Food Allergies
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| It may be wheezing from wheat or a rash from radishes. But while
food allergies are rare, affecting only 1 percent of the population
and usually outgrown by age six, the foods that can trigger them aren't.
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| Cow's milk, eggs, peanuts, wheat and soybeans lead the list of eats
that can cause swollen lips, throat or tongue, eczema, hives, vomiting,
fainting, nausea, diarrhea and other reactions. But they're not alone.
Even food additives such as yellow dye #5 and gum arabic can cause
allergic reactions in some people, usually within a few minutes of
consumption. Reactions range from minor to life-threatening, so see
your doctor to pinpoint the cause and come up with a preventive strategy.
But the natural remedies in this chapter-in conjunction with medical
care and used with the approval of your doctor-may help relieve the
symptoms of a food allergy, according to some health professionals.
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See Your Medical Doctor When...
You experience any of these symptoms within two hours of eating a
certain food:
· Hives or another skin reaction
· Swelling, especially of the lips or face
· Vomiting or nausea
· A tight feeling in your chest
· Trouble breathing, whether from an asthmatic reaction or
throat swelling
· Nasal congestion
· Diarrhea
· Cramping or feelings of faintness |
| Ayurveda
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| What kinds of foods you're allergic to depends on your Ayurvedic
dosha |
| Pitta people are allergic to hot, spicy foods, fermented foods,
sour fruits, tomatoes, potatoes and eggplant, according to Dr. Lad.
He says that kaphas develop allergies to dairy products and cold beverages.
And, he says, vatas may have allergic reactions to hard-to-digest
foods such as popcorn, beans and raw vegetables. No matter what your
dosha, says Dr. Lad, the symptoms of food allergies include constipation,
burping and hiccupping. (For more information about the Ayurvedic
dosha, see To avoid adverse reactions to foods, find out what your
dosha is and follow the proper diet for that dosha,. We also offer
the following remedies. |
· For pitta allergies, Dr. Lad suggests eating cooked apple
pulp (peel, core and mash the apples to make the pulp) with a pinch
of cumin and one teaspoon of ghee, or clarified butter (for a recipe,
see "How to Make Ghee" on page 26). Eat a small amount,
about ½ cup, twice daily, at least an hour before or after
a meal, he says.
· For kapha allergies, Dr. Lad suggests drinking licorice tea.
To make the tea, he says to blend ½ teaspoon of licorice (which
is available in most health food stores), ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon
and ½ teaspoon of coriander, then steep the mixture in one
cup of hot water for ten minutes. Don't strain out the herbs before
drinking, he says. His suggested dosage: Sip about an ounce of the
tea every half-hour for the first few hours, then for the next few
hours, sip an ounce every hour. Continue as needed, he adds.
· For vata allergies, Dr. Lad recommends another variation
of licorice tea: Mix ½ teaspoon of licorice, ½ teaspoon
of honey and 1 teaspoon of ghee in a cup of hot water. As with the
other tea, do not strain out the herbs before drinking. He says to
sip an ounce of the tea every half-hour for the first two hours, then
for the next few hours, sip an ounce every hour. Continue as needed,
he adds. |
| One cautionary note from us: We say people with high blood pressure
should not drink licorice tea. For them we 4 recommend cinnamon/clove
tea as an alternative. His recipe: Steep ½ teaspoon of cinnamon
and two or three cloves in a cup of boiling water for ten minutes.
Sip an ounce of the tea every half-hour for the first two hours, then
for the next few hours, sip an ounce every hour. Continue as needed.
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| Yoga
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Poor digestion may result in food allergies, especially as you get
older, says, Pennsylvania. To improve digestion, we suggest trying
an exercise called Agni Sara, or strengthening the fire.
Here are instructions for performing the exercise: Stand with your
feet about three feet apart, toes pointed slightly outward. Bend your
knees slightly and place your right hand on your right thigh and your
left hand on your left thigh. Your fingers should be pointing inward,
toward the opposite leg. Bend your neck so that you're looking down
at your stomach. Breathe out completely. Then suck in and lift your
abdomen without taking a breath. Now pump your stomach muscles, pushing
your abdomen in and out without breathing. Pump this way 10 to 15
times, then relax, stand up straight and breathe. Repeat the exercise
three times per day.
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