goodbye, seasonal allergies!

i think i may have cured my seasonal allergies with organic, plant-based eating.

for as long as i can remember, every spring and fall i'd suffer miserably from sinus pain, itching, headaches, congestion, and eventually end up with a nasty cough. not the case this spring, and i've been spending much more time outdoors (with my face stuck in a garden).

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i do occasionally get itchy and sneezy from pollen and dust, but my neti pot takes care of that.

you can purchase one of these babies virtually anywhere for around 15 dollars.

if you've never tried a neti pot, i strongly suggest you look into it. it's a wonderful tool to help you rinse the nasty stuff from your nasal passage. yes, it's a little uncomfortable, but it's only a few minutes - much better than feeling crappy for days!

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so here is my theory (but don't take my word for it - educate yourself on what you are eating!):

a healthy system can fight off allergens more easily. non-organic products contain pesticides, chemical fertilizers, and other unnatural substances which are toxic to the system. a system fighting toxins from what you eat and drink will not be prepared to fight off other intruders like bacteria, viruses, dust, or pollen.

consuming milk and other dairy products is not natural after childhood. i'm sure you've heard it before, but humans are the only mammals that drink milk after being weened from our mothers (from another species better yet). in my opinion, it would be more natural for us to drink human breast milk in a glass then milk from a cow.

anyway, our bodies treat cows' milk as an invader. milk is a secretion of fluids from animals' breasts that sometimes includes pus and blood. your body fights off anything that is foreign. a secretion from another breed, filled with chemicals and other substances, is foreign. period.

they say not to drink milk when you are sick - it may cause your body to produce more mucous. the mucous traps allergens in your nasal passage and throat. it's like a sticky trap for the pollen and dust in the air (think of those sticky bug traps). when your body is attacked by foreign substances , it naturally fights off the intruders, producing more mucous. end result - a stuffy, itchy, runny upper-respiratory system trying to purge itself of nasty allergens!

"but what about calcium and vitamin D?"

where do you think the cow gets vitamins and minerals? from plants! i have read from many sources that dark green leafy vegetables, broccoli, beans, and some nuts and seeds are great sources of calcium. calcium is also found in a wide variety of fruits and veggies.

our bodies are designed to obtain vitamin D through sun exposure. many brands of milk alternatives are fortified with essential vitamins and minerals, like organic Rice Dream, which claims to have the same amount of calcium as cows' milk!

"then how will i prevent osteoporosis?"

the highest rates of osteoporosis are said to be in populations that consume a lot of animal products. "The correlation between animal protein [intake] and fracture rates in different societies is as strong as that between lung cancer and smoking," says T. Colin Campbell, professor of nutritional biochemistry at Cornell University. yikes! too much phosphorus (found in high amounts in soft drinks) can also cause calcium to be lost from the bones.

many sources say the best way to prevent osteoporosis is engaging in regular exercise and eating a wide variety of mineral-rich foods.

really, it's time we stop TREATING our ailments and start PREVENTING them!

here are some more links you may find useful:

Say So Long to Seasonal Allergies, Naturally

Natural Remedies for Seasonal Allergies

Why Milk Won't Prevent Osteoporosis

How to Prevent Osteoporosis

Got Osteoporosis?

Calcium and Milk

A Look At Dairy

and if you haven't seen this video, watch it! it could change your life.



do your own research. make changes to your diet and observe how your body reacts. make your own informed decisions. (beware of information and sites that are backed by the all-powerful dairy and pharmaceutical industries!) it's time we stop relying on the medical industry and their side-effect producing pills and start taking care of ourselves.

ok, i'm off my soapbox now =)

just know i do this for two reasons:

1) i love you and want you to be happy and healthy and feel your best

2) i love animals and want them to live freely without suffering and pain

it's a transition, i know. it took me more than a year and i'm still not there 100%. but this information and the video above really helped me and i hope it helps you. =)