Author: Sean McMahon

Oh Spring , the beauty of this season just had to be tainted by our dreaded seasonal allergies. While the warmer weather starts settling in, the flowers and trees are beautifully budding; cue the relentless sneezing fits and itchy eyes to ruin the moment. We’ve just made it through 3 months of cold , have we not suffered enough??

This Spring we take charge of our seasonal allergies , no more walking about in fear of another sneezing fit or having eye drops on call. We’ve got a few lifestyle tips and tricks up our sleeve to help keep you sneeze-free this Spring:

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple Cider Vinegar has become a lifestyle favourite over the years. Its benefits include assisting with weight loss; improving certain skin conditions and even assisting to lower high blood pressure. While ACV does not contain antihistamine properties , it does help by clearing out the mucus of a stuffy nose, helping you to breathe a little easier. Drink 1-2 cap-fulls of ACV in warm water, once or twice a day to help with mucus de-congestion.

Keep hydrated

Pollen, dust and other allergy-causing particles need to be flushed out of your body, so be sure to drink your daily dose of 8-10 glasses of water. Water keeps your system hydrated and ready to get rid of any foreign particles. Water also helps to keep your immune system in check as it fights off the foreign particles in the body.

Honey

Ingesting honey, which comes from pollen, may help your system to develop an immunity to pollen and its allergy-causing properties. Start with a tablespoon a day , eaten as is or mixed into a warm mug of lemon water.

Stinging Nettle tea

Stinging Nettle provides a natural remedy for seasonal allergies and hay fever. This herbal tea helps to inhibit histamine production in the body, thus reducing the reactionary symptoms, such as sneezing or itchy eyes, that occur when you come into contact with an allergen (pollen, dust etc.).

With these lifestyle tips we hope to have equipped you to smell the roses this Spring without a sniffle or a sneeze!

Sources

1. American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. 2019. Will honey relieve my seasonal allergies? [Online]. [3 September 2019]. Available from: https://acaai.org/resources/connect/ask-allergist/will-honey-relieve-my-seasonal-allergies

2. Pfuetze, B.L. 2019. How can drinking water help my seasonal allergies? [Online]. [3 September 2019]. Available from: https://www.sharecare.com/health/living-with-and-managing-allergies/how-drinking-water-seasonal-allergies

3. Sengupta, S. 2018. 19 Effective Home Remedies To Get Rid Of A Stuffy Nose. [Online]. [3 September 2019]. Available from: https://food.ndtv.com/health/19-effective-home-remedies-to-get-rid-of-a-stuffy-nose-1664140

4. Wilson, D.R. 2019. What are the benefits and uses of stinging nettle?. [Online]. [3 September 2019]. Available from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325244.php#allergies

Stress has become a norm in our modern, rushed lifestyles. If we’re not stressing , we’re thinking of things to be stressed out about. As common as it is , too much stress can be harmful. Research reveals that stress has been linked to a number of mental and physical conditions, including: depression, anxiety, eating disorders and high blood pressure.

While stress usually affects adults it has, unfortunately, managed to affect children and teens as well. Modern kids face numerous stressors such as: academic success, peer relationships, dealing with family issues and finding their identities as they deal with the mental and physical changes that come with puberty. So how do we guard ourselves, and more importantly, our kids from the very real effects of stress? Here are a few tips on how to manage stress for you and your family:

• Time management

-Nothing aggravates a stressful day like procrastination and lack of time management. Procrastination will trick you into believing that there’s enough time , until there isn’t. Hence the importance of managing your time so that you’re not a strung out mess by the end of the day. At the end of each day, draw up a to-do-list for the next day; allocate a set amount of time for each activity on the list . These activities should include exercise and family time. Parents can assist younger children with an after-school to-do-list; it’s never too early to learn time management!

Teens writing exams can set up a study timetable that allocates a certain amount of study time for each subject. Be sure to include time for breaks and exercise.

• Recreational activities

-Stress can cause: tension in the neck and shoulders and stress migraines. That’s why it’s important to get up, get out and MOVE! Exercise does wonders to relieve stress-related tension. A 30-45 min walk out in nature , a session of pilates or a morning swim will have you feeling refreshed and ready to face the day! Exercise’s stress-relieving benefits include: providing a boost of endorphins (happy hormones) and of course a giving you a much-needed surge of energy.

• Diet

-Stress causes your hormone production to go a little crazy . A balanced diet that includes fresh fruits and vegetables(Vit C) and whole-grains will help to balance hormone production and assist in lowering your blood pressure. Avoid: coffee, fatty, sugary or salty foods and snacks and alcohol. Enjoy salads that include lots of leafy greens (magnesium), nuts and seeds (B vitamins) and legumes (proteins).

• Get professional help

-If stress is causing you or a family to have anxiety/panic attacks or feelings of a loss of control, then it is advisable to seek professional assistance. There is no shame in getting help especially when mental health is concerned.

Stress: there’s the good kind that gets you up and ready for work/school in the mornings and then there’s the bad kind that leaves you feeling anxious. It is important manage your stress so that it does not have a hold on your mental well-being. Remember that you only have this life to live, so make the most of it!

Sources:

1. Mayo Clinic Staff. 2018. Exercise and stress: Get moving to manage stress. [Online]. [20 July 2019]. Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/exercise-and-stress/art-20044469

2. Lewin, J. 2019. Stress relief: How diet and lifestyle can help. [Online]. [19 July 2019]. Available from: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/stress-diet-can-foods-help

Malt extract, a derivative of the barley grain, has been used for centuries as a rich source of vitamins and minerals. This inexpensive super-food has been a household favourite to boost immune systems.

You may be wondering, well isn’t malt the stuff they use for brewing? You’re right! However barley, the grain, is only suitable for brewing once it has sprouted or malted. The liquid malt-extract-making process is one that consists of malted barley, water and high temperatures to make the thick, golden , nutrient-filled liquid.

Here are some of the great health benefits of this liquid supplement:

1. Bone Strength: Malt extract is enriched with vitamin D which is crucial to bone health. Its mineral content of: magnesium, iron, phosphorus and calcium, is vital for strengthening bones.

2. Enriches Blood: Iron is an essential mineral in maintaining the body’s blood system. The concentration of iron in malt extract renders it a beneficial source for blood support.

3. Skin and Vision: Vitamin B-2 (riboflavin), found in malt extract, assists with maintaining healthy skin and good vision.

4. High in antioxidants: according to research, malt extract is packed with more antioxidants than most sugars (including white sugar and corn syrup). Antioxidants are needed by the body to eradicate cell-destroying agents in the body.

5. Energy Booster: Malt extract has a high vitamin B content, which stimulates energy levels. These B-vitamins assist in providing the body with satiety and sustained energy.

Malt extract presents a variety of health and immunity-boosting properties. Moderation is key when it comes to this food supplement, given its high caloric content. Malt is best used as a ‘once in a while’ energy booster or sweetener. Remember, all things in moderation for a truly holistic health experience.

Sources

• Livestrongcom. 2019. LIVESTRONGCOM. [Online]. [10 June 2019]. Available from: https://www.livestrong.com/article/497215-the-benefits-of-malt-extract-beverages/

• Robinson, . 2019. Natural Pedia Com. [Online]. [10 June 2019]. Available from: malt-extract-sources-health-risks.html

• Victoria lambert. 2019. Telegraphcouk. [Online]. [10 June 2019]. Available from: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/children/8971466/Just-a-spoonful-of-malt-extract-could-banish-winter-sniffles.html