We are excited about our newsletter. The articles are designed to help you and your family have a healthy lifestyle.

This month we are discussing Allergies What are They Exactly and Benefits of Flaxseed!

We have also include a great recipe for Spicy Chicken Cacciatore

When we think of allergies, we imagine somebody sneezing over their cat or watery eyes because of the ragweed. But allergies are even more diverse than that.

The definition of allergy is quite simple; it is when the immune system’s hypersensitivity upon re-exposure to a sensitizing agent causes release of inflammatory chemicals and therefore the development of various symptoms. Our bodies then become intolerant of a particular chemical or process needed to digest a particular food.

The term allergy dates back to 1906 when an Austrian pediatrician named Clemens von Pirquet noted that some people had a different reaction to a substance than other people, which he called ‘altered reactivity’. Today an allergy is described in reference to allergens, or a substance that provokes allergy symptoms. The body judges the substance to be foreign and dangerous and then attacks it. Allergic responses vary and include fatigue, headache, sneezing, watery eyes, and stuffy sinuses. Allergic reaction symptoms are even broke down into two categories, immediate and delayed. Food allergies can occur two to 72 hours after eating.

The most common source of environmental allergies are the pollen of plants from trees, weeds, grasses and molds. As for food allergies, common culprits are yeast, wheat, corn, milk, dairy products, eggs, soy, shellfish, peanuts, chocolate and food dyes and additives.

There are many theories as to why some are more sensitive to pollutants and foods than others. Some speculate it is genetic. Others feel it is toxic overload from the pesticides and chemicals in our society or vaccinations we received as children.

So what are some simple steps we can take to build our immunity and defend ourselves from allergens?

1. Dink plenty of water. Water can act as an antioxidant by flushing oxidants and other toxins through the kidneys. Being well hydrated can help with our mucous membranes and sinuses as well. Try drinking water that has been purified through reverse osmosis, activated charcoal, de-ionized, ultraviolet light or distillation.
2. Clean Your House – Wash pillows, blankets or all bedding to remove dust mites. Keep windows closed during allergy season and use air filters and purifiers. If you have a choice, avoid carpet as it collects dust mites and molds.
3. Eat More Healthy – Try eating organic, foods that have not been processed with additives and chemicals. Eat more high-fiber plant foods such as grains, legumes, nuts and seeds. Avoid refined sugars, synthetic fats, refined flours and commercial red meat and poultry.
4. Supplement your diet with vitamins and minerals. Giving your immune system a boost to help fight off bacteria and viruses will give you the strength to digest and ingest what the environment has to offer.

Practice these four things and certainly you will see an improvement. It may not happen overnight, but nothing worthwhile ever does.

About the Author
R. Fredriksen is the Vice President of Nutrition Dome, a leading provider of pioneer nutritional formulas. For more information, please visit www.nutritiondome.com.
Source: ArticleTrader.com

Flaxseed is helpful in managing women’s health issues because it contains high levels of lignans, which are phytochemicals that are converted in the body into hormone-like agents that block the estrogen pathways and limit estrogen in fat cells.

Limiting estrogen is important because it can help prevent estrogen dominance, a condition that can lead to numerous health problems including premenstrual syndrome (PMS), insomnia, irregular bleeding, uterine fibroids, fibrocystic breast disease, and breast cancer. In fact, many physicians treat women with breast cancer by adding flaxseed to their diets. It should be noted that only the seeds (not just the oil) provide the proper estrogen-blocking effect.

Flax is a mega-source for an omega-3 called alpha-linolenic acid. Omega-3 is a great support for cardiovascular function, skin health, and joint health. It's also an excellent source of fiber (1 tablespoon ground = 2 grams of fiber), which can improve regularity and help prevent colon cancer, as well as helping to lower LDL cholesterol levels.

You can put flaxseed in muffins, breads, cookies, cereals, cottage cheese, sprinkle it on salads, and add it to soups. Make sure the seeds are ground and kept in a closed container in the refrigerator. An amount of approximately 25 grams per day of ground flax will provide a medicinal effect. This equals 4 tablespoons per day.

You can find flaxseed in both the ground (milled) form and in whole seed form in almost any grocery store, usually in the health food section. I like to buy it in whole seed form and grind it myself in a small coffee grinder; it tastes better when it is fresh-ground and you'll retain more of the nutrional value. However, the milled form may be more convenient for you. Either way, it's important to understand that you should use the ground form because it is a soluble form of fiber that is much more effective in reducing cholesterol and triglycerides and excess estrogen. The seed form can also be irritating to those with bowel problems.

AN IMPORTANT NOTE: Flax should not be eaten within one hour of taking medicines or vitamins because of its absorbing properties. It can actually absorb and eliminate the medicines from your body, making them ineffective.

About the Author
Dr. Tina Marcantel is a naturopathic physician in Mesa, Arizona. She practices holistic, integrative patient care. For more info visit her website at www.drmarcantel.com.
Source: ArticleTrader.com

Overview

Keep these crunchy, salty high-fiber (5g), high-protein (11g) individually wrapped packs of oven-roasted soy nuts around for healthy snacking.

Key Benefits

• Encourage healthy snacking
• Aid weight-loss efforts*
• Get a protein-powered boost

Details

Rich in fiber and protein, Roasted Soy Nuts with Cardia®† Salt are a great snack alternative that fills you up without filling you out.

Season chicken with salt and pepper. Spray a large skillet with pan spray and brown chicken over medium heat, 3 minutes on each side.

Transfer chicken to a plate and set aside. Add remaining ingredients to skillet and simmer for 10 minutes. Return chicken and juices to skillet, spoon sauce over chicken. Cover and simmer for an additional 7 minutes or until chicken is tender and cooked through.

Nutritional Analysis Per Serving:
Calories: 242
Protein: 30 grams
Fat: 3.5 grams
Carbohydrates: 24 grams