Tis the Season for MC!~

[TendrTummy]

Hello All!

I recall the question being posed awhile back about WHY MC seems to be worse during the spring/early summer.

In reading the book The Allergy Self-Help Cookbook, by Marjorie Hurt Jones, RN, it hit me - it's the "total allergic load" concept, which states that "the prescence of irritating inhalants such as dust, dust mites, seasonal pollens, pet dander, and many strains of molds increases a persons's allergic load, which in turn increases a person's level of reactivity to everything that bothers them".

I have allergies to dust mites, molds, pollen, and ragweed, as well as the ferrets that live with us. These allergens, if not kept in line, will easily increase MY allergic load, causing me to react more should I ingest something I shouldn't have.

Furthermore, environmental issues can also increase your allergic load - fumes from buses, pollution, smells from foods, believe it or not, such as onion, fish and eggs often can trigger allergies even if not consumed! They also conducted a test in which a person wore a "pollution detector" of some sort thruout his daily interactions - behind a bus in traffic, in the office, home, hanging around smokers, etc.. it was found that the MOST pollution he encountered was in his own kitchen, while cooking his dinner.

Here's a quick rundown of kitchen potential allergies:

Cooking Appliances - specifically GAS appliances, are a major contributor
Kitchen Cabinets - sources of formaldehyde and molds - formaldehyde can be found in particle board cabinets in the glue, and unfortunately the only way to get rid of the pollutant is to either get new cabinets that are NOT particle board, give them a few coats with clear latex paint to seal in the glues, or purchase an air filter capable of dealing with formaldehyde fumes - one suggestion is the Foust.
Pots and Pans - uncoated aluminum can seep into your foods, polluting them. It's best to stick with coated or stainless steel, or cast iron - iron will seep into foods a little, but is natural for the body.
Food Storage - plastic used to wrap meats eventually migrate into the meat. Cling wrap will do the same if it's touching the food. SUGGESTIONS, since plastic is SO difficult to avoid: buy meat from a butcher who wraps the meat in paper, use cellophane, not cling wrap, choose glass over plastic bottles whenever possible, store leftovers in glass wide-mouth canning jars, select stoneware dishes and cups over plastic whenever possible.
DISHES - make sure to do your dishes and take out your garbage regularly!!! molds in dishes that are just sitting will affect you, as will the stench coming from the trash!

Also, be careful what you clean with!!! Specifically, oven cleaners can take a toll on the body. A suggested workaround - sprinkle salt on spills of sugary or greasy materials. After 20 minutes, scrape off the burnt food, and wipe the area with a damp sponge - use a scouring pad if necessary.

Hope these help!!! Reducing your "total allergic load" means reducing your MC suffering!!!

Christine

[kate_ce1995]

Christine,

Thanks for the reminder. I have heard of this concept before. There is a great documentary out there about this...Blue something...I'll look it up. One of the endometriosis societies (I think) sponsered it). Its an eye-opener.

Katy

PS: Are your other allergies any better since going gf? And all the other sutff you are trying to avoid?

[starfire]

Thanks Christine,
I never realized that. Very helpful hints.

Love, Shirley

[TendrTummy]

Katy,

My other (environmental) allergies are markedly improved since going GF, I have to say. The ONLY time they bother me is when I'm going to bed. I get stuffy, so I'm going to thoroughly wash the bedding, perhaps tonite if I can find time. I've been MEANING to. We have feather pillows and a feather comforter, which are notorious for dust mites - just a sidenote, the feather comforter I have SAYS not to put it in the wash, but *I* have found that NOT to be true - I simply throw it in with cold water and detergent, and then dry it for a little extra. It comes out beautifully. No problems whatsoever. Manufacterers LIE. Well, they're probably thinking it might rip open, and that it might, but I'd prefer it were CLEAN.

Christine

[starfire]

I worked at a dry cleaners for about a year a few years ago and when they got down items to do........for drying they put tennis balls in the drier which helps fluff up the feathers. A tennis shoe also works.

Love, Shirley

[TendrTummy]

Shirl,

Must beat the SNOT out of the poor feathers LOL

Christine

[kate_ce1995]

I was going to give the same tip about tennis shoes. Just makes them fluffy again.

Katy