What Triggers your Allergies?

If you suffer from allergies, you probably also have a pretty good idea of the things that make you sneeze. But have you ever wondered if your allergy triggers are the same as everyone else's? And do you think there could be other things that could be causing a reaction that you haven't yet identified?
Check out our list of the most common allergy triggers-and get some tips on how best to keep them from making you sick.
Trigger #1: Pollen

Whether it's pollen from grass, trees or flowering plants, this allergen is carried in the air and, as a result, is very easily spread. It also catches on your clothes, skin and hair, so it can be difficult to escape its effects anywhere. The worst time of year for pollen sufferers is usually spring and summer, but there are some pollens that do spread in winter, so beware.



Tip: Always take a hot shower and wash your hair and clothes right away after spending time outdoors to remove any pollen remnants that are trapped there.

Trigger #2: Mold

If you have a mold allergy, you know how pervasive this trigger can be. Mold spores can grow in moist and damp areas, such as kitchens, bathrooms and basements, too.
Tip: Avoid the risks of mold by keeping your home clean and dry and repairing leaks promptly.
Trigger #3: Dust Mites

Dust mites are tiny bugs that live in bedding, pillows, rugs, curtains and stuffed animals. Their waste can cause allergies so it's important to try to keep them away from you, and away from the areas where you sleep.
Tip: Remove curtains, carpeting and stuffed animals from your bedroom, keep your mattress and pillows encased in hypoallergenic covers and wash your bedding frequently in very hot water to minimize your exposure.

Trigger #4: Cockroaches

You may not know it but cockroaches can trigger your allergies. As gross as it sounds, their waste is actually what causes the reaction.

Tip: Keep your house very clean, avoid leaving out food and promptly remove crumbs to discourage the presence of cockroaches and other bugs.
Trigger #5: Bee Stings

No one likes to be stung by a bee, but for people with severe allergies, a bee sting can be life threatening. Therefore, it's important to carry an Epi-Pen in case you get bitten or stung in order to head off a serious reaction.

Tip: Avoid eating outdoors, using perfume or wearing brightly colored clothes outdoors, since all of these things can attract bugs your way. If you do find a bee, wasp or hornet's nest on your property, make sure to have it professionally removed.
Trigger #6: Peanuts and Tree Nuts

You're probably aware of the danger of peanut allergies, since this has been featured in the news a lot lately. For people with a severe reaction to any type of nuts, even coming in contact with someone else who recently had a nut product can be enough to trigger a reaction. Therefore, always carry an Epi-Pen just in case of an emergency.

Tip: Read labels to make sure there is no cross-contamination with nuts in any of the things you eat. You should also make your nut allergy known so people around you will go to great lengths to avoid eating peanut items in your presence. This is essential to helping you stay safe.

Trigger #7: Shellfish

If you've ever had a reaction to shellfish, you'll probably want to avoid all types, since an allergy to shellfish and other types of seafood can be very severe. If you're highly sensitive, even the steam from this item cooking can be enough to set a reaction in motion. Again, in an emergency, having an Epi-Pen can be a life saving step.
Tip: Always ask about ingredients when ordering a restaurant meal and make sure there's no danger of cross contamination if your allergy could be severe.
Trigger #8: Latex

Latex allergies have become more common in recent years. If you work in the health field, you can be at even higher risk for having a reaction to this material, which is made from the sap of a latex tree.
Tip: Latex is used for more than medical gloves today. Rubber sink stoppers and other common household items can also contain latex, so be sure to read labels and make educated choices to avoid coming into contact with this material.
Trigger #9: Animal Dander

If you're allergic to cats or dogs, it could be the animal dander or saliva that triggers your symptoms. Despite your reaction, though, you and your pet maybe able to co-exist if your willing to make some extra effort.

Tip: Keep your pet away from your bedroom and also vacuum, clean and dust frequently to remove pet hair and dander that could make you sick

Trigger #10: Medicines

Medicine is supposed to make you feel better, right? But if your body has a problem with an ingredient your medication contains, you can end up dealing with the effects of an allergic reaction, such as hives and even difficulty breathing, instead.  See natural rememdies.

Tip: If you experience hives or any type of rash after taking penicillin or other medications, you should contact your doctor. You may need to try an alternative remedy that uses a different active ingredient to cure whatever ails you.

Yours in health,
Rhonda

How to Battle Allergies

Allergy Season

Do you have a baby or young toddler who is at risk for allergies? Perhaps your little one is predisposed to the condition because of a family history of allergies. If so, you may be going to great lengths to avoid your child's exposure to a host of allergens, including pets. Up until now, researchers have advised this as the best way to help prevent the development of kids' allergies and related symptoms.
But some researchers now are contradicting these earlier recommendations, saying that one of the best things you can do for your newborn may be to raise him or her in the presence of cats or dogs right from an early age. This can actually be an important protective factor in kids' allergies in some cases.
A New Approach

Some of the newest data reveals that when it comes to kids' allergies, children who are exposed to dogs and cats in their first twelve months of life may find that this step helps to protect them from developing allergies and asthma in future years. This is encouraging news, especially since the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology reports that almost three-quarters of all households today have a cat or a dog. But in fact, one pet actually isn't enough to gain the health benefit, according to researchers. Interestingly enough, an article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), found that having only one dog or cat actually increased the risk of having allergies, while having TWO or more pets in the first year significantly decreased the kids' allergies and response to multiple triggers at the age 6 or 7.
Other Prevention Steps

Despite these findings, though, the experts warn that you should talk to your pediatrician first before you run out and invest in a few pets for your baby or toddler.
If you do already have a pet or multiple pets, though, the American Academy of Pediatrics stresses the importance of helping to minimize the allergy risks for young children. For instance, the organization recommends keeping the animals out of your child's bedroom and also cleaning often to remove pet hair and dander.

As an adult .... I am off two prescription allergy meds by just customizing my supplements!  Nutrition can play a big part in how your body responds to allergens. 

Yours in health,
Rhonda

Better Nutrition - Better Moods

Five foods to help depression
There are treatment options that can relieve depression without swallowing pills. Many of the symptoms of depression can be directly linked to vitamin and mineral deficiencies in the standard American diet, which is largely comprised of empty carbs, caffeine and sugar. Depression, mood swings and fatigue often have a common cause: poor nutrition. Avoiding depression or recovering from a depressive episode is often as easy as changing your diet and boosting your consumption of key foods that deliver brain-boosting nutrients and help regulate brain chemistry.

Fish oils: Contain omega-3 fatty acids. Research has shown that depressed people often lack a fatty acid known as EPA. Participants in a 2002 study featured in the Archives of General Psychiatry took just a gram of fish oil each day and noticed a 50-percent decrease in symptoms such as anxiety, sleep disorders, unexplained feelings of sadness, suicidal thoughts, and decreased sex drive. Omega-3 fatty acids can also lower cholesterol and improve cardiovascular health. Get omega-3s through walnuts, flaxseed and oily fish like salmon or tuna.
Brown Rice: Contains vitamins B1 and B3, and folic acid. Brown rice is also a low-glycemic food, which means it releases glucose into the bloodstream gradually, preventing sugar lows and mood swings. Brown rice also provides many of the trace minerals we need to function properly, as well as being a high-fiber food that can keep the digestive system healthy and lower cholesterol. Instant varieties of rice do not offer these benefits. Any time you see "instant" on a food label, avoid it.
Brewer's Yeast: Contains vitamins B1, B2 and B3. Brewer's yeast should be avoided if you do not tolerate yeast well, but if you do, mix a thimbleful into any smoothie for your daily dose. This superfood packs a wide assortment of vitamins and minerals in a small package, including 16 amino acids and 14 minerals. Amino acids are vital for the nervous system, which makes brewer's yeast a no-brainer for treating depression.
Whole-grain oats: Contain folic acid, pantothenic acid and vitamins B6 and B1. Oats help lower cholesterol, are soothing to the digestive tract and help avoid the blood sugar crash-and-burn that can lead to crabbiness and mood swings. Other whole grains such as kamut, spelt and quinoa are also excellent choices for delivering brain-boosting nutrients and avoiding the pitfalls of refined grains such as white flour.
Cabbage: Contains vitamin C and folic acid. Cabbage protects against stress, infection and heart disease, as well as many types of cancers, according to the American Association for Cancer Research. There are numerous ways to get cabbage into your diet; toss it in a salad instead of lettuce, use cabbage in place of lettuce wraps, stir fry it in your favorite Asian dish, make some classic cabbage soup or juice it.
Also worth mentioning: Foods like raw cacao, dark molasses and brazil nuts (high in selenium) are also excellent for boosting brain function and eliminating depression.
Things to avoid:

If you feel you are depressed or at risk for depression, you also need to avoid certain foods and substances. Some commonly prescribed drugs -- such as antibiotics, barbiturates, amphetamines, pain killers, ulcer drugs, anticonvulsants, beta-blockers, anti-Parkinson's drugs, birth control pills, high blood pressure drugs, heart medications and psychotropic drugs -- contribute to depression. If you are taking any of these, don't quit them without talking to your doctor; but be aware that they may be contributing to your condition by depleting your body of depression-fighting vitamins and minerals.
You should also avoid caffeine, smoking and foods high in fat and sugar. Keeping your blood sugar stable and getting B vitamins is important for stabilizing your mood. Cacao can be good for mood because it releases endorphins in the brain, but watch out for milk chocolate and candy varieties high in sugar.

Other non-food things to do:

Get plenty of sunshine. Natural sunlight is a proven cure for depression.
Engage in regular exercise at least three times per week. Exercise lifts and mood and alters brain chemistry in a positive way.
Experience laughter. It's good medicine.

Take a quality superfood supplement to get even more natural medicine from the world of plants.

Genewize by Rhonda Maguire has Cyber Monday!

The MOST personal gift you can give or get!  DNA guided health and beauty customized to YOU.  No one else does this .... yet!

 

For today only .... go to the Genewize site and and sign up for either the supplement or skin serum before midnight EST and you will get a $25 rebate.  This includes the FREE DNA test and assessment ($225 value).  You owe it to yourself or a loved one!

 

It's this simple:

1. Go to http://www.dnaandyourgenes.com/
2. Click on shop/join
3. Choose your package
4. Complete the form BEFORE midnight EST on November 30, 2009

 

Your $25 rebate check will be mailed to you within four weeks!

 

Happy holidays,
Rhonda

LDL Cholestoral - What Your Genes Reveal

The science behind the Lifemap Nutrition System is truly fascinating.

Chances are, what you’re about to read is a completely new way of looking at LDL cholesterol (the bad stuff!) and if you or someone you know struggles with high cholesterol, read on….this is interesting stuff!

First, let me explain how Genewize’s patented DNA test really works.

1.You receive a test kit in the mail, complete with instructions.

2.Swab the inside of your cheek to remove a layer of skin cells.

3.Allow the cotton swab to dry before putting it into the pre-paid envelop and sending to Genewize’s secure lab.

4.Lab technicians analyze your DNA looking particularly at 12 areas on your DNA, called SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms).

5.The results of the 12 SNPs shows how the related genes are expressed.

6.Your customized nutritional formula is titrated (mixed up) based on your unique results and the nutrients your body is given regulates the expression of those genes.

So, how does this relate to LDL cholesterol levels?

Well, that’s what I wanted to know…so I did a little research and this is what I found.

LDL (the bad cholesterol) has a protein component called APoB. Without APoB, LDL cannot form.

Now, as you know, your doc checks LDL levels as an indicator of your risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). But what I just learned, and am sharing with you now, is that LDL is in fact not as good an indicator of CHD as is APoB.

Remeber, LDL cannot form without APoB.

So, if we take a look at how our bodies form APoB and at what level, then we’ve got a pretty good indication of CHD risk.

Cool. So how is this done, right?

Well, that’s the interesting part about nutrigenomics (the study of how nutrition and genetics interact). What we can do now is peer into the APoB gene…and guess what?

If you have certain SNPs on the APoB gene, production of APoB increases and in turn….you got it…LDL levels increase as well.

So, here’s the good news.

If you have the genetic predisposition to increased APoB production, you can receive an APoB SNP boost in your LifeMap Nutritional formula which provides dietary ingredients to reduce ApoB production, reduce LDL and prevent LDL oxidation.

…and this is just ONE part of the genetic assessment Genewize has made so inexpensive for all of us to be able to peek into our genetic code and provide ourselves with the nutrients our bodies uniquely need.

Yours in health,
Rhonda

Thank you to Jenn Lawlor for sharing this information.

The Birth of Genewize

GeneWize LifeSciences is a ground floor network marketing company that just launched publicly August 1st of 2008. But the technology behind it is in no way new...
It is actually an idea that was born over 14 years ago when a group of medical doctors and scientists got together with a vision...

They saw genetics as the future, and knew that with the deteriorating health of the people in our world today, DNA customized nutrition would be a revolutionary leap in wellness.

They understood the lack of nutritional support being served by today's "one-size-fits-all" supplements. They knew that it was time for this "shot gun" approach to health to be transformed into a laser targeted beam... An exact look into the genetics of each individual and a completely personalized approach to nutrition.

They formed GeneLink Biosciences, a biotechnology company dedicated to cracking the genetics and nutrition code. They worked diligently for over 14 years WITHOUT monetary compensation (only stock shares). Their passion, expertise, and dedication resulted in the emergence of the first ever genetically customized nutritional process.
The scientists of GeneLink are some of the most prestigious in the industry. Dr. Bernie Kasten, who is now the Chief Medical Officer for GeneLink, was the Chief Laboratory Officer for Quest Diagnostics, one of the largest diagnostics labs in the world. There are 5 other world-class MD's and scientists who are also on the Scientific Advisory Board.
They have received numerous awards in areas of nutrition, genetics, biology, and chemistry and currently have over 600 peer reviewed journal publications in circulation.

They now have 3 patents and 15 patents pending on their unique and CUTTING-EDGE technology and science.

They have discovered 12 DNA "snips" in our genetic code that are precise indicators of how healthy we are in different areas... everything from cardiovascular health, bone health, oxidative stress, detoxification, collagen production, and vision.

Through GeneLink's DNA assessment, they can determine each individual's genetic predispositions, genetic deficiencies, and absorption capacities.

Not only that, but they have also MASTERED the art of Nutrigenomics, the study of nutrition and genetics. They can use this assessment of our genes to determine which vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants we need to improve and even rejuvenate our DNA.

Once the development of mass customized genetic nutrition came to fruition, GeneLink assessed all of the different distribution methods available...

And decided wholeheartedly to go with network marketing... Not only because it is the most lucrative, but also because it is proven to be the most effective.
With that came the birth of GeneWize... the ONLY direct selling subsidiary of GeneLink's revolutionary science and technology.
Now that GeneLink has the patented technology for consumer based genetic products, they will be rolling out an entire pipeline of products through GeneWize in the very near future... everything from genetically customized skin care, make-up, and energy bars to supplements geared towards cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer's.
The implications for this in our world are absolutely ENORMOUS.
 
Yours in health,
Rhonda
 
Information shared by Katie Frieling, Genewize Affiliate

The Impact of Genetic Science Reaches Into Disease Prevention

The information in the Book of Life is revolutionizing clinical medicine as well as preventive health and skin care programs including Nutragenetics and Dermagenetics.  SNPs not only account for many of our physical differences, but they also account for our biochemical differences.  Being 'more or less' efficient in one biochemical pathway, may have long term consequences related to how well we can fight disease, or even how rapidly we age.  Through Nutragenetics and Dermagenetics, people are able to influence their own health outcomes.

Yours in health,
Rhonda

Provided by 'Your Genetic Compass' by Genewize

My Daily Dozen - inspired by John Maxwell

1.  Be productive
2.  Move swiftly for 30 minutes
3.  Make at least one person smile
4.  Enjoy being in the moment
5.  Stay positive
6.  Find innter peace
7.  Let my family know I love them
8.  Eat chocolate
9.  Try to understand those I don't understand
10.  Be organized
11.  Appreciate everything around me
12.  Learn something new

Yours in health,

Rhonda

Our Genes Are Not Our Destiny

Without a doubt, SNPs can have a strong influence on our health and well-being. However, our genes are not our destiny.

With the mapping of the human genome completed in 2003, scientists now have the ability to identify small variations in the genetic code that can lead to diminished health and wellness.By identifying which of these variations (vulnerabilities) you have, it is possible for the first time to customize a targeted nutritional supplement regiment for your specif genotype.

With a simple swab of your cheek, in about 4-6 weeks you will receive a LifeMap Healthy Aging Assessment. This product is ISO, GMP, and FDA compliant. Included is also a list of the ingredients in your custom formula.Your formula is also shipped directly to you in safe, convenient and environmentally sensitive packaging and materials.Now is the time to start ... you owe it to yourself and those you love!

Are you a Caterpillar or a Butterfly?

A caterpillar and a butterfly have the same DNA-but a caterpillar turns into a butterfly only if its genes are properly nourished.

Recently, scientists have confirmed that each of us has unique, "genetically determined" body chemistries.

Even small variations in your genes can have a significant influence on how well your body responds to food, nutrients, physical activity, environmental stresses and how you may be predisposed to a variety of other important health and physiological conditions.

By analyzing and understanding your unique genetic strengths and weaknesses, you can eliminate the guesswork and "genetically guide" the optimal nutritional supplement or skincare formulation to match your LifeMap Healthy Aging Assessment.

This is a revolutionary new scientific approach to delivering formulations that fulfill INDIVIDUAL needs, based on confidential genetic testing.

Poor Economy ... Boosts Supplement Sales, Less Dr. Visits

Gloomy Economy Doesn't Deter Vitamin Sales

The current economic climate is dishing out bad economic news for almost every product category. Car sales, restaurant visits, jewelry and clothing purchases—they all were down in 2008 and are expected to fall further in 2009.

As a bit of bright light in an otherwise gloomy consumer environment, however, dietary supplements appear to be bucking the negative sales trend in the United States, according to the most recent sales data from Nielsen Co. For the 52 weeks ending December 27, 2008, vitamin and other supplement sales were up 5.9% to $3.8 billion in food, drug and mass merchandiser stores, Nielsen reports.

What about 2009? The Nielsen and other reports showing that consumers continue to equate dietary supplements with health and wellness. People are being proactive with their health in hopes to deter visits to the doctor .... which can be more expensive than taking care of yourself in the first place.