A Stuffed Nose = Possible Allergy

For years, I used to wake up every morning with a stuffed-up nose. I used to think I had the type of body constitution that was naturally susceptible to colds. But I wondered why, despite all my precautions to keep warm before bedtime, I would still wake up with a stuffed-up nose in the morning. I always asked myself, I don't feel like I have a cold but why is my nose stuffy?

I finally discovered the reason why about a year and a half ago. It was an allergy. Apparently, having a stuffed-up nose when you wake up in the morning is a sure sign of an allergy. So it wasn't an all-year-round cold after all. I was surprised. I always thought that allergies only affected the skin, but nothing could be further from the truth.

Ok, so I had an allergy. The next step was to find out the source of my allergy. A doctor can help you by administering a series of tests. The most common medical method is by scraping your skin and dabbing it with some substance in order to see the skin's reaction to it. Among the most commonly tested substances are grass and pollen. Sometimes, doctors can try one substance after another before finding out the source of your allergy.

The alternative to visiting a doctor is taking a simple allergy treatment that is probably available over the counter at your local drugstore.

It was my friend, Eric, who told me about these allergy treatments. As a kid, Eric has his share of allergies, especially during spring and summer when his nose was constantly runny and just wouldn't stop twitching all the time. He carried around a box of tissues everywhere he went and, as such, was the constant butt of what he called an endless stream of jokes.

After enduring those daily taunts and his stuffy nose for several years, Eric finally discovered that he was allergic to hay (he lived on a farm) and as soon as he started taking allergy treatments regularly, his nose problems stopped. And thankfully, so did the teasing of his neighbors and classmates.

Guide To Allergy Symptom

In this brief article, we will define an allergy symptom and discuss some specific systems and what they mean to you as an allergy sufferer. An allergy symptom is any symptom associated with allergies such as a running nose, itchy eyes, watery eyes, sneezing, itchy skin, and more. We will go into some detail about where a symptom comes from and why they appear as well as a brief discussion about how to cure those symptoms if time permits.

What are some of the symptoms?
Some of the most common allergy symptoms occur for the seasonal allergies such as hay fever and include the itchy watery eyes, runny nose, and sneezing aspects of allergenic symptoms. Other cases of allergies feature more serious symptoms that can be more harmful and troublesome such as absentmindedness, dizziness, trouble swallowing, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, skin rashes, vertigo, vomiting, and other serious cases of health issues that may spring from how the body deals with the allergen itself.

Airborne allergies are, however, the most common form of allergies and tend to feature the most common form of an allergy symptom as well. Most of these symptoms are related to the sinuses as the hay fever and other allergies like hay fever tend to affect those systems of the body. Sneezing, a clogged and runny nose, itchiness in the eyes and throat, coughing, postnasal drip, and swollen eyes (a symptom called "conjunctivitis") are all parts of the airborne allergy symptom repertoire.

Why do these symptoms occur?
Most times, the allergic reaction is coupled with a portion of the allergen. In other words, if the allergen is known for entering the lungs it will likely attack portions of the body related to the lungs and to breathing. An airborne allergy, thus, will likely attach itself to the breathing apparatus and my cause coughing or the nose to run because of the way it affects the system directly. There are other reasons for this that scientists studying allergy immunology are aware of, but the basics of most allergies are that they are "system attackers" in general.

How are the symptoms cured?
An allergy symptom can be cured in a number of ways depending on the actual system it affects and how drastically the body is affected. Many people can simply take, for example, an antihistamine for a hay fever type allergy and go about their day while others simply will not respond to the antihistamine. It is essentially a matter of the biological makeup of the allergy sufferer in terms of how they react to certain medications and how much medication is needed to cure the allergy symptom.

Causes And Symptoms of Sore Throat

Having an ice-cream or having something cold can make your throat sound real bad and sometimes real cranky. This is the general feeling we have about sore throats. The reasons on how they are caused can sometimes be very different from the obvious. This can be treated, by the knowing what sore throat is all about and how to treat it.

Very common and known reason for having a throat infection is due to attack of bacteria. Bacteria which can be caused by many of the common illness such as common cold, fever, flu and other disease which affects your throat indirectly.

The other known problems due to which you can suffer sore throat are due to smoking, polluted air, consumption of alcohol and any other allergies you are suffering from. This causes lot of pain and be very uncomfortable to the patient. Sore throat problem can be easily treated and some can be a relentless pain in your neck.

Some may feel a dry scratchy and painful feeling while talking or swallowing food. These are some of the known signs of having a sore throat. Even though with so many problems it cannot be termed as a disease, but a condition or a symptom of another illness.

Sometimes the sore throat problems can be easily treated and may not even require the presence of the doctor. But, if things do not look good with your throat, it has to be checked with the doctor and a thorough test has to be done before jumping into conclusions. It is being noticed that children are the main victims of having a sore throat.

With different illness you will have different symptoms of having a sore throat. When you are suffering from cold, influenza and mononucleosis they show some of these very common signs and symptoms of having a sore throat. This is a combined list of all the symptoms affecting you when attacked by these illnesses

• Continuous sneezing
• Cough
• Watery eyes
• Headache
• Slight Fever
• Scratchy throat
• Dry cough
• Body aches
• Loss of appetite
• Inflammation of liver

With an itching and discomforting throat you can get some relief by following these home remedy treatments

• Eat garlic on a regular basis; it is one of the most common things to have when you have a sore throat
• Gargle with warm salt water several times a day
• A simple tonic which can be made at home to give relief from your sore throat. A mixture of lemon juice and little honey in a glass of hot water serves up as a good sore throat reliever
• Increase your liquid intake
• Cut a slice of lemon and then dip it in a mixture of salt and black pepper. Then warm this lemon and then keep licking this lemon till there is no juice left in lime.
• Having figs and beetroot is also good
• Leafs of Basil or even juice of the same is very good for sore throat

Allergy Symptoms

Usually, substances such as pollen, animal dander, and dust are harmless. However, some of us have an immune system that believes these ordinary substances are a threat. In response, the body creates antibodies normally reserved for fighting true dangers, such as bacteria and viruses. Since the immune system incorrectly believes the allergen to be threat, it begins to create an immune response as if it were fighting off an illness. The immune system's response is what causes nearly all allergy symptoms.
There are a wide range of symptoms associated with allergies, and none of them are very pleasant. Allergy symptoms can range from very mild to life-threatening. If you suffer from allergies, you are not alone. Allergies, and other hypersensitivity reactions, currently affect approximately 30% of the population. The following is a list of some common allergy symptoms:
Nasal Symptoms are a common allergic reaction to a variety of allergens. Sometimes called Allergic rhinitis, or "hayfever", these symptoms afflict 20% of the US population and are often a result of airborne pollens, dander, dust or other allergens. Some common nasal allergy symptoms include:

Nasal Congestion (Stuffiness)
Sneezing
Runny nose
Itchy nose
Impaired Sense of Smell
Swollen Nasal Membrain
Sinus Headaches
Sore Throat (caused by nasal drip)

Skin Symptoms like hives, contact dermatitis, and exema (charachterized by inflamed, itchy or dry skin) are all relatively common forms of allergic reactions. Usually these types of skin symptoms occur when the skin comes into direct contact with an allergen, or it can be an immune response to eating food that you're allergic too. Some of these conditions can cause small, reddish bumps. They are caused by an inflammatory reaction, causing leakage from the capillaries of your skin.

Eye Symptoms, or Allergic conjunctivitis, is a common allergic reaction to many different types of allergens and can be caused by an allergen physically getting in the eyes, such as dust, or as a side-effect of a food allergy. It is caused when the conjunctiva (the membrane covering the white part of the eye) enflames due to allergy. One of the most common causes is hay fever. Symptoms consist of redness (mainly due to the swelling of small blood vessels), itching and increased tear production.
Ear pain, especially in children, is often a result of fluid building up pressure behind the eardrum. The middle ear is connected to the nasal passages by a short narrow tube, known as the Eustachian tube. The Eustachian tube drains fluids out of the middle ear, and helps keep the pressure of the ear equalized. Allergies can cause inflammation of the Eustachian tube, and cause secretions to build up, preventing the normal flow of fluid. This happens more often with children, because their Eustachian tube is shorter. These accumulating fluids can cause stuffiness, pain, hearing loss, and ear infections.

Headaches are not as common as other allergy symptoms, but some individuals will experience headaches, whether alone or in conjunction with other symptoms like nasal congestion.
Fatigue (tired feeling) can be caused by the immune response that you body is creating. Just like when you're sick, it takes a lot of energy for you body to get better. Even though you are not technically sick, your body thinks you are. That's what makes you feel so tired. In addition, some allergy medications can cause additional drowsiness.

Food Allergy Reactions happen when your body mistakes certain foods as harmful, and the reaction can become more severe every time the food allergen is encountered, but sometimes children can outgrow mild food allergies. Allergic reactions to food usually happen within a few minutes of eating the offending food, but it can sometimes take several hours to develop, which can make it hard to know which food is causing the allergy. It is very important to have it diagnosed if you suspect that you may have a food allergy, so that you can know for certain which foods to avoid. The first symptom of an allergic reaction to food is often itching and swelling in the mouth, tongue and throat. Some other common food allergy symptoms are:
skin reactions- hives, swelling, itching, eczema and redness
vomiting
diarrhea
coughing, wheezing or a runny nose
swelling of the lips
sore, red and itchy eyes

Severe Symptoms, known as Anaphylaxis, can be life-threatening. It consists of a series of reactions in which the entire body's response to the allergen comes on suddenly. It can begins with sudden itching of the eyes or face and within minutes can progress to more serious symptoms, including:
Swelling of the esophagus which can make breathing and swallowing difficult
Abdominal pain and cramping
Vomiting
Diarrhea or bowel irritation
Mental confusion and/or dizziness

How Can You Know if Your Symptoms are Allergies or a Cold?
Allergies, colds and flus all share many of the same symptoms like congestion (stuffy nose), runny nose, and sneezing. One way to tell is that colds do not usually last longer than 10 days. If your symptoms carry on longer than then, then you may be experiencing allergy symptoms. Another clue can be "itchiness". Allergies often cause an itchy sensation in either your eyes or nose. Your allergy doctor can help determine the cause of your symptoms and how to treat them. Here are some simple guidelines.

It's probably an allergy if:
You have no fever.
Mucus secretions are clear and runny.
Sneezes occur in a rapid, multiple sequence.
Your nose, ears, and throat feel itchy (especially the palate or roof of your mouth).
Symptoms last longer than the typical duration of a cold (which is usually 7 to 10 days).
Your symptoms get worse when you are in one environment, and get better when you are not in that environment.
Your nose, ears, and throat are not as itchy after you take an antihistamine.
You feel stuffy and congested. Take the Congestion Test to see if you need treatment.

It may be a cold or the flu if:
You have a fever.
Your symptoms occur all together - normal allergy symptoms tend to appear more gradually.
You have a sore throat.
Your symptoms last only 7 to 10 days.

Pollens, House Dust And Allergy

There is no doubt that at certain times of the year, pollens cause many people a distressing array of symptoms. These include hay fever, mucous, red eyes that itch intolerably, overheating and great tiredness. At times, particularly at night, difficulty in breathing may also be experienced.

As far back as 1867, Dr Charles Blackley of Manchester, noted that when pollen was placed on the skin it caused itching and swelling to some people. When pollen is inhaled, it makes contact with the mucous membrane, lining the nose, and absorbs water from the mucous. A substance, not yet identified, dissolves from the pollen and enters the bloodstream through the mucous membrane. It then becomes an antigen which the white cells and antibodies of the immune system would normally destroy.

In the case of an allergic person, the immune system does not destroy the pollen antigen. The presence of the antigen causes the mast cells, which are laden with histamine and other chemicals, to break up and release a flood of histamine to the affected areas. The excessive histamine causes both localised symptoms in the initial areas of contact and general symptoms throughout the body. The former being hay fever, runny nose, etc. and the latter, the accompanying tiredness and lethargy.

Pollens become a problem mainly during spring and also in autumn owing to some plants, chiefly wild grasses, flowering twice a year. As pollens are carried on the wind, it makes little difference whether a sufferer be a country or a city dweller, the allergic reaction will be the same. Fungal spores from plant parasites on grain crops can also trigger allergic reactions in pollen-sensitive people.

Obviously, avoiding exposure to pollens is extremely difficult, apart from staying indoors with the windows closed during the bad times of the year. It is possible, however, for many people to find relief through a programme of desensitization from a medical allergist. This is given, following a series of skin tests, to ascertain the various types of pollens causing the allergy.

Medication, such as antihistamine tablets and decongestant sprays may be used to seek occasional, temporary relief. These preparations do not cure but simply palliate symptoms to make life a little easier for the sufferer. Beware of prolonged use! In the United States, doctors now suspect that thousands of people have become addicted to nasal sprays. If used too often to constrict blood vessels that have become dilated by histamine, natural constriction ceases to happen efficiently and the nose can become permanently blocked.
While it may not be possible to eliminate symptoms completely, a clean diet and avoidance of allergenic foods and chemicals will assist the immune system to cope better with pollen allergies.

House Dust and Allergy
People who are sensitive to house dust suffer from a form of allergic rhinitis which can cause identical symptoms to those of a pollen allergy. Fortunately, the symptoms usually subside within half an hour once the person has removed himself from the house environment. The normal activities of making beds, dusting, vacuuming, beating mats, etc. tend to bring on the running nose, hay fever and other symptoms which indicate that an allergenic dust has been released into the surrounding air. A sensitive person may find that when he wakes in the morning he has a blocked nose and itchy eyes. In a dusty house he may even wake during the night, wheezing and short of breath. Housewives may have symptoms throughout the day because of constant exposure.

House dust is a composition of cotton, wool fibres, kapok fibres, moulds, human and animal hair, danders (skin flakes), food particles, insect fragments and a variety of substances brought in from outside the house. Although all these materials are to varying degrees, allergenic, the main problem is a living mite - a microscopic, tick-like creature whose main diet is human and animal dander. There are a number of different types of mites; some live in mattresses, whilst others prefer old upholstered furniture. Sensitivity to house dust, therefore, is mainly a sensitivity to the house mite. Treatment of house dust allergy involves removal of the mite and tests to ascertain a course of desensitisation therapy.

What About My Allergy Symptom?

When it comes to allergies there are all kinds of cause and all kinds of symptoms. Do you suffer from a single allergy symptom? Or many symptoms? There are some common symptoms seen among most:

1. Sneezing with either a runny nose or clogged nose
2. Coughing
3. Postnasal drip
4. Itchy eyes and/or nose
5. Sore throat or itchy throat
6. Watery eyes
7. Conjunctivitis which is an inflammation of the membrane the lines the eyelid which causes swelling of the eyes.

You need to know what the most common airborne allergens are and find out the main allergy symptom or symptoms.
1. Pollen Allergy - this is an allergy that strikes every spring, summer, and fall as tine particles are released from the various trees, weeds, and grasses. These particles are pollen and the main allergy symptom they cause is hay fever. Pollen is the most common allergy out there. With a host of people suffering at different levels. There are many excellent natural products that can help you a lot. If you can determine what is causing your allergy you will be in much better shape. It is the makeup of the pollen that causes the allergy symptom known as hay fever.

2. Molds - Mold spores can pop up anywhere and dealing with it requires that you get down and dirty. It will take some elbow grease and some persistence. If there is mold it can result in an ugly allergy symptom that affects the respiratory system. Mold will grow many places.
If mold is a problem you need to lower the humidity in the house and add fans for ventilation. Remove any visible mold. To clean mold use a product like Captan's Powder or Orthocine.

3. Dust Mites - you might be surprised to discover that dust mites can produce an allergy symptom like asthma. Dust mites are a microscopic organism that lives in the dust. They are not a single substance. Instead they are a combination of fiber, fabrics, animal dander, food particles, and the list goes on and on. These little creatures are virtually impossible to get rid of so you will want to control your allergy symptom. Of course using hepa filters and dusting and vacuuming regularly will really help.

4. Animals - Pets are one of the most common reasons for developing an allergy symptom like runny watery eyes. Of course there are many different allergies that can be caused by the dander from your pet. There is actually a higher rate of allergies with cats. Pet allergies can actually take up to two years to develop. The allergy symptom can be one or many and it can be no more than an annoyance through to very serious
Whatever your allergy symptom trying to discover the cause is worth your effort because you may be able to eliminate the cause or you may be able to find a natural product that can help you.

An allergy symptom is your clue that your immune system is malfunctioning. It's time you worked to straighten it out with herbal remedies..

Top 7 Tips To Treat And Prevent Sore Throat

For the younger set a sore throat often means a day off from school, a television tuned to the Cartoon Network, and an extra bowl of ice cream. It almost makes the suffering seem worthwhile. Grown-ups, of course, don’t have the time for such pampering. We go about our daily business, thinking we can tough out the rawness, burning, and scratchiness that make it painful to talk, much less swallow food. But by day’s end, the sore throat has left us virtually speechless. We do tend to think that sore throat as kid stuff. But the fact is that every year about 40 million adults come down with one. Usually it is a symptom of a viral or bacterial infection. But it can also be instigated by irritants such as stomach acid, tobacco smoke, smog, dry heat, dust, pollen, and other allergens. Overuse is also a factor. Here are some tips that you can consider to adopt to relieve your soreness.

1. Address Any Allergies
Common allergies can cause postnasal drip, which irritates the throat. A throat that is itchy, not just painful, points to an allergic condition. If you have an allergy, an over-the-counter antihistamine may help relieve your symptoms. Antihistamine can have a drying effect, so be sure to increase your fluid intake while you are on the medication. They can also make you drowsy.

2. Line Up A Lozenge
Not all throat lozenges are created equal. The best ones contain glycerine. It keeps the throat tissue well-hydrated. You may find these lozenges at health food stores or specialty drugstores. It is also recommended avoiding lozenges that contain either mint or menthol. Both ingredients tend to be drying and are bad for the larynx.

3. Treat Your Beak
A stuffed-up nose can force you to breathe through your mouth, which irritates your throat. So taking an over-the-counter decongestant may help ease your sore throat as well.

4. Get Steamed
You can also keep your throat tissue moist with the help of steam. It is recommended that you run hot water in your kitchen or bathroom sink, then drape a towel over your head to trap the steam and inhale. Or you could just turn up the hot water in the shower to create a steam bath.

5. Have Some Tea, Honey
Tea with honey is a traditional sore throat remedy. You can boost its therapeutic benefits with this spicy twist. Stir into your tea 1 tablespoon of honey and the juice of half a lemon, then add ground red pepper to taste. The pepper probably has a mild anesthetic effect. It also stimulates the immune system.

6. Turn Down The Volume
If you must talk, then refrain from using your voice in an unnatural way. Do not try to talk over the loud noises. And do not try to project your voice at a pitch that is out of your range.

7. Think Twice About Gargling
Gargling can actually aggravate and prolongs a sore throat. Doing it once or twice with salt water might make you feel better by increasing blood flow to the throat area. But doing it regularly, especially mouthwash, can be very irritating. If you opt for an occasional saltwater rinse, then it is recommended to have a solution of ¼ teaspoon of salt in ½ cup of water. Just be sure to only rinse with, not swallow, the salt water.

Banish Baggy Eyes And Dark Circles

Do you wish to banish baggy eyes and dark circles around them? Think you need an expensive cream? Plastic surgery? Think again.
Our simple home remedy will cost you virtually nothing and you can have great results. You can really banish baggy eyes and dark circles.

How Did You Get Baggy Eyes? Dark Circles?
The bags and dark circles that you see under eyes can be the result of a number of things. First of all it may be (and often is) an inherited tendency. Next there are just people who are born with darker circles around their eye sockets.

Next they may be just part of the natural aging processes. Lack of restful sleep often results in bags and dark circles, and finally it may be due to environmental factors such as allergies, dehydration and crying. The truth is, the causes are not perfectly understood.

What is Technically Happening?
Aging causes our skin to get thinner. There is a break down of the lattice work under the skin formed by collagen fibers. This latticework acts to keep the skin tight and elastic.
Then, the thin skin, when seen in places without layers of fat (such as the skull or hands) gives a darker appearance...

With the skin around the eyes thinning, the blood vessels beneath and our own darker shadows of bone to begin to show through.
This may be worse due to genetic pre-disposition, but things like too much UV light and even smoking and worsen the effect.
Also a general lack of sleep or restful sleep is another culprit for baggy eyes and dark circles. It may have a lot to do with blood supply and oxygen in that area.

So, What Can be Done?
You may not be able to completely eliminate baggy eyes and dark circles, but you certainly can reduce them. Here are some real and effective tips to follow:

Drink plenty of fresh clean water daily and keep yourself hydrated
Take a 3mg tablet of melatonin (if your doctor agrees) each night, and try to get a more restful sleep Stop smoking
Wear refrigerated eye pack just before going to bed

Prepare a strong cup of tea with teabags, and then chill the bags with most of the water dripped out. Apply the teabags to closed eyes for 15 minutes during a nap or at the end of a long day.
Take collagen tablets, but consult your doctor to doses and frequency of such food supplements.
Consult your doctor if none of the above are helpful for you, as the problem may be related to something else that needs attention.

What you should not do is:
Do not use Preparation H. It can be very harmful
Do not buy expensive creams, as they do not work
Do not just cover the problem with makeup, and forget about it. Try to solve it, not hide it.
Do not assume plastic surgery is the only option. Leave the option of the knife as a last resort.

Remember, in many cases, its just your genetic disposition, and then not much of anything can eliminate the baggy eyes and dark circles, but certainly, some of the remedies we suggest can really help.

Exploring The Benefits Of Deep Breathing

Feeling stressed, rushed and restless? Most of us do at some time or another, but when it becomes a regular event it can start having a detrimental effect on our health. Exercise is a great antidote to these kinds of feelings, but the problem is that our lives are so busy nowadays it can be difficult to find the time to fit any in.

Fortunately there are ways in which we can feel better about ourselves, calm our thoughts and generally improve our wellbeing, without even moving from our desk. We can even do it in our car before we drive to work in the morning; or maybe in bed last thing at night before we go to sleep.

The solution is deep breathing. Not only can it benefit our health, it is a quick and easy solution for reducing stress levels whenever they begin to rise. Breathing in through your nose and holding it briefly before letting the air back out through your mouth is the ideal way to do this; practising doing it slowly is the key to success.
It will help you even more if you pay attention to your environment when you do your deep breathing exercises. If your office has air conditioning, for example, you will improve your health even more, as it has the ability to cleanse the air and rid it of any impurities as well as cooling the atmosphere down to make it more comfortable.

Some people who suffer from certain afflictions such as hay fever for example actually get air conditioning installed in their homes, as it helps to rid the air of the pollen which makes the condition worse. Even indoors, deep breathing exercises can set off a nasty bout of hay fever in sufferers who don’t use air conditioning.
While air conditioning can benefit the health of people with specific respiratory problems like this, it benefits the rest of us too. Germs and bacteria find it much harder to thrive in air conditioned rooms, as the filters on the systems capture all the undesirable elements in the air – making sure it only sends clean, clear air back into the room.

Over time you will notice the benefits of doing regular deep breathing exercises on a daily basis in an air conditioned environment. Not only will your health improve, you will feel calmer and clearer, sharper and more alert. Many modern offices and working environments are now air conditioned as well, so make sure you take advantage of it while you are working.
The great thing about deep breathing exercises is that you can do them sitting at your desk – and no one need ever know. They might just notice the reduction in your stress levels though.

Food Intolerances And Allergies - Is It Just In Your Head

Food intolerance has become a major health issue today, dividing conventional and alternative medicine.
1. Are we a bunch of hypochondriacs?
"An astonishing 45% of us believe we are allergic to basic foodstuffs such as wheat and dairy - causing anything from headaches to bloating and insomnia." (1) So how do we get to a stage of leaky gut?
It is believed that through one of the most common digestive problems the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) arise.
It is believed by many health practitioners Leaky gut is associated with one of the most common digestive problems; irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

2. Definitions
Food allergy - Is a genetic condition that affects about 2% of the population. The reaction to the food can range from a rash to something very severe including anaphylactic shock. The RAST test confirms this by detecting the antibody (like IgE). Common foods associated with a genetic inherited allergy are: cows milk, soy, tree nuts, eggs, strawberries, bananas, chocolate, wheat, peanuts, fish, shell fish, beans and oranges. Those with a true food allergy if ever exposed to that food more than once will know about it.
Food intolerance/sensitivity - Involves any adverse reaction to foods, but whereby the immune system's roll is uncertain because the standard tests appear negative. There are other tests including the ones outlined in the Daily Mail but the validity of many is questionable.

So where does this leave the 45% who experience real problems like abdominal bloating, gas, diarrhoea after eating a particular food? Furthermore, according to the Allergy Clinic scientific studies have suggested that intolerance may trigger or worsen the symptoms of a range of common conditions including asthma, joint and muscle pains, headaches, migraines, sinusitis, hyperactivity, ADHD, chronic fatigue, and Crohn's Disease.

Possible sources of food intolerance
There is a strong suggestion that the increased permeability of the gut wall, known as leaky gut syndrome (LGS), is behind food intolerance. The basic premise behind LGS is that large molecules pass through the weak (leaky) gut wall and enter into the bloodstream. This results in calling to arms the body's defensive mechanisms like white blood cells that produce antibodies to destroy the invaders.

So how do we get to a stage of leaky gut?
It is believed that through one of the most common digestive problems the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) arise.
According to Dr. Dan Rutherford, GP, IBS is the commonest condition seen by doctors and some estimates suggest that as many as one in five of the adult population in the UK suffer from it at any one time.

So what is the source of IBS?
Experts give a range of probable causes including:

• Poor diet (including eating foods our bodies are not accustomed to)
• Toxins
• Lack of stomach acid or digestive enzymes
• Drugs (antibiotics, cortisone)
• Dysbiosis (leading to a bad bug overgrowth, e.g. Candida)
• Stress
• Inadequate chewing

As you can see this is a controversial topic because of the lack of hard evidence.
The Daily Mail (Tuesday, March 7th, 2006) contained an article called "The Allergy Fraud" from the reporter Charlotte Dovey. After receiving a RAST test (a blood test indicating an allergy) from a Harley Street doctor she was told she suffered from no food allergies. Then Ms Dovey compared the RAST result with other various methods of allergy detection from alternate medicine practitioners. Or as the reporter put it: entered the "wacky world of food intolerance testing".

Now Ms Dovey, who was told by various alternate practitioners that she was intolerant to a range of foods like wheat, dairy and citrus (when the RAST test showed no allergies) concludes: "if I took this advice, my diet could be dangerous. Basics such as wheat, gluten, sugar and lactose are staples". (However this I believe is an incorrect statement as I have personally seen amazing transformations from people giving up two commonly considered intolerances; wheat and dairy.)

What is interesting to note is the health columnist for the Daily Mail is Dr. John Briffa, author of Bodywise. Dr. Briffa is widely regarded as one of Britain's foremost experts in the field of natural health. His book is an excellent source on the various causes of excess weight including food intolerance.
Dr. John Briffa has come up with a 10 question test as a guide to whether food intolerance may be a problem for you.

The following questionnaire is designed to help you ascertain whether food sensitivity is a problem for you. Score each question as indicated, and then add up your total score.
1. Do you feel lethargic soon after eating?
No 0 points
Occasional or mild problems 2 points
Frequent or severe problems 4 points

2. Do you often feel better if you don't eat?
No 0 points
Marginally better 2 points
Much better 4 points

3. Did you have problems such as colic, glue ear, ear infections, eczema, asthma or recurrent tonsillitis as a child?
No 0 points
Yes, occasional problems 3 points
Yes, frequent and/or severe problems 5 points

4. Do you have recurrent, unexplained symptons?
No 0 points
Occasional or mild problems 2 points
Frequent or severe problems 4 points

5. Do you suffer from excess mucus or catarrh formation in the throat, nose or sinuses?
No 0 points
Occasional or mild problems 2 points
Frequent or severe problems 4 points

6. Do you feel particularly drawn to certain foods such as bread or cheese?
No 0 points
Occasionally 2 points
Frequently 4 points

7. Do you have dark circles under your eyes?
No 0 points
Yes 2 points
Frequent or severe problems 4 points

8. Do you suffer from fluid retention? (Tight rings, puffy face or ankles and a weight which fluctuates by two or more pounds
from day to day are classic signs.)
No 0 points
Occasional or mild problems 2 points
Frequent or severe problems 4 points

9. Do you suffer from irritable bowel syndrome?
No 0 points
Occasional or mild problems 1 points
Frequent or severe problems 2 points

10. Do you suffer from eczema, hives (urticaria) or undiagnosed rash?
No 0 points
Occasional or mild problems 2 points
Frequent or severe problems 4 points

Interpreting your score 0-9:food sensitivity is unlikely10-20:food sensitivity should be considered as a possibility and testing is recommended21 and above:food sensitivity is very likely and testing is highly recommendedSo what are the options if you have food sensitivity? Apart from the various tests conducted by allergy clinics a food elimination diet is one of the most common methods practitioners use.

Your 3d Coach
Craig Burton
References
1. The Allergy Fraud, Charlotte Dovey, Daily Mail, March 7th, 2006
2. Nutrition and lifestyle coach manual, Level 2, Chek Institute, 2002
3. www.allergyclinic.co.uk
4. www.netdoctor.co.uk
5. Bodywise, Dr. John Briffa, CIMA books, 2000