Live Allergy Free

Food Intolerance and Food Sensitivity – Which One Do You Have?

Chloe Orford — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 11:22:22 +0000

Understanding what the difference is between a food intolerance and food sensitivity can be really confusing especially when you just begin to learn about food allergies.

I find that food intolerance and food sensitivity can often be used interchangeably like they are considered the same condition where in fact they are very different.

It is important to find out whether you have an intolerance or a sensitivity so that a more specific treatment can be made to help you feel much better!

In this video I explain what the differences are, what symptoms you can expect from having a food intolerance and food sensitivity and some extra tips on what foods are linked with specific symptoms.

I have written more information in another article, Common Food Allergy Symptoms if you would like further information on the differences between a true food allergy as well.

If there is anything that i didn’t cover and is bothering you please feel free to ask in the comment box below and i’ll get back to you!

No related posts.

Simply Wize Gnocchi Review – Calling All Pasta Lovers With Gluten Intolerance

admin — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 12:58:13 +0000

I have just recently tried the gluten free Gnocchi by Simply Wize and though the instructions are extremely easy to follow I still managed to make a couple of mistakes – did I mention cooking doesn’t come naturally to me?

But thankfully I had two packets of the gnocci, so i was able to give it a better go the second time around! And boy did it turn out well, it met up to everything that was said on the back of the packet.

What Went Wrong The First Time

The instructions are so simple – all you have to do is cut open the packet and place it into boiling water. Once the gnocchi is floating, wait one to two minutes and take the gnocci out with a slotted spoon.

Now what is so hard about that I keep asking myself after I managed to ruin it. Let’s just say I can be a little impatient sometimes…

So what I did instead was I put the gnocci in when the water wasn’t boiling completely – mistake one.

Secondly I didn’t wait the one to two minutes after the gnocci was floating, I instead took the gnocci out as soon as I saw a few floating – mistake two.

What resulted was under cooked gnocchi which was extremely sticky even when mixed with the sauce. Now I know gnocci is naturally has a slightly sticky texture but i don’t think it was supposed to be THAT sticky.

So at first I was a little disappointed but that wasn’t because Simply Wize had made a bad product it was because of the incompetent cook – mwa.

Round Two – Never Give Up!

So I decided I should give the gnocchi another go, because I really wanted a good gluten free gnocci experience like many others that are raving about Simply Wize gnocchi.

I persevered, retraced my mistakes and learned from them (thank god!) and guess what?

I got YUMMY white clouds that melted in my mouth – turns out what they say on the back of the packet are actually right!

So if you have Celiacs disease or wheat/gluten allergies and miss your pasta, I can recommend you try the gnocchi by Simply Wize!

But whatever you do please don’t make the mistakes I did. If you manage to follow the instructions carefully you will be very satisfied.

Simply Wize gnocchi is also suitable for those of you with dairy allergies.

The Simply Wize Gluten Free Food Hamper Giveaway

admin — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 03:46:34 +0000

We are giving away a hamper full of Simply Wize gluten free products to one lucky winner!

Simply Wize is a new gluten free company that strives to make sure every product they make tastes exactly like the conventional product, which means no more bland tasting gluten free food!

You now have the chance to experience these great tasting Simply Wize gluten free products by simply entering this easy to win competition.

What You Will Win

Simply Wize Crusty Bread Mix – This bread mix has the same texture as conventional dough, and the same delicious taste. Taste Australia’s first gluten free crusty bread!

Simply Wize French Stick Mix - The Simply Wize French Stick Mix has a unique blend of the finest baking ingredients to tantalize the taste buds.

Simply Wize Deli Wafers Poppy Seed & Sea Salt - These wafers are so yummy, their even good enough to eat on their own!
Simply Wize Deli Wafers Cheese - These luscious, thin golden wafers just melt in your mouth! Super tasty.

Simply Wize Corn Crunch Ten Sachets – Corn Crunch are a healthy and tasty snack, they are a perfect addition to school lunch boxes or as delicious snack at any time.
Simply Wize Corn Crunch 200g packet

Simply Wize Gluten Free Gnocchi – Be the first to try this delicious gnocchi that is still yet to hit the supermarket shelves! These delectable gnocchi are like delicate little clouds that melt in the mouth. Easy and quick to make.

What You Have To Do To Enter

Entering this competition is very simple!

All you have to do is share LiveAllergyFree facebook page with as many friends as you can on your facebook.

To do so just go to LiveAllergyFree facebook page, click on ‘suggest to friends’ located under the Live Allergy Free picture and then tick as many friends’ boxes as possible and press ‘send invitations.’

Easy!

Once you have done this, just let us know by writing a quick message to us on the LiveAllergyFree facebook page.

We will then record your name and you will go in the draw for this yummy hamper!

This competition ends the 13th of July 2010 where one lucky person will be drawn at 7pm Brisbane time.

The winner will be announced on LiveAllergyFree facebook page and contacted personally.

Good luck!!

To Learn More About Simply Wize Products

Visit the Momentum Foods website – Makers of Simply Wize gluten free food products.

Naturopathic Consultations – Now Available

Chloe Orford — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 11:20:17 +0000

Are you sick of suffering with allergies, food sensitivities or constant sinus congestion and have no clue where to start?

Or perhaps you suffer with skin problems like acne, keratosis pilaris and eczema or other complicated health problems that you need help with.

See me and i will take all the guess work out of it for you.

If you are interested in a naturopathic consultation, there is now an opening special for your first consultation!

Save $49 and pay only $50 (usually $99)! Spots are limited so please book before the 1st of July to receive this discount.

Book your Naturopathic appointment today.

To find out what to expect from your consultation – please read further.

What to Expect – Initial Naturopathic Consultation

Typically, your first consultation is 1 hour long focusing on gathering information about your current state of health.

This information will give me a better understanding on the causative factors that are contributing to your health conditions, so that the symptoms and underlying problems are being addressed for long term results.

To get a more accurate picture of your current state of health and what may be causing your health concerns there are a few tests that are taken out during the initial consultation.

Tests During The Consultation

1. Zinc Tally Test
If you are deficient in this mineral, it can make you more prone to acne, other skin problems, allergies, colds and infections. Zinc deficiency is one of the most prevalent mineral deficiencies worldwide.

It is essential for healthy skin, wound healing, regulation of hormones and for a healthy immune system.

2. Urinary Indicans Test
An overgrowth of bacteria or yeast in your digestive system can be a big contributing factor to allergies and food sensitivities/intolerances.

This test shows us if there is a problem in your digestive system that needs to be addressed.

3. Urine & Saliva pH Testing
If the pH of your body gets out of balance by becoming too acidic your body will suffer immensely causing excess stress on your body to try and right the pH to a more alkaline one. Harmful effects of acidity include:

Digestive Problems –heart burn, acid reflux, overgrowth of bacteria and yeast in the digestive system leaving you more prone to allergies and skin problems
Headaches
Inflammation of joints
Lack of energy
Premature aging
Insomnia
Poor detoxification of toxins
Problems losing weight – Fat is an excellent binding agent necessary for storing toxins in your body to prevent it from doing any harm. This may be a cause to poor weight loss as your body may be holding onto this fat because your body is too toxic

After all of the testing has been done, I will go through with you a preliminary treatment plan to start on straight away so that you can begin addressing your health concerns. This may include dietary changes, herbal or nutritional supplements.

I encourage you to come back to me within 2 weeks so that I can provide you with a treatment strategy outline for all of your health concerns.

Treatment Program Follow Up Appointment – ½ hr

During this appointment, I will discuss with you the treatment plan that I have tailored for you that addresses all of the causative factors that I received from your first consultation.

I will show you the outline of the treatment plan so you have an understanding of what to expect from week to week so that you are completely informed on every part of your journey with me.

You will be given a dietary outline to follow, as well as prescribed nutritional and herbal supplements to support your body throughout the healing process.

Review Appointments – ½ hr

These appointments are scheduled anywhere between 2-4 weeks depending on the treatment plan given.

Each step of the treatment progress will require different nutritional/herbal supplements and lifestyle changes which I will explain in these review appointments. I will also assess how well you are doing on the plan and if you are happy with your progress.

If necessary, there may be slight changes in the treatment plan depending on your progress.

Make Your Appointment Today

Contact Complexion Code for your Naturopathic Appointment with me Chloe Orford on (07) 3862 2778.
or
Email chloe@complexioncode.com.au

Please mention the discount when booking your appointment.

Where Are We Located?

We are located at 278 Sandgate Road, Albion QLD (Next to Chemworld Pharmacy).

You may find street parking along Sandgate Road, at the Albion public parking carpark, or parking at the Albion Hotel.

Pricing

Initial Naturopathic Consultation- $50 (usually $99) Valid Until 31-7-10 Spots are limited
Follow Up Appointments ½ hour – $60
Food Sensitivity Testing with Initial Naturopathic Consultation – $249 (usually $298)

(click for more details)

Food Detectives Test – Shows You What Your Food Sensitivities Are In 40 Minutes Not 2 Weeks

Chloe Orford — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 11:27:11 +0000

Don’t go through the lengthy process of sending your blood samples away to a laboratory to find out what foods you are intolerant/sensitive to, when you can receive the results in just 40 minutes.

Food Detectives Test is a quick and reliable food sensitivity test that was developed in the UK but is now finally available in Australia through health practitioners – including me.

Going through a test like this will give you the confidence that you are eliminating the right foods that your body is reacting to.

There is no more guess work or time consuming elimination diets and food challenges that you have to endure to get the answers.

You can start avoiding the foods that are making you feel unwell straight away, which means you can finally start feeling better!

If you have constant digestive troubles, sinus congestion, fatigue or any other symptoms that are really troubling you and you can’t figure out why, then you very well may have a food intolerance.

Many symptoms can be related to a food sensitivity, often the ones you least expect! Find out what symptoms can be connected to a food intolerance here.

Get Food Sensitivity Testing With Immediate Results

The Food Detectives test takes approximately 40 minutes and involves taking a small blood sample from your fingertip which is then diluted and used with the combination of solutions to detect the presence of food antibodies.

If your body is creating IgG antibodies to particular foods this means you have a food intolerance. Dark blue circles will appear on the tray only under the foods that you are intolerant to.

When there is no colour it indicates that you do not have an intolerance to the food can eat that food fine without a negative reaction.

To learn more about the Food Detectives test, you can visit the FAQ here.

Foods That Are Tested

Cereals – Corn, Durum Wheat, Gluten, Oats, Rice, Rye, Wheat.

Nuts & Beans – Almond, Brazil Nut, Cashew, Cocoa Bean, Peanut, Legume Mix (pea, lentil, haricot), Soya Bean, Walnut.

Meats – Beef, Chicken, Lamb, Pork.

Fish – Freshwater Fish Mix (salmon, trout), Shellfish Mix (shrimp, prawn, crab, lobster, mussel), Tuna, White Fish Mix (haddock, cod, plaice).

Vegetables – Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrot, Celery, Cucumber, Leek, Peppers (red, green, yellow), Potato.

Fruits – Apple, Blackcurrant, Grapefruit, Melon Mix (cantaloupe, water melon), Olive, Orange & Lemon, Strawberry, Tomato.

Other -Egg (whole), Cow’s Milk, Garlic, Ginger, Mushroom, Tea, Yeast.

Book Your Food Sensitivity Test & Initial Naturopathic Consultation

Contact Complexion Code for your Food Sensitivity Test with me (Chloe Orford). Complexion Code is located at 278 Sandgate Road Albion, 4010 QLD.

(07) 3862 2778.
or
email chloe@complexioncode.com.au

The food sensitivity test requires a blood sample that is taken towards the end of the 1 hour initial naturopathic consultation.

In your follow up thirty minute appointment, you are given the results of your food intolerance test where i will also provide you with the appropriate dietary guidelines and treatment strategy that addresses the underlying causes to your health concerns.

For more information on the Initial Naturopathic Consultation please click here.

For pricing please click here.

Symptoms Caused By A Food Sensitivity

Food Sensitivity can also be known as ‘hidden allergies’ because the symptoms that they cause can be delayed up to three days later after you have eaten the offending foods.

That makes it really hard on your part trying to figure out what food you are actually reacting to!

This is why more and more people are seeking out food sensitivity testing to really determine what it is their reacting to.

Symptoms that can be related to a food sensitivity include:

Anxiety (acute or chronic)

Arthritis

Asthma

Bed wetting

Bloating

Bronchitis

Coeliac Disease

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Constipation

Cystic Fibrosis

Fibromyalgia

Diarrhoea

Headaches

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Insomnia

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Itchy skin problems

Malabsorption

Migraine

Sleep disturbances

Water retention

Weight control problems

To learn more about food sensitivities, you can visit the very informative article Food Sensitivity – What Causes It And How You Can Fix It Part One

Related posts:
Naturopathic Consultations – Now Available

Gluten Free Bread – Simply Wize Crusty Bread Review

admin — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 13:25:30 +0000

Simply Wize Crusty bread is a gluten free bread mix that you knead and make yourself. At first this was a little off putting for me as I have never made bread in my life, and when I do bake – things can go terribly wrong at times!

So I must admit I do not have a flair for cooking.

None the less, I decided to give it a go. I received a sample of Simply Wize Crusty bread from Momentum Foods to try and review.

It is a reasonably new bread mix and a first of its kind in Australia, made for those who are looking for a gluten free bread that tastes good, is crusty on the outside and soft in the middle!

I used to love the french sticks that I ate plentifully when i was a kid, I am a sucker for the crunchy crust of this sort of bread.

Ah it did sound very tempting on paper, but will it live up to my expectations?

My Previous Experience With Gluten Free Bread

I have tried many gluten free breads over the past few years and I must say that I haven’t ever tried a bread like this. Many of you can probably relate to the tiny, tasteless, nothing like real bread, gluten free bread covering our supermarket shelves and healthfood stores.

It can be a mission finding gluten free bread that you actually enjoy. I found this difficult initially when i was trying bread but did finally discover Sol Megagrain gluten free bread that is high in wholegrains that doesn’t contain any preservatives or nasties – something which i always look for and tastes really yummy.

I love the fennel seeds in this bread, it makes it really tasty!

However if you are looking for the sort of bread with the crusty outside and the soft middle, then Simply Wize Crusty bread would definitely be your choice as i have never come across a gluten free bread that tastes like this.

It tastes yummy and the outside is really crunchy – it is a little hard to cut into i must admit but it’s not jaw breaking stuff, it’s a perfect crusty texture and very easy to eat (and a lot i did, it’s really hard to put down once you start..)

Step by Step Instructions

The instructions on the back of the box are very easy to understand but i thought i would take pictures of each step for those of you who like to see it visually so you can compare where you are up to.

Step 1: Preheat Oven to 220 degrees Celsius

Step 2: In a small bowl blend yeast with water and let sit for 5 minutes

Step 3:In a large bowl add the bread mix, oil and the yeast mixture. Use a spoon or your hands (hands are easier) to mix the ingredients together for 1-2 minutes.

Step 4: Knead the dough for another 10 minutes (I found I only needed 5-6 minutes). Form into a ball and let sit for 5 minutes, covering with a tea towel

Step 5: Take a rolling pin and flatten the dough to a thickness of 1 cm and then roll it up into a swiss roll

Step 6: Place on a tray lined with baking paper, cover with a moist towel or clean plastic and place in a warm draft free area until doubled in size (Approx 1 hour).

Step 7:Using a sharp blade cut the surface of the dough 3-4 times in a diagonal direction.

Step 8: Bake for 35 minutes until golden brown and the loaf sounds hollow

Step 9: Slice and Enjoy!

The Simply Wize Crusty Bread contains no animal fat, artificial colours or added MSG, it is also fructose friendly for those of you with a fructose intolerance.

The process really doesn’t take much effort at all – it’s definitely worth the little effort you put in for some yummy tasting gluten free bread!

Did It Live Up To My Expectations?

I really enjoyed the taste of the Simply Wize crusty bread!

All of the memories of eating crusty French stick bread from when I was a kid came flooding back – ah the texture was truly satisfying!

Simply Wize successfully met my expectations with the taste and texture of normal wheat crusty bread, something I was yet to experience with my previous gluten free bread experiences.

Though my expectations were highly met, there were a couple of things with the bread mix that raised an eyebrow.

As a Naturopath, I have a tendency to always check the ingredients of all the food items I purchase every time I go grocery shopping (yes my boyfriend thinks i am a little fanatical).

But just so you know it is for a very important purpose! And that is to ensure that what i am putting into my body is closest to nature – meaning free of man made preservatives, chemicals, artificial colours and flavours which may have a negative impact on my body.

So i did the same thing for this bread mix. I did find a couple of things that stood out which I would like to mention to you, just in case you may not be able to tolerate it because of these ingredients.

Here is the breakdown.

The Ingredients

Whenever I see numbers in an ingredients listing I get a little nervous because sometimes they can represent an ingredient that can have potential side effects in some people.

So i took the liberty to look up all of the numbers in the ingredients. To my surprise the majority of numbers are completely safe and naturally derived apart from two.

Ingredients - Maize Flour, Rice Starch, Tapioca Starch, Soy Protein, Egg White, Sugar, Iodised Salt, Stabilizers (461, 464, 407), Dextrose, Emulsifier (472e), Guar Gum (412), Stabilizer (466). (Not suitable for those of you also with an egg or soy allergy)

407 – Carrageenan

This is used as a thickener, stabilizer or gelling agent and may contain or create MSG. It may cause problems in the gastrointestinal tract and stomach. Ulcerative colitis has also been linked with this ingredients.
So yes these two ingredients may cause potential side effects if used in excess, I would not recommend to eat this bread in excess of one per week if you are particularly sensitive and prone to gastrointestinal disturbances.

466 – Sodium Carboxymethylcellulose

This is commonly made from cotton by products and can be genetically modified. With this ingredient there is some confusion on whether or not it is safe or harmful.

Potential effects may include flatulence, diarrhoea and abdominal cramps when used in large amounts. Since this ingredient is the very last ingredient in the listing, that means it contains the lowest amount by weight so it would be quite safe to say that these potential effects would not be experienced in this product.

Added Sugar & Dextrose

I wasn’t fond of the sugar and dextrose being added to the ingredients, I find it unnecessary and unhealthy as it is a food (if you can call it that) that is processed and completely devoid of any nutrition whatsoever.

However I was happy to see in the nutritional panel that the sugar content was only 1.2g per loaf which is very minimal, so I was relieved that there wasn’t a lot added into the flour!

Where To Purchase

This bread mix can be puchased from Woolworths, Franklins, selected Coles and IGA supermarkets as well as some health food stores for $5.95. There is also a french stick bread mix available as well.

4/5 Rating

All in all, I would definitely recommend this to anyone seeking a gluten free bread substitute that tastes good and is looking for a bread that is very close to conventional wheat bread! You will not be disappointed!

To Find Out More About Simply Wize Products

Visit the Momentum Foods website – Makers of Simply Wize gluten free food products.

Related posts:
The Simply Wize Gluten Free Food Hamper Giveaway

Simply Wize Gnocchi Review – Calling All Pasta Lovers With Gluten Intolerance

6 Gluten Free Grains You Can’t Live Without

Seborrheic Dermatitis – Natural Honey Treatment

Chloe Orford — Wed, 26 May 2010 05:41:17 +0000

Research has demonstrated that an application of honey to Seborrheic Dermatitis can help relieve itching and scaling in as little as one week and even heal it completely!

I know it sounds too good to be true, but raw honey (unprocessed) has naturally occurring antibacterial and antifungal properties. So it makes sense that it helps reduce the itching of Seborrheic Dermatitis as this is exacerbated by the yeast Malassezia furfur (Pityrosporum Ovale).

This yeast has infinity for the sebaceous glands as it requires the oil to survive, grow and replicate. So you can commonly find Seborrheic Dermatitis where the sebaceous glands are most prominent.

Where Is Seborrheic Dermatitis Located?

The face and scalp are the most common areas to see Seborrheic Dermatitis, especially around the nose, on the nasal creases, eye lids, eyebrows, and also behind the ears.

When affecting the scalp it is commonly called ‘dandruff’, when it occurs in babies it is called ‘cradle cap’.

When the yeast grows rapidly, the cell renewal of the skin is disturbed and can result in Seborrheic Dermatitis which is characterised by itchy, red, flaking, scaly skin.

It also has been hypothesized that there may be an abnormal immune response to this naturally occurring yeast on the skin resulting in inflammation producing the skin problem.

None the less, it would be very beneficial for you with Seborrheic Dermatitis to use natural antifungal treatments to help manage the growth of yeast on the skin in turn reducing the itchiness and the redness.

Step By Step Treatment

I am recommending here what was demonstrated in the clinical trial of thirty patients with the topical honey treatment on Seborrheic Dermatitis lesions.

Step 1. Apply a diluted raw honey mixture (90% honey diluted in warm water) directly to the Seborrheic Dermatitis lesions, of the scalp, face, chest or wherever it is located. Do so every two, to three days for 4 weeks. (Apply after cleansed skin)

Step 2. Gently rub the diluted honey into the lesions for 2-3 minutes

Step 3. Leave the honey on for 3 hours

Step 4. Rinse the honey off with warm water

When to Expect Results

According to the trial, within one week the itching and scaling had disappeared.

In the second week, the skin lesions were healing and some had disappeared completely by the end of the second week.
Those who had the skin lesions on their scalp with associated hair loss received a marked improvement in the rate of their hair loss, decreasing dramatically.

The patients who were treated once weekly for the following 6 months (15 patients) after the initial 4 week treatment did not show any relapse of the skin condition. The other 15 patients who stopped treatment had relapse of the lesions within 2-4 months.

What Else Contributes to Seborrheic Dermatitis?

Applying the honey treatment will greatly provide you with fast relief of the skin condition. Whilst you do the external treatment it may also be beneficial for you to look into the deeper underlying causes to your skin condition.

Other factors that have been associated in causing Seborrheic Dermatitis are:

Candida Overgrowth – Candida is another type of fungal infection found in the digestive system tract and is commonly found in Seborrheic Dermatitis sufferers.

Food Allergies/Sensitivities – Getting tested for food sensitivities may be a good idea to determine what foods trigger your skin condition.

High Fat Diet – The use of a lot of bad fats in the diet can create a worsening of the skin condition

Poor Immune System Function – Low immunity can make you more prone to fungal infections, viruses and bacteria.

Nutrient Deficiencies – Deficiencies of Zinc and B vitamins can lower you immune system but also increase sebum production that could contribute to Seborrheic Dermatitis

High Refined Sugar Intake – Sugar can trigger Seborrheic Dermatitis by suppressing the immune system and being a source of food for the yeast.

There you go, a natural skin care treatment for Seborrheic Dermatitis – but please don’t forget to look at your body holistically and what you can change in your lifestyle or diet that will give you a healthier body and healthier skin!

Also, just a warning – please do not use honey on open wounds like ulcerations or cuts as it can actually make it worse. When using honey on open wounds and cuts only use the medicated wound care and not just the straight raw honey as it has been treated in such a way that it is safe to use.

References

1. Al-Waili NS. Therapeutic and Prophylatic Effects of Crude Honey on Chronic Seborrheic Dermatitis and Dandruff. Eur J Med Res, 2001 July 30:6(7) 306-308.

Related posts:
Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis) – Natural Treatment Guide

Post Nasal Drip – Causes and Treatment

Chloe Orford — Tue, 11 May 2010 04:55:42 +0000

Is your nose constantly dripping? Perhaps you can feel something running down the back of your throat.

Are you familiar with that constant ‘eh hem’ sound you make whilst you clear your throat of mucus?

Constant coughing and chest infections can be caused from excessive dripping of mucus down the throat. Yep mucus is a great breeding ground for infections!

If you have the above symptoms, you may have what is termed ‘post nasal drip.’

Why Does Post Nasal Drip Occur?

There can be two forms of post nasal drip – thick and sticky that can often be yellow/green indicating an infection or it can be thin and watery. Both types of post nasal drip have very different causes.

Thick and Sticky

Thick and sticky post nasal drip can occur as a result of an infection usually triggered by upper respiratory infections during a cold. When the sinuses aren’t being cleared properly, the excessive mucus is forced to drip down the back of the throat.

Chest infections and coughing usually result from this type of post nasal drip.

Yellow/green post nasal drip usually corrects itself after the upper respiratory infection has cleared.

If the mucus is yellow or green long term in absence of a cold, there is still an infection which must be assessed and treated by boosting the immune system and using anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agents.

Where there is thick mucus without the yellow/green colour, it may be caused from the lack of moisture in the air which can dry out the mucus membranes of the nose.

This dryness forces your mucous membranes to work overtime to try and produce the mucous to protect the lining of the nose. Overcome this by ensuring you drink enough fluids to keep your body hydrated, and using a saline nasal drop to lubricate the nose.

Thin and Watery

The thin and watery type of post nasal drip tend to have it either daily or weekly in absence of an infection. There can be many triggers of this type of post nasal drip -

Food Sensitivities – I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but many people who have post nasal drip that is constant and quite chronic can be reacting to gluten or dairy. When these are eliminated, the post nasal drip tends to completely eliminate itself. If you think this may be you, going through a Naturopath or Doctor for an IgG antibody blood test will determine what foods you may be reacting to.

Environmental Irritants – Dust, dust mites, mould, animal dander and pollen can all act like an irritant in the nose in sensitive individuals. These allergens irritate the mucous membranes of the nose, making your nose produce more mucus to protect itself and trap the irritant to eliminate it. As a result post nasal drip can occur.

Cold air - Air conditioning, and cold climate can cause your nose to run more.

Spicy Foods – Spicy foods increases circulation and makes the mucus very watery causing your nose to drip

Natural Treatment

Avoid food you are sensitive to once you have been accurately tested through an IgG blood test

Bromelain – Assists with reducing swelling of the nose and inflammation that can make your nose feels like it’s blocked and you can’t blow the mucus out. It will also reduce the stickiness of the mucous if you have thick sticky post nasal drip

Quercetin - Reduces allergic responses by inhibiting histamine release from mast cells that trigger an allergic response to environmental allergens that can lead to a runny nose. This will assist those of you with post nasal drip commonly triggered by dust mites, mould, pollens and animal dander

Neti Pot - This is a tea pot shaped device that involves using a salt water solution that you use to wash out your nasal passages. Do this twice a day and it will help clear out allergens, excess mucus and any bacteria.

Avoid spicy foods- If you find that spicy foods can cause your nose to run, try to avoid it as much as you can. The worst is when you’re at a restaurant eating something super spicy and you are having to wipe your nose every 5 minutes! Curry powder, chilli,

Increase your immunity – If you are prone to sinus/chest infections caused from your post nasal drip then improving your immunity will be very beneficial to prevent these infections from occurring. Assess your diet by ensuring you are eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, minimise fried foods, junk foods and sugar, drink 1.5 – 2L of water daily. Zinc and Vitamin C are very important for healthy immunity. Herbs such as Echinacea, Olive Leaf, and Astragalus may be beneficial to take as a preventative.

Post nasal drip can be quite a mystery to treat at times, I hope that the above has given you a bigger picture into what may be causing your post nasal drip so you have a better chance of getting rid of it for good!

Please post your experiences on post nasal drip and what may or may not have worked for you.

Related posts:
Top Five Natural Allergy Treatments Youve Never Heard Of

Seborrheic Dermatitis – Natural Honey Treatment

Allergy Medication

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome Part Two – Underlying Causes and Treatment

Chloe Orford — Sat, 08 May 2010 05:43:06 +0000

There are many underlying causative factors that could have initiated your sensitivity to low amounts of chemicals in your environment.

You may genetically have a poor capacity to detoxify certain chemicals – 50% of the population have this genetic tendency towards slow detoxification of chemicals. If you do not have a family history, it is still very possible to develop MCS in our modern environment.

Over exposure to large amounts of chemicals could have triggered your MCS, even viruses or severe stress can leave your immune system hypersensitive to its environment.

Often nutritional deficiencies caused from a poor diet, gastrointestinal inflammation and excess alcohol intake can greatly deplete the body of specific nutrients essential for adequate detoxification – causing more and more chemical/food sensitivities.

If your body does not have the tools it needs to detoxify chemicals properly then you are definitely going to know about it.

Symptoms such as headache, irritability, fatigue, restlessness, muscle pain and poor thinking to name a few may occur as you come in contact with chemicals your body can’t cope with.

So what can you do? You can give your body the tools it needs to function optimally and to detoxify chemicals properly.

Supporting Your Body to Heal

Avoiding chemicals that you know can affect you is of the upmost importance whilst you work on your body through dietary and lifestyle changes.

By doing so it will alleviate the symptoms that you experience so that you can at least function a lot better.

How to Avoid Chemicals in Your Environment

Avoiding chemicals completely is of course impossible and out of your control.

But what you do have control of are the chemicals used in your home – by doing the following you can greatly reduce your overall exposure to chemicals.

Eat Organic – This will help you avoid pesticides and agricultural chemicals used on spraying crops, fruits and vegetables that you could potentially ingest.

Drink Filtered water – Chlorinated water through the tap can cause problems in susceptible individuals

Avoid wearing perfumes/colognes – These often create headaches in MCS

Use unscented natural skin care and cleaning products – If you use chemical laden skin care products such as body lotions and face creams that you put on every day, you are adding to your overall toxic load as it can be absorbed through the skin. Cleaning products are full of harsh chemicals that can be inhaled as can skin care products that are highly fragranced. Look for all natural alternatives. Yes that does include makeup, shampoo/conditioner, mouthwash, toothpaste and laundry detergent.

Avoid artificial colours and flavours that are added to processed foods – Eat closest to nature as possible by organising your own meals

Avoid toxic paints – The fumes from paint can be extremely toxic to your body and can linger long after the room has been painted. Avoid this at all costs.

Optimise your diet

Eating fresh fruit and vegetables are very important to ensure that your body receives the nutrients it needs for proper detoxification. Antioxidants are also very important to protect your cells and tissues from the damage that can occur from toxic chemicals.

If you are confused on how to eat healthy, then visiting a nutritionist or a naturopath can put you on the right path to help modify your diet to suit you.

Optimise your Gastrointestinal Tract

A sluggish and unclean digestive system can cause your body to become very toxic – giving your body more work than it can handle! A healthy digestive system will help support your body to detoxify chemicals a lot better.

Think of your digestive system like a waste disposal bin. Every day you top it up with food regularly throughout the day, but before it gets really stinky and fly infested you must empty it out!

With your digestive system, it must be emptied everyday – 2-3 times is optimal but once a day is the absolute minimum. Anything less than this and you will start having problems; problems with your immune system and problems with your liver which is the main organ that detoxifies chemicals!

So to ensure you are emptying out the trash regularly you need:

Adequate fibre – Food sources such as vegetables, fruit, whole grains like oats, brown rice, whole wheat (unless you have a gluten problem) and barley, legumes, nuts and seeds. If you still have a problem getting enough fibre you can use 2 tablespoons of linseed/flaxseed meal separately or psyllium husks (but make sure you follow with a lot of water)

Healthy Bacteria – Good bacteria also known as probiotics are very important for the proper functioning of your digestive system. They prevent the overgrowth of bad bacteria/candida; they assist with the absorption of nutrients and support a healthy immune system

1.5-2 Litres of Filtered Water Daily - Drinking filtered water is important so you can avoid chlorine and bacteria that may be present in normal tap water. Drinking enough water is important to soften your bowel movements so you do not become constipated

Nutritional Supplements

Though you may be eating as healthy as you can be, the foods you may be eating may not be as jam packed with nutrients as you would like to think.

The soils may have been depleted with nutrients where the foods were harvested; storing vegetables/fruits for long periods of time before being eaten can have little nutrition once they reach your mouth. Cooking your foods at high temperatures for long periods of time can also destroy the vitamins, and enzymes naturally present.

Supplementing with nutrients alongside a healthy diet may be beneficial for you to really ensure your body receives the nutrients it needs everyday for adequate detoxification.

Any of the following may be beneficial to you – but before supplementing please ensure you talk to a Naturopath or qualified health professional to ensure it is right for you.

Multivitamin

A multivitamin will give your body the minimum requirements of vitamins and mineral it needs every day. Multivitamins can be made very differently so do your research before you buy one. What you want to aim for is one that has reasonably high doses of the following:

Vitamin B1 – 20% of those of you with MCS are commonly deficient in B1. It is necessary for aldehyde detoxification that’s found in many artificial scents and fragrances

Vitamin B6 – 60% of chemical sensitive individuals have been found to be deficient in B6. It is necessary to support an amino acid Taurine with the removal of toxic chemicals

Folic Acid and B12 – A deficiency of these two nutrients are increase your sensitivity to chlorine and xenobiotics (estrogen mimicking chemicals that can have a negative impact on your hormones)

Magnesium

A deficiency in Magnesium can greatly affect your detoxifying capacity, as it is essential in 500 enzyme systems of the body. To learn more about Magnesium and deficiency symptoms, I have covered it in more detail here.

Protein

Protein is made up of twenty amino acids that all have specific roles to play in the body. Many of them such as methionine, taurine and the branch chain amino acids are extremely important to support your liver to detoxify toxic chemicals.

If you are a vegetarian and find it difficult to receive enough protein for your body every day, then it could be a good idea to look into a vegetarian protein supplement such as pea protein or rice protein that is going to ensure you receive the amino acids needed for proper liver detoxification support.

Those of you with poor digestion may not be digesting the protein component of food adequately which can result in a deficiency in a number of amino acids needed for chemical detoxification.

To find out if your digestive system needs help please go here for more information so that you can learn how to treat your poor digestion so you can absorb these essential amino acids properly.

Liver Detoxification Supplements

Impaired liver function is often found in Multiple Chemical Sensitivity individuals as many of you have had over exposure to chemicals like pesticides, herbicides, formaldehydes and heavy metals to name a few. This exposure has increased the toxic load of your body to a point where your liver is unable to keep up.

Liver supplements supply your body with herbs and nutrients needed to support the detoxification pathways of the liver and to protect it against toxic insult from chemicals.

Using a liver formula can be very beneficial in MCS but should be cautioned – when liver detoxifying is not done properly it can have a negative impact on your health as opposed to a positive one. So if you are interested in this please seek a natural health practitioner that can assist you through the right process.

Keep Fighting

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome can be an extremely frustrating condition that can greatly reduce your quality of life. I hope that this two part series has given you a better understanding of how to support your body to heal – even though this may be a long process it is possible! So what ever you do, don’t stop trying.

Remember, your body has an amazing ability to heal but you must supply it with the right tools to do so.

Related posts:
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome Part One – Symptoms and Triggers

Post Nasal Drip – Causes and Treatment

Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis) – Natural Treatment Guide

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome Part One – Symptoms and Triggers

Chloe Orford — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 06:52:01 +0000

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) is also known as Environmental Sensitivity and is a condition that is exactly that – a hypersensitivity to low levels of chemicals found in your environment.

This condition is relatively new and is a direct result of the toxic world we live in. We are surrounded by all sorts of chemicals from the polluted air we breathe, the pesticide rich vegetable and fruits we eat, to the cleaning products we use in our homes.

Everyday we are all in contact with hundreds of different chemicals usually without even realising it. This is because our bodies have in place certain detoxifying capabilities that are able to detoxify these toxic substances adequately before producing negative effects.

Unfortunately for those of you with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, contact with the slightest amount of chemicals can negatively impact your day to day life.

For many reasons, your body has reached its detoxifying threshold and is struggling to deal with further exposure to toxic chemicals. As a result you will experience a broad range of symptoms that is communicating to you that it is struggling.

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Symptoms

Those with MCS will experience a wide range of symptoms that can often occur every day.

Headaches

Disorientation

Dizziness and Faintness

Nausea

Rapid Heart Beat

Rashes

Breathing Difficulties

Gastrointestinal problems

Muscle and Joint Pain

Long term symptoms that are the most debilitating for Multiple Chemical Sensitivity sufferers are;

Long Term Fatigue

Difficulty concentrating

Muscle aches

Memory difficulties

Mood Disturbances – Depression/Anxiety/Irritability

How is Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Triggered?

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity can often begin after certain situations that exposed you to abnormally large amounts of chemicals such as the installation of new carpeting, painting the house or excessive use of drugs/medications.

The excessive exposure of these toxic chemicals has caused your body to reach its saturation point where it can no longer detoxify the huge burden of toxic chemicals placed upon it.

Following this, when you come in contact with anything that requires your body to detoxify a synthetic chemical a wide range of symptoms will result.

You may begin to find that you are overly sensitive to perfumes, fragrances and odours – even the smell of a new car may make you feel nauseous and headachy.

Common MCS triggers

Knowing common triggers of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity symptoms are important to be aware of.

Though you cannot control all of these triggers, by being able to reduce the overall exposure to chemicals you will be able to reduce the amount of unpleasant symptoms that you experience.

Pesticides

Car fumes

Fragrances

Preservatives

Artificial Flavourings

Sodium Nitrate found in processed meats to preserve colour – bacon, ham, sausages, burger patties

Cleaning agents

Drugs

Alcohol

Caffeine

Air Fresheners

News Print

Reducing your exposure to chemicals is the first step you can take as a Multiple Chemical Sensitivity sufferer to become more in control of your symptoms.

In Part Two I will talk about how to support the body to detoxify better so that you can better cope with exposure to chemicals.

References

1. Claudia S Miller. Chemical sensitivity: symptom, syndrome or mechanism for disease? Toxicology 1996. Volume 111, Issues 1-3, pages 69-86

2. Gibson, P R et al. Sickness-related dysfunction in persons with self-reported multiple chemical sensitivity at four levels of severity. Journal of Clinical Nursing 2008, Volume 18 Issue 1, Pages 72 – 81

Related posts:
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome Part Two – Underlying Causes and Treatment

Asthma – Causes and Triggers Part One

Common Environmental Allergy Symptoms