Adjusting Your Diet for Allergies, Sniffles, or Pregnancy

Don't you just hate people and publications that begrudge you your food freedom and tell you what to eat and what not to eat?  But there's no avoiding such advice, always given "for your own good." Well, for your own good, Shelf Life Advice is passing along some dietary tips we just found in two magazines and on one government website.

Allergic to the Air?  Some Foods to Avoid

Here's a new thought (at least to me):  if substances floating around in the spring air make you sneeze, certain foods may also trigger your allergic reactions.   With the allergy season fast upon us, Health magazine's May issue provides this input from Dr. Clifford Bassett, medical director at Allergy and Asthma Care of New York.  The article says the following:  "Many raw fruits and veggies have proteins that are very similar to those found in the tree, grass and weed proteins."  The magazine goes on to say that these cross-reactions affect about one-third of all those who suffer from seasonal allergies. In addition to the usual nasal ones, the symptoms may also include itchy mouth and swollen tongue and lips. 

If seasonal symptoms are causing you distress, the article recommends either excluding the following foods and spices from your diet or (where appropriate) cooking or at least peeling before eating.  (I certainly hope you're peeling those bananas before eating!)

For tree allergies: Avoid almonds, apples, celery, cherries, hazelnuts, pears, and parsley.

For grass pollen allergies: Avoid melons, oranges, and tomatoes.

For weed pollen allergies: Avoid carrots, celery, coriander, fennel, parsley, pepper, and sunflower.

For ragweed pollen allergies:  Avoid bananas, cantaloupe, chamomile tea, cucumbers, honeydew melon, watermelon, and zucchini.

(Just thinking about all that pollen set me to sneezing.)

Sniffling from a Virus?  Here's How to Fight Back

The viral cold season is behind us for now, but it will return with a vengeance, so hang on to these tips from the February issue of Reader's Digest.  Here's what to eat to help relieve cold and flu symptoms.  The article also tells why these foods may help you feel better and/or get better faster.

Chicken soup: It's not just a myth that chicken soup is good treatment for colds. The compound cysteine helps to thin mucus and relieve congestion.

Yogurt: Dairy products are rich in zinc, a vitamin that boosts the immune system.

Citrus and berries:  These contain Vitamin C, which has an antihistamine effect that may reduce nasal congestion.  In addition, Vitamin C may help cold sufferers recover more quickly. 

Spices: Spicy spices--such as garlic, tumeric, and hot peppers--can also help break up nasal and sinus congestion.

Red meat and oysters: These are good sources of zinc.

Warning:  Alcohol is a no-no.  All types--even wine and beer--dilate small blood vessels and make patients feel more "stuffed up."  They also make the body less able to fight infection.  Drink a lot, but make it juice and water. 

The information above comes from a Reader's Digest publication, Foods That Heal. 

Pregnant?  Here's What NOT to Eat

FoodSafety.gov has posted a long list of foods that pregnant women should avoid because they could cause infections that might be harmful to the mother and/or the fetus.  The article points out that a pregnant woman and her fetus are more susceptible than others to bacteria, viruses, and parasites that cause food-borne illness. The unborn baby is also sensitive to toxins that may be in food, for example, mercury in some types of fish.

Here are some foods the mother-to-be should stay away from:

Raw cookie dough or cake batter: These may contain Salmonella.

Types of fish that may be high in mercury: These include shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish.

Raw and undercooked fish, as in sushi:  These may contain parasites or bacteria.

Raw shellfish, such as oysters and clams: These may contain bacteria.

Unpasteurized (including freshly squeezed) juice or cider:  These may contain E.coli.

Unpasteurized milk: It may contain a number of different pathogens.

Soft cheeses if made with unpasteurized milk: These include Brie, feta, Camembert, Roquefort, queso bianco, and queso fresco. They may contain E.coli or Listeria.

Store-made salads (such as ham salad, chicken salad, and seafood salad):  These may contain Listeria.

Raw or undercooked sprouts (such as alfalfa, clover, bean, and radish): These may contain E.coli or Salmonella. (See this Shelf Life Advice article:  "Raw Sprouts: Nutritious and Dangerous."   You can also find, by using our site's search feature, several articles about recalls of sprouts.  This is a food that we and the FDA have recommended that no one eat. 

The FoodSafety.gov article also includes suggestions on 1) what to substitute for products that pregnant women are advised to avoid and 2) tips on temperatures to cook some foods to in order to kill harmful pathogens. The article concludes with advice on foods to be careful with, especially eggs. It's important for everyone to avoid eating undercooked eggs or certain foods if they contain raw eggs (for example, homemade ice cream or homemade eggnog). For more info on contamination from eggs, read this Shelf Life Advice article: "Eggs: Why the Recall; How to Handle Eggs Safely."

Source(s):

Health, "Allergy-Proof Your Day," May 2013.

Reader's Digest, "Nutrition: Eat to Beat Colds" February 2013.

FoodSafety.gov,  "Checklist of Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy"

http://www.foodsafety.gov/poisoning/risk/pregnant/chklist_pregnancy.html