Allergies anyone?
OK so I am the queen of allergies—I’m allergic to dairy, gluten, peanuts, and wheat. And my allergies aren’t limited to food. I am also allergic to fragrances, nickel, wool, hair dye, and every single plant in existence. None of these are life threatening allergies—all of them cause symptoms that range from inflammation to headaches to eczema. I am grateful that animals are not on my list of allergies. I can go without oats if I have to—but dogs and horses, not a chance!
Being sensitive to foods has made my life complicated, that’s for sure. Most of the good stuff is off-limits to me. I have become especially picky when it comes to shopping in a grocery store—and eating out is nearly impossible. Sometimes it’s tempting to say forget it—and eat something on my Don’t List. But every time I do, my allergic responses leave me with serious regrets.
Here’s how eating organic has helped me:
- Allergen-free Products – In the natural food market, I can find gluten-free, peanut-free, dairy-free products throughout the store. The organic products tend to be made with fewer ingredients than conventional products, and this makes it easier when reading labels and choosing an allergen-free food.
- Narrowing Down Triggers – Eating organically has helped me narrow down the list of food triggers. I keep them out of my daily diet by purchasing clean foods that are free of my allergens and possible new ones. There are no pesticides or heavy metals to add toxins to my system, and many of the companies that produce organic products have a commitment to sustainable farming and producing their products responsibly and without additives that are some of the most triggering allergens.
- Organic Mindset – Navigating food allergies takes commitment but since I was already eating organic foods, I was used to reading labels and making mindful choices about what I put on the table in my home. Cutting out additional allergy-inducing foods was just another step in the process.
Discovering Salicylate Allergies
Over the past year, my eczema flared so many times, I was resolved to try something new. Something natural. I discovered The Eczema Detox by Karen Fischer and reading it completely changed my life. Karen’s book outlines a step-by-step process to narrowing down the foods that are triggers for eczema. She has easy to follow shopping lists and guides for making changes to your diet to clear up your allergic responses. Reducing the inflammation in my body was a result of eliminating salicylates and histamines and allowing my system to rest and reset.
Salicylates are naturally-occurring chemicals in plants and vegetables which cause allergic responses in some people. For any of you struggling with headaches, rashes, and inflammation, I highly recommend you give Karen Fischer’s method a try. Following the steps she recommended, I was able to determine exactly which foods were triggering my eczema and eliminate them from my diet. It cleared up my 20-year battle with eczema within weeks. Headaches are also completely gone and I have lots of energy. It seems that my body was working overtime fighting salicylates. The results have been miraculous, truly. However, as you know, natural remedies involve dedication and patience. They work with our bodies to heal us from the inside out and they are not a quick or easy answer.
Eliminating salicylates was a six-month process where I had to pretty much take everything out of my diet and then test foods one by one, keeping a daily log of results (for those of you who have introduced foods to a baby, this process will sound familiar).
What I learned through this process is to how to identify the food that are healing to my body. Specifically, the anti-inflammatory properties of purple cabbage and Brussels sprouts work almost immediately, especially when they do not have to counteract other inflammatory foods.
I also eliminated all hand lotions except Alba Botanica Un-Petroleum Multi-Purpose Jelly. This is my go-to hypo-allergenic lotion of choice. It helps to moisturize and allow the skin to heal, but it doesn’t burn or cause inflammation as other lotions tend to do.
Vitamin C, Vitamin D and calcium supplements were the only supplements I used to help heal my skin through this process.
Weekly Challenge
If you or your child have food allergies or sensitivities, start by making a list of the foods you eat every day. Note the days and times you or your child have an allergic response. One by one, narrow down the foods that seem to cause the symptoms to flare. If you can, substitute an allergen-free alternative and track the response. It takes time and lots of patience, so give yourself grace through the process. I truly hope you find relief!
xo,
The Faithful Organic