Generous amounts of fruits and vegetables
Healthy fats such as olive oil
Non-salt flavorings such as herbs and spices
Red wine in moderation
Less red meat consumption
Eating fish or shellfish several times per week
Daily exercise

Mediterranean diets may decrease allergic rhinitis and asthma symptoms according to a research study that found over a 1 year period children taking in more vegetables, fruits, nuts, fish and cereals and less dairy products, meat, junk food and fat had less asthma and wheezing symptoms , as well as allergy symptoms like runny nose, sneezing and itchy-watery eyes. Overall risk for developing asthma or allergic rhinitis was not altered.

A Mediterranean diet may not only be good for your heart, but may also be good for your lungs.

http://asthma.about.com/b/2010/02/26/mediterranean-diet-asthma.htm

<p>Researchers found a compound from a New Zealand blackcurrant may reduce lung inflammation with a multi-action assault in allergy-induced asthma. The compound was found in laboratory experiments to enhance the natural defence mechanisms in lung tissue by both suppressing inflammation-causing reactions and minimising inflammation.</p>

<p>The findings are published in the journal Molecular Nutrition and Food Research.<br />

Fruit consumption has been shown to reduce symptoms in allergy-induced asthma yet this research is the first to give insights into the mechanism by which this may occur. The researchers identified that the component, epigallocatechin, reduced inflammation in lung tissue. Epigallocatechin is a known antioxidant and a major component of proanthocyanidins found in blackcurrants.<br />

In the Plant &amp; Food Research study, led by Dr Roger Hurst, cells from lung tissue were used to test the effects on the immune system of a proanthocyanidin rich extract, from blackcurrant cultivars grown in New Zealand.</p>

<p>When the lungs are exposed to allergens, the body’s natural response is to attack the perceived foreign body which in some individuals results in long-term inflammation. Selective compounds found in fruit and vegetables may work together with the body’s own natural defence mechanism to suppress long-term lung inflammation.</p>

<p>This study shows that epigallocatechin, from blackcurrants, works in conjunction with other natural immune responses that occur at the same time to reduce inflammation. These actions are distinct from the inflammation-reducing activity of another group of compounds, anthocycanins, which are also rich in blackcurrants. Anthocyanins are known for their antioxidant properties and, interestingly, have been shown by Dr Hurst’s research group to also influence inflammatory mechanisms and complement the body’s own natural immune responses. The research shows some compounds in fruit thought to promote health with their antioxidant activity are keeping us well by other means.<br />

“To find natural compounds that potentially reduce lung inflammation and complement the body’s own immune response is an exciting breakthrough,” says Dr Hurst. “Should we discover more about how this works we may eventually develop foods containing these compounds that could provide more natural alternatives to assist conventional drug treatments for asthma and even other allergic re-actions.”</p>

<p>The study is part of Plant &amp; Food Research’s Food Innovation science platform that focuses on discovering the natural goodness in fruit, vegetables, grains and seafood and using this knowledge to develop fresh whole foods, ingredients and food concepts. Dr Kieran Elborough GM Science Food Innovation says research is improving the understanding of food and its makeup, how it benefits us and the development of new value technologies, ingredients and products.</p>

<p>”Maintaining wellness in a natural way is a growing consumer trend that food companies recognise, “says Dr Elborough. “New Zealand is well known for its quality fresh produce and I am quietly confident our understanding of natural compounds in fruit, vegetables, grains and seafood has good potential for food and beverage companies.”</p>

<p>http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100325171227.htm</p>

But the findings should not be cause for alarm, says study researcher Richard Beasley, MD, professor of medicine at the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand. “It is still considered a safe drug to take and our findings don’t alter that recommendation.”

What is not known, he tells WebMD, is whether the link between the use of painkillers during pregnancy and asthma in the child is truly cause and effect.

“The message would be that this study raises some concern, and that it really reinforces the general principle to avoid unnecessary medication during pregnancy,” he says. “This [report] does not change the recommendation.”

Acetaminophen, called paracetamol in New Zealand, would ”remain as the preferred analgesic” to bring down fever in a pregnant woman, he says. “But we would caution against the regular use, particularly regular unnecessary use, during pregnancy.”

http://www.webmd.com/asthma/news/20110330/acetaminophen-in-pregnancy-link-to-babys-asthma

So, it shouldn’t surprise you that new information has surfaced linking BPA to breathing issues in babies. An article in Mail Online, discussed the results of a recent study by Penn State College of Medicine. The results found that pregnant mothers with high levels of BPA in their blood during the 16th week of pregnancy are “twice as likely to have infants with wheezing problems in the first six months of life.” What is really scary is that 99% of all the mothers in this study had various levels of bisphenol-A in their systems.

There is no question that the use of bisphenol-A use in food and drinking containers should be banned. Even though no country has yet to go that far, Denmark was the first country in the EU to ban the chemical in containers that target children under 3; and the entire EU has banned it from use in the production of baby bottles. Northern America has been a bit slower on the uptake but Canada and some states in the United States have begun taking steps to control the use of bisphenol- A in consumer products. Six baby bottle manufacturers removed the chemical from their U.S. bottle production after widespread public outcry.

Of course, the plastics industry prefers to spend money to procure studies that cast doubt on the dangers of BPA, rather than implanting BPA safe alternatives. So again, consumers must take steps to protect themselves. Expectant mothers and women planning to conceive should be diligent in avoidance of bisphenol-A contaminated products- it is imperative for the well being of themselves and their infants.
http://www.naturalnews.com/032304_BPA_asthma.html

A high level of disease-related anxiety among adults with asthma has been associated with an overreaction to asthma symptoms and overuse of medication. To assess asthma-related anxiety among pediatric patients and their parents, a team of researchers from New York University (NYU) School of Medicine, NYU, and LaSalle University (Philadelphia, PA) developed and validated a survey tool. Jean-Marie Bruzzese, PhD, Lynne Unikel, PhD, Patrick Shrout, PhD, and Rachel Klein, PhD, tested their Youth Asthma-related Anxiety Scale (YAAS) and Parent Asthma-related Anxiety Scale (PAAS) on a population of adolescents and their parents. The results highlight two key factors — anxiety about asthma severity and about disease-related restrictions — that are good indicators of overall asthma-related anxiety.

“This will be a valuable tool for asthma researchers,” says Harold Farber, MD, MSPH, Editor of Pediatric Allergy, Immunology, and Pulmonology, and Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Section of Pulmonology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX. “Now that we have validated measures for asthma-related anxiety in children and their parents, future research will be able to measure the impact of asthma-related anxiety on asthma outcomes. This will help us better understand how to deliver the best asthma care for our children.”

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110505142252.htm

Triclosan is in the same class of toxins as Bisphenol A (BPA). They are called endocrine-disrupting compounds or EDCs because of their ability to affect the functions of hormones or even worse mirror them. Triclosan is a synthetic antimicrobial agent present in hundreds of products ranging from toothpaste, deodorants, lotions, soaps, and even plastics and fabrics. This study indicates that participants ages 18 or younger with higher levels of Triclosan had increased chances of allergies and asthma. Associate professor and principal investigator Allison Aiello stated that living in very clean and hygienic environments is counter-beneficial to our health as it prevents the exposure to micro-organisms that trigger the immune system into action; consequently, the latter is not given a chance to kick in.

In recent years, several studies have shown strong evidence linking Triclosan to a variety of immunotoxic and neurotoxic reactions ranging from skin irritations and increased allergic reactions to a marked hypothermic effect on the body; they lower the body’s temperature and affect the central nervous system – typical of hypothyroidism in which the most common condition is autoimmune thyroiditis (or Hashimoto’s thyroiditis), caused by a weakened immune system.
One particular study, also from the University of Michigan, found antibacterial soap to be no more effective than plain soap at preventing disease and reducing the number of bacteria on the hands. More importantly, the study also found evidence that Triclosan increases drug resistance to antibiotics among different species of bacteria, thus promoting the emergence of antibiotic-resistant generations of bacteria.

Triclosan was introduced into the health care industry in 1972 and over the last 38 years, its use has increased dramatically. Triclosan, a lipophilic agent, poses health concerns with its ability to accumulate in fatty tissues in high quantities. It has also been found to contain dioxin, a family of carcinogenic compounds ranging in toxicity. Dioxins are linked to causing severe health problems such as miscarriages, birth defects, altering sex hormones and even cancer. It is important to note that when exposed to sunlight or ultraviolet light, Triclosan converts to dioxin. Additionally, Triclosan, on its own, poses a threat to the ecosystem and is deadly to various types of algae, not to mention that because of its lipophilic properties, it accumulates in fatty tissues of fish and other organisms.

A number of European governments (Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Germany) have issued warnings advising the public to discontinue antibacterial product uses: calling their use “superfluous and risky”. In the US, both the EPA and the FDA have made little effort in advising the public about the risks of Triclosan. On its website, the FDA cites lack of evidence regarding the health and environmental hazards of the chemical. The EPA has rescheduled the re-registration of Triclosan; this moves it up ten years ahead of its previous schedule to 2013. Both the EPA and FDA have also announced that Triclosan is undergoing review and results of their study are expected in the spring of 2011.

“These results show that there is an alarming increase in peanut allergies, consistent with a general, although less dramatic, rise in food allergies among children in studies reported by the CDC [U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention],” study leader Dr. Scott H. Sicherer, a professor of pediatrics at the Jaffe Food Allergy Institute at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, said in a news release from the school. “The data underscore the need for more study of these dangerous allergies.”

Researchers surveyed 5,300 households in 2008 and found that 1.4 percent of children were thought to have peanut allergies. That’s more than three times the rate — 0.4 percent — found in a similar survey that was done in 1997.

The percentage of kids with allergies to either peanuts or tree nuts grew to 2.1 percent in 2008 from 0.6 percent in 1997.

Among adults, the level of peanut allergies didn’t change: It remained at 1.3 percent.

“Our research shows that more than 3 million Americans report peanut and/or tree nut allergies, representing a significant health burden,” Sicherer said. “The data also emphasize the importance of developing better prevention and treatment strategies.”

It’s not clear why the number of reported allergies is on the rise. One theory suggests that people are developing less immunity to allergens because they’re exposed to fewer germs. Another suggests that people are wrongly diagnosed with food allergies that they don’t actually have.

The researchers caution that they only called homes with telephones, possibly skewing the results toward the experiences of wealthier households.

http://news.healingwell.com/index.php?p=news1&id=639092

Professor Tony Ferrante, an immunologist from SA Pathology and the Children’s Research Centre at the University of Adelaide, says the new marker may be the most significant breakthrough in allergy testing for some decades.

“A protein in the immune cells of newborns appears to hold the answer as to whether a baby will either be protected, or susceptible to the development of allergies later on,” Professor Ferrante says.

Amounts of the cell signalling protein, called protein kinase C zeta, are much lower in children at risk of allergies.

Professor Ferrante says the blood test is far more effective than previous indicators, such as a family’s clinical history, or measuring the allergy-inducing antibody IgE.

In collaboration with Professor Susan Prescott from the University of Western Australia and Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Professor Ferrante’s research team has refined the new marker for allergy risk, originally discovered in 2007, but now modified to a simple and manageable blood test at birth.

The researchers are also looking at whether fish oil supplements given to both pregnant women and those who have just given birth can reduce the risks of the children developing allergies.

“There is evidence that the levels of this important protein increase with fish oil supplementation to protect against allergy development,” Professor Ferrante says.

Australia has one of the highest allergy rates in the world, with 40% of children now suffering from allergic diseases, including food allergies, eczema, asthma and hay fever. These conditions frequently persist into adulthood, placing a heavy burden on the healthcare system.

According to the World Allergy Organization, there is a worldwide epidemic of allergic diseases which is likely to be a consequence of the changing environment and improved general health, superimposed on a range of genetic susceptibilities.

The studies and clinical trials have been funded by the Channel 7 Children’s Research Foundation and the National Health and Medical Research Council.

Professor Ferrante is SA Pathology’s Head of Immunology at its Women’s and Children’s Hospital campus and Professor in the School of Paediatrics and Reproductive Health at the University of Adelaide. He has been a leader in his field for more than 20 years and leads the Developmental and Genetic Immunology Program of the University’s Children Research Centre.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/189556.php

Recent studies have shown household dust to be a source of highly diverse and abundant bacteria, yet it remains largely unexplored. In the study, testing on samples of collected house dust demonstrated that bacterial populations are greatly impacted by the presence of dogs and cats and whether or not children attend day care. Additionally, dust samples collected from homes of infants, with or without pets and varying day care attendance, showed differences in dust bacteria were linked with asthma development in children

“These results provide the first evidence that the dominant bacterial populations in household dust are significantly influenced by environmental variables such as domestic animals and day care attendance,” say the researchers. “Further, the dominant bacterial populations are significantly correlated to asthma-related outcomes, supporting the hypothesis that the types of microorganisms present in homes in early life may play key roles in the development of childhood asthma.”

Asthma has risen drastically in the last decade and some are attributing the increase to an altered immune response triggered by exposure to evolving microbial communities. Farms and day care centers are associated with asthma prevention due to high levels of microbial exposure, while actions that reduce bacterial populations in the home may actually increase allergy development.

“These parallels suggest that unidentified differences in exposure to microbial communities in the industrialized world may have fundamentally changed human immune responses, thereby enhancing susceptibility to autoimmune and allergic diseases,” say the researchers.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100415134254.htm

The number of children in the US hospitalized each year for food allergies also increased greatly between 1998 and 2006.

About Food Allergies

Allergies are responses by one’s immune system to a particular substance, either a food, inhalant, or chemical. With regard to food allergies, the most common types of foods causing the vast majority of reactions include eggs, fish, milk, peanuts, shellfish, soy, tree nuts and wheat.

Allergic reactions can be mild, for example a slight itch, but can also be as serious as death. The exact mechanisms behind which a person develops an allergy is something which is not very well understood.

Generally, children are more susceptible to food allergies than adults. Most children are said to ‘grow out of’ their food allergies, although some people may experience a lifelong allergy to certain foods.

Details of Study

The CDC study looked at data collected during the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). The NHIS is a multi-purpose survey which is conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics of the CDC.

In 2007, about 9,500 children were sampled. In order to make national estimates, each sampled child had to be assigned a weight to give a sense of their proportionate representation of the entire US child population.

The study also used data from the National Hospital Discharge Survey (NHDS) to obtain estimated figures of the number of children discharged each year, whose hospitalization was related to diagnoses of food allergies.

The NHDS collected data from about 270,000 inpatient hospital records, obtained from about 500 hospitals nationwide.

Findings of Study

The study found that almost 4 out of every 100 children under the age of 18 had reported food or digestive allergies in 2007. This translates to an estimated 3 million children.

For children under 5, this figure was significantly higher – about 4.7% had reported food allergies in the 12-month period. There was no significant difference in the rates between males and females, although girls had a slighter higher rate. Hispanic children also had lower reported rates of food allergies.

In general, the numbers are rising, a fact which seems to be consistent between the US and what is reported in other countries. Between 1997 and 2007, the rate of reported food allergies among children below 18 in the US rose 18%. Rates for those below 5 and above 5 both increased during the said period.

The study also found that children with food allergies were a lot more likely to suffer from asthma (29.4%, compared with 12.4% for children without food allergies), eczema or skin allergy (27.2% versus 8.1%) as well as respiratory allergies (31.5% versus 8.7%). These confirmed the findings of previous research. The first of these three findings is the most significant, as children with both food allergy and asthma may be more likely to get anaphylactic reactions to foods and have a higher risk of death.

In terms of the absolute number of children below 18 who were hospitalized each year with diagnoses related to food allergies, there has been a sharp increase, too. From 2004 to 2006, the average annual number of discharges related to food allergies for this group was 9,537. This is marked higher than the corresponding figures of 4,135 from 2001 to 2003, and 2,615 from 1998 to 2000.

Discussion

Branum tells us that the 18% increase which the study arrived at is significant enough to be more than just a statistical blip.

However, the study is not without its limitations. For example, the higher numbers could be because parents these days have better awareness and are more likely to send their children to doctors and specialists for possible allergic reactions.

Also, the NHIS just asked parents if their children had suffered any food allergy in the past 12 months – it did not ask if there was a formal diagnosis by a doctor, nor were medical records checked. Some parents, for example, may not be aware of the difference between food allergies, which are triggered by one’s immune system, and digestive issues, such as lactose intolerance. This fact could skew the findings of the study.

Even then, we should note that the findings of the CDC study were quite consistent with previous national estimates which had been obtained by extrapolating data from smaller and more intensive studies. So, there may be some credibility in the numbers, after all.

What we can do to reduce allergies

Avoidance of the foods which are commonly associated with allergies, mentioned above, is one possible way to prevent the problem.

In addition, the use of probiotics may help, as they aid in improving digestion by helping the body to control the absorption of food allergens as well as by changing the body’s immune response to foods.

For certain types of allergies, nutritional substances such as flavonoids, quercetin and vitamin C may also be helpful, as they have been shown in animal, test tube and other preliminary studies to have antihistamine properties. However, research demonstrating that these substances can help with allergic reactions in humans is still lacking.

Further, certain herbs, like cacao and stinging nettle, as well as raw honey, can help one cope with some symptoms of allergies.

Broadly speaking, the root causes of allergic reactions are a state of over-toxicity in the body, or poor health and a weak immune system in general. When the body is overloaded with toxins, it cannot cope as well as it should with certain foods.

The best long-term solution to any health problem is to get to the root of the issue. A solid detoxification program to clean up the body thus goes a long way in eradicating allergy conditions.

http://www.naturalnews.com/024836_food_allergies.html