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Allergies: Building The Immune System By Michael Seidman MD, FACS

Index (click on any question below)

1. If allergies are an immune deficiency disorder would it make common sense for allergy sufferers to take action to build up their immune system?

2. What are the different ways one can build up ones immune system?

3. How does one know if one is deficient in certain vitamins and minerals?

4. Can you recommend a basic vitamin program for allergy sufferers?

5. Does the same hold true for sinus sufferers or are there some differences in the vitamin regimen?

6. What role can exercise play in preventing allergies or sinus infections?

7. Is there any particular diet in general that would reduce allergy or sinus symptoms?

8. What diet is best for allergies?

Q 1. If allergies are an immune deficiency disorder would it make common sense for allergy sufferers to take action to build up their immune system? <top> A. This is an interesting question, while some feel that allergies are a deficiency disorder, others feel that it may be an over function of the immune system. This is not the prevailing view. So if one buys into the precept that allergies indeed represent an immune deficiency, then yes it would make sense to enhance the immune system.

Q 2. What are the different ways one can build up ones immune system? <top> A. There are many ways to enhance the immune system and I will mention a few of the most important ways: a) Eating a well balanced diet is critical for a properly functioning immune system b) A diet high in fruits and vegetables has many of the phytonutrients critical to enhance immunity as well as many of the important vitamins and minerals c) Plenty of rest d) Exercise program e) Drink 6-8 glasses of water per day f) Increase your vitamin C intake to 1000-2000 mg.d (this may reduce your histamine levels) g) Increase your bioflavonoid intake. h) Be sure that you are taking magnesium (400 mg/day) i) Most people do not follow recommendations a or b (above) very well. Thus nutritional supplementation is critical. i. Body language vitamin co has designed several supplements that are outstanding to promote your overall health. We recommend: The Multi-vitamin, antioxidant and anti-age/energy formulas (this is a total of 6 pills per day and costs approximately 99.00/month) ii. The antioxidant formula has quercetin and bioflavonoids which are outstanding for allergic problems. Additionally, it has burdock, an herb, that is superb to reduce allergic symptoms. Vitamin E at 200-800i.u. has been demonstrated to enhance the immune function. It also has green tea, pine bark and grape seed extract which are powerful antioxidants for overall excellent health. iii. The Multivitamin formula is three pills a day and provides all the important nutrients to support health and promote wellness. Each ingredient is in the proper dose to offer the reported health benefit. It is designed in concert with the antioxidant formula and together both supplements are outstanding for your health. iv. The anti-age/energy formula is patented and has been shown to reduce age-related hearing loss. Additionally it enhances mitochondrial function which is known to decline with aging. It is felt that this is in part responsible for the aging process. Additionally, when mitochondrial function declines (as early as your twenties) the immune function declines. It has high levels of Co-Q-10, alpha lipoic acid, acetyl l carnitine and glutathione.

Q 3. How does one know if one is deficient in certain vitamins and minerals? <top> A. For the most part you never really know that you are deficient. Approximately 100f the population over the age of 60 is deficient in the B vitamins, particularly B-12. In one double blinded study it was shown that supplementing with vitamin E and A can significantly enhance the immune function. It is well known that mineral absorption declines significantly in your 30's . Thus it is highly recommended that you take a supplement that has chelated minerals. In the design of Body Language Vitamin Co all the mineral are chelated to enhance the absorption. In short the only way to know if you are deficient in nutrients is to do some laboratory testing, but it is extremely expensive and most physicians will not routinely test for this. If yo are run down, feeling tired, depressed or just not having enough zip, you may be deficient (not necessarily so, however). It is much less expensive to insure yourself by taking a good supplement. We do not recommend the one a day type vitamins, their potency is just too little and minerals are not chelated (too expensive and they cant keep their price down), but they are not worth the 3-10 dollars that they charge.

Q 4. Can you recommend a basic vitamin program for allergy sufferers? <top> A. Yes absolutely, we believe that Body Language Vitamin Co makes one of the finest supplements available. There are very few supplement companies that have put such things as quercetin, bioflavonoids and burdock into their daily supplements. Body language Vitamin Co has done just this.

Q 5. Does the same hold true for sinus sufferers or are there some differences in the vitamin regimen? <top> A. You could add cats claw (Saventaro is probably the best brand) astragalus (in Body Language Cold and Flu formula there are many outstanding ingredients like Echinacea purpurea and pallida, goldenseal, astragalus, quercetin, bioflavonoids, l-arginine and several others. This proprietary formulation an also be used for allergies and sinus sufferers. Typically, it is recommended for the cold and flu like symptoms. It works to strongly upregulate the immune system. It can be used continuously but it is ALWAYS recommended to cycle as follows: Two weeks on 3-5 days off. If you have an autoimmune disorder, Echinacea products are relatively contraindicated.

Q 6. What role can exercise play in preventing allergies or sinus infections? <top> A. Although there is probably no direct impact of exercise on allergies or sinus infections, there is no doubt that a daily regimen of exercise is of critical importance to your health and can improve immune function.

Q 7. Is there any particular diet in general that would reduce allergy or sinus symptoms? <top> A. You have already noted the obvious, ie avoid any specific foods that you are allergic to. There is a long history of recommending avoidance of dairy products or foods with high potential for mold content

Q 8. What diet is best for allergies? <top>; A. While I cannot specifically recommend a particular diet, I can suggest that you avoid junk and processed foods. Eating a healthy dose of fruits and vegetables will usually help reduce allergic symptoms in many people.