An autism food allergy is a very serious problem. In fact, autism induced by allergies has recently been identified and occurs when a child's diet influences his or her autism symptoms. The children who are at the highest risk of an impact from an autism food allergy are those who have regressive autism. Regressive autism is the form of the disorder that occurs when the child's first symptoms appear at around the age of two after having developed normally until then. Other autistic children at risk are those with behavioral and neurological problems in conjunction with serious digestive problems.
Kids with an autism food allergy struggle to digest essential food proteins such as gluten and casein. Gluten is a protein found in many kinds of grains, such as wheat, and is frequently added to food products during the manufacturing process. Casein is a protein found in milk and is also added to other foods as they are manufactured.
Some children with food allergies are unable to properly digest gluten and casein. These proteins are digested only partially and leave a byproduct to which the children react in a very similar way to the drug morphine. This substance is able to slip through the wall of the digestive tract, a condition known as 'leaky gut syndrome', and circulates through the bloodstream and into the brain.
When a child has an intolerance to gluten or casein an altered protein can also be found in the urine after the child consumed food containing these two compounds. It is believed that this occurs as a result of the creation and absorption of the morphine-like chemical created by the body of the child when trying to digest gluten or casein. The child may then behave in a "spaced out" way. Furthermore, it can create somewhat of an addiction in these children, causing them to crave foods containing gluten and casein.
Because children with an autism food allergy struggle to digest food properly, they are also unable to remove toxins and chemicals as efficiently as they should from their body. This can include not only waste in the traditional sense of digestion, but also fertilizers, pesticides, cleansers and detergents, pollution, artificial flavorings and colorings, preservatives, chemical food additives, and other forms of chemical that can build up and become toxic over time.
Symptoms of an autism food allergy usually appear within an autistic child at around the age of three. Though the symptoms may come about as a result of intolerance to pollutants in the food, others will react to chemical additives, and again others will react to the basic composition of the food. Though reactions can be caused by essentially anything, the most common allergies are to foods such as corn, citrus fruits, wheat, dairy and sugar.
Though the symptoms of an autism food allergy may not be obvious to those around the child, medical testing and observation shows frequent diarrhea, bloating, low blood sugar, excessive sweating, redness in the ears and face, rhinitis (runny nose), the inability to regulate the body temperature, and dark circles under the eyes are common.
The only way to treat an autism food allergy is to pinpoint the food of foods that are causing the problem and then eliminate it from the diet entirely. It is important to note that this won't cure autism, however symptoms will often improve substantially when a diet free of those items that cause a reaction is followed. Parents will still be faced with the same issues in socializing and communicating with autistic children even after an altered diet is introduced, and change will still need to be carefully managed.
To discover which foods your child reacts to, an exclusion diet is a good way to determine what items are potentially contributing to their autism symptoms and digestive issues. However, before starting an exclusion diet ensure you consult a qualified health professional to ensure your child continues to receive adequate nutrition.
Once you have the go ahead, start by eliminating the common culprits i.e. wheat, dairy, sugar, corn and citrus fruits for a two to four week period and then slowly reintroduce the removed items one at a time and monitor behaviors and digestive changes carefully.
This process can help identify those food items that are problematic for your child. An alternative is to have blood testing done to look for antibodies that are produced when an allergic reaction takes place. Your doctor should be able to arrange this for you or refer you to the appropriate professional.
There is currently a study about to get underway being carried out by researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston that will be scientifically studying the effects of gluten and casein on autistic children which should help to answer the autism food allergy question.
Grab your free copy of Rachel Evans' brand new Autism Newsletter - Overflowing with easy to implement methods to help you and your family find out all about an autism food allergy and the different kinds of autism diets that are available to help improve autism behaviors.
Suffering From an Autism Food Allergy?
Food Allergies or Digestive Allergies Among US Children
Food Allergies or Digestive Allergies Among US Children
EVLiving - 15 hours ago
The number of young people who had a food or digestive allergy increased 18 percent between 1997 and 2007, according to a new report by the Centers for ...
source: google news
Mold Allergy
If you have Mold Allergy then you suffer from Allergies Type 1, also called Contact Allergies. Mold spores are in your environment year round. Fresh air contains more mold spores than pollen. The higher the humidity the higher the mold counts.
When molds or fungi reproduces it sends tremendous numbers of spores into the air similar to plants releasing pollen into the air for reproductive purposes. Mold spores are microscopic in size and easily become airborne and will travel throughout the central air and heading system. If you are allergic to mold spores then whey come into contact with the skin or are inhaled, they spores trigger an allergic reaction.
Molds and fungi like an environment that is dark, damp and has a good food supply. Molds and fungi live off of decomposing plant and animal material. You home can become a prime breading ground for mold and fungi. Most homes have a large quantity of decomposing plant material, its call wood. Add a little bit of moisture from the air, rain leaking into the walls, or from a leaky pipe and the inside of your walls become a prime breading area.
Other areas in the home that you should look for molds that are commonly overlooked are foam pillows, garbage cans, refrigerator door gaskets, refrigerator cooling coils, the drip pan under refrigerators, under sink cabinets, closets, storerooms, air conditioner units, washing machines, dryer vents, and carpets.
Symptoms include coughing, sneezing, runny nose, headaches, congestion in the lungs, hives, and itchy and watery eyes.
A few years back home were being built in the Southern United States that used foam board as insulation with no air spaces to let in air. This type of insulation can act as a wick for any water on the floor and as a result Black Mold started to grow. This type of mold is extremely toxic and can be deadly for mold allergy suffers. When Black Mold infests a building, mold spores are continuously releases into the air and will easily travel throughout the central air and heading system.
For anyone with a predisposition to being allergic to mold, a home infested with Black Mold can become a lethal environment. Killing all Black Mold in a home, once it is well established is next to impossible and the best solution is to remove your self from the toxic environment.
Treatment includes cleaning of all of the hot spots for mold activity mention previously. Use mold killing solution on bathroom tiles, shower curtains, shower stalls, around the bathtub and toilet tank and always use the exhaust fan to reduce the humidity levels when you are using the bathroom and kitchen.
Add mold inhibitor to paint and repaint the kitchen and all bathrooms. Never use a carpet in the bathroom. Tile or linoleum is easy to clean and will not trap water. Keeping the humidity below 40 percent will help to deter mold growth. Invest in a good quality dehumidifier for all rooms that are use most often.
Air cleaners can make a really big difference in the severity and frequency of allergy attacks. The central heating system should have an electrostatic air filter to distribute clean air through out the house. These electrostatic air filters trap microscopic allergens. Consider investing in a HEPA room air cleaner for all bedrooms and in the family room thus reducing reactions for Mold Allergy.
Common Vitamins and over the counter products can help with treating the allergy symptoms such as Vitamin E, Aloe Vera, and Quercitin.
Vitamin E accelerates wound healing and aids in the functioning of the immune system. Vitamin E can be taken internally or applied as a lotion to the affected areas of the skin.
Aloe Vera will help rejuvenate and tone skin all over. A naturally cooling gel, the Aloe Vera botanical ingredients work together to stimulate the blood circulation and naturally soften the skin.
Quercitin is a well-known flavonoid. Flavonoids are powerful antioxidants and can reduce inflammation boost the immune system and strengthen blood vessels and improve circulation. Quercitin is also known for its ability to block the release of histamines, thus reducing or preventing allergy symptoms.
Always consult your doctor before using this information.
This Article is nutritional in nature and is not to be construed as medical advice.
David Cowley has created numerous articles on allergies. He has also created a Web Site dedicated to allergies and how to treat them. Visit http://www.allergies-team.com
Natural Allergy Relief - Is it Possible?
Natural Allergy Relief - Is it Possible?
A person suffering from allergies often becomes a harassed patient. For the sake of getting relief, he visits doctors who prescribe strong medicines to suppress symptoms, and even resorts to experimenting with various over-the-counter medications just to be rid of the nagging symptoms. However, there are times when none of these work, or work only temporarily. This leaves the patient wondering if any natural remedies would give him lasting relief and eventually help him get rid of his allergy.
The question foremost in a sufferer's mind is whether there can be relief without medication-prescription drugs or over-the-counter medicines. He cannot visualize a situation where there is no suffering and no medication either. He is pleasantly surprised to find natural alternatives, which are healthier and cheaper.
People prone to non-food allergies, can use food options as a way of seeking relief. That is, if the allergy is caused by dust mites, mold, mildew or tobacco smoke, relief is available in the form of foods and drinks that may stop your allergic reactions. These include having a glass of lukewarm water with the juice of one lime added to it, or eating one or two bananas everyday for at least a month, and also taking vegetable juices. These are believed to make the body resistant to allergies. However, this approach is not recommended for people who suffer from food allergies because, treating one set of allergies with specific foods might trigger off another kind of food allergy.
One more natural cure that can bring relief is vitamin B5. Vitamins are not medicinal supplements; they actually are not as they are contained in natural foods. Hence they are considered to be more natural in content than medicines. The intake of vitamin B5 has to be at least one tablet a day for a minimum of two or three months. It is only after this period that the benefits of this supplement will be seen.
It is generally believed that natural remedies would mean turning to natural resources for respite, like consuming natural foods, herbs and vitamins. Another natural option is to move away or keep a distance from trigger factors. This involves first finding the trigger factors, that is, which things lead to the allergy. Therefore, those prone to dust allergies can hire the services of a professional cleaning agency to clean up the house and remove all dust particles that might accumulate in carpets, corners or covered areas. Those suffering from allergy from mold and mildew must avoid areas where these are likely to be present, like the loft and basement.
Of all the allergies, food allergies are considered to be the most dangerous, even life threatening. Caution is the keyword for all those who suffer from food allergies. As in all other allergies, it is first important to know which are the food types that you are allergic to, and then be constantly on guard whenever you eat, to see that none of the foods on your plate, have any of the allergy provoking foods. It is also advisable to know what reactions take place, and in such eventuality that an allergy sets in, what must be done to undo the damage. This is especially important for people suffering from peanut allergy as they can go into shock and die within minutes of consuming even a miniscule quantity of nuts.
Allergies are bad and cause distress even due to ignorance. This can be resolved by collecting information on the internet about your specific allergy and also read books and journals that address the issue of allergy.
Are you tired of taking over-the-counter allergy medication? Are you worried about the potential side effects of these medicines? It is time you consider natural allergy relief solutions.
