A couple of Countrysides ago someone had written in about an allergy relief diet that started with fruit in the morning... I've misplaced the article and can't remember the combinations. Could someone please send it? Thanks.

-- Trisha-MN (tank@linkup.net), October 22, 2001

Answers

I'm not sure about the article you mentioned, but the Fit for Life (by the Diamonds) is a begin with fruit diet. Also, I think Somercising (the Suzanne Somers one) does fruit first.

I don't know of the connection between fruit (or not) first in the morning being connected to allergies. What you usually get put on is something called an "elimination" diet" which you start by eating only a few things not usually known to cause allergies, then adding foods one by one until you find the culprit.

IVillage.com has a rundown of the most popular diets, and you may find what you're looking for there.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), October 22, 2001.

I read the article you mentioned a couple of months ago but it would not work with my allergies. I am so allergic to so many kinds of foods....some of the things in the article if its the one I'm thinking about....just will not work with real allergies....

My allergies are so bad that for more than a year I ate only boiled squash, boiled okra, pineapple juice, and boiled or broiled turkey 4 meals a day! Then I was slowly able to add additional things back. Those were just four things I could eat at that time...but I CAN NOT drink pineapple juice now because I am severely allergic to it!!!

-- Suzy in Bama (slgt@yahoo.com), October 22, 2001.

I developed allergies after suffering much medications for stopping the premature birth of my sons. I described it as being allergic to LIFE! A sting of coincidents intruced me to a small booklet called, "The Master Cleanser" The author, (Boroughs or something like that) explained a very dramatic plan to rid the body of the toxins which cause these complications. Now, if you are suffering like I was suffering you won't think it is too radical, but most people GASP at the idea. I was at the end of my endurance, so I tried it and have since been able to live a normal life. I do repeat the process once or twice a year, rather to be safe than sorry.

The booklet discribes a 10 day (yes..1, 2, 3, .... 10 DAYS) fasting program and the procedure for re-introducing food to your body. The book presents many details that make it safe for most people (lots of disclaimers, too) I know it worked for me, I know it worked for several others. In case you're wondering, during that time I had more energy without feeling hungry than I had had for many years.

-- D T Warburton (warking@cccomm.net), October 25, 2001.

Trisha, If your allergies are environmental than Yamoa powder works wonders and from what I have been told is a permanent cure for most folks. Somehow this straightens out the immune malfunction that is contributing to environmental allergies. This stuff does not work for food allergies - which has been my problem - so I don't have any personal experience with it. But I know of people who have found this stuff to be a cure.

Regarding food allergies - I think some food allergies are genetic, fixed and permanent. I have 3 such allergies; gluten, eggs, and dairy. If I consume these things regularily my intestinal tract becomes so debilitated and filled with bacteria that soon I become allergic to many other foods. At one point I was allergic to nearly all carbohydrate foods. I think the key is to eliminate what you are allergic to, kill the foul bacteria and yeasts, and repopulate the intestinal tract with good bacteria. I have a good friend whose 10 year olds food allergies are nonsymptomatic as long as he takes SHaklee optiflora. If he stops taking it he gets eczema agian. I have found this product very helpful as well (I do not sell Shaklee). You may want to consider being tested for celiac disease (gluten intolerance) as well. Undiagnosed celiac will cause alot of other food sensitivities. www.enterolab.com has info on the symptoms and tests for celiac. Good luck!

-- Tiffani (cappello@alltel.net), October 26, 2001.