Supernutrients That Fight Seasonal Allergies

With 50 million Americans suffering from allergies, it is no wonder so much money is spent on OTC antihistamines during allergy season.[1]  A nationwide survey found that 54.6 percent of all US citizens test positive for one or more allergens.[2]  Unfortunately, over-the-counter medications often lead to undesirable side-effects.

When allergies hit, your eyes get itchy and watery, you may sneeze uncontrollably, your nose becomes congested and it starts running.  In the worst of cases, spring allergies will lead to a sinus infection.  However, nature has provided us with Supernutrients that can help you combat the underlying cause of allergies – overstimulated mast cells and excessive histamine secretion.

If you are a parent, you will find this natural approach most desirable for your children.  Imagine this – instead of taking your antihistamine, EAT YOUR ANTIHISTAMINES.  Nature’s allergy-reducing nutrients are found in foods rich in vitamin C, quercetin, and Omega-3 fatty acids.

3 Supernutrients That Reduce Allergy Symptoms:

1. Vitamin C.  Not only is vitamin C a great natural antihistamine, it is a powerful antioxidant and immune booster.  Foods high in this supernutrient include: broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, bell peppers, mango, strawberries, oranges, clementines, kiwi, cantaloupe, pineapples, guava and peaches.

2.  Quercetin.  A powerful antihistamine and anti-inflammatory, quercetin, a plant flavonoid, is also responsible for the colors of many fruits and vegetables.  It puts a stop on our allergy superstars – the mast cell.  Mast cells release histamine, which is the major cause of the allergy symptoms.  The best sources of quercetin are apples, citrus fruits, onions, garlic, parsley, tomatoes, legumes, dark berries, green tea, black tea and red wine.

As an aside, one of my favorite natural allergy remedies, Natural D-Hist, very effectively combines vitamin C and quercetin with stinging nettle leaf extract (antihistamine), bromelain (pineapple enzyme), and N-acetyl cysteine (mucous thinner) to dry out a runny allergy-suffering nose and reduce sneezing attacks.

3. Omega-3 Fatty Acids.  Omega-3’s are the anti-inflammatory powerhouses of the nutrient world.  They are found in almonds, walnuts, avocado, ground flax and chia seeds, flax seed oil, and grapeseed oil, to name a few.  By promoting a low inflammation environment in our bodies they help reduce allergy symptoms, and are an essential component of any food-based allergy treatment.

If any of these remedies are to be effective, they cannot be treated as medicines you take to overcome the indiscretions in your diet.  In other words, they are part of an overall healthy eating plan.  If you tend to be an allergic individual, eating foods rich in these nutrients year-round will help preempt allergy symptoms.  Make sure to also avoid eating dairy products during the peak of allergy season, since they increase mucous secretion and may lead to a sinus infection.

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[1] American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI). The Allergy Report: Science Based Findings on the Diagnosis & Treatment of Allergic Disorders, 1996-2001.

[2] Arbes SJ et al. “Prevalences of positive skin test responses to 10 common allergens in the US population: Results from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.” Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 116:377-383. 2005

When the Flu Vaccine Does Not Work

We are in the midst of one of the worst flu outbreaks in recent years.  For example, Massachusetts General Hospital has already treated more confirmed flu cases than it did by this time during the swine flu “pandemic.”  You don’t need to check the Center for Disease Control’s national flu trend map to know that’s the case.  You probably know two or more people that have caught the flu, or you may have been one of its casualties this year.  Already, the number of cases is much higher than in recent years.

How do you know if you have it?  The typical symptoms are fevers (around 100 degrees F), chills, exhaustion, cough, chest congestion, sinus congestion and pressure, runny nose, sometimes sneezing early on, and body aches that can present with neck stiffness or severe lower back pain.  This one seems to hit with a curious new symptom – pain behind the eyes when moving them or just focusing.  A nasal swab can be done by a doctor to confirm if you have it, but this type of testing is not 100% accurate.

What’s confusing is that even though experts continue to encourage the flu shot, claiming that it is well-matched to the predominant circulating H3N2 strain of this flu virus, I have observed in my practice a preponderance of patients getting the flu that received the flu vaccine.  So I ask, “If the flu vaccine was so well-matched, why is this one of the worst flu seasons in years?”

Well, part of the answer is that not all individuals respond well to the flu vaccine.  In the elderly or chronically sick adults, the flu vaccine may not create high enough titers of protective antibodies to the flu.[1] [2]  This leaves these individuals still at risk for getting the flu.  In addition, even though the flu vaccine may generate protective antibodies in others, it often does not exactly match all the circulating strains of the flu virus, which is compounded by their ability to mutate even in the midst of a flu season.

Yet, do you ever ask yourself why there is no flu in the summer?  In my book response to the swine flu pandemic, “The Ultimate Swine Flu Survival Guide,” I explain how a British scientist theorized that the missing factor was vitamin D.[3]  Vitamin D levels drop dramatically by late fall, and since vitamin D regulates over 2,000 genes, many of which are involved in not only regulating the immune system but also promoting the formation of antimicrobial peptides that can attack microbial invaders directly, it is no wonder that low vitamin D may be a big factor in our susceptibility to the flu and one’s ability to recover quickly.

With the majority of U.S. adults vitamin D deficient, susceptibility is high.  For these reasons, Vitamin D is an important part of my natural flu treatment protocol which helps patients recover from the worst symptoms – fevers, chills and body aches – within 48 hours.

Dr. Pedre’s Natural Flu Treatment Protocol:

Oscillococcinum^®:  At the first sign of symptoms, this homeopathic remedy can help activate your immune system to eliminate the flu and flu-like symptoms.  Start with 1 vial of sublingual pellets every 6 hours. It is safe for children ages 2 and above.

Sambucol^® (Elderberry Extract): Several studies have shown the efficacy of Sambucol against the flu virus. [4] [5]   At the earliest sign of symptoms, start taking 15 mL every 4 hours while awake.  As a preventive (if you’re surrounded by sick people with the flu), take 15 mL (about 1 tablespoon) daily.  It is also safe for children to take, but only use 5 – 10 mL for each dose.

Vitamin D3: Everyone who lives north of the 35 degree latitude (approximately Raleigh, NC) is likely vitamin D deficient by December.  All adults should be taking between 2,000 – 5,000 IU daily during the winter months.[6] [7]

At the first sign of flu symptoms, take 50,000 IU’s all at once.  This seems particularly protective of the worst consequences of the flu, including pneumonia that may lead to hospitalization.

A Note on Fevers:

Even with these natural remedies, you may still get a fever, but as long as it is not dangerously high over 101^oF, remember that fever is the body’s natural protective mechanism against viruses.  The flu virus simply cannot replicate well at these higher temperatures, whereas the body’s own processes speed up with a fever.  It basically helps you fight off the virus even faster.

Caution with Fevers:  Always consult with your doctor if you have had low-grade fevers for more than 24 hours, or a fever higher than 100.5^oF.

Epsom salt:  Once your fever has subsided, you may still have body aches.  I have found that soaking in a bath with Epsom salt really helps alleviate sore muscles from the flu.

Here’s my Ultimate Muscle Relief Bath Recipe:

2 cups     Epsom salt

½ cup      Baking soda

10 drops  Lavender Essential Oil

If you can add 1-2 cups of Bentonite clay to the bath even better.

Soak for 20 minutes.

Good luck in warding off the flu, and I hope this advice helps you if you do manage to come down with influenza.

Sincerely,

Dr. Pedre

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[1] Simonsen L, Reichert TA, Viboud C, et al.  Impact of influenza vaccination on seasonal mortality in the US elderly population.  Arch Intern Med 2005;165:265-272.

[2] Osterholm, M, PhD, et al.  Efficacy and Effectiveness of Influenza Vaccines: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.  The Lancet Infectious Disease, Early Online Publication, 26 October 2011; doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(11)70295-X

[3] Cannell, et al: Epidemic influenza and vitamin D.  Review Article. Epidemiology and Infection (2006), 134 : 1129-1140. Cambridge University Press.

[4] Zakay-Rones et al. Inhibition of several strains of influenza virus in vitro and reduction of symptoms by an elderberry extract (Sambucus nigra L.) during an outbreak of influenza B Panama. J Altern Complement Med. 1995 Winter;1(4):361-9.

[5] Zakay-Rones et al. Randomized study of the efficacy and safety of oral elderberry extract in the treatment of influenza A and B virus infections. J Int Med Res. 2004 Mar-Apr;32(2):132-40.

[6] Smith SM. Vitamin D supplementation during Antartic Winter. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009 Apr;89(4):1092-8. Epub 2009 Feb 18.

[7] Weaver CM. Vitamin D requirements: current and future. Am J Clin Nutr. 2004 Dec;80(6 Suppl):1735S-9S

Dr. Pedre’s Holiday Wellness Gift Basket

As the holidays approach, and you’re thinking of gifts to get your loved ones and friends, I have put together a wellness gift basket full of ideas to help keep you healthy and well during the coming year.  Holiday pampering is about treating yourself to something that makes you feel good, so why not also invest in something that will enhance your sense of well-being?  I scoured the internet for my favorite wellness gift ideas this holiday season.  These products are environmentally-friendly and will help you stay healthy in the coming year.

TEA TREE MINT HAND & BODY WASH

For personal care, one of my favorite natural product makers, Love Nature NYC^TM_, makes products for your health and home using natural and organic ingredients.  All the products are free of harsh chemicals, including “fragrance,” an ingredient in many products that is actually derived from petroleum.  Only natural and organic oils, emollients and botanicals are used.

A refreshing recommendation from this eco-conscious company, the 100% natural Tea Tree Mint Hand & Body Wash, offers innate anti-bacterial properties from its infusion of tea tree essential oil and a mind-clearing, revitalizing effect from a touch of peppermint essential oil.  It will leave you feeling uplifted, clean and moisturized.

INFRARED HEATING PADS

Everyone suffers from tension, aches or pains in a muscle or joint at some point.  Regular heating pads may expose your body to dangerous electromagnetic radiation with poorly-penetrating, superficial heat, but the infrared rays from the Infrared Heating Pads by Therasage^TM penetrate deeply, up to 2-3 inches, to provide optimal relaxation and relief to achy muscles with minimal exposure to EMFs.

Far-infrared is one my favorite ways to ease body pain.  It also provides the following benefits: improved blood circulation, stimulating the dilation of blood vessels to bring more oxygen to joints and extremities to speed healing of sprains and strains, and relief of stress and tension.

As an added plus, the infrared material increases the rate of negative ions in your nearby vicinity, exposing you to their calming effect by increasing alpha brain waves.  Research has shown that negative ions, such as the ones found at the seashore or by a waterfall, help balance the nervous system.  Everyone can benefit from the dual pain and anxiety relief offered by Therasage’s infrared heating pads.

A BLUE LIGHT

Re-energize yourself and beat the winter blues with the Philips goLITE BLU, a portable light that shines blue like a clear, cloudless sky.  Many of us, including myself, experience a dip in energy levels and mood by mid-winter.  But, a blue light in the spectrum most favorable to your eyes’ retinal receptors without the dangerous UV rays, is a great way to restore your summer vitality.  A study[1] showed an improvement in mood scores in people suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder, a low mood believed to be caused by the dark winter days.

Use regularly during winter mornings, starting with 15 min daily, and progressively adding 5 min every few days as tolerated to a maximum of 45 minutes.

A GPS RUNNING WATCH

Get healthy in 2013 by starting a jogging/running program!  A GPS running watch can become a potent motivating companion by tracking your results, and letting you know when personal bests are surpassed.

Make every mile count with Garmin’s Forerunner^® 10, a GPS-enabled watch that keeps track of your speed/pace, distance and calories-burned.  The watch provides motivating feedback with current time/distance run, an alert when you complete each mile, and even notifies you of personal records, like fastest mile run.

Using Garmin Connect^TM, you can get useful details, see your run on a map, and share with friends.  Get inspired, and start tracking your workouts!

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[1] Anderson, J. et al. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2009 120: 203-12

Occupy Sandy Relief & Volunteering — It’s Good for Your Health and for the Community

Delivering hot and cold food, along with medical care, to buildings in the Far Rockaways still without power.

Recently, I joined a group of volunteers helping in relief efforts post-superstorm Sandy, in one of the markedly affected areas of the Rockaways in Queens, NY.  We spent the day helping distribute food and medical care to those still without power almost two weeks after the storm.  By the time we arrived late Saturday morning, we found an operation in full force, with numerous volunteer organizations contributing in different ways, from food and water tents, to clothes and essential goods, to mobile medical units.

As they were short on doctors, I was asked to lead a mobile medical team to a neglected building in the Far Rockaways, where there were many elderly running low on food and water.  We met an elderly Russian gentleman who had just been sent home after suffering a heart attack in the aftermath of this devastating storm.  It was amazing he had made it up the six flights to his apartment!

He was in excellent spirits, but lacking the essential medications one would need post-heart attack to prevent a recurrence.  The hospital staff had neglected to realize that they were discharging him to an area without power, and lacking an open pharmacy to fill his medications.  His English was poor, but we managed to get enough information with his wife as a translator, and worked on getting him the medications that were vital for him, along with much needed food and water.

In this small community, the spirit of cooperation was immense.  People were helping each other carry supplies up the stairs of this high-rise.  They had just gotten hot water and heat on the day we visited, but full power was probably two weeks away.

Volunteering is a selfless act.  Of course, it is not without distress and frustration, as you may encounter the reality of the gap between what is needed and what is actually being done.  Nevertheless, that cannot discourage even the smallest of efforts.  We often think, well, “Where do I begin?”  You can simply begin by showing up, and then allow the needs to guide what you do.  This is what Alison Thompson, the author of “The Third Wave,” has done since the Tsunami in SouthEast Asia, traveling around the world to where natural disasters create the need for help.

You don’t have to be Mother Theresa, though, to volunteer or create positive change in the world.  Volunteering not only helps others; it helps you.  I hate to make a post about volunteering into something that is good for your health, but the reality is that when you help others in need, that smile you get in return, or their words of appreciation, fuels your soul and your own personal development.

The gift of giving releases feel-good chemicals in our bodies, known as endorphins.  With a selfish need, comes a selfless result – the yin-yang of life.  There are people out there that need your help, so get out there and help them.  You will feel better, be a better person for it, and will have touched other lives in ways that are priceless.

Dr. Pedre’s Super-Immunity Soup

Try this super-immunity soup to help boost your immune system, especially when you’re feeling like you may be coming down with a cold.

Ingredients:

1 yellow onion
2 large organic carrots
2 stalks of organic celery

1 head of kale
30g dried or fresh shiitake mushrooms

30g dried astragalus root

1-2 tbsp chopped ginger

10 garlic cloves

1 bunch of cilantro

¼ cup olive oil

Sea salt

Ground black pepper

Cooking Instructions:

Wash and cut the vegetables. You may sauté the vegetables in a little sesame or olive oil, for extra browning and flavor.  Wash mushrooms and astragalus root and place them into a medium saucepan.   Add the rest of the vegetables.  Add cold water and bring to a boil.   Lower the heat, and cook uncovered for 40 minutes, making sure to add water if it runs too low.   Add sea salt and black pepper to taste.

Enjoy with a cup of jasmine brown rice and fresh parsley sprinkled on top.

Greening Your Kitchen

In my latest post on Ecomii, picked up by Yahoo! Green and Shine from Yahoo!, Greening Your Ktichen, I talked about the simple ways that you can not only make your kitchen a greener place, but healthier place, too.  You see, by making choices that are environmentally friendly for your kitchen, you actually make choices that are healthier for you and your family.  It’s that simple, and it’s what I talk about all the time as meaning Sustainable Health.  When you make green, sustainable choices, you are making choices for your health as well.  These changes, along with a healthy lifestyle that nourishes mind, body and spirit, is what leads to long-term health.  So, go ahead!  Change those non-stick pots and pans, cleaning agents, and the type of water you drink.  You will create a healthier home for you and your family.  And at the same time, make the planet a healthier place by contributing to the green economy.  We vote by how we spend our dollars more strongly than any other way.  Vote for your health and the planet by going green! 

Eight Natural Remedies for Spring Allergies

With 50 million Americans suffering from allergies, it is no wonder that there are so many drug choices to treat the symptoms.[1]  A nationwide survey found that 54.6 percent of all US citizens test positive for one or more allergens.[2]  Unfortunately, over-the-counter medications are often either ineffective, or cause untoward side-effects.

Every year I search for the best natural remedies to treat spring allergies.  If you are an allergy sufferer, you know that spring with its burst of colors, rings in the season of itchy, watery eyes, sneezing, nasal congestion and postnasal drip, to name a few symptoms.  In the worst of cases, spring allergies will turn into a sinus infection.  However, if you attend to the symptoms early on or better yet, prevent them, you can ward off these consequences.

Here are my top choices for 2012:

1. Medicine at the tip of your fork:  Ok, it’s as much what you eat, as what you don’t eat.  This is probably the hardest thing for people to hear and implement, but it is so dramatically helpful in most circumstances, that I have to bring it to the top of the list.  Eliminate wheat, dairy and sugar, and you may be surprised at how your sinuses clear up within a week or two.

2.  Vitamin C and Quercetin: This power combination of two super-antioxidants puts a damper on our allergy superstars – the mast cell.  Mast cells release histamine, which is the major cause for the allergy symptoms people experience.

Take a combination of Vitamin C 1500mg with Quercetin 500mg.  Dosing has to be repeated throughout the day, every 4-6 hours, to help reduce symptoms.  A favorite product, Natural D-Hist, very effectively combines these two nutrients with stinging nettle leaf extract, bromelain (pineapple enzyme), and N-acetyl cysteine (mucous thinner) to dry out a runny nose and reduce sneezing attacks.

3. Sabadil^®: Medicine without the side effects.  Homeopathy uses micro doses of active substances to relieve symptoms and treat diseases.  Homeopathic medicines can be tailored to the individual, but it’s also nice to have a blended product, like Sabadil^® and Children’s Sabadil^® Pellets, that address a variety of allergy-related symptoms.  Without side effects, such as drowsiness or irritability, it works naturally to relieve hay fever symptoms.  Homeopathy is always my treatment of choice for my son.

4. Stinging Nettle Leaf Tea:  Some may find the tea from this perennial “weed” in the garden with vicious stingers on the tips of its leaves to be somewhat bitter.  As they say, at times the cure is the poison.  This mellow tea should be steeped for 10-15 minutes to obtain its full benefits.  As an added plus, it alkalinizes the urine, allowing the kidneys to increase their elimination of toxins – great as part of a Spring Detox program.

5. Optique 1^®: Finally, relief for dry, itchy, burning, red eyes without the rebound effect of all those vasoconstrictors or astringents that only provide temporary relief.  Optique 1^® by Boiron is a safe blend of homeopathic ingredients that work naturally to relieve minor eye irritations caused by airborne irritants, such as pollen, dust or ragweed.  It can be used throughout the day without any risk of overdosing.

6. Neti-potting: Ahh, the dreaded neti pot.  How do you run a sterile saline solution up your nose and out the other side while leaning your head upside down over the sink without letting it run down your throat?  Simply Saline^® Allergy & Sinus Relief to the rescue!  With its easy misting bottle, I find it takes the guess work out of neti-potting.  With a 3% saline solution, it helps dry out a runny nose and flushes out allergens.

7. Steaming with essential oils:  You may have seen your grandparents doing this, and it works.  Bring water to a boil in a pot, then turn off the heat.  My secret recipe (not so secret anymore) calls for 4 drops of eucalyptus oil, 2 drops of tea tree oil, and 3 drops of rosemary essential oil.  Drape a large towel over your head, lean over the pot, and inhale deeply.  Another method would be to add the oils with water to a mister then spray in the air while taking a steaming hot shower.  Inhale and enjoy the sinus clearing effect!

8.  Acupuncture:  This ancient healing art helps temper an overactive immune system, and can provide immediate relief to swollen, irritated nasal passages.  An acupuncturist will typically apply individual, sterile acupuncture needles to the face in specific points that are reflex points for the sinuses and nose.  Far away points in the hands and feet may also be applied, helping to rebalance the energy meridians.  The debate is up as to how and why it works, but ask anyone who gets regular acupuncture and they will tell you, it helps them feel grounded and relaxed.  Who couldn’t use a bit more grounding and relaxation in our stressed out world?

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[1] American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI). The Allergy Report: Science Based Findings on the Diagnosis & Treatment of Allergic Disorders, 1996-2001.

[2] Arbes SJ et al. “Prevalences of positive skin test responses to 10 common allergens in the US population: Results from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.” Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 116:377-383. 2005