Reduce the risk of allergies naturally
It may surprise you to know that allergies are among the fastest growing chronic conditions in Australia.
But when it comes to allergies and intolerances, prevention is the best cure.
There are steps you can take at every life stage to help reduce the chance of you or your children developing allergies.
Cause of Allergies
The exact causes of allergy symptoms are still being investigated, but there are many theories, including genetics, excess hygiene, chemical exposure, recurring infections and leaky gut. What we do know is that allergy symptoms are due to inflammation after an encounter with allergenic proteins in the environment, like plant pollen, animal dander, insect venom or certain foods.
PREVENTION (Pre-conception and pregnancy)
If you’re thinking about having kids or are already pregnant, now is the time to make sure that your child is given the best possible start to life. Naturopaths call preconception care the ultimate in preventative medicine, because of its far-reaching impacts on your child’s health later in life.
Foetal exposure to stress, toxins, under-nutrition and obesity has been shown to play a role in the development of many chronic diseases later in life like allergies, cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes, behavioural problems, autism and more. You can read more about how to make a healthy baby on our previous blog.
Three things you should look at taking to help prevent allergies in your unborn child include:
- Eat more foods with Vitamin D – a higher intake of foods containing vitamin D during pregnancy, but not supplemental vitamin D intake, was associated with reduced risk of development of allergies in children, according to a study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
- Take a fish oil supplement – research has shown taking a high-quality fish oil supplement during pregnancy has significant potential to prevent the development of allergic and other immune-mediated diseases.
- Take a probiotic – women who take probiotis (ie. Healthy bacteria) during pregnancy reduce their child’s risk of developing allergies, according to a recent analysis of previous clinical trials.
MANAGING ALLERGIES NATURALLY
If it’s too late for prevention, don’t worry! There are plenty of things you can do to manage allergies and reduce the severity of symptoms naturally.
- Get tested – the first thing to do is find out exactly what you’re allergic to and how allergic you are – this can determine whether you should really be carrying an Epipen. Testing can be a simple blood test or a skin prick test.
- Avoid – obviously it’s important to avoid the offending food or environmental trigger. This will give your immune system time to calm down.
- Treat – a comprehensive digestive and liver detox best place to start with any allergy, as 60 per cent of your immune system is in the lymphatic tissue that surrounds your gut. From here, there are many different natural medicines that can be used to reduce the severity of your symptoms and make living with allergies much easier. Each allergy is different, so it’s best to see your Naturopath for a specific treatment plan for you.
To learn more come along to our FREE information talk all about Allergies on Tuesday 12th July, 7pm at Charlestown Multi Purpose Centre. Book online here or call (02) 4961 4075.
If you have any more questions, you can call us to book a FREE 15 minute chat with one of our Naturopaths to see how we can help you. Call now on (02) 4961 4075.
Yours in health,
Peter
Do you suspect you have a food intolerance?
Click here to download our free guide on food intolerances, including advice on the common types of food intolerances and allergies, the symptoms you should look out for, the testing process for food allergies and how to manage intolerances naturally.
