EiR Blog

7 Surprising Things at Your Work That Might Cause Allergies You’ve probably got all of your allergens under control at home, because you know anything and everything that goes on in your living quarters. If you’re beginning to notice your allergies picking up at work, the culprit could be something lurking in the building that you may not have known about.     1. Old Carpet   Just vacuuming isn’t enough, especially if your office has old carpeting. Trace amounts of pet hair your coworkers have tracked in over the years, combined with dust and dust mites lurking deep in the carpet, can trigger allergies in people who aren’t even especially sensitive – it’s the slow buildup that leads to high levels over time that creates a problem before anyone can see it coming.   2. Neglected Air Filters   Air filters are really easy to forget about, particularly because...

  Traveling is one of the best things you can do. Giving you a chance to travel, see, and experience things, and letting yourself venture into the great penetralia of the earth! Now, doesn’t it sound like a good idea? But you should always set your mind that it is not only about doing the undone things, it is also making sure that you stay safe while traveling.   Traveling can be thrilling and daunting at the same time. Since it is all about getting out of one’s comfort zone, you’ll be doing things you never thought you will be able to. To have a successful trip, your safety must be your priority. It is important to keep yourself safe and healthy while traveling. And since it is not avoidable to try the local’s food, well just make sure that won’t trigger something in your stomach. Prevention is always better...

Apologies to readers who might have already read about this story. The UK Mail on Sunday (February 13th 2011) carries an article by Esther Rantzen on her daughter who has ME. UK viewers will know Esther from such classic TV programmes such as That's Life. In recent years she has discussed ME as a consequence of her daughter's diagnosis. The article in the Mail regarding a possible link between ingestion of gluten and ME/CFS can be viewed here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1356316/At-I-discovered-secret-Emilys-14-lost-years-Esther-Rantzen.html Many thanks, ESPA Research ...

How many times do you just wolf-down your meal in a mad rush to finish before getting back to work? How many times are you eating out of obligation to just eat? How many times do you see undigested food in your stool? Gross, I know! Do you have food allergies? If you answered “Yes” to any of these questons it is likely you need to retrain yourself in how to eat on purpose. Maintain regular and consistent mealtimes. It is better to eat five smaller meals than three large meals. Before eating relax momentarily for 10 seconds, then begin eating. (Blessing your food in prayer – science has shown that this cleans the food, makes it more bio-available, more digestible, and consequently tastes better) Smell each item on your plate before you take your first bite, like sniffing your wine before drinking, which will awaken the taste centers in...

 For those who suffer from allergies and intolerances, or have a partner that does, Valentine's Day is often not a simple affair. Places to eat, romantic home-cooked meals,  and traditional gifts all have their problems. Food allergies are a particular problem and can cause  symptoms including nasal congestion or a scratchy throat after eating a food. They can also cause serious problems such as throat closures, tightness, swelling of the face, breathing trouble and anaphylaxis (a life-threatening blockage of the airways). I certainly don't want to bring down the mood on what should be a celebration of love however...hopefully the following information will mean that you and your partner can enjoy Valentine's Day in each other's company...despite those troublemaking allergies!   A Romantic Meal Whether dining out at your favourite restaurant or enjoying a candle lit dinner at home, a romatnic meal for two is often a big part of the way couples choose to...

 Without going into the history and traditional meaning of Halloween, these days October 31st is seen simply as a night for kids to dress up and have fun with the added bonus of treats a plenty being dished out. However, there is a darker side to halloween and it doesn't involve any real life witch craft, ghouls or ghosts - it comes in the form of allergies and more menacingly the toxic chemicals used in Halloween costumes. For families with kids that suffer from allergies, Halloween can be a 'tricky' time indeed. Without careful supervision and precautions kids can end up eating foods to which they are allergic, particularly hidden allergens such as unexpected food additives. Even the vigilant can be caught out by cross contamination as safe treats come into contact with allergenic treats in bags and containers and kids share between themselves. It's not only foods that can be allergens. Make up,...

When thinking about how food sensitivities and/or intolerances may be affecting our health, something that is often overlooked is the role that biogenic amines may be playing. What are Biogenic Amines?  Biogenic amines are a group of chemicals derived from amino acids (and therefore protein-containing foods) that have a number of functions and effects within the body, some desirable, and some not. The most well known biogenic amines are the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline, and histamine, best known for its role in allergies. Others, which are less well known, include tyramine, tryptamine, and phenylethylamine. These biogenic amines may act as neurotransmitters, be involved in local immune responses (such as the inflammation produced by histamine release), or regulate functions of the gut. The classic neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline are all essential to proper brain function. Imbalances causes problems such as depression and anxiety. In relation to food intolerances however, we are more concerned with...

For those of us who suffer from the irritating and uncomfortable symptoms of allergies such as sneezing, itching, watery eyes, blocked noses, and coughing there may not seem like there could ever be a brightside to the affliction but researchers say there might well be - and it's a biggie - a reduced risk of cancer. So before you swallow another antihistamine pill or continue to use your natural allergy remedies you might want to read on..... Researchers from Cornell University in the US looked at 646 studies on allergies and cancers published in medical journals over the past 50 years; ending up with the most comprehensive database yet available on allergies and cancer. Professor of neurobiology and behaviour Paul Sherman and his team found that the number of studies concluding that allergies reduced the risk of cancer were double the number suggesting an increased risk. The types of cancer...

If you suffer from multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), sick building syndrome, allergies, asthma, or other respiratory problems you may own or be thinking of buying an air purifier to purify the air in your home and relieve your symptoms. Modern air purifiers are certainly extremely efficient at removing troublesome chemicals from the air with their HEPA, carbon and zeolite filters. They do have their drawbacks however. They can be expensive to buy, the filters need replacing periodically, they can be noisy, and they add to your electricity bills. There is an alternative however that many of you may not have considered......house plants! That's right, research has demonstrated that certain plants are highly effective natural air purifiers. Not only that but they are cheaper to buy than their manmade counterparts, don't require filter changes, are silent, use no electricity, are much more attractive, and may even contribute to our happiness! One...

 If you're like most people you probably associate probiotics with helping to maintain a healthy digestive system and alleviate symptoms such as bloating and stomach aches. You'd be absolutely right in thinking this as studies have shown probiotics to be helpful in Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), and traveller's diarrhea. Companies who produce probiotic yoghurt drinks usually focus on the digestive benefits of their products with their TV ads typically showing women bent over with stomach pain which is relieved by the probiotic drink! What may surprise you is that probiotic bacteria are also extremely important for the health of the immune system. There is a contant dialogue going on between the bacteria in the gut and the immune system and this can have profound consequences for overall health depending on how healthy the balance of your gut bacteria is. Studies have shown that probiotics can be...

If you suffer from respiratory allergies such as hayfever I'm sure you know that symptoms aren't limited to the obvious sneezing, itching, runny nose and watering eyes. Of course these are very annoying and often distressing but what those who don't have allergies don't realise is that mood disturbances such as depression, irritability and insomnia are also a common result of allergic reactions and can be equally or more distressing than the obvious allergy symptoms.

Having just returned from a trip overseas at Christmas, which involved a total of four long flights, I thought I would write about the considerable challenge that flying poses for those suffering from environmental illness.

I'm sure most people would agree that travelling by air in itself is a stressful experience. There's checking-in with the long lines and security interrogation and then there's the waiting around before it's time to board the plane.

I was watching an episode of 'King of the Hill' the other day in which the Hill family were told they had a mold problem in their home. While the episode was very funny (as always!) it put across the message that mold isn't something that needs to be taken seriously and that anyone suggesting your house has a mold problem is a conman. This attitude is very widespread with the public and even many healthcare providers often dismiss the possibility of mold being at the root of health issues. Unfortunately mold in reality can be the cause of

With the holiday season rapidly approaching most of us will be thinking about getting a Christmas tree to bring the festive spirit into our homes. The trees are a source of joy for most but what about people who suffer from allergies?

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