Thoughts on trends impacting our ability to thrive!
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The effect of allergy season can be disruptive beyond the typical discomfort of nasal congestion, itchy eyes, and a runny nose. Chronic inflammation in the sinuses can create an environment that allows opportunistic infections to thrive. Adult allergy sufferers commonly experience sinus infections, whereas ear infections may occur more frequently in children during pollen and mold seasons. The hypersensitive immune response that triggers the imflammatory response associated with allergy symptoms can produce an “inflamed “ neurological response. For most of us, that translates into irritability, distractedness, poor concentration, low energy, and a short fuse. For many children with ADHD, Autism and other related disorders, it can trigger a significant worsening of their behaviors including, increased impulsivity & inattentiveness, intensified stimms & perseverative behaviour, and prolonged tantrums, even when lab work determines no evidence of IgE mediated seasonal allergies.

In addition to the most obvious allergy symptoms are oral symptoms such as itchiness in the mouth. This phenomenon occurs mostly in adults and is referred to as Oral Allergy Syndrome. The intake of foods within the cross-pollinated species are the cause of these symptoms. Elimination of these foods is the primary treatment.

While many physicians may offer a range of pharmaceutical remedies to treat allergies, those products may come with challenging side effects that can far outweigh the benefits. The nutriceutical industry also provides solutions, most of which rely on the benefits of quercetin. While quercetin is a potent anti-inflammatory, it inhibits the activity of the COMT enzyme, and therefore compromises the degradation of the “fight and flight” molecules, dopamine and norepinephrine. In this context, treating allergies without a full understanding of an individual’s biochemistry can lead to both positive and negative outcome. Understanding the range of biomedical imbalances associated with allergy symptoms, and blending the benefits of many ingredients may offer the best solution with the fewest side effects.

The key to developing an ideal regimen to combat these symptoms is the tailoring of the therapy to meet the unique demands of each individual. Be sensitive to the boilerplate application of typical antihistamines, anti-inflammatory products, and in particular, those prepared with toxic preservatives, dyes, and artificial sweeteners, etc., as they can result in unnecessary side effects, Any regimen should include a careful assessment of each individual including potential sensitivities to nutrients that can produce neurological side effects. My experience has been that understanding the history, personality and experiences of clients leads to a more optimal combination and ultimately a result in keeping with a person’s lifestyle and needs.

Please share your experience or questions. Have you found yourself hit by this season’s onslaught of airborne allergens? And, if so, have your symptoms gone beyond the ‘typical?’ What therapies have you used– conventional, nutriceutical or other?

There are, of course, ways to fortify your immune system and minimize the hypersensitive immune response. While for some, this may just be a very difficult season, though arming yourself with knowledge and some level of preparation may help make this time much more tolerable.

Welcome to Rants, Raves & Recipes! I plan to share anything and everything here from “the good, to the bad, to the tasty!” If you know me, then you know that’s what you get on a daily basis. I immerse myself in the literature on just about every imaginable topic impacting our health and vitality. I have a penchant for getting down to the biochemistry on everything and making the connections that matter to us. There is so much bombarding us today in the form of information and chatter that it is overwhelming, if not impossible to sort and make sense of. But that’s what I do—for myself, my family, friends, clients—anyone who will listen!

And oh yes—I am a Foodie (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foodie)! You have undoubtedly heard this before: “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” Hippocrates, 460 B.C. This never gets old! It is wonderful! My kitchen is my lab, my playground, my temple! There is so much available to you in the way of whole food that can build your own shield of armor and bring us closer to Optimal Vitality. Cooking can be quick, smart and fun—whether for one or twenty people—a quick in-between snack or a large holiday gathering. I’ll be sharing things I find along the way that prove you NEVER need to compromise on your health.

Please, please, please, consider this blog a place where you can ask ANYTHING. And don’t try to “stump Peta” because if I don’t know the answer, you can bet I’ll find it!