Food Allergies
An allergy can be described as a malfunction of the immune system, an exaggerated response to certain substances. Your body mistakenly believes that something it has touched, smelled or eaten is harmful to it and your body releases massive amounts of chemicals, such as histamine to protect itself. It is believed that 11 million Americans suffer from food allergies. These allergies are as varied as food itself is. Some people suffer from an allergy to one food, some to many. The most common food allergies are generally eggs, milk, peanuts, tree nuts such as walnuts , fish, shellfish, soy and wheat. Symptoms of food allergies are varied and range from a tingling of the mouth to swelling of the tongue and throat to difficulty breathing to hives, cramps, diarrhea, vomiting and in some instances death. There are ways to help you or your loved one manage your food allergies. First seek the help of an allergist. Your allergist will perform a...
posted by Lyman on July 4, 2009
What Is The Avian Flu - Also Known As The Bird Flu?
The Avian flu is a virus carried by birds and spread through their feces and other secretions. Those most at risk are people who come into contact with infected birds. Of the people who have been infected, many are from families that keep chickens around the home. There have been no signs of the Bird Flu in the United States as yet, and the virus is not easily transmitted from birds to humans. However, once confined to Asia, the Bird Flu has now been identified in other countries. Those that have been diagnosed with the Bird Flu have been in close contact with the infected poultry. A trial vaccine is being developed for the Bird Flu, however since the virus is constantly changing there will have to be a vaccine created to the specific strain that is spreading. Bird flu in poultry does not pose any food safety risk because it is unlikely a sick chicken would be slaughtered for consumption, and thoroughly cooking meat and eggs would kill the...
posted by Janet on April 30, 2009
Read Your Mind, Are You Hoping People Will?
Do you or anyone else you know, expect others to read their mind. This is a common trait especially with family, spouses and close friends. You lose all control of your life when you do this. You are leaving probably the most important issues and decisions of your life on the hope that the other person will know what you are thinking and feeling. Then when they don t or mis-guess, well, then there is hell to pay. Much of this comes from an underlining feeling of, If you loved me then... Fill in the dots Did you know that this causes you to toss away you power, confidence and the ability to communicate with others. The challenge with this, is that you are leaving yourself vulnerable to other people s wishes, beliefs and understandings. And most people misunderstand another without having the added burden of being expected to read minds. I have seen people get upset and state that their birthday was ruined because the other person, husband...
posted by Queen on March 1, 2009