Allergies: Nothing to Sneeze At

Leaky Gut

One of the best ways to address leaky gut is to follow a GAPS diet. It is very strict, but it can really eliminate leaky gut (also called gut dysbiosis) and reset the body.  I highly encourage clients to consider GAPS for life-threatening allergies, especially to foods.

However, this can be difficult for many, so a simplified method is listed below. Ideally, this will be followed for at least 3 months and up to a year or two.  This is what I did, for over a year, before I really healed enough to stop having reactions to touching latex and soy.  It was another year before I was willing to try eating soy again.  Since then, no anaphylactic reactions for me.  But it took 2 years.

• Remove all grains, dairy, nightshades (potatoes, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes)
• Bone broth daily (1.5 to 3 cups daily)

What is needed

• 1-5 bones from organic, grass-fed, wild-caught chicken, beef, or fish (or game bones!)
• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar with the mother
• 1 gallon good water
• 2-4 stalks of celery
• 2-4 carrots

Optional additions

• Various trimmings (kale stems, beet tops, potato skins, onions, etc)
• 1-2 chicken feet (adds great collagen)
• Dried mushrooms like reishi, maitake, shitake, etc

Cooking times (minimum to get the nutrients out)

• Fish – 12 hours
• Chicken – 24 hours
• Beef – 48 hours

Using bone broth

• Strain, keeping in the fat
• Season to taste
• Use in cooking as you’d use water (rice, soups, gravies, steaming vegetables, etc)
• Eliminate plastic containers
• Eliminate microwave use

Parasites

Let’s get this out of the way to start—most of us have parasites.  It is just part of the human experience.  In fact, I’d argue everyone has parasites because we should all have bacteria on board in the form of our healthy gut flora.  Parasites don’t always have to be harmful, but a good many of them are.

Are you feeling a little itchy yet thinking about it?  Many people do feel uncomfortable when talking about these unwanted hitchhikers in our bodies.

Parasites can cause blockages, release toxins, damage tissues (thus creating leaky gut and more), create inflammation, deplete nutrition available for the host, cause bleeding, cause disease, cause necrosis of tissues from lack of nutrients, create allergies, cause anemia, and more in their hosts.  This damage can lead to a plethora of diseases and disorders, including allergies.

Like I said, parasites are common and some are even good.  However, what we will consider here are the ones that aren’t helpful.  If you haven’t done a parasite cleanse in the last 6 months, you probably have parasites.  If you are curious, which I think you should be, we have a quick parasite quiz to see how likely you are to have parasites on board.  At Health Harmonized, we have many methods to help the body rid itself of parasites should they be a problem.

Garlic Tea

Garlic is good for so many things.  It is antiviral, antibacterial,  antifungal, and even antiparasitic.  It has so many health benefits!  Even kids can handle this recipe.

1. Finely chop 1-2 cloves of garlic.
2. Add to a mug and cover with boiling water.
3. Add in ginger, cinnamon, or raw honey to taste.
4. Stir and steep 15 minutes, covered.
5. Sip slowly, chewing and swallowing the garlic pieces.
6. Drink 1-2 cups a day. For even better results, start on a full moon.

NOTE: If you are having an allergic reaction, SEEK MEDICAL HELP.  While I am all about naturopathy and natural remedies, until you adjust your diet and lifestyle enough to make a change, any allergic reaction should be treated immediately by medical doctors.  After all, you need to live long enough to make the natural changes.