If you suffer from either allergies or asthma, then you know what agony they can be. Not only can they be generally irritating, but both can be incapacitating. Asthma can cause severe breathing problems that can send you to the ER, while allergies can cause your eyes, mouth, throat even bronchial tubes to well shut, as well as, cause temporary paralysis.
If you are suffering negative or additional side effects from your OTC or prescription medications, then you may want to seek out an alternative, but did you know that some allergy and asthma symptoms can simply be relieved by adjusting your vitamin and nutrient intake? That’s right; it turns out that those vitamins that your Mom used to give you can help with allergy and asthma.
The right nutrition in the right amounts is paramount to keeping healthy and many people simply don’t eat right, so they are not getting the necessary vitamins and minerals that can relieve their symptoms. Really, if you suffer with allergies, especially food-related ones or asthma, then you need relief! The sad fact is that many foods contain the nutrients that can relieve your symptoms, but if you can’t get them in food because of allergic reactions, then a supplement is a way to ensure that you are getting what your body does need in order to stay healthy.
If you are considering treatment of either of the above, then you should first see your doctor to get a good vitamin and nutrient workup. They can tell you exactly what vitamins and minerals you are either lacking in or have too much of in your system. Then, you and your doctor can better judge what nutrients are necessary and in what doses.
There is also a chance that you may be allergic to some nutrients or alternatives, so a good discussion with your physician regarding any reactions is an absolute must. You do not want to continue taking or using anything that you may have an allergic reaction to. You definitely do not want to leap from the proverbial, “frying pan into the fire”.
Some vitamins that can assist with allergy or asthma relief are as follows:
Vitamin “A”; a natural immune system booster, it can also keep down inflammation.
Acetylcysteine is a natural antioxidant that aids in the support of healthy lung tissue.
Vitamin “B5, can boost your adrenals, as well as, relieving stress.
Vitamin “B6” and “B12”, can reduce the inflammation.
Vitamin “B15”, lessens allergy and asthma related fatigue and can increase your endurance.
Vitamin “C”, nature’s anti-histamine and it helps the adrenals, as well.
Calcium, it’s not just for bone building. It can buffer the acidic stage of an allergic reaction and reduce the amount of histamine produced during a reaction.
Copper, a mineral needed to form helper T-cells that also fights free radical damage.
CoQ10, a natural immune system booster that also helps to control histamine and counter it’s effects.
Vitamin “E”, also boosts the immune system, as does the mineral Selenium.
Magnesium relieves bronchial-spasms.
Omega 3 fatty acids, 1000mg a day can reduce all allergic reactions. These are found in fish and seafood and you can also buy them in capsule form.
Probiotics, they are friendly bacteria that may improve your digestion, as well as, boosting your immune system. They also provide anxiety relief. They may help with both allergy and asthma relief; research is ongoing at this time.
Drinking Green Tea provides you with a host of vitamins and anti-oxidants that can help to relieve many symptoms of allergy and asthma. It’s safe to use and has many other health benefits.
If you’ve never tried vitamin supplements for allergy or asthma before, then you might want to visit, Dr. Weil’s website and use his “Vitamin Advisor” to work up a chart based on your lifestyle and habits. Print it out, take it to your doctor and discuss whether you actually need these nutrients and in what amounts after your blood and nutrient workups are completed. It’s a great way to get exactly what you need and there’s some other great advice there which you may also want to talk to your doctor about.
You may also want to discuss what brands are the best and the safest to use before you buy; not all vitamin supplements are what they appear to be and it’s always better to be safe than sick.
Vitamins are not the only natural alternatives and you can find lots of herbs that you can get in cut, whole, dried, capsule, tablet or liquid extract form at your local health food stores. You can also grow your own if you like gardening.
Sources:
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-lifestyle-guide/allerg ies-allergy
http://www.allergyescape.com/allergy-relief.html
http://www.tufts.edu/med/ebcam/nutrition/medUsesProb iotics.html