• Over 35 million people in the US suffer at some time from known allergies, ranging from mild to severe

• Eight percent of children and two percent of adults are affected by food allergies
• Hay fever affects eight percent of men and twelve percent of women, the cost of treatment is estimated at $1.8 billion
• Chronic sinusitis, commonly caused by allergies, affects 36.6 million people in the US
• Over 14.2 million, including 4.2 million children, are suffering from asthma and the numbers are steadily rising

Allergy is a response mounted by the immune system to a particular food, inhalant, or chemical. The immune system reacts to an invader by creating a specific antibody (IgE), which signals mast cells to release histamine, which in turn is responsible for the annoying symptoms of allergies. Acute allergy symptoms include itchy eyes, runny nose, rashes, sneezing, and hives. While acute allergy symptoms are readily recognized by the allergy sufferers, frequent exposure to an allergen or a group of allergens will lead to the development of chronic symptoms including headaches, migraines, IBS, depression and anxiety, behavioral problems in children (including ADD and ADHD), asthma, bladder infections, eczema, arthritis and much more. Common allergens include food, food additives, pollen, dust, pet dander, chemicals, including pesticides, mold and mildew.

People inherit allergies most often from their mothers. At least 3 genes are known to be responsible for allergies, but only one has been identified. This gene produces IL-4, a growth factor that is required for production of IgE. Most dietary lectins (food proteins) are known to stimulate production of IL-4, thus highly allergic individuals experience more symptoms when exposed to incompatible dietary lectins.

If both parents have allergies, there is a 70% chance that their child will have allergies. If only one parent has an allergy, there is 30-60% chance.

As a rule, children with inherited skin diseases, including eczema, have a genetic predisposition for developing IgE antibody-mediated hypersensitivity to inhaled and ingested substances.

Food intolerance or sensitivity, on the other hand, doesn't produce a specific immune response and includes many types of problems, which may be correlated, with any food. Food intolerances are not detected by the conventional allergy testing

Intolerant foods have an irritating effect on the body, which ultimately weakens your immune system, thus making you prone to contracting variety of illnesses.

Intolerances can affect any organ system of the body. They may cause runny nose, breathing and digestive problems, itching skin, hives, eczema, rashes, headaches, including migraines, insomnia, irritability, hypertension, water retention, anxiety, depression, concentration problems and much more

Children become sensitized to foods before they are born. Studies have demonstrated that overindulgence of some foods by pregnant woman results in food sensitivities in the child. Being born or weaned during or immediately prior to the peak season of pollen increases the risk of sensitization to a particular allergen. This has been shown for grass, birch, and ragweed allergies.

Person's degree of susceptibility to food intolerances and environmental allergies depends on a vast array of factors:

• Monodiets
• Increased or decreased thyroid activity
• Adrenal insufficiency
• Hypoglycemia
• Antibiotic therapy
• Exposure to chemicals
• Vitamin and mineral deficiencies
• Prolonged illnesses
• Physical and emotional stress

Tolerance to the food changes with different factors that affect your immune system. In high stress situations, it may take only a few foods to create a symptom. When everyday stressors are removed, being on vacation, it will take many more exposures before a person has a symptom due to ingestion of foods.

Food cravings are often an indication that you are under high stress. Continuos consumption of your food intolerances will result in an addiction cycle, i.e. consumption of food intolerance produces a temporary feeling of well-being that is followed by withdrawal symptoms. This adaptation often makes you desire the very foods you should avoid.

1. Elimination diet
2. Blood type diet
3. Rotation diet
4. Herbs such as nettles, turmeric, bromelain, ginger
5. Nutritional supplements, such as quercetin, vit.C, B vitamins
6. Avoidance of chemicals
7. Clean air
8. Dust control
9. Stress reduction