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Want to Alleviate Allergy Symptoms Immediately? 3 Effective Strategies

AHA Publisher — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 07:00:06 +0000

Dr. Don Colbert – If you suffer from allergies, it can be difficult to find relief. They seemingly affect many people year-round. From pollen to dust to molds, it’s tough to get away from allergens and alleviate allergy symptoms. However, there are steps you can take to improve the situation. Here are why allergens often affect us, and the 3 best natural ways to alleviate allergy symptoms. Allergies: Numbers and Methods Allergies are common. In fact, according to the CDC, more than 50 million Americans now suffer from allergies each year (1). At their core, allergic reactions are inflammatory responses and may occur most often in those who have greater inflammatory reactions in general. In fact, studies show that those with seasonal allergic reactions and asthmatic allergies have higher underlying inflammation even when they are not showing symptoms (2). These results have led experts to believe that reducing the underlying inflammation may improve asthmatic and allergic conditions. Here are 3 strategies to help you alleviate allergic reactions! 3 Natural Strategies to Alleviate Symptoms 1. SUPPORT YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM WITH THE RIGHT NUTRIENTS First and foremost, you can support your body with the right nutrients when fighting seasonal allergy symptoms. Four to consider are: OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS Start by consuming nutrients that reduce inflammatory reactions. Omega-3s from fish oil are the best source available. You can take a potent omega-3 supplement daily or consume fatty fish regularly. Of course, if you are “aspirin-sensitive” or on blood thinners, always talk to your doctor before starting or increasing fish oil. PROBIOTICS While it may seem odd that your gut has anything to do with sneezing and post-nasal drip, probiotics have been shown to help those with seasonal allergies. In fact, one study of 173 people who suffer from seasonal allergies found that taking a daily probiotic with lactobacillus strains significantly improved their “quality of life” scores from baseline to peak pollen compared to a placebo group (3). It is hypothesized that probiotics help to increase the percentage of regulatory T cells (Tregs) thereby improving allergen tolerance. ZINC, VITAMIN C, AND VITAMIN D AND MORE There are also vitamins and minerals that bolster immune response. Dr. Colbert’s Enhanced Multivitamin and Organic Divine® Health Green Supremefood® contain balanced amounts of important nutrients for the immune system and immune response. These include organic greens, probiotics, zinc, vitamin C, vitamin D, and more. APPLE CIDER VINEGAR While not exactly a “nutrient,” apple cider vinegar works against allergies in 2 ways: First, scientists have found that the bacteria in raw vinegar can actually improve immune factors and protect from an allergic reaction (4). Next, apple cider vinegar is a natural decongestant, and it causes your sinuses to drain when you drink it. While the relief is temporary, it is effective and reduces the risk of clogged sinuses becoming infected. How should you take it? ALWAYS dilute apple cider vinegar. Taken straight, it can damage your esophagus. Mix 1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar, 4 oz. water, 1/2 tsp ginger, ½ tsp cinnamon, and stevia to taste. Take 2-3 times per day during allergy season. 2. OPTIMIZE YOUR DIET TO REDUCE INFLAMMATORY RESPONSES In addition to consuming anti-inflammatory and immune-supporting nutrients, it’s vital to vastly reduce pro-inflammatory foods and fats in your diet. How? ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS First, identify and remove ultra-processed foods. Ultra-processed foods are the commercial, processed foods that contain a lot of processed fats and sugars. These foods and the carbohydrates and fats in them promote inflammation, weight gain, abnormal blood glucose, elevated blood pressure, and more in the body. If you want a healthy body and immune system, start by reducing any ultra-processed foods in your diet, if needed. PROCESSED OMEGA-6 FATTY ACIDS Second, remove as many potent, processed sources of omega-6 fats as possible. Processed omega-6s act as an antagonist to omega-3s in the body, and work to increase inflammatory factors and reactions. How can you remove them? The best way is to look at every single item you buy with an ingredient label, and avoid all products with soybean oil. Then, take it a step further and avoid all those with high omega-6s. The full list and steps can be found here. 3. CLEAN UP YOUR ENVIRONMENT TO REDUCE ALLERGENS Whether you’re inside or out, allergens come from your environment. Here are a few steps you can take to reduce your allergen contact while still enjoying the health benefits of the great outdoors. LEAVE YOUR SHOES OUTSIDE Shoes have a way of trapping pollen on them and then depositing it all over your floor surfaces if worn inside. Instead, remove them at the door and leave them outside. KEEP YOUR FLOORS AND COUNTERS AS CLEAN AS POSSIBLE Dust mites cause many allergy symptoms. You can decrease dust mites in your home. Dust regularly, vacuum, and use a HEPA filter. Wash floors and surfaces regularly. These tasks can help reduce dust mites and thereby seasonal allergies and symptoms. KEEP WINDOWS AND DOORS CLOSED Especially if you live in an area with high pollen counts, keep windows and doors closed. Pollen blows around most in the Spring, and typically in the early hours of the day. Keep windows and doors closed to avoid pollens blowing inside. Instead, use an air conditioner if you feel too warm. Make sure to change the old filters as they will most likely be full of dust, pollen, and mold. Installing an air purifier with a HEPA filter will also help to remove allergens from the interiors. TAKE SHOWERS OFTEN AND CHANGE CLOTHES AFTER BEING OUTSIDE Clothes and hair are pollen magnets, so take them off and rinse as soon as possible! Instead of dragging the pollen inside and sitting it in, shower and change. REMOVE POLLEN BEFORE YOU LIE DOWN Consider showering before bed, changing pillowcases daily, and sheets regularly. If you go to bed with pollen in your hair, it can stay on your pillowcase for days. Then, you’re essentially sleeping in pollen! Keep these soft surfaces as clear of pollen as possible to get a good night sleep and wake up feeling better rather than worse. KEEP YOUR NOSE CLEAN The environment of your nose is also an important consideration. If you can get the allergens out that are trapped inside your nose, you can alleviate allergies. To do so, try all-natural nasal sprays and/or a neti-pot flush. At most stores and pharmacies, you can find nasal sprays with simple ingredients like baking soda, salt, and purified water. These sprays flush out your nasal passages. When used a few times per day they can ease allergy symptoms, especially if you begin using it proactively before strong symptoms begin. BOTTOM LINE Allergies are a reality for many, many adults. However, you can use our strategies to gain relief immediately. Alleviate allergy symptoms with healthy nutrients, a “clean” anti-inflammatory diet, and an improved personal environment. Then, let us know how these tips helped you! To read the original article click here.

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How to Detox Your Body from Mold Without Stressing Out Your Kidneys & Liver

AHA Publisher — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 07:00:04 +0000

Isaac Eliaz, MD, MS, LAc via Dr. Axe – You may not be aware of it, but mold is probably affecting your health. So even if it’s not on your mind, “how to detox your body from mold” should be something we all need to be asking. Even if mold is making you sick, you might not know it’s the source of your symptoms. That’s because mold toxicity can act like many other conditions, so it often goes misdiagnosed and untreated. Exposure can cause many different symptoms, including: Fatigue Cough Shortness of breath Fever Headache Joint pain Memory problems Dizziness Sinus infections Wheezing Trouble concentrating Sensitivity to light Skin rash Digestive problems One of the main reasons mold toxins can cause so many different symptoms is this: These toxins can suppress or damage your immune system. Not only can they bring on symptoms themselves, they can make you more vulnerable to other illnesses. Surrounded by Mold Mold exposure is shockingly common. It’s found in the air, damp or water-damaged buildings, even the food you’re eating. Foods that commonly contain mold include cereal grains, nuts, spices, coffee, bulk foods (like the kind you buy from bins to save money) and dairy products. You come across mold inside and outside, and it can travel around with you. Mold spores can attach to things like: Clothing Shoes Pets Reusable grocery bags That means it can come home with you from just about anywhere. And if it ends up somewhere even slightly damp, it will grow and multiply. Mold Produces Toxins In nature, mold speeds up the break down (decomposition) of things like dead trees and fallen leaves. Some molds are used to make cheese or create antibiotics. But many types of mold can be hazardous to your health. These molds produce mycotoxins, poisons that can cause severe health problems and a wide variety of symptoms. The two most common harmful mycotoxins are aflatoxin and ochratoxin, and exposure to either (or both) of these can trigger substantial health issues — from chronic allergies to cancer. What’s more, if your body can’t remove these toxins on its own, they can slip into long-term storage to cause lasting or recurring damage. Mycotoxins Damage Your Health (and Your Immune System) Mycotoxins are sneaky. While mold itself can’t enter your bloodstream — though it can hang around and colonize in spots like your nostrils and lungs — mycotoxins can get into your bloodstream and circulate throughout your body. These opportunistic toxins can hijack your immune system, making you more vulnerable to infections. If your immune system is already compromised (such as people with autoimmune conditions or undergoing cancer treatment), mycotoxins take advantage. If you’re healthy, they can make you very sick. Studies show that mycotoxins can: Cause lung inflammation that can make it harder to breathe Disrupt your gut health by reducing beneficial bacteria and encouraging pathogens Trigger chronic fatigue syndrome Affect brain function and cognition Cause liver damage, including cancer Worsen allergy and asthma symptoms Unfortunately, mold toxicity is frequently misdiagnosed. Because of its wide-ranging effects, it’s typically mistaken for other conditions including depression, multiple sclerosis, or autoimmune conditions. Plus, because mycotoxins are opportunistic, they’re often connected with debilitating diseases such as Lyme disease, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and fibromyalgia. Your Genes Can Make You More Vulnerable Around 25% of people are genetically predisposed to get sick from mold exposure. A simple test, called the HLA-DR, can tell you if you’re in that more susceptible population. If you are, it means your immune system can’t easily identify and get rid of mycotoxins. That can allow them to build up in the body, causing harm wherever they end up. On top of that, because of that genetic twist, even relatively small exposures to mycotoxins can affect you. And even if you’re not genetically susceptible to mold sickness, it can still impact your health. Healthy people can get sick from chronic or intense mold exposure. People with already compromised immune systems — even if their bodies can identify mold — are also extra vulnerable to mold toxicity. If that’s you, be sure should to double down on how to detox your body from mold. How to Detox Your Body from Mold Even if you’re not especially sensitive to mold, your body still needs help safely clearing out mycotoxins. When these aren’t removed properly and completely, they can cycle back around, and cause ongoing damage and symptoms. The best way to clear out these toxins is with proven toxin-binders. It’s important to make sure you’re working with safe, gentle detoxing agents so they don’t overtax your body’s clearance system (mainly your liver and kidneys). At the same time, you must use proven binders that don’t allow toxins to be reabsorbed in the intestines rather than excreted from the body. One prescription cholesterol-lowering medication called Cholestyramine binds strongly to some mycotoxins — especially ochratoxin — and keeps them getting reabsorbed. On the natural front, modified citrus pectin (MCP) has been extensively researched as an effective detoxifying agent. Because MCP works so gently, it’s safe for long-term use, which is often necessary for completely removing mycotoxins from your system. MCP works especially well when paired with another natural detoxifier: seaweed-derived alginates, natural gel-like substances that bind tightly to toxins. The combination of MCP and alginate prevents toxins — including mycotoxins and heavy metals — from being reabsorbed in the intestines. And although they make a strong detoxifying team, MCP and alginate are easily tolerated and their gentle action won’t strip essential minerals from your body. Equally important, MCP offers additional benefits that are essential when combating mold: Breaking the biofilm — By blocking galectin-3 and disrupting the biofilm backbone structure, it makes it easier for the body to identify the mold hiding in these areas and clear it, along with fungal infections that produce mycotoxins. Removing heavy metals — Fungus thrives on mercury. MCP as well as alginate are superior binders that safely remove mercury as well as lead, cadmium, uranium, arsenic and other heavy metals from the body. Calming inflammation — MCP reduces the excessive inflammatory response that is responsible for many of the mold-driven symptoms. Other mycotoxin detoxifiers include: Activated charcoal Bentonite clay Glutathione Chlorella In addition to utilizing detoxifiers when answering the “how do I detox my body from mold” question, it’s also important to strengthen your gut microbiome (the trillions of bacteria that live in your gut) with a high-quality probiotic and prebiotic combination. And, whenever possible, avoid mold exposure. This can be tricky, as mold can be tough to detect (if it’s inside walls, for example) and remove. Most important, if you’re concerned about mold toxicity, it’s critical to work with an experienced health practitioner who knows what to test for and which therapies are most appropriate for your situation. With the right support, you can identify—and resolve—any long-standing mold issues, and experience greater long-term health and vitality. To read the original article click here. For more articles from Dr. Axe click here.

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