One in three people suffers from allergy in one way or another. For many it is no more than an irritation whilst for some it is a chronic, debilitating illness. If you know what causes unpleasant symptoms or reactions of course the easiest solution is to avoid it, but identifying the culprits can be difficult and avoidance becomes trickier the more things one is allergic to.

Allergy has many causes and therefore many things can be done to help, but whatever the underlying cause a breakdown of the immune system occurs leading to sufferers being unable to tolerate substances, be they natural or synthetic, which cause no problems to a completely healthy person. As the immune system encompasses the functions of just about every organ and gland in the human body one can see that the potential for something going wrong is enormous; in its original state everything we eat, drink or otherwise ingest is at best useless and at worst poisonous to us and it is our digestive and immune systems which make what we have ingested useful or harmless, so if they aren’t working properly we are going to be ill. But there are some things we can all do to avoid damaging our metabolic systems or to reduce the effects of any malfunction, such as allergy.

Eat a healthy balanced diet

Of course any doctor will tell you this is necessary for good health but a combination of protein, fibre and carbohydrate is absolutely essential, combined with fresh fruit and vegetables to provide the vitamins, amino acids and antioxidants our body chemistry needs. Where possible eat organic food. The sort of chemicals present in fertilisers and herbicides that are used in the production of ordinary foods can be enormously harmful to people with weak immune systems, and fortunately organic products are easy to find these days. Always read food labelling and avoid those products containing added colouring and preservatives. Wheat and dairy products are among the commonest allergens so if you suspect allergy but don’t know what is causing it, try eliminating these from your diet for three weeks and see what happens. Remember that even tiny quantities can cause symptoms, so be very careful to avoid all foods containing any traces of them. Don’t binge eat or drink and try not to eat the same foods day after day, but rotate them instead.

Filter your water

Even the best tap water contains chemicals like chlorine to which many people are allergic. You can buy drinking water filter units for a relatively modest cost and they are easy to install, although bear in mind that the filters will need changing from time to time. You can be even more thorough and filter all the water in your house, obviously at increased cost, but if you feel unwell when, for example, taking a hot shower or bath, it may well be the chlorine in the steam you breathe in that is the problem, and a filter will alleviate this. Bottled water is a good alternative if you want to filter just your drinking and cooking water but do use a good quality one and of course you have to keep on buying it. Once you have a supply of pure water drink plenty of it, at least 2 litres per day, most of it between meals as it can weaken the effect of the enzymes our bodies use to process food.

Ventilate your home properly

Moulds and fungi, and there are hundreds of different varieties, are extremely damaging to our health and they thrive in warm, damp conditions, just think how mushrooms are grown. Do what you can to eliminate rising or penetrating damp, don’t leave piles of rotting leaves or other vegetation close to your house. Different moulds are supported by different environments and there are some which prosper even in cold, frosty weather so they are difficult to avoid altogether, but proper ventilation will help to minimise a build-up in your home. A carpet-free home is a good idea as it reduces dust and mites which cause problems to many people. New furniture and furnishings contain all sorts of chemicals like fire-retardants, formaldehyde and insecticides which can cause problems too; maybe there is not a lot you can do about this other than be aware. Be cautious about paint when carrying out internal decoration, use water-based paint where possible rather than the oil-based alternative as it gives off less toxic fumes, and again good ventilation will help.

Implement a de-tox programme

Toxins from many sources can have a disastrous effect on the immune system. Vitamin C is one of the best and cheapest de-tox products and you should take a supplement in addition to your natural intake if you feel allergic symptoms coming on. If you embark on a more ambitious programme, you should bear in mind that de-toxing puts a load on your liver and kidneys as they try to get rid of the toxins being released and you should seek medical advice. There are a number of supplements available, such as

L-glutathione, silymarin (milk thistle) and alpha-lipoic acid which, taken in conjunction with a de-tox programme, can help greatly. Fresh juice, home-made from fresh organic fruit and vegetables, is a wonderful de-toxing agent; use a juicer which pulverises the fruit or vegetables rather than one which spins them in a centrifuge as these destroy some of the beneficial enzymes. The pulverising models are rather more expensive but should last a lifetime. Drink the juice within 30 minutes of making it and don’t refrigerate it or many of the benefits will be lost.

Visit your dentist

More problems emanate from our teeth and gums than from just about anywhere. Infection can lie undetected in pockets under our teeth, sometimes for years, effectively dripping poison into our bloodstream and putting a load on the immune system as it tries to deal with it, asking the immune system to fight this type of infection reduces its capacity to fight other potentially harmful toxins. Make sure you clean your teeth regularly and frequently and use an interproximal brush to remove food debris from between the teeth which is often left behind by ordinary brushing and can lead to infection. Do visit a dental hygienist regularly. If you can, have any mercury amalgam fillings removed; it isn’t a cheap procedure and should be carried out by a good dentist who specialises in this work; do some investigation before choosing. It is essential that proper precautions are taken when removing mercury because it is a highly toxic substance and you can ingest it during its removal, causing it to lodge elsewhere in the body, so the removal procedure can end up doing more harm than good if not performed correctly.  A de-tox programme should also be implemented after removal, so it is essential to use a dentist who is an expert in this procedure.

Avoid chemicals

It is a good idea to avoid chemicals, not only in foods but also where possible in other products. Household cleaners, personal care and hygiene products, make-up and many other items in day to day use are all available in organic, hypo-allergenic form and again not difficult to find. Clothes are another example; most clothes sold contain chemicals and/or synthetic material such as polyester which cause problems to some people. Pure organic cotton fabric is the best if you suffer in this way. Lots of people are allergic to wool however pure it may be. Do try to avoid man-made fibres, a possible exception being duvets because many people react badly to feathers and for them the hollow-fibre version is far preferable.

Of course there are lots of other things you can do if you are an allergy sufferer. You should study your condition carefully and you will come up with things which will help you. Try to talk with other sufferers and read up on the subject; there is a mine of information out there and rest assured that you are not alone.

If you still suffer allergic symptoms there are treatments available which can help enormously, but do try self-help first as it will almost certainly bring about an improvement if not a cure.