I keep seeing articles pointing out that many food allergies are not “real” allergies – and, as a result, that people are putting themselves in “real” danger by avoiding food groups without a diagnosis. I’ve even read a headline today that said you can end up with a serious illness if you avoid a food group unnecessarily.

Seems to me that people are as busy over-reacting to the news that allergy testing can result in false positives. Just because someone does not have a food “allergy” (as defined by either a diagnosis of allergy or a positive allergy test) doesn’t mean that a particular food isn’t a problem.

Have people forgotten that food intolerance is also a possibility?

Allergy specialist Dr Carina Venter says that it only takes a few years of excluding a whole food group to have a longer term impact. But she doesn’t say what that impact could be. Venter also points out the social implications of food restrictions, where people are unable to eat because they aren’t sure of what is on their plate.

Seems to me that this is the reality that many people live with every day for a wide variety of conditions. If you are …

Seasonal allergies are more than just a passing nuisance: loss of both concentration and productivity at work are noted in many allergy studies as a reason to manage this condition and reduce symptoms.

Allergic rhinitis is the culprit; this is the medical term for your runny nose, itchy eyes and nasal congestion. The main trigger for this condition are pollinating plants – although you can also get allergic rhinitis from other substances that you breathe in with the air.

Conventional medicine says that the only real cure for specific allergies is antigen-specific immunotherapy. Most of us know this therapy as the dreaded allergy shot. The technical name for this therapy is subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT). It’s a therapy better suited to the marathoner than sprinter: you have to think of your course of treatment continuing for weeks at a minimum, if not months or years, to provide you with full benefits.

The latest approach to immunotherapy is sublingual immunotherapy. This approach has many benefits, not the least of which is that the therapy is without painful injections.

If you are serious about immunotherapy and you have seasonal allergies, the time to consider this treatment is before allergy season. See your health …

Nothing disrupts sleep like snoring.

Unfortunately, lack of sleep is not just a minor annoyance. It can result in significant health issues, including high blood pressure, a weakened immune system, increased stress hormones in the body (that can contribute to weight gain), as well as depressed brain function.

That increased stress on the body can also increase your allergic symptoms, which can increase your problems with snoring – and a vicious cycle is set up.

This isn’t just for the non-snoring partner either; these same problems affect the snorer, as the sleep is disrupted many times a night, even if the person does not come to full wakefulness.

Better control of your allergies can significantly improve the issue of snoring. Allergic snoring is the result of inflammation in the nasal passages which can be complicated by post nasal drip.

Taking action before you are exposed to your allergen (whenever possible) is key. Reducing any exposure will help to minimize symptoms – and minimize the need for drug therapies. After all, if the inflammation is controlled, the cause behind allergic snoring is stopped.

Sometimes, the simplest strategies are the best. Non-drug approaches including a bedroom air purifier, nasal “strips” that …

The Faster Times has published an investigative report showing the link between a particular physician expert and how pharmaceutical companies work.

It’s a damning indictment of the ways in which physicians and drug companies make use of each other for profit.

I can only wonder what happens to the consumer in this process? In North America, we are so conditioned to trust doctors over all other sources for health information. In fact, almost every medical report on your local news will end with, “If you have any questions, see your doctor”. What if your doctor isn’t really your best source of information? What if your alternative health professional or layperson yahoo group is actually a better source of information?

We are constantly warned away from the internet as a place to gather medical information. While it’s true that there are people promoting dangerous practices of all kinds, what would make the internet inherently dangerous for someone who is doing a thorough search for information? Surely we don’t think that people have suddenly lost all brain capacity and will blindly follow whatever they stumble upon.

At the same time, what makes western medical information “better”? If it’s double blind …

If you’ve eat a special diet of any kind, heading out to a dinner party or restaurant can be a significant challenge.

While this might not sound like a big deal to those who can eat anything, consider just how much of our social lives revolve in one way or another around food! Parties need munchies; meetings often involve food and drink of some kind; and then there’s the social short hand of inviting someone for a coffee when you are getting to know them.

What if your new friend can’t drink coffee? Or is allergic to dairy?

Just the other night, my son commented on the fact that I wasn’t eating the chicken fingers on our table. Despite the fact that they are made to be “safe” for our allergies, I’ve developed a blood sugar challenge and am avoiding all starches and sugars on my doctor’s advice. Instantly the conversation turned to whether it was as enjoyable and pleasant to eat a meal when one person wasn’t eating the same food.

This is how deep the need to share our food with each other goes. We want to eat together – it’s a sign of community. It’s a sign of love. Sharing …