A new study out of Johns Hopkins seems to indicate that exposing newborns to things like dust, germs, and allergens may actually help them build tolerances and prevent allergies and asthma later in life. The study tracked more than 450 inner-city newborns who had been exposed to mouse and cat dander, cockroach droppings, and more absolutely disgusting sounding environmental germies, yet they wheezed far less than their counterparts in cleaner homes.
I had this friend in high school who was an extremely picky eater. She'd eat fast food, and that was about it. So instead of explaining to everyone that she was picky, she'd just say she was allergic. Allergic to fruits, allergic to vegetables, allergic to anything she didn't feel like eating. It quickly erased any questions, so she didn't have to deal with the fallout of being a teenager who was as picky as a toddler. Back then, I think we all found it kind of funny. But now, as an allergy parent, I find lying about food allergies infuriating.
Nestled amongst gorgeous trees, across 41 acres of wilderness land, on Stave Lake in Mission, British Columbia, you'll find Zajac Ranch. With beautiful amenities, they truly offer the ultimate kids camp experience:
Anaphylactic allergy folks, I need to tell you about this really cool company called CarryNine. Owner Stephanie Oatway reached out to me to talk about her gorgeous line of Allerject/AuviQ wallets, and I have to tell you, they're really great. But before I get into why her products are so awesome, let me back up a little. Allerject (or AuviQ in the United States) is an epinephrine auto-injector, about the size of the palm of your hand.
Great news, asthma sufferers! A new study published in The New England Journal of Medicine has demonstrated great success in the treatment of mild allergic asthma symptoms. Researchers discovered that blocking a specific protein relieved inflammation in the lungs, reducing the need for inhalers. Can I get a "WOOHOO"?
Being the parent of an allergic child means constantly being on guard. It means your heart lives in your throat during every meal in a restaurant, because you just really don't know if they'll come in contact with an allergen.
It means being afraid to let your child go on class trips, and nearly passing out from fear when the phone rings and it's the child's school calling. Being the parent of a child with allergies means being prepared, always. It also means being sure everyone around the child is hyper-prepared.
Allergens are everywhere. 'Tis the season of open windows, pollen reports, and buying tissues in bulk, after all. So, it's understandable that a product like Febreze Allergen Reducer may seem appealing. Simply spray it on and it reduces airborne allergens, so your home is clean and allergen-free. Sounds great! Except . . . how exactly are they doing that? Are the chemicals used in the spray really safe?
There's little sympathy for people with food allergies from those who don't have them. We hear all kinds of truly ignorant comments about how our kids are weaker than the rest of the strong humans out there because of their life-threatening allergies. We get it. You think it'll never happen to you or your kids, right?
Ugh. So there's a kid in my kid's class, and he broke his leg and needs crutches. You know what? They expect my kid to move her desk over a little so that guy can get into his desk easily! Can you imagine? My daughter has to be inconvenienced so this ONE KID can sit down more easily. Pssshhh.
Also, there's a teacher in a wheelchair at my son's school, and they expect us to help hold the door for her. And suggested (GET THIS!) a ramp. Can you imagine putting a ramp in because ONE PERSON needs it? As if our tax dollars should go towards that.
I threw this meal together with things I wasn't so sure would go together, but it was such a huge hit, I wanted to share my recipe with you. I've never seen my kids eat anything as fast as they did this Beet & Feta Pasta!
Ingredients:
1 package (~500g) pasta of your choice (I used rigatoni, but would like to try farfalle for this) 1 1/2 cups feta cheese, crumbled 5 medium-sized beets, roasted and cubed 1/2 cup sweet onion, diced 2 tbs coconut oil salt and pepper to taste 2 tbs balsamic vinegar
Did you know that Canadian race car driver Alex Tagliani has lived with severe allergies to peanuts and tree nuts since he was a child? It's true! And this cool Canuck has paired up with EpiPen® and Anaphylaxis Canada for The Summer of TAG, to help spread awareness of severe allergies.
The Canadian Anaphylaxis Initiative (CAI) is a network of Canadian families who are working with Members of Parliament to raise awareness in Ottawa regarding severe, life-threatening allergies. They work to educate about allergies, advocate for those with life-threatening allergies, and work to change legislation in order to protect those with severe allergies.
From their website:
CAI has a 5-point Policy request of the Federal Government. These policy objectives are the group’s primary goals:
More than 330,000 Canadians suffer from Celiac disease, a condition that sees their bodies react in negative ways to gluten. But why? Up until now, scientists haven't been able to pinpoint just why the immune systems of those with Celiac have this reaction, but a team of researchers thinks they're making great headway.
Remember the campaign to get EpiPens into Hamilton restaurants? Well, Hamilton's making allergy news again, this time for pushing to have mall guards carry EpiPens in case of emergency allergic reactions.
A few months ago, I wrote about a new device raising funds on Indiegogo: the TellSpec food allergen detector. The campaign raised nearly $400,000 but as it turns out, the product doesn't quite live up to its claims. And by "doesn't quite," I mean it looks like it's total bullshit. As far as science is concerned, in any case.
Oh, noes! Sorry, Bangerz of the world, you'll have to wait a little longer to see Miley on her latest tour. Turns out she's currently recovering from a serious reaction to antibiotics. She was hospitalized on April 15th after taking prescription Cephalexin for a sinus infection.
Talk about allergies! Spread the word, speak up about allergies, and help others understand how serious food allergies can be.
