By Dana Yarn, RDLD
Do you feel like your daily routine include popping over the counter allergy medication? If you feel like you should not be suffering this much with seasonal allergies, you may be on to something. You often feel like at certain times of the year the air is thick, and worse yet your eyes and throat are always itchy. Rather then taking a over the counter allergy medication, try supplementing with probiotics to build up the integrity of the gut and reduce overall symptoms of allergies, asthma and even eczema.
Recent research has shown a link in the consumption of probiotics and the management of allergies, asthma, and eczema symptoms. Allergies, asthma, and eczema all are related the integrity of the gut and if the gut has been compromised then symptoms of these conditions can worsen. A simple daily supplement of probiotics can reduce or even eliminate symptoms simply by improving the overall health of the gut.
Probiotics are live bacteria that are ingested and passed on into the digestive tract and the intestine. The intestine may have 400 different species of bacteria and some of it is thought to promote health by digesting food, producing vitamins, preventing infection and helping to regulate the immune system. These healthy bacteria can be found in fermented foods such as sauerkraut and yogurt or taken in supplemental form. Dr. Mark Hyman writes in “Ultra-Metabolism,” that probiotic supplements can restore the normal gut flora, reduce overall immune activation and have been proven to be effective in many inflammatory diseases including asthma, eczema and rhinitis.
Possible causes of allergies and asthma:
Currently there are approximately 60 million people suffering from allergies and asthma and, this has been increasing since the early 1980s, according to the Asthma foundation’s data and research. There is presently not a cure but it may be that today’s lifestyle and eating and lifestyle habits are contributing factors to the increase of these diseases. A rise in harmful bacteria in the gut from excessive antibiotic therapy or consumption of antibiotic residues in mainstream dairy and meat is linked to the rise in allergies, asthma and eczema. Also, consuming too much sugar or processed food can result in increase of these health issues.
Conclusion:
The relationship between the balance of bacteria in the digestive system and its effect on diseases such as allergies and asthma needs to be further investigated. But, supplementing with a high quality probiotic supplement will ultimate improve immunity and you may notice a huge difference in symptoms.
How should you take them?
Look for a probiotic that contains multiple strands with freeze dried or live cultures. Take them before each meal to aid in absorption and digestion. If you have ever been diagnosed with a skin condition, suffer from allergies, leaky gut, etc. take a probiotic with each meal, if there are no symptoms present then aim to have one per day as a maintenance.