Healthy Body

The allergy season can be the bane of life for many people whose immune system offers no protection against the allergens that cause a myriad of conditions. Today, however, bee pollen can act as a firewall that allows the immune system to effectively counteract the symptoms associated with allergies. What allergies can bee pollen help treat? Let’s take a closer look.

Allergies can come in many forms, including hay fever, asthma, hives, sinus problems, bronchitis, colitis, conjunctivitis and, in the worst case scenario, anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock. In order to combat these allergies, bee pollen has been offered as not only a short-term solution, but a long-term preventative measure.

Bee pollen contains proteins, amino acids, and vitamins. In fact, studies have shown that bee pollen is rich in nutrients as well. But the most important effect bee pollen has is known as desensitization. Basically what this means is that when bee pollen is administered, it will build up antibodies so that any future allergens have less or no effect on the immune system.

For example, let’s assume an individual is allergic to cat dander. When bee pollen is taken, the antibodies build up by developing what is known as immunoglobulin. These protect the body against foreign invaders (such as cat dander) and the immune system reacts immediately to the foreign invader so that future contact with cat dander produces no allergic response whatsoever.

In one study, patients were given bee pollen for three years and the results were that 94% remained free of all allergy symptoms. All of the aforementioned conditions associated with allergens were completely cleared among those who were given bee pollen. This is great news for allergy sufferers.

Allergies are emitted from the environment, food, pets, grass, mold, and insects. If you’ve ever had an allergy, you know it can wreak havoc on the body and state of mind. This is why more and more people who suffer from allergies prepare by taking bee pollen to avoid the misery and conditions that are the immediate cause.

Note that before taking any form of bee pollen, it is important to ascertain whether or not you are sensitive to the pollen itself. Pregnant women, children, and nursing mothers should not take bee pollen since there is no present data confirming its efficacy for this group. Consult with your doctor to make a factual determination.

Studies show that cod liver oil can prevent dry skin, help individuals who have arthritis and aid in increasing vitamin and omega-3 fatty acids which are essential for cardiovascular health. But the question some have raised is: can cod liver oil help asthma?

There is a definite link between asthma and cod liver oil. Experts suggest that one of the causes of asthma is a deficiency in omega-3 fatty acids. They attribute this in part to children who have not been breastfed as well to as a diet which is lacking in vitamins and minerals.

Therefore, because cod liver oil contains omega-3 fatty acids, research suggests that asthma can be reduced as a result of consuming an appropriate amount of essential fatty acids a day. Scientists also state that among the fatty acids most consumers ingest, omega-6 is the highest while omega-3 fatty acid lags behind.

Asthma is considered to be an inflammatory condition and since we know that omega-3 fatty acids can curb inflammatory conditions, then it is reasonable to assume that cod liver oil can be an effective alternative in the treatment of this condition.

Moreover, other studies have indicated that children who are deficient in nutrients such as Vitamin C, E, B12, beta-carotene, magnesium, selenium, and zinc are also prone to develop asthma. Thus, a diet regimen composed of these nutrients as well as cod liver oil has been considered an effective treatment for asthma sufferers.

The results of these studies and research suggest that since omega-3 fatty acids cannot be easily obtained simply through diet alone, it is often necessary to supplement the diet with cod liver oil as a way to maintain the vitamins and fatty acids which are components of this oil.

One asthma sufferer stated that she was suffering from wheezing and decided to take cod liver oil. The wheezing ceased. After a while, she stopped taking the oil and the wheezing returned. One can deduce from this that cod liver oil can reduce the symptoms of asthma.

If you or your child has asthma, the first suggestion would be to consult with your physician to determine if cod liver oil is appropriate for you. There may be certain conditions under which you cannot use this oil, especially if you of your child have a pre-existing illness or have been taking medications which can interact with the oil.

Cod liver oil seems to help asthma patients and judging from the overall consensus in researching the relationship between the cause and effect of asthma, this may be an effective alternative.

The most common treatment for allergies is to simply avoid whatever you’re allergic to. While you can stay inside during pollen season, or not eat foods with peanuts, you can’t really avoid dust. It’s everywhere, and not just where you can see it. You can dust surfaces all your want, there’s still millions of dust mites lurking all over your home. The key to staying healthy is to know how to get rid of them. Here are some tips to help you out:

• Get rid of carpet. Hardwood floors may be expensive, but they’re a whole lot better for your health. Carpets are a great place for dust mites to hide out and vacuuming does little to rid you of the problem. If you can’t get rid of carpet, use a hepa filtered vacuum and a hot water carpet cleaner as often as you can. Another alternative is to have hard flooring with rugs on top. Rugs can easily be washed or steam cleaned to get rid of dust.
• Protect your mattress. Just like your carpet, mattresses are a great place for dust mites to hide. But unlike your mattress, you probably don’t spend a third of your life lying on your carpet. Since you probably can’t afford to replace your mattress all the time, find specialized allergy covers for your mattress. They also make covers for your pillows too.
• Clean your bedding. Your mattress and pillows aren’t the only place in your bed dust mites like to hang out. They can build up in your sheets, blankets and comforters. That’s why it’s important to wash all your bedding in hot water at least once every two weeks. You should also consider getting a comforter made from a synthetic material rather than down or other natural fibers.
• Filter your air. Most people know you’re supposed to change you home’s air filters every three months, but that doesn’t mean most people do. Stay on top of changing the air filter. Plus, they make special filters that help keep dust and other allergens out of the air you breathe. They cost more, but they’re well worth it if you have allergies.
• Go Minimalist. While those little knick knacks all over your house may look nice, they can collect dust like none other. Cut down on the number of items you have sitting out and try to use decorations that are easy to dust or clean.
• Don’t just move the dust. Traditional dusters and cloths just push dust off your items. Dust or clean with something that actually picks up the dust (static cleaners work best) and keeps it on the duster. This way you know you’re getting rid of it not just moving it somewhere else.

Sure, some of these tips require a lot of work and possibly a bit of money, but the improvement you see in your health will be well worth the effort.