mention of increased appetite or weight gain.)
To investigate this link, Ratliff and colleagues used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey during the 2005-2006 years.

“268 adults (174 females and 94 males) reported use of an H1 antihistamine and completed all outcome measure components. 599 age- and gender-matched controls (401 females and 198 males) were used as a comparison for body measurements, plasma glucose, insulin concentrations, and lipid levels.”

What did they find?

“After adjusting for gender, prescription H1 antihistamine users had significantly higher weight (P < 0.001), BMI (P < 0.001), waist circumference (P < 0.001), and insulin levels (P < 0.005) compared to healthy controls.”

Specifically, controlling for age and gender, those who take anti-histamines were 55% more likely to be overweight than their non-allergy-suffering peers.
However, the increased risk of overweight with antihistamine use was more pronounced for men than women (70% vs 21% increased likelihood).
No differences between the groups were observed for any of the other metabolic risk factors studied.

Of course, this is only a correlative study, and countless other confounding factors may be playing a role. Nevertheless, the preliminary observation is intriguing.
I have tried to think back to times when I take antihistamines and recount whether I had an increased appetite, and I’m not sure my personal experiences corroborate this observation.
Thus, for the sake of proper breathing, I’ll stick to my anti-histamines for the time-being.

I wonder if any of our readers have noted a change in appetite when taking antihistamines.

http://blogs.plos.org/obesitypanacea/2010/12/20/sneezing-your-way-to-a-big-belly-do-allergy-medications-make-you-fat/

Giuseppe Palmisano and colleagues note growing concern about the potential of certain ingredients in red and white to cause allergy-like symptoms that range from stuffed up noses to headaches to difficulty breathing. So-called wine allergies occur in an estimated 8 percent of people worldwide. Only 1 percent of those involve sulfites, sulfur-containing substances that winemakers add to wine to prevent spoilage and also occur naturally. But the wine components that trigger allergies in the remaining 7 percent are unclear. Studies suggest that glycoproteins — proteins coated with sugars produced naturally as grapes ferment — may be a culprit. However, scientists knew little about the structure and function of these substances in wine.

Their analysis of Italian Chardonnay uncovered 28 glycoproteins, some identified for the first time. The scientists found that many of the grape glycoproteins had structures similar to known allergens, including proteins that trigger allergic reactions to ragweed and latex. The discovery opens to door to development of wine-making processes that minimize formation of the culprit glycoproteins and offer consumers low-allergenic wines.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101117121807.htm

– Reduce moisture in your home to keep dust mites in check. Maintain humidity below 55 percent, and don’t use a humidifier or a vaporizer.
– Filter out dust and other allergens by installing a high efficiency furnace filter with a MERV rating of 11 or 12, and be sure to change it every three months.
– Banish allergens from the bedroom (where you spend a third of your life). “Keep pets and their dander out, and encase mattresses and pillows with dust-mite proof covers,” said allergist Dr. Myron Zitt, ACAAI past president. “Limit curtains use blinds that can be washed instead.”
– Keep it clean. A clean home is especially important for allergy sufferers, who should wear a NIOSH-rated N95 mask while dusting, a chore that should be done regularly. Wash bedding and stuffed animals in hot water every 14 days and use a vacuum with a HEPA filter.
– Turn on the fan or open the window to reduce mold growth in bathrooms (while bathing) and kitchens (while cooking). Wear latex-free gloves and clean visible mold with a five-percent beach solution and detergent.
– Don’t overlook the garage if it’s attached to the house. Noxious odors or fumes can trigger asthma, so move insecticides, stored gasoline and other irritants to a shed, and don’t start the car and let it run in the garage.
– Box up books and knick-knacks and limit the number of indoor plants. When you are buying new furniture, like chairs or sofas, opt for leather or other nonporous surfaces to make cleaning easier.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/212510.php

According to research, McDonald is not alone. Ozone undermines good asthma control for people in cities and towns all over the country.

Why Air Pollution Triggers Asthma
While air pollution does not cause asthma, it can definitely trigger asthma symptoms or an asthma attack if you already have this condition.

“We know that people with asthma, children and adults, can have an aggravation of their asthma when [pollution] levels in the air are higher,” says Kenneth Rosenman, MD, chief of the division of occupational and environmental medicine at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Mich. “There are studies [of] kids living in neighborhoods around the approaches to bridges or tunnels, showing they have more respiratory problems than kids living out in the country somewhere. It [pollution] clearly can aggravate [asthma symptoms]. When there are air pollution episodes, when the levels are higher, we consider asthmatics to be a susceptible population.”

The airways of an asthmatic can be considered “hypersensitive,” which means that elements in the air cause inflammation and constriction that lead to coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. “We describe an asthmatic as someone who has sensitive airways the same way some people have touchy skin. Any irritating stimulant, like cigarette smoke or ozone, that may not produce a reaction in a normal person will lead to wheezing or an attack [in an asthmatic],” explains Richard Castriotta, MD, professor of medicine and associate director of the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine at the University of Texas Houston Medical School.

Understanding Ozone
One of the leading contributors to outdoor air pollution is ozone, whose basic unit consists of three oxygen molecules. Ozone gas is usually found in the earth’s upper atmosphere where it forms a protective barrier against harmful rays from the sun, but it can also form in the lower atmosphere, where people can breathe it in. Under certain conditions — usually in the warm, sunny days of summer — ozone collects in the lower atmosphere, contributing to the smog, haze, or “air pollution” that obscures city skylines. This layer of pollution is a result of sun and heat acting on the oxygen and many other substances, including chemicals released by chemical plants, gas pumps, power plants, and vehicle emissions.

The risk of asthma rises as the concentration of ozone in the air rises, according to hospitalization data on more than a million children between 1995 and 2000. With each increase of ozone by one part per billion (a measure of its concentration in the air), the risk of asthma hospitalization went up 22 percent, with children under age 2 at the greatest risk.

Preventing Asthma When Ozone is High
Many cities and local news channels now alert the public when ozone levels are considered dangerous for people with asthma. You can also check the Web site of the Environmental Protection Agency (www.epa.gov/airnow) for up-to-date information.

To avoid an asthma attack on high ozone days, try the following these suggestions:

Exercise indoors or early in the day when ozone levels are lowest. As the day progresses and the temperature rises, ozone levels also get higher.
Stay away from high-traffic areas. Don’t go walking along the freeway or places where cars tend to idle. Keep in mind, though, that living in a rural or suburban area doesn’t necessarily protect you; ozone related to vehicle emissions can drift hundreds of miles.
Make sure you know what to do if you start to experience asthma symptoms.
Use ozone-reducing air filters indoors to control the ozone entering your home, although on high-alert days you should keep the doors and windows closed as much as possible.
If you have asthma, know where to get accurate and timely information on ozone levels in your area, and be sure to check these sources frequently. Be willing to change your daily routine so that you can stay indoors if air quality is poor — your lungs will thank you for it!

http://www.everydayhealth.com/asthma/air-pollution-link-to-asthma.aspx

The incidence of allergies in children has increased over the past few decades, especially in the West. In Sweden, 30 to 40 percent of children have some kind of allergy. A combination of environmental and lifestyle factors during pregnancy and early infancy are thought to be responsible for the sharp rise in allergic diseases.

“Psychosocial factors and the stress hormone cortisol are associated with allergic diseases,” says Dr Fredrik Stenius of the Department of Clinical Research and Education at Stockholm South General Hospital. “Our study found that children with low salivary cortisol levels as infants have a lower prevalence of allergies during the first two years of life, compared to other children.”

The team has previously described a link between a lower prevalence of allergies in school children and an anthroposophic lifestyle.

“And now we’ve found the same link in infants from families that follow anthroposophic lifestyles, and that they have relatively low levels of cortisol,” adds Dr Stenius, who earned his PhD earlier in the year with a thesis on the subject.

The researchers believe that factors related to stress regulation also influence the development of infant allergies and will now monitor the infants from the neonate period and into childhood.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/239058.php

“The dust from the boxes and on the decorations that have been packed away in dank basements or dusty attics is triggering reactions in my allergy and asthma patients,” said Joseph Leija, MD, allergist at Gottlieb Memorial Hospital. During the allergy season (March – October) Dr. Leija is responsible for providing the official allergy count for the Midwest available at Gottlieb’s Web site and phone line, and through Chicago media outlets.

Carol Leopold suffers from severe allergies and so do her 12-year-old twins. “My husband and daughter are fine but fresh Christmas trees and fur from Santa’s suit make my sons and I choke up and stop breathing,” she said. “I still go all out for the holidays but with three artifical trees , silk poinsettias and lots of carefully scrutinized nut-free foods,” she said.

The holidays are supposed to be some of the happiest times of the year. But popular seasonal items such as fresh trees, scented air fresheners, live plants and more make the holidays miserable for many.

Here are Dr. Leija’s top five tips for easy breathing this holiday season:

1 – Use an Artificial Tree

The clean fragrance from the balsam, fir and pine trees available on every corner tree lot is pleasing yet also aggravates respiratory conditions. Not only is the scent a problem, but the dust, mites and other pollutants on the live tree wreak havoc on your airways and nasal passages. “The water in the tree holder also grows stagnant and collects mold, which is detrimental to those with allergies,” added Dr. Leija.

2 – Never Use Scented Candles or Home Fragrance Oils

The popularity of home fragrance products and scented specialty candles reaches its pinnacle during the holidays – and so do allergies. Unplug the electric scent distributors and take a pass on the potpourri simmering pots. “Far from creating an inviting home, the fragrance aggravates the sinuses and respiratory system so sufferers can’t breathe,” said Dr. Leija.

3 – Avoid Real Poinsettias and Fresh Floral Arrangements

“The moist soil encourages the growth of mold. And if there is mold in your house, you are breathing mold spores,” said Dr. Leija. This causes the passageways to swell and restrict airflow and can even causes skin rashes.

4 – Keep The Humidity In Check

Warm and cool air humidifiers are up and running in many homes now that the cold, dry air is here. “Get a gauge and keep the humidity no higher than 48 to 50 percent,” said Dr. Leija. “Too much humidity encourages the growth of mold, which triggers allergic reactions.”

5 – Store Holiday Decorations in Large Plastic Tubs

Save yourself some sneezes next year by purchasing large resealable plastic tubs for storage of decorations. Keep them dusted during the year to avoid build up.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/239157.php

After many years of allergy tests, dietary changes, and natural remedies, I came to the conclusion that I was probably going to have allergies for the rest of my life — and I had no intention of taking medications for them. Thus, I learned to manage the allergies primarily through diet and natural supplements.

Hope for Allergy Sufferers

The good news and hope for other allergy sufferers is that my allergy symptoms virtually disappeared a few years ago by “accident” and have not returned. I now know that my solution may be helpful to many others — and that solution is water.

Even though I had understood the importance of drinking water for many years, no matter how much water I drank, I just couldn’t seem to get hydrated. My skin was dry and my mouth was often parched. Sound familiar?

Studies estimate that 75% of our population suffers the ill health effects associated with chronic dehydration. I now believe that I was dehydrated for many years (since childhood) and my body was in severe drought management mode.

Dehydration and the Histamine Reaction

So, what’s the connection between dehydration and allergies?

Allergies are caused by a histamine reaction in the body. Thus, most people typically reach for over-the-counter antihistamines to alleviate symptoms. Unfortunately, the antihistamines merely mask the problem and often compound the ill effects over time.

The question all allergy sufferers should be asking is: “What causes the histamine reaction associated with allergies?”

In Water: for Health, for Healing, for Life, author Dr. Batmanghelidj writes: “Histamine is an important neurotransmitter that primarily regulates thirst mechanism for increased water intake. It also establishes a system of water rationing for the available water in the drought-stricken body.”

When the body is dehydrated, histamine production increases significantly. Histamine’s primary job is to make sure that the available water in the body is preserved for the most vital functions. Thus, increased histamine is not the problem; it’s one of the body’s ingenious adaptations for survival.

Dehydration Also Affects Antibody Production

In addition, the process of drought management in the body creates a long chain of events that affects numerous functions in the body, including the suppression of antibody production. This means that the body will simply not be as well equipped to deal with unhealthy invaders, such as pollen and other antigens.

Thus, when pollen season is in full swing, our eyes are invaded with the pollen agents, and the dehydrated body lacks the antibodies to adequately neutralize the pollen. Thus, the tear-producing glands of the eyes work overtime to wash the pollen away from the delicate membranes.

The histamine reaction and suppression of antibodies are just two of the many ways the body adapts to dehydration. Obviously, this is not to say that dehydration is the only cause of allergies, but I believe it is the primary cause. And in my case, rehydrating my body was the only thing that really worked for me.

6 Simple Steps to Rehydrate Your Body

The following steps are simple and inexpensive. But don’t be fooled–if you truly want to give water a chance, I encourage you to follow these guidelines strictly for at least three months. In other words, it’s not a quick fix.

If your body has been in drought management for many years, it won’t readily believe the drought is over. You can think of pouring water over dry, parched desert ground. At first the water would just run off it like concrete. But as you keep pouring, hour after hour and day after day, some of the water is going to start absorbing into the cracks and eventually the soil will begin to soften.

I believe this is what happens in the body. In the beginning, the water will most likely “run off” your body, too — increasing your need to urinate. But stick with it! The frequent urination will subside over time and your body will start to absorb and utilize the water better at the cellular level.

1. Drink water instead of other fluids. I believe the primary reason so many people are dehydrated is because we have been enticed to drink other fluids (especially the sweet ones) instead of water. Nothing replaces water in the body!!! Note: caffeine and alcohol are dehydrating in the body, so try to avoid them. If you do drink them during this re-hydration program, you would need to drink an extra glass or two of water just to gain back what you will lose.

2. Drink enough water daily. In order to rehydrate a dehydrated body, you need to drink at least one-half ounce per pound of body weight daily. So, for example, if you weigh 180 pounds, you would drink 90 ounces (about 3 quarts) of water. During exercise or hot weather, you should increase your water intake significantly, depending on how much you sweat, how long you exercise, or how hot the temperature is.

3. Measure and record your water intake. I know many people will resist this step, but it’s the only sure way to know how much water you are really drinking. People tell me all the time that they drink “a lot of water.” But when they actually start to measure it, most are surprised that the amount was much less than they thought. I recommend using a glass quart jar (like a juice jar) for your drinking water and measuring your water intake that way. Quarts are much easier to keep track of than 8 ounce glasses. Then record the amount daily for at least one to two weeks until you have a good sense that you are drinking enough water.

4. Filter your drinking water. I recommend drinking high-quality filtered water rather than tap water, bottled water, or de-mineralized water (such as reverse osmosis or distilled). I am positive that the reason I experienced such quick and unexpected results in alleviating my allergies is because I had just started drinking filtered that was also ionized. The ionization process (via electrolysis) restructures the water so that it becomes far more hydrating than regular water. However, even tap water that has been selectively filtered of contaminants, but still contains its naturally occurring minerals will hydrate your body over time, while maintaining electrolyte balance in your body.

5. Drink regularly throughout the day. The body can only absorb about 12 to 16 ounces of water a time. The most important time to drink water is first thing in the morning. After you wake up, drink 16 ounces right away. (You can add one-fourth of a lemon to your water for added cleansing benefits). Wait 20 to 30 minutes and drink another 16 ounces before breakfast if you can. Sip only small amounts of room temperature water with meals. Drink most of your water in between meals, so as not to dilute your digestive juices.

6. Add high-quality salt to your drinking water. When you increase your water intake, you will initially need to increase your salt intake to replace the sodium lost due to increased urination. Salt itself is a natural antihistamine. I recommend adding either Himalayan crystal salt, or Celtic salt, or Sea salt (not processed salt) to your filtered water. Add about one-fourth tsp. of salt per quart of water. I would also recommend taking a multimineral supplement to ensure electrolyte balance.

Disclaimer: If you are on medication or have been diagnosed with a specific health condition, you should always consult with your medical doctor or other health professional before making any dietary changes, including increasing your intake of water or salt.
http://www.naturalnews.com/032624_allergies_hydration.html