Veganism and allergies: why the first cures the second

Allergies go hand in hand with congestion of the sinuses and nasal passages. For patients with chronic respiratory problems, allergies are an even bigger problem. People who remove dairy products from their diet see an improvement, especially if they have bronchitis. In 1966, researchers published the following in the Journal of the American Medical Association:

Food allergies affect 75-80% of adults and 20-25% of children. Doctors explain such a huge prevalence of the disease with modern industrialization and the widespread use of chemicals. A modern person, in principle, uses a large number of pharmacological preparations, which also contributes to the growth and development of allergic pathologies. The manifestation of any kind of allergy indicates a malfunction in the immune system. Our immunity is killed by the foods we eat, the water and drinks we drink, the air we breathe, and the bad habits we can’t get rid of.

Other studies have looked more specifically at the relationship between nutrition and allergies. A recent study found that a high-fiber diet creates significant differences between gut bacteria, immune system cells, and allergic reactions to food compared to a low-fiber diet. That is, fiber intake helps the bacteria in the stomach to be healthy, which in turn keeps the gut healthy and reduces the risk of allergic reactions to foods. In pregnant women and their children, taking probiotic supplements and foods containing potentially beneficial gut bacteria reduces the risk of allergy-related eczema. And children who are allergic to peanuts, when combined with oral immunotherapy with a probiotic, have a longer lasting effect of treatment than doctors expect.

Probiotics are drugs and products containing non-pathogenic, that is, harmless, microorganisms that have a beneficial effect on the state of the human body from the inside. Probiotics are found in miso soup, pickled vegetables, kimchi.

Thus, there is evidence that diet plays an important role in the presence of food allergies, it should change the state of intestinal bacteria and the activity of the immune system.

Dr. Michael Holley is passionate about nutrition and treats asthma, allergies and immune disorders.

“Many patients experience a significant improvement in respiratory symptoms when dairy is removed from the diet, regardless of allergic or non-allergic factors,” says Dr. Holly. – I encourage patients to remove dairy products from the diet and replace it with plant-based.

When I see patients who complain that they or their children are very sick, I start by assessing their allergic sensitivity but quickly move on to their nutrition. Eating whole plant foods, eliminating industrial sugar, oil and salt results in a stronger immune system and increased patient ability to fight the common viruses we are exposed to on a daily basis.

A 2001 study found that asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, and eczema could be treated with starches, grains, and vegetables. Subsequent studies show that increasing antioxidants in a diet with more fruits and vegetables (7 or more servings per day) significantly improves asthma. A 2017 study reinforced this concept, which is that fruit and vegetable consumption is protective against asthma.

Allergic diseases are characterized by inflammation, and antioxidants fight inflammation. While the amount of research may be small, growing evidence points to a diet high in antioxidants (fruits, nuts, beans, and vegetables) that are beneficial in reducing symptoms of allergic diseases, rhinitis, asthma, and eczema.

I encourage my patients to consume more fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and beans, and to reduce or eliminate animal products, especially dairy, to relieve allergic symptoms and improve overall health.”

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