Dr. Tannaz Mokhtari: Naturopathic Blog

 Happy Spring! I know it is hard to believe spring is actually here with all the snow around in Toronto, but with the longer day light hours and more sunshine we are slowly feeling it and our internal sense of rejuvenation will start to awaken.  Spring is truly an exciting time of year, a time of rebirth and new beginnings.  This spring is especially important for me since I am expecting my baby any day now!

As exciting as this time of year is for most of us, it can be quite irritating for some prone to seasonal allergies.  The immune system becomes hyper-reactive and reacts to the environment.  Most people with allergies find relief through the use of anti-histamines, and find that they have to use them regularly and often in order to find relief.

Factors leading to allergies include:

·         Incomplete digestion due to deficiency of stomach acid and digestive enzymes.

·         Lowered endocrine functions such as underactive thyroid and adrenal glands.

·         Over worked immune function.

·         Stressed Nervous system, due to lack of enough sleep and relaxation.

·         Exposure to environmental pollutants particularly household products such as air-fresheners, chemicals, lack of proper air circulation and ventilation in the house.

·         Nutritional deficiencies; these can be tested through hair mineral analysis, blood work, and urine tests.

 Here are a few tips for natural and safe allergy relief:

·         Homeopathic medicine such as Sabadilla for acute attacks of allergies involving tremendous paroxysms of sneezing, constant itching and tingling inside the nose, watery discharge from the nose, watery, irritated eyes.  The more specific the remedy is to the symptoms it will be more effective.

·         Essential fatty acids from organic and pure sources, are important in regulating the immune system and suppress the formation of inflammatory chemicals in our body.

·         Take extra daily doses of vitamin C, it helps relieve allergic symptoms and prevents local inflammatory reactions, and provides antihistamine-like effect.
Quercetin and bromelain are also very effective in their antihistamine-like effect when used preventatively.

·         Take a good quality multivitamin daily, choose powder, liquid or capsule for easier absorption.

·         Take a greens supplement daily, these are full of naturally occurring essential nutrients, however beware of sensitivities to wheat, as most of these products contain wheat grass juice.

·         Drink plenty of water from a pure source.

·         Be aware of food sensitivities and try to avoid the food you feel is causing discomfort.

·         Get tested for food sensitivities, these are different from food allergies.
Think about a proper detoxification program to cleanse your body, this is the perfect time!

 Wishing you a wonderful and allergy free spring!

Just recently I have been at a corporate event and talked to people about the need for detoxification and the best time to detoxify. Most people had heard of detox but were not sure what it really meant.  Some believed they had a decent lifestyle therefore detox was not really beneficial for them.

So back to why detox, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency;

·         More than 4 billion pounds of chemicals were released into the ground in 2000, threatening our natural ground water sources.

·         Over 260 million pounds of chemicals were discharged into surface waters (i.e. lakes, rivers, and oceans).

·         Nearly 2 billion pounds of air emissions were pumped into the atmosphere.

·         Several thousand food additives are intentionally added to our food supply, and thousands more slip into our food supply unintentionally during harvesting, processing, or packaging.

·         Over 400 pesticides and herbicides are currently licensed for use on food crops, and every year over 2.5 billion pounds are dumped on crop lands, forests, lawns, and fields.

Extensive research shows that it is not a question of if we are carrying a burden of these toxins, but rather how much and to what extent they affect our health. 

·         Immunological toxicity may be a factor in the development of asthma, allergies, skin disorders, chronic infections, and cancer.

·         Neurological toxicity affects cognition, mood and overall mental functioning.

·         Endocrine toxicity affects reproduction, menstruation, libido, metabolic rate, stress tolerance, glucose regulation, and more.

The message: We all need to support our body’s natural function and enhance the detoxification ability of our body by: 

1)    Reducing the intake of and exposure to toxins
Washing fruits and vegetables before consuming them; Eating organic foods, particularly meats; Drinking a lot of purified water; Avoiding alcohol, tobacco, and drugs; Using prescription and over the counter medication only when necessary; Exercising regularly; Limiting your exposure to pesticides and herbicides; Using protective equipment when working with toxic substances.

2)   Support your body’s detoxification capacity
Your body is able to rid itself of harmful toxins through a process called detoxification. Unfortunately, this process is compromised in many individuals due to the great numbers of toxins their bodies must get rid of, as well as a lack of nutrients needed to fuel the entire detoxification process. Consuming a low-allergy potential source of nourishment along with nutritional factors known to enhance the body’s detoxification capacity can have a powerful effect on your body’s ability to cleanse itself.

Spring is the best time to enhance your detoxification capability and rejuvenate yourself. Get started on your program and enjoy your spring and summer feeling better than ever!

(Note: some material collected from 2006 advanced Nutrition Publications, Inc.)