Allergies and Inflammation

I would like to show the link between Allergies and Inflammation, and give my opinion on why I feel the dramatic rise in allergies (both food and seasonal) reported in the United States has a direct link to this country's food source.

As you know inflammation in one form or another is at the heart of most all of the rising health epidemics in this country; whether its Rheumatoid Arthritis, Tendonitis, Bursitis, cardiovascular issues such as heart disease, Cancer, Alzheimer's, Asthma, and many other diseases and disorders that affect nearly every organ in the body.

But what about allergies? Well we know that when the body suffers an allergic reaction, this reaction is an natural inflammatory response to what your body perceives as foreign, harmful, unwanted intruders within the body. The more severe the threat is perceived to be, the more severe the reaction.

Although this is a natural response by the immune system intended to protect the body, there is nothing natural about the dramatic rise in allergies as well as the severity of these allergies for which our population is suffering from. More and more children and adults alike are being diagnosed with severe allergies at an alarming rate, and its time the medical community sees the connection.

Now we've all been told been told the basics; take an Omega-3 supplement and eat a "Mediterranean" diet of fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, fish and poultry, while limiting your intake of red meat and eggs, depending on what the "latest studies" have shown in a given year... That's where it stops though, and THAT is where the problem lies!

Omega-3 fatty acid is probably one of the most important anti-inflammatories that nature has provided us with, but the problem is we are not getting it naturally. Nature has provided a healthy menu rich in Omega-3 for all of its Herbivores that natural free-graze or free-range to dine from (grass and or plants), on the other hand industrialized farming has conveniently cut this healthy food source out of their diet and replaced it with grains (primarily corn) which are naturally high in Omega-6; this goes for all of the beef, chicken, pork, fish, and eggs that you will find at the grocery store as well as at any fast food joint and at most all restaurants.

So it is no wonder that the healthy ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 that must be maintained within the body (approximately 1:1 omega-6 to omega-3) has been drastically distorted to the extent of 10:1 (to in some cases nearly 20:1) for the average American!

Omega-6 in excess promotes inflammation while Omega-3 has been said to act as microscopic ice packs working from within the body to reduce inflammation.

My point is this, you can't put out a gas fire by sprinkling some water on it. Unless you cut off the fuel the fire will continue to burn, and the same goes for inflammation within the body. You can't simply say take an Omega-3 supplement and maintain a diet of fish and poultry (instead of red meat), if the fish and poultry you are eating are fueling the fire.

Make sure you eat only organic pastured meats, poultry, and eggs, all rich in Omega-3, and stop inflammation at the source!

Food Allergy Travel Tip

My wife and I recently got back from a 3 day trip out of state, and I am happy to say food was not an issue!

With any trip come the stresses of the pre-trip preparations... Did I bring all necessary identification? Do I have enough cloths? Will my toothpaste, sunscreen, face lotion, shampoo, and whatever else fit into that annoying 1qrt bag? And if you are one of the "lucky ones" living with a food allergy, what about food?

For this trip I decided to do something a little different, aside from packing some essential soy/dairy free snacks (and lunch for the airport of course), I decided to do a little Google searching for organic food markets in the area where we were staying. To my surprise I found a great health food store, with a juice bar, that resembled a similar store in our home town that my wife and I frequent weekly; so much so that it made food shopping for meals and snacks stress-free!

So before you travel, while you're on the internet searching for the cheapest plane tickets and best deals on a hotel or rental car, take a few minutes to search the area near where you will be staying. Food-wise the more "at home" you feel, well, the better you will feel!