Allergy, wheezing and asthma are complaints seen in all age groups. The major reasons for these are the
change in our lifestyles, changes in environment, and also our heredity.
Allergies do not occur due to reduction in immunity, instead they occur due to increased reaction of our
immune system to certain external agents or conditions.
If we get some kind of cough or chest infection and there is congestion of chest due to this, we
experience difficulty in breathing and this may be called wheezing, but if we get the chest congestion
and wheezing at regular intervals very often, then it may be called asthma or allergic bronchitis.
The over-reaction of the immune cells around the wind pipe, through which we breath, due to exposure
to excessive dust or other infectious agents results in inflammation and the germs are expelled. But
when this occurs even in mild conditions of very little dust or a small change in the environment
resulting in such overreaction, and excessive amount of phlegm production in the wind pipe leading
contraction of the wind pipe by the immune cells, it is called asthma. Allergy and asthma have two
factors working in background, namely, the environmental factors and the hereditary factors.
Environmental factors include excessive exposure to dust and smoke, pollen grains, increased mold and
fungus as seen in a moist environment, situations of infection regularly, etc.
Hereditary factors are that if the parents or anyone else in the family have a history of allergy, sneezing
or persistent cough, or history of asthma, this may be seen in the next generation too. Despite this, it is
seen in many studies that children who grow with good interactions in the society, like playing in the
mud, and having good social interactions, and who play well and live in accordance to the nature, are
more immune than the children who are in overprotected environments like living in flats and closed
rooms.
It is seen that once a person starts medications for conditions like asthma, they end up being on the
medication for lifetime as they hardly try to find or avoid the underlying reason for their illness.
There are certain lifestyle and food habit changes which can help in getting over the complaints of
asthma.
First thing is to reduce the body weight. It is seen that if people with allergic tendency put on weight,
they will have an increase in the sneezing, congestion and wheezing complaints.
Second is the reduction in the use of carbohydrates. The LCHF or ketogenic diet followed by many has
been seen to reduce the inflammation in their body. In this the carbohydrates in the diet are greatly
reduced and more amount of protein and leafy vegetables are included and this diet has two benefits.
One is the reduction of obesity that automatically reduces the wheezing tendency and secondly the
people who take the ketogenic diet reduce the inflammation in their respiratory tract as proved in
studies done on rats.
Third one is the reduction in the use of chilies and spices in the food. There are various spice
combinations used for hot and spicy tasty foods in the fast-food culture of the present time, which are
seen to increase the allergic tendency in the body. They firstly have increase in acidity and heartburn
causing gastroesophageal reflux disease where the acid in the stomach regurgitates into the throat on
lying down and it enters the lungs and creates excessive allergic reaction. Secondly, people who have
allergic tendency may develop a direct inflammation in the wind pipe on consuming lot of spices.
But turmeric, which is an Indian spice, may be used as it is comparatively safe.
The fourth factor to avoid is the excessive use of sweet which may be the sugar, jaggery, honey, palm
sugar, or high fructose corn syrup seen in processed foods as they create an inflammation in the wind
pipe very easily if we have an allergic tendency. But natural honey can be consumed in small quantities
to help reduce the allergic tendency. People who have a tendency to environmental allergy, when given
a small amount of honey, approximately 1/2 teaspoon daily, are seen to have a reduction in the allergic
tendency because honey contains natural pollens that will prevent the excessive allergic reaction to the
pollens by the body. But increased intake of fructose in the form of honey will increase the inflammation
in the body. So, 1/2 teaspoon of honey can be safely consumed daily.
The fifth factor to avoid is salt. Inhalation of steam from water containing salt reduces the allergy,
sneezing, wheezing, etc., but intake of food containing excess salt will create inflammation in the body
and will eventually lead to persistent phlegm production in people who have an asthmatic tendency.
There are also certain foods that will help reduce the allergic tendency.
First one is the foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids, which is also good for our liver and brain in
addition to helping reduce the allergic reaction in the body. This is predominantly seen in mackerels,
sardines, tuna and other small fishes.
Second one is onion, which contains an alkaloid known as quercetin which controls the histamine that
leads to allergies, sneezing, etc.
Third one is turmeric and honey. 3 pinches of powdered or crushed turmeric in half teaspoon of honey
can be consumed once every day and this will help people who get persistent nasal discharge, cold,
throat pain, wheezing, etc.
The fourth food is yogurt, curd, buttermilk, etc., which are very good for the beneficial bacteria in the
intestines that maintain our immunity and prevent it from increasing or decreasing excessively. These
bacteria also help in controlling the allergic reactions in the body. So, foods that are probiotic in nature,
like curd, beetroot, leafy vegetables, etc., must be included in diet
The fifth food is fruits like guava, pomegranate, strawberry, and vegetables like capsicum and broccoli.
Regular exercise and proper hydration of the body with at least 3 L of water a day can aid in the cure of
asthma as well.