Managing Childhood Food Allergies – Make Your Kitchen Work for You

 

Written by Jenny Catton

 

Discovering that your child has a food allergy is never easy. And if they have multiple allergies or a severe allergy to certain ingredients, it will probably mean making lots of changes to how you arrange your kitchen. You will want to consider everything from how you store food and prepare meals to how you plan family mealtimes. But once you get into a routine, dealing with an allergy doesn’t have to be stressful.

 

Common food allergies include allergies to dairy, gluten, eggs, nuts, fish and soy. It might not be practical to remove these from your kitchen entirely – particularly if you have other children at home. However, there are a number of simple things you can do in the kitchen to make managing food allergies easier.

 

A common concernfor parents ishow to avoid cross-contamination between different food types. This might sound like a challenge but with a little planning and clever organisation, you can protect your child from allergens whilst maintaining normal mealtimes and eating habits for the whole family.

 

Here are seven ways you can use your kitchen to help manage food allergies:

 

Clear the Clutter
Reduce the clutter on your worktops to an absolute minimum. This way you’ll be able to clearly see what ingredients and utensils you are using, making it easier to avoid cross-contamination. Less clutter also means less hidden spaces for food crumbs to lurk.

 

Create an Allergy-friendly Cupboard
Designate a cupboard, fridge shelf or storage space specifically for the person with the allergies. Here you can store everyday ingredients plus utensils, crockery and cutlery that is just for them.

 

Introduce Zones at the Dining Table
Ensure the allergy sufferer always sits at the same space at the dining table. This means even if you serve a meal before everyone has arrived at the table, you’ll know each person is going to get the right plate. It also makes cleaning the table at the end of a meal easier as you can clean their area first to avoid cross-contamination from dishcloths.

 

Keep Cleaning Products to Hand
Keep your cleaning products on your counter top so that they are easy to reach if you need them while preparing or serving a meal.

 

Know Where Emergency Medication Is
People often store allergy medication in handbags or bathrooms but it might be better to store it in the kitchen or dining room as this is usually where an allergic reaction is most likely to occur.

 

Use your Freezer
It can be frustrating for children to see their siblings arrive home with unexpected treats that they are not allowed to share so keep a stash of suitable treats in your freezer which you can quickly take out and defrost so that they don’t need to miss out.

 

Pin Up the Rules
If a food allergy has recently been diagnosed, it may take a while to adjust to a new routine. Use a noticeboard in your kitchen to keep a visible list of what is – and what’s not, allowed.

 

Remember, every individual is different so always ask your doctor or health professional for specific advice when organising your kitchen and dining routines.

 

For more information about food allergies, visit: www.allergyuk.org

 

Categories: allergies, avoid cross, Cleaning Products, cross contamination, dining table, Food, food allergies, food allergy, kitchen

Is Chocolate Really an Aphrodisiac? The Truth About Turn-Ons

Chocolate is a well-known aphrodisiac, so they say, but sexual health researchers are beginning to deny the arousal-boosting properties of your favourite chocolate bar, or at least trying to get you to lower your expectations. Apparently, the benefits of chocolate to sexual wellness are vastly over-exaggerated. Sure, chocolate melts in your mouth and contain some chemicals like phenylethylamine, which produce feelings of euphoria, but one widely-cited study has shown that, if you were around nine stone heavy, you’d have to eat 25 pounds of chocolate in one sitting to significantly alter your emotional wellbeing – but who would be in the mood after eating 19.2% of her weight in chocolate?

 

Chocolate isn’t the only oft-cited aphrodisiac which has turned out somewhat wanting; there are legions of supposed sexual mood-boosters that, when it comes to the scientific evidence, lack the support to show they have any lingering libidinous effects on certain body parts other than your stomach. That is not to say that all the food research news is bad; chilli peppers, for example, have been found to mimic the state of sexual arousal by quickening your pulse, inducing sweating and stimulating the release of endorphins. According to Meryl S. Rosofsky, a doctor and adjunct professor in the department of nutrition, food studies and public health at New York University, all of these responses play a role in sexual pleasure.

 

That said, anyone of merit who claims to know what is or is not an aphrodisiac will tell you that the whole thing is very much subjective. As Ruth Westheimer, a sex therapist and author best known as Dr. Ruth, famously put it, ‘the most important sex organ lies between the ears.’ You may find a certain food arousing due to your culture or tradition. The ancient Greeks and Romans and medieval Europeans coveted basil, rosemary, saffron, honey, grapes and pine nuts for their libido-boosting powers, while fancy foods like foie gras, caviar, truffles and Champagne were exalted as romantic gifts because of their rarity and luxury. Then you have foods such as figs, asparagus and cucumbers which are seen as aphrodisiacs because their phallic or yonic properties (i.e. they look like male and female sex organs).

 

Moreover, the way you eat certain foods could make them considered sensual. As Dr. Rosofsky wrote in an entry on aphrodisiacs in the Encyclopedia of Food and Culture, ‘sharing food from a common platter’ is quite seductive, as is, in the case of oysters, ‘sucking and slurping seductively.’ However, in recent years, the focus of researchers, cooks and practitioners of alternative medicine has been on foods with nutrients that could potentially enhance fertility and virility. Dr. Rosofsky points out that garlic contains an amino acid that enhances blood flow and could augment erections, while zinc – again, found in oysters – has been linked to increased sperm production.

 

Another interesting way in which foods turn you on is through the power of smell. In her book The Scent of Desire, Rachel S. Herz, an expert in the psychology of smell, writes, ‘Asians consider the smell of cheese to be hideous, yet westerners regard it as anything from comfort food to sumptuous indulgence.’ So different smells are sexually inviting to different people, but the fact remains that smells can be a turn-on. ‘When we smell musky odours, we think of sensuality,’ Herz says. ‘In South America, cleaning products are made with musk, so when a woman smells musk, she is more likely to think of cleaning products than lingerie.’ She adds that this process is called “odour associative learning” or the way in which smells become positively or negatively ingrained in your memory.

Categories: Aphrodisiac, aphrodisiacs, chocolate, Cleaning Products, dr rosofsky, Food, foods, Phallus, sexual, smells

Nine (Longer) Lives: How to Help Your Cat Defy the Odds

Your cat adds so much to family wellness that looking after your furry little friend’s wellbeing is vital. On average, cats live between 13 and 17 years, but some felines defy the odds, and have enough wellness juice to make it to 20 or older. So how can you help your cat to live longer?

 

Diet – Cats are used to getting much of the water they need from their food, so make sure your cat’s diet is made up of quality food that’s high in protein and moisture content. Real meat should be the first ingredient listed on the label, as this is your pet’s main source of essential amino acids.

 

Water – Cats need fresh, clean water as many will be too picky to drink the stale stuff. Even if your kitten is on moist food, you need to refresh their supply every day.

 

Environment – According to the ASPCA, cats that are strictly outdoor animals usually live to only seven years or so, as they are at a higher risk of allergies, injuries, car accidents, fights, poisonings, and infections. Cats that are kept indoors typically eat better than outdoor cats too.

 

Weight – Obese cats are more likely to develop wellness problems like kidney, liver, heart, and pancreatic disease, so you may want to consider portion control, or using toys that will make your cat more active.

 

Teeth – The bacteria from dental and gum disease can travel all over your cat’s body, causing other problems than those related to oral health. Take care of your cat’s teeth with dental treats, toothpastes and tooth sprays.

 

Neutering – Not only does neutering your cat prevent overpopulation, it protects him from reproductive cancers.

 

Grooming – Cats groom themselves naturally, but if you get involved you can help to cut down on excess hair both in your house and in your cat’s stomach.

 

Cleaning products – Cats pick up cleaning products on their feet and fur, which they then lick off and ingest. Going green with your cleaning products can prevent your cat from coming into contact with toxic chemicals.

 

Plants – Go on the ASPCA website to find out if any of the plants in your home are poisonous to cats.

Categories: Cats, Cleaning Products, Food, live, living longer, nbsp, Tips, Water

5 Tips for Spring Cleaning to Keep Asthma Allergies at Bay

Spring cleaning might seem the ideal solution to ridding your home of the dust and mites that can trigger asthma and allergies. But there’s more to achieving an allergy-free home than simply dusting and vacuuming behind the sofa.

Half-hearted cleaning does little more than move dust from spot to another while using certain cleaning products that contain chemicals can also add to the problem and actually make asthma and allergies worse.

Here are 5 tips to ensure your spring cleaning keeps your home and health in tip-top condition.

Keep dust to a minimum by using moist cloths or disposable wet dusting cloths to stop the dust going into the air. You can also buy dry dusters that are specially formulated to trap dust and stop it spreading.

Use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter, which removes dust and allergens more effectively than a normal vacuum.

If you have a pet, you need to deal with the pet dander that your animal will naturally shed – this is a combination of dead skin and hair, which will get into carpets, soft furnishings and clothing. Keep your pets out of the bedroom at all times and change your bed regularly, washing linens in a  wash of at least 40˚ to get rid of any unwanted dander or mites. Use anti-allergy bed linens.

Mould and dampness can be a major irritant to asthma sufferers and those with allergies. Air rooms thoroughly and use cleaning products to clean and kill any mould.

Take down curtains regularly and air or wash them to remove any dust or mites. If possible, replace curtains with blinds that can be wiped down and reduce the amount of dust in a room.

5 Tips for Spring Cleaning to Keep Asthma Allergies at Bay

Categories: allergens, allergies, Asthma, cleaning, Cleaning Products, dust, house cleaning, spring, spring cleaning

Study Finds Adult Asthma May be Related to Where You Work

If you work in a place where you’re exposed to cleaning agents or chemicals, you may have just found the cause of your adult asthma. According to a new study led by Imperial College London, roughly one in six cases of adult asthma in baby boomer Britons could be work-related, with a higher wellness risk of then developing the respiratory condition going to those who work in cleaning, hairdressing, farming and printing jobs.

According to a statement released by lead author Rebecca Ghosh, of the National Heart and Lung Institute at Imperial College, ‘This study identified 18 occupations that are clearly linked with asthma risk, but there are others that did not show up in our analysis, mainly because they are relatively uncommon. Occupational asthma is widely under-recognised by employers, employees and healthcare professionals. Raising awareness that this is an almost entirely preventable disease would be a major step in reducing its incidence.’

For the study, which was published online first in the BMJ journal Thorax, the researchers used data from the National Child Development Study, which is tracking the long-term health of over 11,000 people in Britain. The data on nearly 9,500 participants born in 1958 was used, including asthma symptoms or wheezy bronchitis at ages 7, 11, 16, 33 and 42, and jobs and job histories at ages 33 and 42. 2,000 participants, who reported having symptoms before the age of 16, were left out of the analysis and the remaining sample were given allergen sensitivity and lung function tests between the ages of 42 and 45.

Of the 18 occupations that were clearly linked to adult onset asthma risk, four were cleaning jobs and another three were likely to expose workers to cleaning products. Farmers were also four times more likely to develop asthma in adulthood as office workers, and, in-line with previous studies, people who worked in hairdressing, and printing were also found to have increased risk.

However, when the researchers excluded self-reported data, only four occupations showed a significantly higher asthma risk: office and hotel cleaners, doorkeepers (an undefined term that may refer to security guards and bouncers), manufacturing labourers, and ‘hand packers’. The authors wrote, ‘Approximately 16% [...] of adult onset asthma was associated with known asthmagenic occupational exposures,’ listing flour, enzymes, metals and textiles as well as cleaning products as among workplace materials linked to asthma risk.

Malayka Rahman, Research Analysis and Communications Officer at Asthma UK, urged, ‘We advise anyone who works in the industries highlighted in this study and who have experienced breathing problems to discuss this with their GP, and we urge healthcare professionals to make sure they consider possible occupational causes in adult onset asthma and tailor their advice to people with asthma accordingly.’

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Study Finds Adult Asthma May be Related to Where You Work

Categories: Asthma Triggers, Cleaning Products, workplace