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Do allergies actually benefit your health?
April 25th, 2012
01:00 PM ET

Do allergies actually benefit your health?

Depending on severity, allergies can range from annoying to deadly. Millions of Americans are familiar with the sneezing, itching and coughing that come along with spring allergies to toxins, while others suffer hives or even airway blockage if they eat the wrong food.

And we know that food allergies are on the rise, partly because of awareness but experts say something else may be going on. It’s a mystery why industrial countries see more and more children having reactions to common foods such as peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, eggs, milk, wheat or soy.

But there’s a deeper question to ask here: Why do humans have allergies at all?

One view is that the immune response seen in allergies is the same sort of defense your body uses against parasitic worms. It’s thought that what we know as “allergy” evolved against those worms, but has become mistargeted in some people, so that common substances such as pollen and dust set them off, too.

However, common environmental and food allergens have little in common with parasitic worms. There’s an explanation for why the immune system would respond to something that's not microbial, says Ruslan Medzhitov, professor of immunobiology at Yale School of Medicine.

In a perspective article in the journal Nature, Medzhitov and colleagues probe the question: Is there another explanation for allergies? They argue that, in fact, allergies are meant to remove harmful substances from the body.

For the case of seasonal allergies to tree or grass pollen, symptoms typically include runny nose, teary eyes and extra mucus production in the respiratory system. All of these things have the effect of trying to expel something from your body that you don’t want there.

Similarly, when you have itchy skin in contact allergies, the impulse is to scratch, which has the effect of removing offending particles in the skin. But sometimes it becomes extreme: Uncontrollable itching that’s chronic, which is no longer serve the purpose of taking offending substances off the skin.

Food allergy symptoms often include vomiting and diarrhea, which also expel unwanted substances. Anaphylactic shock, the most severe and deadly reaction, involves swelling of the mouth or throat and even breathing problems. Medzhitov explains this as an extreme form of the normal allergic reaction; it has gone out of control and may cause death in and of itself, the way that septic shock is an extreme form of natural inflammation.

Experimental treatment may help food allergies

“There are things that are meant to perform some beneficial rational function; if they get disregulated, it can cause problem,” Medzhitov said.

The unpleasant experiences also make you stop eating the food that caused the reaction, and avoid that food in the future.

But wait: Plenty of people eat peanuts and other common food allergens without incident. Why do some people have extreme reactions and others enjoy these foods in peace?

Medzhitov points out that there are certain components of the foods we eat everyday whose effects on the body we still don’t exactly know. There may be certain chemicals in some foods that have noxious effects on our cells that are slightly toxic.

He hypothesizes that some people are better at detoxifying those substances than others. And those who are deficient in those detoxifying mechanisms have instead allergies to defend themselves.

And then there’s allergies to pollutants in the air. The production of mucus in allergic people, theoretically, gives them increased protection from the particulate pollutants in the air, since they will inhale less of them. That would mean that if those pollutants are carcinogenic, the allergic person would have increased protection against certain forms of cancer over time. Or you might avoid that environment altogether, thereby also taking you out of a toxic situation.

The hypothesis that allergies protect against particular cancers does have some evidence backing it up. In fact, a 2011 study suggested that allergies may stave off gliomas, which are the most common form of brain tumor. But more research needs to be carried out to back up this idea.

So what are we to make of all of this? Even if true, we can't use this knowledge to help people with allergies - yet.  But maybe one day, says Dr. Robert Wood, Director of Allergy/Immunology at Johns Hopkins Children's Center, who was not involved in this study.

"“This is a fascinating paper that sheds new light on why some people develop allergies and others do not. It also suggests reasons why the prevalence of allergic disease, including food allergy, asthma, and hay fever, have all increased over the past 20-30 years," Wood said. "Hopefully the theories presented here could eventually be used to design prevention strategies for allergy, but at the present time they remain just theories that will not lead to any immediate approaches to treat or prevent allergy.”


soundoff (955 Responses)
  1. Spatular

    "It’s a mystery why industrial countries see more and more children having reactions to common foods such as peanuts [. . .] eggs, milk [. . .]" Is it, really? Just come out and say it: the way the industries handle our food has made it hazardous to our health. Is that so hard?

    April 25, 2012 at 14:39 | Report abuse | Reply
    • David

      Actually, it's more likely that the environments our children grow up in are too clean. Children no longer receive as much exposure to germs as they did a hundred years ago. Consider that children from upper class upbringings are more likely to have allergies and autoimmune conditions than those from the middle and lower classes. The body's immune system loses its anergy to inert substances. This article fails to mention how in some case studies, allergic and autoimmune conditions have improved or resolved with ingestion of parasites. Of course, that topic hasn't been probed sufficiently and more research is needed to see whether that is viable cure or not.

      April 25, 2012 at 16:18 | Report abuse |
    • Former Peanut Fan

      Agree w/you David. This is the leading theory of why FA are on hte rise. But there's a part of me that also believes our food chain is playing some role.

      April 25, 2012 at 16:26 | Report abuse |
    • asdf

      @David:

      That can't account for everything. Lots of allergies are inherited genetically.

      April 25, 2012 at 16:32 | Report abuse |
    • BS

      The food the US produces gets shipped all around the world. You've probably heard the US described as "The Breadbasket of the World". By your line of reasoning, the less industrialized nations that buy food from us should also be eating that "toxic" food.

      So, um, perhaps it's not as simple as you think? Why would you think that you could figure out something so easily when people who make a living trying to figure it out can't even do it?

      April 25, 2012 at 16:35 | Report abuse |
    • Former Peanut Fan

      These are all theories. Ideas, unproven. While they are as good as we're going to get, I am not personally saying I know the reason why FA are on the rise. We are contributing to the theories here. Yes, the nonindustrialized nations eat some of our food. Do I think genetically altering our food is beneficial? No. Do I think eating everything out of a can or box is optimal? No. Could the processing play a role in the rise of FA? Maybe. Do genetics play a role? Probably. Does our cleaner environmnet play a role? Probably as well.

      So yes, its not as "simple" as we think nor can we claim it to be. If that were the case we'd have a cure.

      April 25, 2012 at 16:44 | Report abuse |
    • Booger

      Sick and tired of all these studies that determine something MAY or MAY NOT be good for you. Studies have shown that running into oncoming traffic may or may not cause death. Bite me CNN..

      April 25, 2012 at 17:16 | Report abuse |
    • Shawn Larson

      I would say its a combination of our country being too clean and that the inustry is putting crap in our food. A little of both.

      April 25, 2012 at 17:33 | Report abuse |
    • poncho

      asdf, the article states that "some people are better at detoxifying those substances than others. And those who are deficient in those detoxifying mechanisms have instead allergies to defend themselves." Perhaps it is the genetics of "detoxifying mechanisms" that is inherited or not.

      April 25, 2012 at 17:38 | Report abuse |
    • MomofThreeKids

      My son has the same allergy to the milk protein casein that his cousin, uncle, and great-uncle have. Straight line genetics that appears to only come out in males (my mother, sister and I only appear to be carriers to our sons). None of the males involved have reproduced for various reasons but I would like to have seen whether they passed it on as well.

      One reason that this is skyrocketing is that people with allergies are SURVIVING TO REPRODUCE and pass on the genes involved. It wasn't that many years ago where people with allergies died of respiratory arrest because there wasn't albuterol nebulizers, steroids, epinephrine, and other treatments available.

      April 25, 2012 at 17:53 | Report abuse |
    • chf

      What data do you have to back up that hypothesis? It could be just as likely that pollution is triggering an adverse response to allergens that normally wouldn't have happened.

      April 25, 2012 at 17:56 | Report abuse |
    • Shanno

      Sadly as a working mother of three, I can say my house is not too clean. And yet I have a daughter with very bad seasonal and food allergies. She is one of the growing number of people with peanut allergies and has to carry an epi-pen. I go with the inherited theory. As a child I was very sick – tubes in ears, chronic strep throat, horrible seasonal and food allergies. I have one kid with tubes, one who had her tonsils out and one with allergies. Just glad they spread it around!

      April 26, 2012 at 08:08 | Report abuse |
    • Concerned citizen

      "It’s a mystery why industrial countries see more and more children having reactions to common foods such as peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, eggs, milk, wheat or soy."
      [The talk of toxic chemicals in our food today in the second half of this text is not emphasized enough]
      It's no mystery why food allergies are more present now, in industrial countries. Can anyone really be so ignorant? Look at any ingredient label on any commercial product, and you will get bamboozled with all kinds of flumoxing, arcane words. In our great grandmothers days, such allergies did not exist, or were uncommon. Look at what she would have eaten: Homemade foods made from raw, usually local, natural ingredients. What we certainly don't need are food producers getting carried away with their little chemistry sets; they need to actually prepare some FOOD! come on, why the hell do you eat this rubbish??Don't say "because it's more affordable".. that's utter nonsense, you're just lazy. You don't have to buy organic, grass fed everything(though it is better) just make your own food, from ingredients you know and can actually pronounce the names of. And for goodness sake SUPPORT LOCAL FARMERS. I weep for this nation.

      November 8, 2013 at 11:50 | Report abuse |
  2. Former Peanut Fan

    Theories include our cleaner environment contributing to the rise in food allergies. Under developed countries do not face the rise in FA as we do here, however they are dying at far faster rates of infection. While the clean affect is a good theory, I myself theorize the manner in which we handle our food (GMOs, processed, pink slime, preservatives, etc) also plays a role. What are we doing different or what has changed over the last 30 – 40 years? Its this!

    While there's no cure for food allergies, we can all at least be compassionate towards those faciing this challenge. Most are, but there are always the few that really go at it and man, is it hurtful. Its not worth repeating the vile comments.

    April 25, 2012 at 16:24 | Report abuse | Reply
  3. Dave

    Easy to say, yes! And prob. wrong. Perhaps you think companies manufacture peanuts in the shell? And shellfish?

    April 25, 2012 at 16:26 | Report abuse | Reply
    • Former Peanut Fan

      Not sure I follow you?

      April 25, 2012 at 16:27 | Report abuse |
    • pdxmum

      I think he meant to reply to Spatula, above.

      April 25, 2012 at 16:32 | Report abuse |
  4. Jeffrey

    Like so many of these "articles" on here, this one seems to have no real point. The headline makes it sound like they have info that allergies actually are beneficial, then they just talk about a lot of theories and guesses, none of which have any proven facts really behind them and no real evidence that allergens are beneficial at all. So in the end, it's just a waste of the time it takes to read it.

    April 25, 2012 at 16:27 | Report abuse | Reply
    • Kat

      Jeffrey – if you think so many of these "articles" have no point- why do you continue to read them? Are you a reporter or a critic? If not then let the rest of us read the articles and perhaps you should find a new news source.

      April 25, 2012 at 16:50 | Report abuse |
    • LudicrousSpeed

      Yeah, I was unsatisfied too with the lack of credible studies cited to help back up the claims that were made. It was a short article, however, and at least I'm keyed into the perspective in Nature that I can now read.

      April 25, 2012 at 17:23 | Report abuse |
    • Rokia

      This is a really great video and exapnils Leaky Gut very well.I myself have started taking Glutamine as suggested in the video and it's only been a week but I've noticed many positive benefits to my digestion, but also noticed other benefits including that I'm sleeping much better and when I wake up in the mornings my face is no longer all puffy.

      September 14, 2012 at 01:57 | Report abuse |
  5. OvernOut

    My uncle died in 1910 at age three, no one ever figured out why. Three things were suggested: meningitis, botulism poisoning, or a food allergy. My grandma could never talk about it–she blamed herself for his death– but I heard from other relatives that the death was very sudden, and the description did sound like anaphylaxis. There may well have been food allergies in the past, people were killed off quickly and it wasn't recognized for what it was. Most people from that side of the family have allergies or asthma, I've got the allergies, my big ones are sulfur (no wine for me) and seasonal allergies. Funny thing is, absolutely no cancer in the family. We sneeze, we wheeze, we don't get the big C.

    April 25, 2012 at 16:39 | Report abuse | Reply
  6. Andy

    David, I agree with you. I also believe that because we are vaccinated against much diseases than 100 years ago, our immune systems are more "reactive" and see things like allergens as something to react to. Being a Microbiologist, I understand how microorganisms behave and how they can cause disease in people. Having a lot of immunology knowledge also tells me that living in a "clean environment" can be detrimental, as the body is not prepared to handle what it is exposed. Too clean from literally too clean as well as an immune system which has been trained to be more reactive with the vaccines we get. By the way, I DO SUPPORT getting vaccinated. Vaccines prevent disease and epidemics.

    April 25, 2012 at 16:41 | Report abuse | Reply
    • Former Peanut Fan

      Great way to put it Andy. Concur!

      April 25, 2012 at 16:46 | Report abuse |
  7. Daniel

    I think that there are more general polutants in the air and about then in the past. I'm not anti-science but I think people who come into contact with harmful elements should have control over production and thus more cautions and concerned about additives and unhealthy environments.

    April 25, 2012 at 16:45 | Report abuse | Reply
  8. Nora

    When I was little I used to eat a lot of avocado and mango, and I was fine, until one day out of nowhere I started having allergic reactions to both, so I had to stop. The last time I ate avocado was by mistake 8 years ago and my throat closed immediately, I could hardly breath, my neck was full of hives and my lips were swollen. Luckily I was at some friend's house and gave me an antihistaminic. The worst part is that I love mango and avocado.

    April 25, 2012 at 16:50 | Report abuse | Reply
    • BigDogMom

      Nora if you have an anaphylactic reaction to them I am sure your allergist has already told you this, but be very careful around latex as well! All three plants are in the same family. I have an anaphylactic allergy to latex, and avocados and mangoes give me a less severe reaction. Apparently it is the case that in general if you are allergic to one, you are allergic to all three. Who knew?

      April 25, 2012 at 18:30 | Report abuse |
  9. name

    lol the flowers in the picture are fake

    April 25, 2012 at 16:52 | Report abuse | Reply
  10. Reefguy

    Seriously ? Did the author consider why in the world the rate of allergies is so high only in the developed nations ? If the allergic reaction is from a defensive mechanism, as the author suggests, why such a drastic difference between the industrialized vs. non-industrialized nations. Why then did a study find that kids who grow up on farms or grow up with a pet have less allergies than the ones who do not. IMHO, I do not believe that much is going to come out of this. I agree with what Spatular has said. It is the food that we eat. Perhaps it is the monoculture of that food that is the source of these issues. Food in non-industrialized nations is not produced in the same way it is here. Where only single types of crops plants are planted by the billions. Perhaps the breeding & gene modifications of those mono-culture plants is the root cause of these problems. Perhaps someone should write a hypothesis about this 🙂

    April 25, 2012 at 16:54 | Report abuse | Reply
  11. Holly

    I think that it is a bunch of bologny to say that this horrible allergy will benefit me. Stupid comment My eyes itch, burn look like I am on a month long drunk, I sneeze and caugh. It has been going on for weeks. I doubt seriously that there will be anything good to happen to me because of it.

    April 25, 2012 at 17:23 | Report abuse | Reply
    • Ruby

      Get cancer much?

      April 25, 2012 at 23:40 | Report abuse |
    • Meike

      yeah, I would like to be friends with a liar and a fake just tell him/her up front. there are alot of pleacs that offer vegan choices on thier menus.. so you can both get what you want.course theres nothing more interesting than starting a new realtionship off with a big fat LIE.!

      September 11, 2012 at 05:12 | Report abuse |
  12. Spijder

    Reblogged this on Thunk Stuffs & Other Things and commented:
    Well this puts a kink in a big part of one of the major plot points for Whirling Point! ...or does it? Don't worry, things mesh quite well with this and even if it didn't, Whirling is fiction after all. Interesting bit of info either way 😀

    April 25, 2012 at 17:51 | Report abuse | Reply
    • Leo

      I think the very best food for dogs with allergies is California Natural it has the most litmied ingredient list of ANY dry food. Another option would be one of the allergy formulas put out by Natural Balance. Taste of the Wild makes some formulas with unique proteins (bison, duck), but California Natural has the least ingredients, meaning less likely to contain an allergen. All of the dogs can eat any of these foods.

      September 11, 2012 at 18:00 | Report abuse |
  13. Mary

    I live in Dallas now the worst place for allergies, I never had them before, for the las 2 months I am so ill, can not breath, sinusitis, cough, even taking daily an allergy pill.
    It is good for me? I am exhausted, can not sleep , my wheezing wakes me up.

    April 25, 2012 at 17:56 | Report abuse | Reply
    • Delmar Knudson

      Mary. There are some new treatments for allergic rhinitis (runny nose), sinusitis, and such. Some treatments come with significant side effects also, so one does well to check out the package inserts, and any extra note from the pharmacist. But, you might want to check with an allergist or ENT doctor.

      April 25, 2012 at 18:33 | Report abuse |
    • toadears

      I too suffer this spring. I have found that children's liquid allergy syrup helps me the most because it is weaker and I can take it much more often since most of the dosage goes by body weight. Also, be sure and get a good nasal spray and use saline to hydrate the nasal passages. Especially at bedtime. Dallas can also be very dry this time of year. Try sleeping with a vaporizer, even if you need the A/C turned on because it gets hot, and use medicated vapor steam in it. That will keep your airways open and hydrated all night.

      April 25, 2012 at 19:05 | Report abuse |
  14. jon

    I believe taking allergy and cold medicine is stopping the bodies natural way of expelling toxins in the body. By taking this medication we are keeping the toxins in our body, making the body toxic for cancer and other diseases to grow.

    April 25, 2012 at 18:20 | Report abuse | Reply
    • Delmar Knudson

      Believing things is common to many of us; but it is helpful to have some scientific evidence before ascribing to a belief.

      April 25, 2012 at 18:35 | Report abuse |
  15. BigDogMom

    I'm not 100% sure I follow this line of reasoning with allergies like mine – anaphylactic latex allergies. I breathe in a room where someone has been using a latex glove or balloons, and my throat swells shut. If the purpose of that were to stop me from eating a dangerous plant, just gone haywire in my body, well – who eats rubber sap?!?! I don't think people have been going around licking rubber trees for a long time. Why is it so allergenic?

    April 25, 2012 at 18:33 | Report abuse | Reply
  16. toadears

    I live in an area recently sited as the worst for airborne allergies. It is pretty bad and the air is dirty. I must be very healthy since I sneeze everyday now. heh heh

    April 25, 2012 at 19:02 | Report abuse | Reply
  17. dianawelsh

    allergies, bane of my existence. Anything that pollinates is a problem, and with COPD it's more of a problem than it would be for others. It often leads to bronchitis or pneumonia, and allergy meds only do so much. Then you have nutrisweet, which I have an anaphylactic response to. No more chewing gum (except for very specific and expensive types), I can't even be in a room in which someone is making crystal light, the powder in the air is enough to send me to the hospital, and someone has to check my drinks in restaurants because I've been given the wrong drink and ended up in as well. There are allergy shots of course, except my insurance only pays a small fraction of them and it's worse if you have to stop taking them then not taking them at all. So I avoid what I can, and deal with the rest.

    April 25, 2012 at 19:03 | Report abuse | Reply
    • mimi mini

      same here
      just like her i did to

      December 9, 2015 at 14:19 | Report abuse |
  18. Rene Descartes on East Coast of Canada

    I've never had seasonal allergic reactions until this year. There is an extra production of mucous this year. I wake up in the morning blowing my nose like crazy. I was reading somewhere that it is also related to your stress hormone cortisol.

    April 25, 2012 at 19:19 | Report abuse | Reply
  19. Willow

    Clearly, the writer of this article has never suffered from allergies. Clearly, they have never had to visit their elderly grandmother when said grandmother had a dog and had to take allergy meds which made them fall asleep. They have never had to drug themselves before visiting friends with cats and been extremely sleepy, and never really enjoying the time spent. Clearly the writer of this article has never been at weddings with old people with perfume and cologne, where their allergy meds failed, and never had to look like a wallflower because of allergies. I envy this article writer.

    April 25, 2012 at 20:13 | Report abuse | Reply
    • Dannielle

      My grandmother used to make a concuot cake that she pierced holes in, poured some sort of milk or cream over it before putting frosting on. Was wondering if it would be possible to make that allergen free .maybe use concuot milk? We've also love your nondessert recipes Bolognese and turkey meatballs both were big hits here. Please give us any and everything that you love!

      September 12, 2012 at 05:38 | Report abuse |
  20. msadr

    My mother taught me this 35 years ago. This is not a new "theory", and I have never had any reason to doubt that it is exactly correct. The question of why most people "grow out" of allergies is a bit mysterious. But mom always said you just get used to the pollen (or whatever allergen). Seems like a satisfactory answer to me.

    April 25, 2012 at 22:45 | Report abuse | Reply
  21. eroteme

    We must be very appreciative for the offering of such valuable information to us all by 'Medzhitov and colleagues'. It is truly amazing that during the past hundred years or better no allergy specialists have never thought of this. Way to go Medzhitove, as well as your colleagues, of course. But please don't stop here, proceed on to your next enlightenment!

    April 25, 2012 at 23:52 | Report abuse | Reply
  22. AllergyFree

    I have SEVERE allergies, however, I have them in remission. I figured a few things out over the years. First, I do not eat foods I am allergic to in the same season as the pollen is prevalent. I don't eat nuts in the fall when walnuts and acorns fall. I don't eat grains/weeds during weed season. I don't eat the ovaries of fruits/veggies during spring pollen season. I am pretty careful if I eat anything to not eat the darkened ovary part of the fruit AT ALL. Think of an apple. Cut out the darkened center part, along with the seeds. THIS is the ovary of the fruit. Doesn't it make sense that if animals go into heat because of pollen, meaning it affects their sex hormones, that it would affect the humans the same way? Except, we aren't cavemen anymore, so we get sick instead. Also, if you eat a fruit or veggie during pollen season, think of the attraction. The fruit puts the female plant hormones in your system up, and you attract through your skin, and just about everywhere else the pollen (the male part of the plant) from in the air. Therefore, don't eat a LOT of ovaries during pollen season. I tend to eat nuts during pollen season, fruits/veggies during weed season (being careful not to eat weed/grains or things like corn which are actually weed-based plants), and grains in nut season. This simple swap makes a HUGE difference, and I have severe food allergies, severe breathing allergies, asthma, and eosinophilia (severe format of allergies that causes blood changes). Has anyone ever noticed that when their allergies are high, there seems to be this sticky film on their skin? I noticed it, and it is that attraction thing I noted above. Oh, and lastly I will mention that I think REFRIGERATION is the reason why our immune systems have gotten worse over the decades. In colonial Williamsburg, a turkey cooked for Thanksgiving sat unrefrigerated for an entire week on the dinner table until it was picked dry. Nobody got sick from it. Nobody got salmonella. I think they developed important immune-function response to it over time. By retarding the growth of such organisms, we have probably given our immune systems nothing proper to fight, thus it fights things it's not supposed to. I think we can all agree that an allergic immune response is the body fighting something we are not supposed to be fighting, but accepting. As far as diabetes goes (not mentioned here), I think it is from a few generations of us with refrigeration. One other thing to ponder, if you are American and have been to a European country...how are the eggs in other countries sold? They aren't refrigerated. So, why do we have so much salmonella? We refrigerate our eggs. Does it make sense? Eggs have a natural anti-bacterial way of being. They are warm when they come OuT of the chicken. Why are we refrigerating them? Thus, my theory on refrigeration.

    April 26, 2012 at 00:08 | Report abuse | Reply
  23. AllergyFree

    Oh, one more thing. Control your blood sugar between 100-120, and you will have no stuffed up noses, sore throats, or any kind of allergies. It seems that high blood sugar carries too many hormones and is a part of the immune response that triggers allergies.

    April 26, 2012 at 00:11 | Report abuse | Reply
  24. Cindy

    Its not a mystery why more kids have allergies than in the past. We've quit breastfeeding our children. My family is eaten alive by allergies. Some of us have allergies so bad, they have died going into anaphylactic shock and I have a number of family members on state disaility becuase they are completely incapacitated. I asked my obstetrician if there was anything I could do for her. She said breastfeed her when she is born and stick with it. I breastfed my child exclusively for 5 months and then supplementally until she self weaned at 2.5 years and SHE HAS NO ALLERGIES!. No epi pens, no shots, no puffers, no antihistamines, no wheezing, no asthma, no dripping noses, no post nasal drip, no itching, no rashes, no whelts, no life threatening angiedimas. Just healthy 9 year old who has been tested due to family history and shocked even the doctors. Breastfeeding = no allergies; bottles and formula = allergies.

    April 26, 2012 at 00:23 | Report abuse | Reply
    • Mona

      I was breastfed and have severe allergies. That's theory doesn't fly. My allergies started suddenly, after not having any allergies at all, at age 24. They came on after a sinus infection and ear infection, now I am on a lot of meds and have trouble breathing, never ever had to take an allergy pill in my life. That makes no sense..... none of my doctors can give me an explanation either.

      April 26, 2012 at 08:08 | Report abuse |
    • Caro

      back when my brother was a baby (20 years ago) he alsmot died from a vaccination. he's allergic to eggs and one vaccine has eggs or something to do with eggs in it. I'm not sure if they still use that vaccination but i would ask about it

      October 11, 2012 at 19:39 | Report abuse |
  25. Craig Worley

    Just go outside and hang out. The outdoors or avoiding it rather is the reason kids cough.

    April 26, 2012 at 06:19 | Report abuse | Reply
  26. spencer

    As a child I was allergic to chocolate and peanuts where I would get migranes a week later that would last a few days. So, I stopped eating them, but 10 years later I ate some chicken that was covered in crushed peanuts and bread...a week later no migrane. I can eat chocolate and peanuts now. A few years ago my spring allergies got real bad, so bad I couldn't go to work. This year I decided to lose 20 lbs and in the process stopped eating bread and pasta because I feared I had a gluten allergy; I lost 17 lbs and had no spring allergy this season. maybe the excessive bread/pizza eating contributed to my spring allergies. Who knows. All that I know is if it makes me sick my body is telling me to stop eating it or stop eating som much of it. I'll probably be allergic to all vegetables, especially asparagus in 10 years and be back to eating straight gluten. LOL

    April 26, 2012 at 07:52 | Report abuse | Reply
  27. Abdulrahman

    I just want to point out some Evidence-Based natural therapies for Allergy that have been discussed on Natural Standard database (http://www.naturalstandard.com).
    Whey protein took the upper hand and had the strongest evidence for Allergies (Grade A). Probiotics, Butterbur, Bromelain, Galphimia glauca, and nasal irrigation showed positive evidence (Grade B). More can be found at Natural Standard website.

    April 26, 2012 at 09:51 | Report abuse | Reply
  28. Holistic

    Vaccines! People are sicker in industrialized countries because we are vaccined to death.

    April 26, 2012 at 11:47 | Report abuse | Reply
  29. ShaniceJ

    I am kind of shocked, that it is said food allergies can prevent certain cancers. I cant beleive that it can actully benefit your health when some people have serious allergic reactions to certain food allergies.

    April 26, 2012 at 12:10 | Report abuse | Reply
    • Alexis

      you should try to find a grain free food like Canidae or Taste of the Wild. corn soy and wheat are big alelrgens in dogs. if the allergy is severe enough you could try Dick Van Pattens Natural Balance. it is a limited ingredient diet which means there is only one protein and one carbohydrate, so there is less to be allergic to. i would try the sweet potato and fish or the sweet potato and venison formula as less dogs are allergic to those than chicken or lamb. good luck

      September 11, 2012 at 11:06 | Report abuse |
    • Kay

      -imo; the skin shows signs of gut troubles might be an idea to inearcse good fatty acids into your diet like using , for instance organic! seed oils of various types, plenty organic fruits/vegof good reknown [via trusted reccomends] , stop eating sugars, wheat/dairy and animals [if you do]if you can get your foods locally nature heals nature.speak to a natural dietician know your symptoms -know your way to health . good luck .

      September 14, 2012 at 01:53 | Report abuse |
  30. Stephanie Orengo

    How do you email this article

    April 26, 2012 at 16:21 | Report abuse | Reply
  31. M.E.B.

    Hmmm...well I wish that cancer theory were true! I have allergies to so many environmental substances, animals and food that it's become a joke that I should live in a bubble. I always have an epi-pen and benadryl in my purse and can't even attend parties with latex balloons etc. That being said, I don't have that typical allergy look (gaunt, dark eye circles etc.) and am a very lively and energetic 38-year-old person (phew) BUT...I do have thyroid cancer. Go figure! Best medicine? Finding the upside and a way to laugh multiple times per day 😉 And if swallowing a few parasites would re-train my body and rid me of allergies? I'd take it this second! Oh how I miss avocados, pineapples, water balloon fights and feathery pillows...lol

    April 28, 2012 at 21:45 | Report abuse | Reply
    • Alexandra

      About $ 18 a vial (they are multiple use) is what I pay.EDIT: I think that some peploe here are confusing immunotherapy with a one-time Prednisone shot. I am assuming that you are asking about immunotherapy-the long term series of shots that will help create an immunity to the allergens? THESE shots are safe long-term. Frequent dosing with steroids like Prednisone is not. My answer is for the $ 18 I pay for a vial of immunotherapy shots for my English Setter.

      September 11, 2012 at 14:06 | Report abuse |
  32. allergies

    Tremendous things here. I am very happy to see your article. Thanks so much and I am having a look ahead to contact you. Will you please drop me a mail?

    June 30, 2012 at 08:12 | Report abuse | Reply
  33. Giselle Dente

    I have a 14 year old child that is allergic to corn, wheat, grass, nuts, dust, cigarette smoke, Her IGE levels are over 1,800. There is no history of allergies in my family, just the fact that I did my 9 months of pregnancy working in a motor pool at the U S Army, I was a tank mechanic. She has some many reactions I cant count them. Just by smelling something that contains corn or wheat while is being cooked is enough to put her at children's hospital. Unfortunately there is not to many people with this type of allergies. That Doctors say there is no cure or medicine, we have tried all I think by now, their suggestions is to move to one of the Pole's or live in the ocean. The medication for allergies are no longer working well with her. There is no where to get help, please if someone has any ideas. I educated my self and dedicated my self to keep her alive and I'm giving up.

    January 11, 2013 at 06:36 | Report abuse | Reply
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  35. Wow

    Now, from the charts of food allergy sufferers, pull out the ones fed toxic, unbalanced, chemistry-experiment foods in their youth, and count all those remaining.... Don't you feel like a guinea pig in a lab?....they don't know the full effect the chemicals they use may have on individuals................ so why on earth would we eat these 'foods'?

    November 8, 2013 at 11:56 | Report abuse | Reply
  36. Kevin

    Whats really going on is our food we are eating has been tampered with and has no nutritional value to help boost our immunity, Thats why there is an organic movement happening. Also many people don't know this but 95% of people have parasites that are the root cause of many mis-diagnosed problems, which our body is constantly trying to fight. Our drs continually are incentive to treat everything under the sun with antibiotics that are making things worse. Theres a product out there called RIDSET, which will rid your body of parasites allowing your natural histamine fighters to control the effects of pollen has on your body. Im happy to have found this because I suffered terribly for many years and feel like im cured from allergies now.

    May 7, 2014 at 11:20 | Report abuse | Reply
    • Eeyore

      Hahahaha! "Most people don't know this…." That's because it isn't true.

      May 7, 2014 at 15:22 | Report abuse |
  37. Ron Blake

    Allergies are due to an immune system that is not all that healthy. Allergies can be severe and very dangerous. This is no way near any type of benefit. I also know people with severe allergies who have had cancer and brain tumors, yet I have not known anyone as of yet without allergies who have experienced such issues. Although I am sure anyone can contract just about any disease and/or illness.

    Allergies are detrimental to one's health. It is a very dangerous thing, when someone might "have to have" some type of medication just to breath or survive.

    April 6, 2015 at 18:32 | Report abuse | Reply
  38. Jacqueline W. Muller, M.D.

    My name is Dr. Jacqueline W. Muller and I am a board certified medical doctor practicing in New York City. I treat many patients with environmental allergies and read your article (above) with great interest. The treatment for environmental allergies which has improved my patients' quality of life most dramatically is without a doubt custom sublingual immunotherapy. Sublingual immunotherapy drops are drops placed under a person's tongue in the convenience of his/her own home. This is a natural way (no medication) to desensitize a person with environmental allergies. Once desensitized, that person has less inflammation in his/her body which makes them less symptomatic and therefore more comfortable and less reliant on medication. I look forward to the day when people with food allergies can enjoy these same benefits from undergoing this type of desensitization; it will truly be life changing. For more information on this and other forms of allergy treatment please visit: http://www.allergytreatmentny.com.

    May 8, 2016 at 18:08 | Report abuse | Reply
  39. sands1977

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    August 16, 2016 at 06:43 | Report abuse | Reply
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  41. Darnisha

    I have had an allergy to most meat for 7 years. When I eat the wrong thing, it may create hives, or it may just create one or two "lesions". An ugly bump that usually opens and then leaves an ugly scar. Usually on my arms, chest, neck and/or face. I just found out about the lone star tick a few days ago. I'm so happy to have a name of something!! I have eliminated chicken, beef, pork, and soy. Now I think I need to try chicken and see if I break out. I keep having light break outs. I think I may now need to eliminate pork. It's good to have an idea of how my tolerance for food could change so drastically at age 40. My Doctor and allergist have never mentioned the lone star tic bite and alpha gal allergy. I'll be sending them some articles tomorrow. I'll also go get retested. Now I know there is at least a possibility of the allergy subsiding over the years. I also know to avoid gelatin now. Not cured, but much better informed!!

    October 15, 2017 at 17:48 | Report abuse | Reply
  42. Michael Joseph

    I’ve been a Pi for over 27 years with Blue Systems International & suffering from seasonal allergies. I’ve read hundreds of articles & they’re getting better; Since no one has a solution for allergies.

    February 18, 2018 at 23:24 | Report abuse | Reply
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Get a behind-the-scenes look at the latest stories from CNN Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen and the CNN Medical Unit producers. They'll share news and views on health and medical trends - info that will help you take better care of yourself and the people you love.