Global Warming Makes Allergies Worse

Global warming…I’m sure there are people out there who don’t want to hear one more thing about it!  Right?  Global warming is such a hot topic right now for politicians, environmentalists, and… allergy sufferers? That’s right. As the planet heats up, so does our battle against allergies and asthma. In fact, many scientists now acknowledge the link between global warming and breathing problems.

What does global warming have to do with allergies? As the planet heats up, winter seasons become shorter. That means longer stretches of warm weather – and allergies. Springtime has been arriving earlier, leading to months of misery for those with airborne allergies. How much earlier? 10-15 days earlier in the past three decades alone. And this trend is not expected to stop anytime soon. Thanks to the lengthening seasons, allergies aren’t just lasting longer; they’re becoming more severe as well. The problem is so serious that experts have been scrambling to create new policies and solutions. Even the World Health Organization has commented on the serious health implications of longer pollen seasons.

There is more carbon dioxide in the air during allergy season. This is detrimental to allergy sufferers because plants and weeds thrive when they’re exposed to more carbon dioxide. One sign of a strong plant is the amount of pollen it produces. And with pollen levels on the rise, people with allergies are noticing an increase in their symptoms.

If you’re a city dweller, you could have an even harder time. Cities act like giant greenhouses for weeds. The press of bodies and buildings trap heat, causing weeds to grow larger and release more pollen. The large number of people releasing carbon dioxide into city air also stimulates weed growth. Research has shown that city weeds can grow twice as large as their country cousins. To make matters worse, they also produce stronger pollen that wreaks havoc on allergies.

Global Warming Brings More Allergens

With longer occurrences of warm, wet weather – not to mention the increase in floods and storms – the air contains more mold and fungi than ever. This is bad news for allergy sufferers, since those are some of the most common allergens. Asthma is on the rise, too, especially among young children who live in the city.

Even in the dry seasons, dust, toxins and smog lurk in the air, making it harder to breathe. But global warming is such a big problem -what can allergy sufferers do to make living – and breathing – a bit easier?

Fortunately, there are plenty of options that don’t involve drug therapy (which can have unwanted side effects).

First, take care of your airways. Give yourself good air to breathe by investing in a HEPA filter. Clean all the air filters in your home. And don’t neglect your car’s air filter if you spend a substantial amount of time behind the wheel. Keep track of air quality alerts in your area; on days when allergens are high, stay indoors as much as possible and keep the windows closed. On hot days, carry out most of your physical activities in the morning before allergens have a chance to flourish in the midday heat.

Consume foods that help your airways function properly.  This includes things rich in essential fatty acids, such as fish, seeds, and nuts.  You can also take a good fish oil supplement.

Make your home as allergy free as possible.  Carpets attract and trap dust, mites, and other allergens. Consider switching to hardwood flooring to improve your allergy symptoms. Regular cleaning of curtains, rugs and linens also helps to keep allergies at bay. And don’t forget about the health benefits of hypoallergenic trees and plants! Not only will they improve the air quality around your home, they’ll add beauty, too.

Laundry tips to prevent allergies

Did you know that your laundry habits might be causing your allergies? Laundry isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when people think of allergies, but it is a common culprit. If you’re not careful, your laundry can pack a potent one-two punch with dust mites and irritating chemicals. The resulting itchy skin, rashes, hives, and eczema are enough to make anyone miserable. Luckily, you don’t have to make huge changes to your routine; simply employing some new cleaning strategies will bring relief from your allergy symptoms.

Dust Mites

These tiny mites aren’t visible to the naked eye, but they are a leading cause of allergies in the home. It’s estimated that every mattress contains 100,000 to 10 million dust mites. They can also bring on asthma attacks, especially in young children and the elderly.

To get rid of these microscopic pests, bed linens should be washed in hot water. The mites can survive temperatures up to 56ºC/133ºF, and they will cling to fabrics washed in water of that temperature. Wash every sheet, blanket, and pillowcase one a week in hot water. Needless to say, the sheets need to be made from a resilient fabric that can withstand high temperatures. Cotton is a good choice.

You can also use chemicals such as benzyl benzoate to kill dust mites in your laundry. This solution is considered safe for short-term use, but nobody knows how it affects a person’s health when used for long periods of time. Extra rinse cycles can help wash away residual chemicals. If you have a skin condition, you might have better luck using benzyl benzoate on fabrics you don’t touch on a daily basis.

Skin Conditions

If you suffer from allergies, eczema, or other painful skin conditions, you should be extra careful when doing the laundry. Some detergents and fabric softeners contain chemicals that irritate sensitive skin. These should be tested on one or two pieces of laundry at first, just to see if they will cause an allergic reaction. If they do, rinse out the washing machine thoroughly with hot water and move on to the next product.

Folks with serious allergies should try detergents that don’t contain perfumes or dyes. These are frequently marketed for babies and toddlers, but they work just as well for grown-up laundry. Some people find that biological washing products, which contain enzymes, worsen their skin conditions. Enzymes are natural substances that help break down molecules, such as stains. If your skin condition worsens after using a biological washing product, either do a double rinse cycle before drying your clothes, or switch to another type of detergent.

Stain removal can be a challenge to people with skin conditions, simply because most stain removers rely on harsh chemicals. For a natural approach, try mixing up your own stain remover from vinegar, club soda, baking soda, or corn starch. The results might surprise you.

Fabric softeners are another source of skin irritation. Luckily, there are hypoallergenic alternatives. Instead of regular fabric softener, try a quarter cup of baking soda. Vinegar and Borax, also used in quarter-cup measurements, make clothes soft without worsening the symptoms of eczema. To go totally chemical-free, use laundry balls instead of a detergent or fabric softener.

All about Child Allergies

Childhood allergies can be swift and frightening. Imagine a child happily snacking on peanuts one minute, then gasping for breath the next. It’s enough to make any parent afraid.

But allergies have been a part of childhood for hundreds of years. Luckily, most of them go away by the time children reach puberty. In the meantime, you can keep childhood allergies from endangering your child with just a few simple steps.

First, know which allergies are the most common. If your child has allergies, chances are good that their allergens are airborne (pet hair and dust); contact skin irritants (such as wool); or food (wheat, soy, or apples). Each type of allergy can manifest in a number of different ways. Of childhood food allergies, milk is the most common and peanuts are the most dangerous.

Next, learn about childhood allergy symptoms and how to recognize them. Airborne allergens cause sneezing, coughing, itchy or watery eyes, and a runny nose. Allergens can also cause hives, rashes, or asthma-like breathing problems. Food allergies often cause gas, bloating, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. When allergies are severe, sufferers can have an anaphylactic reaction. Anaphylaxis causes swelling of the air passages. Without medical attention, victims can stop breathing and die.

Milk allergies usually show up during the child’s infancy. This type of food allergy is very common, but not as severe as peanut allergies. Children who are allergic to milk might break out in hives or suffer from colic. Lactose-free formulas are one way to avoid this allergy.

Peanut allergies are very serious; always watch your child carefully when feeding them peanut products for the first time. Children who are sensitive to peanuts can suffer from swelling of the mouth and tongue, hives, and difficulty breathing. They also risk life-threatening anaphylaxis. If your child exhibits any of these symptoms, seek emergency medical help immediately.

The next thing you can do to protect your child from allergies is to talk to their pediatrician about testing and treatment. Allergy tests will reveal the allergens that your child is most susceptible to. Once these substances have been identified, it’s time to decide on a course of treatment.

Mild allergies can be managed simply by avoiding or limiting contact with the allergen. The child’s pediatrician may also recommend nasal sprays or antihistamines to control airborne allergies. Food allergies are isolated by removing and reintroducing certain foods. By keeping track of which foods have been consumed on a given day, parents can figure out which foods their children are allergic to.

Some allergies are more serious. These might require allergy shots or breathing treatments. These types of treatments involve low doses of corticosteroids. Steroids reduce inflammation, a common response to allergens.

Natural allergy treatments are increasing in popularity. Children with breathing problems and coughs due to allergies can benefit from the herbal extract, butterbur. Butterbur promotes healing and respiratory health. Glucosamine, a popular anti-inflammatory, can help with bronchitis symptoms.

Antioxidant fruit and vegetable pigments known as flavonoids also support the lungs. Because some asthma sufferers have exhibited a manganese deficiency, it’s thought that magnesium supplements can help control breathing problems.

There are also natural substances that promote healing by helping the body replenish its cells more efficiently. Folic acid is one such supplement. A B-vitamin, folic acid stimulates new cell growth. M.S.M is another natural compound that has been studied as a treatment for seasonal allergies. It works by binding amino acids together and promoting strong connective tissues.

This carries vital water and nutrients to cells, and helps toxins pass out of them easily. M.S.M has been found safe for short-term use.

Finally, the enzyme lactase can be taken by children with lactose intolerance. Lactase helps children digest lactose, or milk sugar.

Those who suffer from milk allergies rather than a simple intolerance will need to find a suitable alternative such as soy milk. Seek a doctor’s advice before making any dietary changes or giving supplements to your child.

Stop Allergies Now

Sometimes our bodies decide that they just don’t like something. When this happens, they let us know in a variety of ways. When we come into contact with an irritating substance, our bodies sometimes complain by itching, sneezing, coughing, and breaking out in rash. This lovely collection of symptoms is called ‘allergies’.

The above-mentioned symptoms aren’t the only signs of allergies. Sufferers frequently experience irritated, watery eyes and runny noses. Others, particularly children, might get dark circles under their eyes.

Think you might have allergies? If you do, you’re not alone. Over 50 million people suffer from allergies in the U.S. alone. With so many symptomatic individuals running around, it’s no surprise that a number of treatments have sprung up.

If your allergies are persistent, talk to your doctor about prescription or over-the-counter medications. They’ll be able to recommend the best drug for you. Popular anti-allergy medications include nasal sprays and antihistamines. Nasal sprays, such as Flonase and Nasonex, contain mild corticosteroids to fight inflammation. Antihistamines fight the body’s production of reactionary chemicals called histamines. Histamines cause allergy symptoms. An antihistamine, like Claritin or Benadryl, can be used in place of or in addition to nasal sprays. Some antihistamines cause drowsiness, so be sure to consult with your doctor to see which one is right for you.

Would you rather avoid drugs and treat your allergies the natural way? Natural treatments are great for mild to moderate allergies. Here are a few ways that you can cut down on your exposure to allergens each day.

First, educate yourself about allergies. If you have food allergies, make sure that you know how to read food labels and decipher their information. Improve the air quality in your home or office with a dehumidifier or air filtration system. Avoid prolonged trips outside and close doors and windows during high pollen days and in the mornings. Don’t keep pets that trigger allergies. Many allergy sufferers find it helpful to wash all their sleeping linens thoroughly each week.

Allergies tend to be hereditary. But before you blame Mom and Dad for your sniffles, take a look at the things you encounter every day that trigger your allergies. Do you have dust and mold around your house? Do you come into contact with animals that make you allergic? There are many factors that you can eliminate from your daily life to reduce your allergy symptoms. Take the necessary steps to ensure that you’ll enjoy an allergy-free existence – no matter the season!

Wheat Allergies: Signs and Symptoms

We eat so many wheat products each day that it’s hard to imagine how anyone with a wheat allergy could manage to live a normal life. But many wheat allergy sufferers do. That’s because they took the time to understand their condition, recognize the ways it manifests, and seek out wheat alternatives to replace the foods that cause an allergic reaction.

What allergies share some symptoms with other food allergies, but they also have symptoms that are very different – and sometimes alarming. For example, someone with a wheat allergy might experience chest pain and dizziness.

Others find that they have to urinate more than usual after eating wheat products. Still others might suffer from a swollen tongue, irritated eyes, or mood swings. More common symptoms include gastrointestinal complaints, nausea, skin rash, and vomiting.

Whenever a food allergy is suspected, the sufferer needs to investigate which food is causing the problems. This is done by cutting out one food at a time and watching for a corresponding decrease in symptoms. Then foods are added back to the diet until the symptoms reappear.

Then the food causing the allergy is revealed, and can be avoided. Some people find that keeping a written record of their food consumption helps them pinpoint problem foods. If this method is unsuccessful, a physician can perform allergy tests.

If it’s determined that you do have food allergies, don’t despair. You can find relief from your symptoms just by cutting problem foods from your diet. It might sound daunting to remove wheat from your diet, but it’s easier now than ever. There are wheat-free alternatives for almost every food. Even better – they taste great.

Don’t let a wheat allergy make you miserable. Go online or to your local health food store and ask about wheat-free or gluten-free food products.
You’ll be back to eating bread and pasta in no time!

All about Allergies

Have you been suffering from a prolonged case of the sniffles? Do your eyes constantly water and itch? Have you been coughing and sneezing so much that nobody wants to come close for fear of catching something icky? The good news is that you’re probably not contagious. The bad news is that you might have allergies.

Allergies occur when we inhale, touch, ingest, or otherwise come into contact with substances known as “allergens”. Different substances trigger different people; for example, one person might be allergic to pet dander, and another might be allergic to pollen.

One thing all allergens have in common is that they provoke an allergic reaction in people who are sensitive to them. While most people develop a tolerance to most substances, allergic individuals are continually prone to all or some of these annoying symptoms:

• Skin rashes or hives
• Itchy, watery eyes
• Itchy nose or scratchy throat
• Sneezing
• Shortness of breath or wheezing
• Anaphylaxis (in severe cases)

An anaphylactic reaction is a serious, sometimes life-threatening reaction to allergens. Victims of anaphylaxis experience swelling, dangerously low blood pressure, and difficulty breathing. A reaction of this sort requires immediate medical aid.

Airborne allergens such as pollen, dust, and mold commonly cause allergic reactions. Sometimes our bodies have an adverse reaction to the foods we eat. Though they produce symptoms similar to allergies, these reactions are considered food intolerances. There is no immune system involvement during a food intolerance, but sufferers usually experience gastrointestinal distress.

Dealing with Allergies

Anti-histamines are commonly prescribed to treat allergies. But these drugs can cause drowsiness or restlessness in the user. Rather than depending on chemicals to ward off their allergies, more people are now turning to natural alternatives. Citrus fruits have a natural antihistamine effect. So do onions and garlic.

Since allergens settle around the home, many people endeavor to clean, dust, wash bed linens, and vacuum once a week. Others plan their outdoor activities around the pollen count; if it’s high, they stay home. Allergies can play havoc on nasal passages and sinus cavities, so many allergy sufferers try to improve the quality of the air they breathe by installing air filters and setting up dehumidifiers. Still others find relief with saline nasal washes.

If you’ve got allergies, experiment with the solutions presented above to find the one that works best for you. Some changes are easy to incorporate, while others might be a challenge. Once you find relief, though, you’ll agree that the time and effort were well worth it.

Things You Should Know and Do if You Have a Food Intolerance

Do you think you might have a food intolerance? Well, you wouldn’t be alone. There are claims that anywhere between 40% and 70% of the population suffer from at least one food intolerance.

The symptoms can be rather vague: intestinal upset, fatigue, headaches, and some reactions that seem more allergic than anything else. They can also show up hours or even days after consuming the problem food, making it very difficult to identify the cause of your ailments. To be sure of what you’re dealing with, seek the help of a physician. Let your doctor know what your body is experiencing. He or she can then refer you to a nutritionist or other food intolerance specialist to ensure that you’re getting all the nutrients your body needs.

Wheat and lactose intolerance are common complaints. There are special tests that can be used to determine whether a person suffers from these conditions. If wheat intolerance is detected, you should also be checked for celiac disease, or gluten intolerance, since gluten is a wheat protein.

Of course, any intolerance will require adjustments in the way you eat. Be sure to inform your friends and family of your diagnosis so they can plan meals appropriately. Caretakers and schools should be informed if a child is found to have a food intolerance.

What changes can you make to ensure that you or your loved ones are safe from problem foods and substances? First, become a great food label reader! Every country in the European Union is required to display certain nutritional facts on prepackaged food labels. These foods must be clearly marked if they contain certain ingredients in concentrations higher than 10 mg/kg or liter.

These ingredients are tree nuts, peanuts, seafood, milk, eggs, fish, gluten, soya, celery, sesame seeds, mustard, sulphites, and lupin.

It’s best to check the ingredients of everything you purchase prepackaged. Please note that foods which are not prepackaged, like most deli or bakery items, aren’t subject to the same labeling requirements. If your intolerance is severe, you should avoid foods that might be exposed to other foods you’re susceptible to during preparation.

You can also look for supermarket lists or specialty stores that sell foods which are free from certain problematic ingredients. Wheat, gluten, and dairy-free alternatives are becoming easier to find as there is more awareness about these intolerances. And some of them are really delicious!

Of course, you could always go online to look for the foods you need. It’s easy to find nutritional information that way. Just be sure to check the labels as well, since recipes can change without warning. The web is also a great source for recipes that are “free from” whatever it is you need to avoid. Honestly, it doesn’t have to be difficult!

All About Food Intolerance

Food intolerance is becoming much more of a household phrase these days. For those who haven’t thought about it much or never had a reason to look into it, this is a basic guide to what it is, what some of the most common intolerances are, and some other related information.

Food intolerances can come from a variety of sources. For example, some people can’t tolerate citrus fruits or other acidic foods. The food intolerances that trouble most people are chemicals (such as aspartame or preservatives), natural compounds (like caffeine), wheat and gluten, and, of course, lactose.

Sometimes it’s hard to distinguish a food intolerance from a food allergy. Their symptoms can be quite similar, but actually they are completely different bodily responses. A food intolerance is a digestive system problem.

If you have a food intolerance, you might experience headaches, gastrointestinal problems, or weight gain. (Wine, cheese and chocolate are notorious headache causers.) Gastrointestinal issues can include gas, bloating, constipation, or diarrhea, which are sometimes mistaken for Irritable Bowel Syndrome. You might also have allergy-like symptoms such as a runny nose, hives, or difficulty breathing.

Lactose intolerance is one of the most common things people suffer from. It is caused by a shortage of the lactase enzyme. Instead of digesting lactose normally, people with too little lactase can’t process milk sugars properly. When they consume dairy products, the result is fatigue, nausea, and a host of other digestive problems such as gas and bloating.

How serious is lactose intolerance? Children younger than two are especially susceptible to it. These children often need a special non-dairy formula to ensure proper nutrition. Most adults with lactose intolerance (5% of all adults in Ireland and the UK) can tolerate a tiny amount of dairy in their diets. Others can tolerate none at all.

Though more rare, foods that contain artificial preservatives, sweeteners, flavor enhancers, and colors sometimes trigger painful symptoms in people with an intolerance to such substances.

Another very common intolerance is wheat or gluten intolerance. (Gluten is a protein found in wheat.) These conditions have gotten a lot of press lately, and for good reason: gluten intolerance, also called celiac disease in its most serious form, has been linked to behavioral problems, weight gain, and even autism.

Celiac disease is an incurable condition that causes the immune system to attack a person’s own body. In this case, the autoimmune response is triggered by eating foods that contain gluten. Celiac disease can cause all of the symptoms of food intolerance, plus stunted growth and skin conditions. Left unchecked, it can eventually cause bone disease, anemia, and even cancer.

Unfortunately, gluten is found in all wheat products, and even in some products made from barley, rye, and oats. That means that people with gluten intolerance need to avoid certain alcohols, like beer. Wheat can also be found in unexpected places. It’s often used as a filler in ground meat and sausage.

There are many gluten-free and wheat-free breads, pastas, and cereals – but they’re not created equal. Just because a product is gluten-free doesn’t necessarily mean it’s safe for people with wheat intolerance. Gluten-free products can contain other wheat substances. Likewise, wheat-free products might contain barley, rye, or oats.

Basically, people who suffer from a gluten intolerance must become very good label readers!

If you suspect wheat, gluten, or any other intolerance, speak with your doctor as soon as you can. They will make a firm diagnosis and give you dietary guidelines to follow.

There is a great food intolerance test on the market that I would recommend to anyone who thinks they may be affected by one or several food products. It takes the guesswork out of figuring out what is causing the problem.

If you find out you do have an intolerance, seek nutrition guidance, as when patients attempt to cut out the offending food group, it can cause malnourishment. For example, some people avoid dairy products altogether because of their lactose intolerance. Without a good substitute, they risk calcium deficiency.

What is a Food Intolerance?

Sometimes our bodies cannot tolerate the foods we eat. This is known as food intolerance. When people consume foods that they’re sensitive to, such as dairy products for lactose intolerant individuals, their bodies have a negative physical reaction. The effects show up every time the food is consumed. If large quantities of the food are ingested, symptoms can be severe.

Food intolerance is sometimes mistaken for food allergies. But food allergies cause the person’s immune system to sit up and take notice. Food intolerance doesn’t involve the immune system. Neither is it linked to contaminated or spoiled foods; those cause food poisoning, not intolerance.

Additionally, food intolerance describes only the adverse physical reaction to the ingestion of certain foods. It does not address psychological reactions to food.

The Causes of Food Intolerance

Food intolerance is caused by the inability to digest certain types of food, usually due to insufficient amounts of the chemicals or enzymes needed to digest a particular food.

Lactose intolerance is very common. People who suffer from this condition don’t have enough of the enzyme called ‘lactase’. Therefore, their bodies can’t break down the lactose, or milk sugar, in dairy products.

Common symptoms of lactose intolerance include intestinal distress, gas, bloating, and bowel irregularities.

Other people can’t process alcohol because they don’t have enough of the enzyme ‘alcohol dehydrogenase’. They can become ill if they consume even a single alcoholic beverage.

The additives, flavor enhancers, and preservatives in processed foods are another common source of food intolerance. MSGs, caffeine, benzoates, and aspartame cause pain and fatigue in sensitive individuals.

Sometimes enzyme deficiencies can cause toxins to build in the system. Enzyme deficiencies can also stimulate the production of histamines. The human body normally produces histamines in response to allergens. In such cases, food intolerance can masquerade as an allergic reaction.

Who Suffers from Food Intolerance?

If your parents have food intolerances, chances are good that you’ll have them too. Ethnicity plays a role, too. Only 10% of northern and western Europeans suffer from lactose intolerance. Persons of Asian, African, Greek, and Native American descent are much more susceptible; lactose intolerance affects 70-90% of their population.

Newborns tend to produce more lactase, so they can digest lactose easier than adults and older children. The symptoms of lactose intolerance can appear in children as young as two, but many people develop it later in life. Gastroenteritis sometimes causes a dip in lactase levels, bringing on a temporary intolerance to dairy products. Children face a high risk of lactose intolerance following gastroenteritis. Half of all Asians are affected by alcohol intolerance.

What are the Symptoms of Food Intolerance?

The symptoms of food intolerance center on the digestive system. Sufferers may experience stomach pain, bloating, nausea, or loose stools. These symptoms are seldom life-threatening, but they can make a person miserable. They can manifest anywhere from a few hours to a few days after the food is consumed.

Food intolerance symptoms can become quite severe if a large quantity of the food has been consumed. People with a slight enzyme deficiency typically don’t experience symptoms as acutely as people with a larger deficit. Alcohol intolerance causes redness of the face, nausea, irregular heartbeat, headaches, and dizziness.

How is a Diagnosis Made?

Trial and error is the simplest way to test for food intolerance. This is done by removing one food from the diet for a while and monitoring symptoms for improvement. If symptoms decrease, the food is then reintroduced. A return of symptoms will reveal whether or not that food was the culprit.

Further tests are used to diagnose lactose intolerance. For example, your physician might recommend a test to measure the amount of hydrogen in your breath; a stool acidity test; or a blood glucose test to determine how well the patient digests milk sugar.

How is Food Intolerance Treated?

Food intolerance is usually controlled by removing the troublesome food from the person’s diet. For instance, lactose intolerant individuals can replace regular milk with soy milk.

If the intolerance is mild to moderate, the affected person can try eating only very limited amounts of the food in question. Mild lactose intolerance can be managed through the use of lactase enzyme supplements.

If foods are removed from one’s diet, they should be replaced with nutritious alternatives. It’s crucial to avoid malnutrition, especially in growing children. If you have questions about suitable food replacements, speak with your nutrition specialist.

The only real way to find out what intolerance you may have is to take a food intolerance test.

Eating healthy on the road – is it possible?

In one word – Yes!

Recently I was on my honeymoon which included a road trip up the coast of California.  Leading up to the honeymoon both my husband and I had been doing really well with healthy eating and lots of exercise.  So when we thought about being away from our normal routine for two weeks, we both thought it would be impossible to keep up the healthy habits!

Okay, maybe exercise is possible wherever you go as long as you have a little willpower, but eating on the road was my biggest concern.  Is it really possible to find healthy options on the go?

You might be surprised but yes.

Your options for healthy foods might depend on where exactly you are, but you can usually find something along the following lines:

- Nuts or seeds:  If you can find the unsalted variety these are the best choice.  If not, just avoid the flavored ones (honey, chili, etc).  These usually have monosodium glutamate and either a ton of sugar or sweeteners!

- Make your own sandwiches or salads.  This allows you the opportunity to monitor exactly what goes in your food.  Premade sandwiches and salads usually have lots of unnecessary saturated fats (mayonnaise, cheese, dressing, etc).  When you order your own fresh sandwich or salad you can limit these items and have a much tastier meal.

Surprisingly, while we were in Big Sur (an area along the coast of California – Highway 1) we found a tiny little shop that had healthy or allergy friendly foods.  I couldn’t believe it!  There we were in the mountains, where there weren’t many residents (just tourists), and without much in the way of grocery stores.  This little general store had jams without sugar added, items for people who suffer from wheat allergies, and other things.  It was great.

All in all, don’t give into junk food just because you are on vacation and think that you can’t find anything healthy to eat.  It’s okay to indulge a bit but you don’t have to go crazy!  You still want to feel good in your bathing suit or other summer attire

To your health,

Kimberly

Next Page »