Why am I still unwell? Addressing the root causes of complex ailments

Have you struggled with an unresolved health issue for months or years? Do certain symptoms or ailments keep coming back (e.g. recurrent warts, cold sores i.e. fever blisters, ovarian cysts, PMS/ pre-menstrual symptoms, infections, eczema, diarrhea/ loose stool, etc.)? If so, it’s time to take a deeper look at the various factors that contribute toContinue reading “Why am I still unwell? Addressing the root causes of complex ailments”

Hong Kong study: over 50% of body lotions for infants may trigger skin allergies or dermatitis

Earlier this week, the Consumer Council (Hong Kong) raised concerns about the safety of body lotions for infants, after discovering that 22 brands out of 40 products tested contained chemicals that could trigger skin allergies or dermatitis in babies. Out of the 40 products tested by the council, 8 that claimed to be “hypoallergenic” wereContinue reading “Hong Kong study: over 50% of body lotions for infants may trigger skin allergies or dermatitis”

Chronic hives: what is going on inside the body?

If you’ve had hives before, you will know how annoying they can be. It’s even more annoying when they keep coming back, or get worse instead of going away. Hives (also known as urticaria) are red, itchy welts or wheals brought about by the immune system releasing histamine and other chemicals that cause inflammation andContinue reading “Chronic hives: what is going on inside the body?”

Can cleanliness increase your risk of developing allergies and asthma?

How can being too clean make us sick? Well, it turns out that excessive cleanliness or a lack of exposure to bacteria, viruses and allergens prevents the normal development of the immune system, which eventually increases the chance of disorders within this system down the road. This is called the hygiene hypothesis, and it explains why allergyContinue reading “Can cleanliness increase your risk of developing allergies and asthma?”

Food allergy or food intolerance? What’s the difference?

Some people think the terms “food allergy” and “food intolerance” are interchangeable, or variations of the same thing. However, the biological processes behind them, how they affect you and hence forms of treatment are markedly different.What’s the difference between a food allergy and a food intolerance? FOOD ALLERGY: During an allergic reaction, the body’s immune system producesContinue reading “Food allergy or food intolerance? What’s the difference?”

Pets boost children’s immunity

Studies show that children who have pets at home are more likely to have stronger immune systems and take fewer days off school. Researchers at Warwick University found that antibody levels in pet-owning children were significantly more stable, indicating that they had robust immune systems. These findings apparently support the “dirty hypothesis”, the researchers say.Continue reading “Pets boost children’s immunity”

Eating fish before age of nine months = decreased risk of wheezing and eczema

A recent study shows that feeding babies fish before nine months of age may cut their risk of pre-school wheezing. According to a Swedish study published in the December issue of Acta Paediatrica, eating fish before the age of nine months almost halved the likelihood of suffering recurrent wheezing at 4.5 years of age. TheContinue reading “Eating fish before age of nine months = decreased risk of wheezing and eczema”

Get rid of my canker sores!

Canker sores, also known as aphthous ulcers, are small white sores that develop on the inside of the mouth, gums or inside of the cheeks. Unlike cold sores, canker sores are not contagious, but they can be extremely painful. If you have a few of them at the same time in close proximity to oneContinue reading “Get rid of my canker sores!”

Artificial colours in food linked to cancer and behavioural disorders in children: Study

Food dyes- used in everything from M&Ms to brightly coloured breakfast cereals to Kraft salad dressings- pose risks of cancer, allergies and hyperactivity in children, and should be banned, according the Centre for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). The new report titled, “Food Dyes: A Rainbow of Risks”, found that artificial colours in foodsContinue reading “Artificial colours in food linked to cancer and behavioural disorders in children: Study”