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Heath Hacks: Allergy Alert

By Alecia Sexton
Layout Manager

Although we may all be excited that spring is finally starting to show its beautiful face, unfortunately it brings with it a fresh, new season of allergies. That’s right: sneezing, hives, watery eyes and brain fog are right around the corner. Luckily, there are a few things that we can do to lessen the blow to our immune system.

Photo by Alecia Sexton

The biological allergy sequence is the same in every one of us. According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, the immune system (our body’s line of defense against foreign invaders) activates antibodies to attack whatever foreign matter has entered us, better known as an allergen. After one’s first exposure to an allergen, the immune system ‘remembers’ the encounter and will produce triple the amount of antibodies the next time it identifies this allergen in order to protect the body. This is perhaps why allergy victims often have escalating symptoms as the season goes on.

According to studies done by John Hopkins Medical Center, the body elicits reactions not only to bacteria and viruses, but to man made substances such as perfumes, industrial toxins, smoke, and other environmental irritants. As recorded by the Center for Disease Control, pesticides used in agriculture are likely to increase the torment allergy sufferers endure during this time of year. To combat this torment it’s recommended that we eat only organic fruits, vegetables and meats which will help strengthen the gut lining, the place in which 80 percent of the immune system is controlled.

Eating organic foods, exercising, drinking plenty of water, and incorporating a teaspoon of natural raw honey each day are steps that each one of us can take in an effort to steer clear of those nasty allergic symptoms.

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