You are what you eat — and that applies to your allergies.
More and more research suggests that a more diverse gut microbiome is linked to fewer allergy symptoms. This is because gut microbiota is in charge of training the immune system from birth. If your microbiome lacks knowledge of a specific allergen or bacteria, your immune system may not be trained to react appropriately, resulting in allergy symptoms.
One theory for the increasing prevalence of asthma and allergies over the past few decades is less diverse microbiomes. This is mainly due to lack of exercise, less time spent outdoors, the use of antibiotics, and other effects of urban living over the past few decades.
When your immune system has not been exposed to a specific bacteria or substance, it can overreact to it when exposed, fearing that it may be harmful. Therefore, by encouraging a diverse microbiome in your child from birth, you can help prevent allergies from developing later in life.
Unfortunately, there are some factors in a child’s microbiome that cannot be controlled by the parent. Children born via C-section, for instance, have been found to have lower levels of some bacteria compared to babies born vaginally, which has been linked to a higher risk of allergic diseases and asthma. Breast milk also contains beneficial bacteria as well as a type of complex carbohydrate that contributes to a balanced microbiome.
Some steps you can take to increase exposure to microbes include:
Having multiple siblings/more people in the household
Living in a rural area, rather than an urban city
Owning one or more pets
Avoiding common causes of infections during pregnancy and infancy in order to avoid antibiotic use where possible
Eating a high-fiber diet with ample probiotics, probiotics, or synbiotics
Research is underway to better understand this relationship but there is still a lot that is unknown.
We are conducting our own research to better understand allergies in general and are excited to leverage scientific breakthroughs as we expand our allergy testing and treatment offerings.
Keep learning
They say knowledge is power. We couldn’t agree more. Learn about the chronic health condition that affects 50 million Americans every year.
Allergies affect millions worldwide. They can manifest as itchy eyes and a runny nose or as severe and potentially life-threatening. One of the most common ways to manage allergy symptoms is through antihistamines.
Late summer elevates ragweed pollen levels in the air and affects nearly 50 million people in the United States alone(1). Beginning around August and commonly peaking by mid-September, symptoms of ragweed allergy sufferers can range from mild to severe. In some cases, ragweed pollen may also contribute to the triggering of other negative health conditions. This makes it vital to identify your ragweed allergy and work with your doctor or allergist for a solution.
As the seasons change, so does the risk of developing symptoms that mimic the common cold. It’s challenging to recognize the difference between allergies and a cold as a lot of the symptoms overlap. However, understanding the key differences and similarities between these two conditions is crucial for effective management and treatment.
Dealing with brain fog from allergies can be a frustrating and debilitating experience. Cognitive cloudiness and lack of mental clarity can significantly impact your daily life. Fortunately, there are various methods you can explore to alleviate these symptoms and regain your focus and mental sharpness.
There are many ways to test for environmental allergies including skin, oral, nasal, blood, and provocation tests. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each.
