OWL-First Day!

[not2late]

Jade, Dr. Atkins breezed over this food sensitivity stuff in the book. If you want to read about it more in depth, I suggest that you get a hold of "The Asthma and Allergy Cure" by Fred Pescatore, MD. Dr. Pescatore was the associate director of the Atkins Center during the '90s. This book discusses food sensitivities/allergies and how low carb diets (like Atkins) help them out.

[jade]

Hey Megs,
It's interesting but I was just reading the Plateau chapter in Atkins last night and he was talking about food allergies there. Thanks for the title of that book though because I have both environmentally induced asthma and allergies up the ying yang!!

Thanks again!
jade :wave

[not2late]

Hey Megs,
It's interesting but I was just reading the Plateau chapter in Atkins last night and he was talking about food allergies there. Thanks for the title of that book though because I have both environmentally induced asthma and allergies up the ying yang!!

Thanks again!
jade :wave

We're in the same boat with the asthma and allergies.

In the later chapters in DANDR 2002, Dr. Atkins makes a claim that some of his patients who followed his diet had improvements in their asthma and allergies. When I read that I was like "Yeah, right!". My asthma meds were Advair (lowest dose, but it was going to be bumped up), proventil for rescue (which was becoming once a day). My seasonal allergy meds included an antihistamine (like Claritan, Zyrtec, Allegra), a nasal steroid, and an eye antihistamine. I was on the seasonal allergy meds for 8 months out of the year. The bad thing was if I used Claritan for 3 months, it would stop working and I'd have to switch to Zyrtec, which would also stop working and I'd have to switch to Allegra, which would eventually stop working, etc. I was headed towards allergy shots.

Anyhow about 6 months into this WOE, I was off the Advair and now I only use the proventil before exercise (and the times I've forgotten to take it, it hasn't been too bad.) I knew Dr. Atkins said that his dieters experienced an improvement, but I wanted to know why. That's when I came across Dr. Pescatore's work.

Last spring and this spring, I've been okay with only my nasal steroid.

I haven't moved up to the grains rung yet, but if any of them trigger my allergies/mess up my weight loss, I'll happily drop that food forever. I'd rather stop eating a food, than eat it and then have to be on a bunch of medications just to breathe.

[Isabeau]

I'm another who has asthma/allergies. I've been asthmatic since birth and have been hospitalized soooo many times because of respiratory disease. I became a vegan to try and reduce my symptoms. My asthma did get better for the first year or two, then reverted back. Anyways, it's sooo much better now, it's unbelievable. I still take a steroid inhaler, but only once a day now. I'm pretty much off my ventolin. Like Megs, I take it before exercise, especially before I run,swim or cycle. I'm also really effected by weather, but I think there has been an improvement in that area too. Coincidence? I think not!

[jade]

Hey Megs!

We're in the same boat with the asthma and allergies.

In the later chapters in DANDR 2002, Dr. Atkins makes a claim that some of his patients who followed his diet had improvements in their asthma and allergies. When I read that I was like "Yeah, right!". My asthma meds were Advair (lowest dose, but it was going to be bumped up), proventil for rescue (which was becoming once a day). My seasonal allergy meds included an antihistamine (like Claritan, Zyrtec, Allegra), a nasal steroid, and an eye antihistamine. I was on the seasonal allergy meds for 8 months out of the year. The bad thing was if I used Claritan for 3 months, it would stop working and I'd have to switch to Zyrtec, which would also stop working and I'd have to switch to Allegra, which would eventually stop working, etc. I was headed towards allergy shots.

***Wow! You poor thing! I can so relate to the allergy meds. I've just discovered a new one: Singulair. That stuff is incredible. I take one pill at night and I'm clear to go the next morning. No post nasal drip in the night that makes me wake up and cough my head off, no nothing!
I've also been using Sinus Rinse. A friend of mine who has major allergies told me about it. You can get it at Walgreens. It's a type of saline rinse but has an added ingredient so that your sinuses don't get so dried out. (I have to admit. I did take allergy shots for about 2 years then my doctor said I could stop. I was allergy free for about the next 10-15 years. So there is something to be said for them.)

"Anyhow about 6 months into this WOE, I was off the Advair and now I only use the proventil before exercise (and the times I've forgotten to take it, it hasn't been too bad.) I knew Dr. Atkins said that his dieters experienced an improvement, but I wanted to know why. That's when I came across Dr. Pescatore's work."

*That is really exciting! What a relief for you! I don't know about you but I hate being on drugs! I have to take a muscle relaxer and an anti-inflamatory for my fibromyalgia. But when I'm in good physical shape and not eating my usual high caffeine, high sugar, high fat diet I only have to take the meds once in a great while. I am SO looking forward to that again!

"Last spring and this spring, I've been okay with only my nasal steroid.
I haven't moved up to the grains rung yet, but if any of them trigger my allergies/mess up my weight loss, I'll happily drop that food forever. I'd rather stop eating a food, than eat it and then have to be on a bunch of medications just to breathe."

*That's the way I feel about drinking pop. Since I stopped drinking it on December 31st of 2004 I have felt so much better. I was a very heavy Dr. Pepper/Mr. Pibb drinker. I would have the worst caffeine/sugar hang overs in the morning that I almost couldn't get out of bed. It's the weirdest thing. The thought of drinking pop now just gags me!!

Thanks so much for sharing. What a great story! I hope other allergy sufferers read this thread! Good information!

Be well-
jade :wave

[jade]

Hey "Isabeau"

I'm another who has asthma/allergies. I've been asthmatic since birth and have been hospitalized soooo many times because of respiratory disease. I became a vegan to try and reduce my symptoms. My asthma did get better for the first year or two, then reverted back.

***My youngest daughter is an asthmatic but she has been doing fairly well in 2005 so far. But I remember taking her to the hospital. It just scares the wits right out of you!

Anyways, it's sooo much better now, it's unbelievable. I still take a steroid inhaler, but only once a day now. I'm pretty much off my ventolin. Like Megs, I take it before exercise, especially before I run,swim or cycle. I'm also really effected by weather, but I think there has been an improvement in that area too. Coincidence? I think not!

***I know that once I started cycling and cutting out the high carb high fat diet I felt better by the end of the first week. You're so much stronger on the bike!

Great thread! Thanks for contributing to it!
Be well-
jade :wave