I’ve always thought that citrus fruits are good for fighting colds because of their vitamin C content which supposedly helps boost the immune system and helps fight bugs. What I just read is that they also contain a compound called synephrine, that can help you cope with stuffy nose due to allergies and colds.

The USDA tested mandarins from 10 different micro-climates in Placer County and what they found inside these little fruits, compared to other citrus, 6 to 7 times the amount of synephrine, a naturally occurring decongestant.
Photo Credit: sonictk via Flickr

Fish oil supplements are known for their health benefits, not only in cardiovascular health, but also possibly in aging-related maladies such as Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, a recent study reveals that the intake of fish oil during late pregnancy may also prevent the development of asthma in children.
Under the assumption that intake of olive oil in the dose provided here was inert, our results support that increasing omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in late pregnancy may carry an important prophylactic potential in relation to offspring asthma.”
In fact, the hazard rate for children of mothers consuming fish oil supplements during the …read more

The McMaster University needs volunteers for its study aiming to determine potential protective effects of omega-3 fatty acids against asthma.
To be eligible to participate, you must be:

male or female
18 to 55 years of age
non-smoker
taking asthma medications and requiring bronchodilator medication for periodic symptom relief and/or to protect against exercise-induced asthma symptoms

Eligible participants will undergo:

comprehensive assessment of asthma and assessment of the effects of your current therapy
blood samples are required for cholesterol testing
provided with dietary supplementation of omega-3 fatty acid capsules for two three-week periods
requires four two-hour visits to the Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health research clinic in Hamilton over …read more

Ooops, it’s already the middle of the week and not a single new entry here at Eating Fabulous. Sorry for that. My two month old daughter has been admitted to the hospital for bronchiolitis. She’s ok now, but what concerns me is this, especially because asthma runs in our family:
Kids who have had bronchiolitis may be more likely to develop asthma later in life, but it’s unclear whether the illness causes or triggers asthma, or whether children who eventually develop asthma were simply more prone to developing bronchiolitis as infants. Studies are being done to clarify the relationship between bronchiolitis …read more

If data from a new preliminary study is true, it seems that Yakult is not only good for gut health, it might also help in easing symptoms of hay fever or pollen allergies. According to the study, a daily dose of Yakult for five months seems to reduce the levels of IgE in the blood (It is IgE which stimulates the release of histamine which subsequently makes the airways swell and produce the symptoms of hay fever).
Blood samples were taken before the grass pollen season, then again when it was at its peak (June), and 4 weeks after the end …read more

Suffering from allergies? Brace up! As the temperatures rise and the trees start blooming, so will your allergy symptoms flare up. Some food-based alternative therapies used for relieving symptoms of allergic rhinitis include bromelain, found in pineapples (obviously wouldn’t work for those with allergies to pineapples).
Bromelain may be a useful addition to other therapies used for sinusitis (such as antibiotics) due to its ability to reduce inflammation/swelling. Studies report mixed results, although overall bromelain appears to be beneficial for reducing swelling and improving breathing.
You can find more alternative therapies used in the treatment of allergies from rvita. For more on …read more

March is the National Nutrition Month, a nutrition education and information campaign created by the American Dietetic Association.
During National Nutrition Month®, the American Dietetic Association urges consumers to look beyond the myths of nutrition, focus on the facts and remember the theme for the month, Nutrition: It’s a Matter of Fact.
“It may seem difficult to figure out the most healthful eating plan, and there are many nutrition myths that people follow as the truth,” says registered dietitian and ADA spokesperson Kerry Neville. “It’s important to focus on information that is based on scientific research.”
While we are no nutritionists/dietitians, we here …read more

Probiotics has been considered to be a powerful tool in helping strengthen immune systems and reduce the effects of allergies, asthma, and other chronic immune-related diseases.
Although I find this article to be a bit too negative on the use of antibiotics, it does explain well how probiotics can put our body microflora into balance, particularly after a long treatment regimen with antibiotics.
“It’s important to remember that the other half of the therapy is to replant the forest with the good bacteria,” Huffnagle says. And while scientists are still trying to determine exactly how the microflora in the digestive tract …read more

My son had dairy allergies as a toddler. He has outgrown them now, thank heavens, but there was a time when I was looking for alternative calcium sources for milk-allergics and found out that sesame seeds can be a suitable option.
Apparently, not only are they rich in calcium (a quarter-cup supplies up to more than a third of the daily value for calcium), it’s also rich in

calcium, and provides pain relief for rheumatoid arthritis
magnesium, which is important for managing asthma, high blood pressure, migraine attacks, and sleep in menopausal women
zinc, a trace element important for bone health and preventing …read more

More and more scientific data are showing the relationship between maternal nutrition and fetal conditioning, i.e., how a pregnant woman’s diet affect the health of her child later in life.
A new study of 1924 children, published in the early online edition of Thorax, indicate that mothers who eat apples and fish during pregnancy may protect their children from developing asthma and allergies later in life.
According to the research, “The present study suggests beneficial associations between maternal apple intake during pregnancy and wheeze and asthma at age five years.” They add that their findings “suggest an apple specific effect, …read more