Here Are Ways To Deal With Allergies

Food allergies are becoming an increasing problem with years passing by, and it does not skip over military families, whether it’s you, your child or your partner in life.

Now, if you have been stationed in a big city with farmer’s markets, organic stores, Whole Foods markets and other specialty stores it is much easier, but what if you have your PCS (Permanent Change of Station) somewhere without such stores?

For all of the families who have to live with food allergies here are 9 things that should help you deal with them, regardless of your location:

1. Raw Food

Well, this is something you should already be doing – eat salads, fresh vegetables, and fruit daily. And if you really don’t enjoy eating your veggies raw, you can lightly steam them and that would also work great. Don’t be too harsh on yourself, we don’t mean to eat only raw food – just remember to ingest a certain amount of fresh groceries every day.

2. Read the labels

Apart from the obvious part of it (finding the ingredient you are allergic to), reading the label will inform you of all the additives that are in the product. And, while it is not a rule, most of the time it is wise to skip products that have too many lines of additives on the label.

Keep your eye out for Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) – it is commonly used in Asian foods that are believed to be good for your health. Some people are sensitive to it and can suffer from nausea, breathing problems and other allergic reactions.

3. Varied Diet

You can increase your chances of developing sensitivities if you eat the same food for every meal during a long period of time. Even if it is the healthiest food on the planet, you can make your organism so sick and tired of it, that it just might start having negative reactions to that type of food.

4. Learn about your allergies

Gathering all the possible information about your type of allergies can help you set up your diet. If you are lactose intolerant you already know how to avoid dairy products, right?

Go and test yourself as soon as possible, and then learn everything you can about your allergies. By doing this you may prevent migraines, asthma attacks, rashes, diarrhea… Who knows, maybe something as small as feathers have been making your life miserable, and that is why you always feel stuffy after waking up?

So don’t be lazy and visit your physician even today.

 5. You should be careful when dining out

Not all restaurants use fresh food to prepare meals, some of them heat up factory-made, pre-packaged food and are rarely even fully informed about the ingredients. Visit restaurants that come recommended by your friends or colleagues, those you are certain about.

6. Contact the School

If your child suffers from food allergies, you should contact your local school to see if they have adopted the measures that were suggested in the guidelines released by CDC (Center for Disease Control) on handling food allergies in schools. In case they haven’t, make sure to explain to your child what allergies are, how to avoid reactions, and which foods to avoid.

7. Acquaint yourself with local food producers

Being a friend to a local farmer has its benefits, you will know when he has fresh products and can even order directly from the producer if you need any special raw foods. And you can rely on them to sell you only the best of the products they have grown. It is even beneficial for you to try and find a nearby Amish community and purchase affordable, organic food directly from them.

8. Test for the rest

Remember, you might be allergic to more things than you know at this point! Some of the symptoms you may be experiencing (Insomnia, cough, bronchitis and other undiagnosed symptoms) can be directly linked to the foods you eat without thinking twice. If you are experiencing some unexpected discomfort even though you maintain a healthy diet it could be wise to get tested and find out exactly which products or situations you should avoid.

9. It is not just food

Allergens can be found in a lot of different products: lotions, detergents or other skincare products, and even fragrances. You could make your own body lotion using Jojoba Oil and organic essence oils and avoid those made in factories. Since the skin is the largest organ in our bodies, it is very important to be careful with the products you use on it too.