Citizen columnist George Strass on allergies.

THE topic of allergies covers a range of symptoms and conditions, such as hayfever, asthma, eczema, and food allergies.

In this column, we will discuss food allergies and sensitivities.

The term allergy describes an abnormal reaction of the body to foreign proteins, eg pollen, provoking hayfever.

An allergic reaction is a rapid onset of symptoms, clearly linked with immune system responses.

Hayfever, nettle rash, asthma, high blood pressure, headaches, bloating and swelling, mental confusion, hyperactivity - especially in young children - and hyperglyceamia are classic examples.

It is a major problem, one that is on the increase in our pollution-contaminated modern world of convenience food.

Changing your diet will help. Those foods least likely to produce reactions are all fresh vegetables, specific fruits (bananas, peeled pears, mangoes, pomegranates, and paw-paws), and lean lamb, lamb liver, turkey, rabbit, and game. Also white arctic deep sea fish (except for eczema sufferers), brown wholegrain rice, rice flour, rice flakes, rice cakes, millet, buckwheat, and tapioca. All beans, lentils and pulses are included, and food should be cooked in olive oil, safflower oil or linseed oil.

Recommended drinks are water - spring bottled, distilled or filtered - herb teas and vegetable juices.

But foods to be avoided include cow dairy products, eggs, gluten grains (wheat, oats, barley, corn), pork, bacon, ham, beef, sausages, preserved and smoked meats, smoked fish and shellfish.

Tea, coffee, orange and tomato (both fruit and drinks), squashes and pop drinks, sugar, sweets and chocolate (for both eating and drinking), some fruits, alcohol, smoking, yeast, yeast extracts and mushrooms should also be avoided.

Daily supplements will help.

In severe cases add two grammes of mixed free form amino acid daily and a good pancreatic enzyme preparation from your GP or health food shop.

This diet should be followed for eight weeks, and then selected foods can be reintroduced one every two days, watching for allergic reactions.

Thank you for the letters regarding allergies. My next column will look at hayfever.

The information printed can only be in general terms, but I can be contacted for private consultations on any health issues on 01254 265586.

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