An essential nutrient for body structure

Hyaluronic Acid (HA) may very well be the single most important compound in the structure of the human body.* It makes up the backbone of cartilage, the synovial fluid around joints and under the skin, and even cushioning behind eyes. Wellness Resources Hyaluronic Acid is natural, low molecular weight HA. It is easily absorbed and used by the body, unlike cheap sodium hyaluronate.*

Wellness Resources uses the only form of hyaluronic acid (low molecular weight) that has been proven to be absorbed.* The hyaluronic acid in this supplement is extracted from rooster comb (a naturally occurring source), purified and enzymatically split into smaller pieces through a patented process (Japan Patent 2971860). This yields the only low molecular weight hyaluronic acid on the market today.*

WARNING: sodium hyaluronate, being marketed as an inexpensive hyaluronic acid, is not the naturally occurring compound made by all cells of the body. It has salt attached to every single disaccharide unit. Not only does this increase sodium intake, the HA molecule itself is abnormal. This synthetic hyaluronic acid is typically made through bacterial fermentation, contains molecules too large to absorb, and has not been proven to absorb. This abnormal molecule cannot be relied on to behave in metabolism correctly.

Hyaluronic Acid and Basic Body Structure

Hyaluronic Acid is a key component of the extra cellular matrix. This matrix is made of a framework of various protein structures (collagen and proteoglycans). The spaces within this framework are filled with HA. The structure of HA enables it to hold water in tissues, forming a "goo" that provides cushioning, resiliency, and moisture.*

Synovial Fluid and Joints: Hyaluronic acid is a primary component of the synovial fluid that surrounds the joints. Synovial fluid is the lubrication for joints, much like oil is used to lubricate moving parts in a machine. It also directly feeds nutrition to joint cartilage. HA helps joints have resiliency, ease of movement, and cushioning to distribute mechanical loads (shock absorbers).*

Cartilage: Hyaluronic acid makes up the backbone structure of hyaline cartilage. Without the adequate hyaluronic acid backbone, cartilage will more readily fall apart and deteriorate. Hyaluronic acid makes up the backbone structure of cartilage. Without the adequate hyaluronic acid backbone, cartilage will more readily fall apart and deteriorate. Over the past ten years we have seen many individuals significantly improve joint health, including those with knee, hip, or low back problems.*

Skin: Hyaluronic Acid is a primary component of healthy skin. About 50% of the structural HA in the body is contained in the skin matrix. Declining skin levels of HA are associated with dryness, reduced flexibility, and wrinkles. In a study conducted at Ostuma University in Japan, 96 women, ages 22 to 65 years, were given the equivalent of 3.75 capsules of Wellness Resources® Hyaluronic Acid per day for 45 days. At the end of the study 80 women reported improvement in skin moisture and smoothness. HA has also been shown to help improve acne scars and sun damage.*

Eyes: Hyaluronic Acid makes up the fluid cushioning behind the eyes. HA is concentrated in the eye to help protect the eye against impact, acting like a shock absorber. HA may also help to reduce dry eyes.*

All Body Structure: Hyaluronic acid is one type of glycosaminoglycan (GAG), unique in that it is all carbohydrate and no sulfur. In addition to its goo-like properties, HA forms the "spine" or backbone of other GAGs.* Other GAGs contain sulfur, also important for body structures. Common GAGs are: chondroitin sulfate (cartilage), keratin sulfate (cartilage, bone, and cornea), dermatan sulfate (skin, tendons, lungs, blood vessels, heart valves), and heparin sulfate (cell membranes).

GAGs combine to form larger molecules called proteoglycans, which link to other proteins and collagen to form all body structures. Although hyaluronic acid is not the most dominant compound in these structures, it is the one that is vital to the structure existing.*

Hyaluronic Acid Improves Sleep

Hyaluronic Acid assists in the natural repair process that takes place during sleep. Take 2 before bed to enhance joint and skin repair during sleep. Hyaluronic Acid is also known to help you sleep better and wake up feeling more refreshed.*

How Your Body Makes Hyaluronic Acid

Cells throughout the human body produce hyaluronic acid. The million dollar question is: Are they making enough? The starting nutrients your body uses are two sugars, D-Glucuronic acid and N-Acetyl Glucosamine. D-Glucuronic acid occurs widely in the plant kingdom and is a component of cellulose and soluble fiber gums (like Nutrim® oat fiber inFiber Helper).

N-Acetyl Glucosamine (NAG) is a different nutrient than the glucosamine sulfate or glucosamine hydrochloride found in most joint support supplements. It is made by combining the amino acid glutamine to glucose. A primary location of NAG synthesis is by the endothelial cells lining the GI tract, a process that may not work so well if there is digestive distress.* Our GI & Muscle Helper™ supplement is a combination of glutamine and already formed N-Acetyl-Glucosamine, nutrients that readily support HA formation.*

The stimulus for cells to make HA can come from a variety of metabolic signals, responding to the common theme for increased body need for structural support. Thus, exercise is one way to help stimulate HA production. Cells throughout the body make HA as part of the natural repair and recovery process.*

Cells use an enzyme called hyaluronic acid synthase to assemble the HA molecule. This enzyme requires magnesium and energy (ATP) to work properly.* Hyaluronic acid synthase is inhibited by stress hormones.*

Hyaluronic Acid, The New Frontier

While hyaluronic acid was discovered in 1934, until 10 years ago the HA molecule was thought to be passive and simply a structural component (like a 2 x 4 in a wall). Despite its simple structure, dramatic scientific research is now showing that HA is one of the most biologically active compounds in the human body.* These functional characteristics of HA are causing scientists to change its nickname from a space filling "goo" to "magic glue."*

Hyaluronic acid is now believed to play a functional role in the formation of new body tissue, providing the organizing matrix around which new connective tissue is built.* In essence, hyaluronic acid acts as a template to assist in the formation of body structure.* A single molecule of HA, which may be quite long, can attach to hundreds of other structural protein molecules, assisting in the formation of body structure.*

Natural Supplement to Maintain Structure

The new science is showing that hyaluronic acid may operate as the brains of this operation, helping to regulate how the body grows, stabilizes, and maintains structure.* An elaborate and complex array of HA enzymes, cell surface receptors, and binding proteins are being identified.* Much of this new research is focusing on the role of HA in endothelial cells that line arteries, seeking to identify how HA assists in the maintenance of the health of the circulatory system.*

Hyaluronic acid is also being extensively studied in relationship to cartilage and bone formation and natural regeneration processes.* The specific sequence by which HA guides these processes is now being identified, placing Hyaluroic Acid and JointAll as our top joint support supplements.*

This does not mean that HA replaces other structural support nutrients such as dietary protein, glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM sulfur, vitamin C, or bioflavonoids. Indeed, HA is a relatively small amount of the final structural material of any body tissue. Other structural nutrients are very important as they are attached to HA to produce the finished product.* However, HA has special importance amongst all structural support nutrients.* Hyaluronic acid is not only required as a fundamental structural nutrient, it is intimately involved with managing the building and remodeling processes.* It appears to be a guiding force behind organizing body structure.*

 One molecule of HA may have as many as 10,000 disaccharide units.  The weight of this long chain is measured in Daltons, weighing in between 1 to 1.5 million Daltons. This large molecule of HA cannot be absorbed by the human digestive tract as it is simply too long to enter endothelial cells lining the digestive tract.*

Wellness Resources uses the only form of hyaluronic acid (low molecular weight) that has been proven to be absorbed.* The hyaluronic acid in this supplement is extracted from rooster comb (a naturally occurring source), purified and enzymatically split into smaller pieces through a patented process.

Ingredients & Dosage

Directions: Take 1-2 capsules at bed and/or before any meal.

Supplement Facts

Serving Size: 2 capsules

Amount Per Serving		% Daily Value
Hyaluronic Acid (from rooster comb)	20 mg	*

* Daily Value not established.

Other Ingredients: cellulose capsule (V-cap), magnesium stearate, silica.

This product does NOT contain milk, egg, fish, gluten, corn, peanuts, crustacean shellfish, soybeans, tree nuts, wheat, yeast, or rice. This product does NOT contain hidden fillers, preservatives, artificial sweeteners, colors or flavors, or sugar.

QUALITY ALERT:

Avoid the form of hyaluronic acid called sodium hyaluronate (check the label). This is a cheap, synthetic HA that is NOT the naturally occurring compound made by all cells of your body. It has salt attached to every single disaccharide unit. Not only does this increase sodium intake, the HA molecule itself is abnormal. The product is typically made through bacterial fermentation, contains molecules too large to absorb, and has not been proven to improve joint or skin health. This abnormal molecule cannot be relied on to behave in metabolism correctly, and may even be problematic. Dont waste your money on sodium hyaluronate!

Also, on the supplement label many companies list the amount of a hyaluronic acid mixturethat is in each capsule, not the actual amount of hyaluronic acid itself. Some companies will list the percentage of hyaluronic acid present. On our supplement label, we list the actual amount of hyaluronic acid per serving (20mg).

Wellness Resources uses the only form of hyaluronic acid (low molecular weight) that has been proven to be absorbed.* The hyaluronic acid in this supplement is extracted from rooster comb (a naturally occurring source), purified and enzymatically split into smaller pieces through a patented process (Japan Patent 2971860). This yields the only low molecular weight hyaluronic acid on the market today.*

http://www.wellnessresources.com/

Yoga for Your Face

Adopting a regular facial exercise routine is certainly to be preferred over costly, and potentially dangerous, plastic surgeries or botox injections. It doesn’t require any special equipment, although you can find various contraptions that claim to help. But in general, you can easily perform face yoga using nothing more than your fingers to create light resistance.

According to Anelise Hagen, author of The Yoga Face: Eliminate Wrinkles with the Ultimate Natural Facelift:4

“The muscles of the face are no different from the muscles of the rest of the body. If you don't exercise the muscles below the neck, they become weak and flabby, and the same thing will happen to your face with age.

Just as yoga routines work the muscles in the body, the stretches and movements in … [face yoga] tighten and tone the face muscles-and combat wrinkles.”

As for how long it takes to see results, Eva Fraser, a facial fitness instructor who is in her 70s but often mistaken for being 20 years younger, says your face will be stronger after doing the exercises for about 10 minutes daily for four weeks. She says in about six months, you can shave two decades off your appearance.5

In addition to exercises, some face yoga routines also use acupressure, or applying gentle pressure to specific points on your face in order to increaseenergy flow, or prana. If you want to give it a try, oil puling is actually one of the simplest techniques to use. Oil pulling involves "rinsing" your mouth with coconut oil, much like you would with a mouthwash (except you shouldn't attempt to gargle with it).

The oil is "worked" around your mouth by pushing, pulling, and drawing it through your teeth for a period of about 20 minutes. Oil pulling is excellent for your oral health, but it will also work your jaw muscles significantly as another benefit.

In addition, here are three face exercises to reduce lines around your eyes and mouth, firm your cheeks and jaw and tone your neck, as reported by The Telegraph:6

“1. The 'V’: to reduce lines and wrinkles around eyes

Put both middle fingers together between your eyebrows then apply pressure to the outer corners of eyes with index fingers. Look up and start to move the lower eyelids upwards. Relax and repeat six more times. To finish, squeeze eyes shut for 10 seconds then relax.

2. Smile Smoother: to reduce lines around mouth; to lift and firm cheeks and jaw

Hide your teeth with your lips and make an 'O' with your mouth. Then, smile as widely as you can and keep hiding your teeth. Repeat six times. Next, hold the smile shape and place one index finger on your chin. Then start to move your jaw up and down as you tilt your head back. Relax and repeat twice more.

3. Giraffe: to tone and lift neck

Looking straight ahead, place finger tips on the top of neck and pull the skin down as you tilt head back. Bring head back down and repeat twice. Then jut lower lip out as far as possible, place fingers on collarbone and point chin upwards, pulling the corners of your mouth down. Hold for four deep breaths.”

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy: More Than Just Good Looks

Many devotees to facial exercise are looking for a more youthful appearance, but orofacial myofunctional therapy does much more than that. Myofunctional therapy is the “neuromuscular re-education or re-patterning of the oral and facial muscles.”7 The therapy includes facial and tongue exercises and behavior-modification techniques to promote proper tongue position and improved breathing, chewing and swallowing. Proper head and neck postures are also addressed. There are good studies to substantiate that it may resolve jaw problems and orthodontic relapse working in a multi-disciplinary team.

However, it may also be an alternative or adjunctive treatment to facial plastic surgery, to help get rid of lines and saggy facial muscles, which is exciting. In fact, in Brazil, some myofunctional therapists work with plastic surgeons. Myofunctional therapy doesn’t just address your oral cavity and tongue—it addresses all the facial muscles -- your head and neck.

It teaches you to breathe through your nose and rest your tongue against the roof of your mouth. You also exercise all your facial muscles, and work on functional posturing and chewing. Joy Moeller is a leading expert in this form of therapy in the US. What are some signs your orofacial muscles may need retraining?

Orthodontic relapse	Bottle feeding	Developmental delays, such as low muscle tone	Long Face Syndrome
Speech problems	Allergies	Frequent headaches	TMJ problems
Thumb sucking, nail or lip biting or other oral habits	Bloating due to air swallowing	Food texture sensitivities	Neck pain
Teeth grinding	Frequent choking, gagging or trouble swallowing	Mild to moderate sleep apnea	Snoring

If you have any of these issues, I would urge you to find a trained therapist who can customize the exercises based on your specific anatomy, and enter into a long-term coaching relationship. There are hundreds of exercises, and each individual is unique. It’s a grave mistake to think that you can just do a few basic exercises from a book for a few weeks and be done. In order to really re-pattern all the muscles involved, you need to do it slowly, over time, to reprogram your muscle memory.

To get all your oral-facial and neck muscles working correctly can make a huge difference in your health, well-being and appearance. It can even change the way your face looks, as it actually may change the facial structure. Your skull bones may shift in a slow, comfortable manner. Moeller explains:

“Everybody thinks, ‘Oh, your face is your face.’ But you know, I see a lot of people that have these long-face syndromes from sleeping on their sides or stomach, mouth-breathing, and resting their tongue in the wrong place. You change that and there are little cells called osteoblasts and osteoclasts. They break down and build up, break down and build up, and within a very short time – months – the whole shape of their face changes.”

Your Diet Also Contributes to Glowing, More Youthful Skin

If you’re interested in preventing wrinkles, facial exercises alone likely won’t cut it. You’ve also got to pay attention to your diet. One of the most profoundly effective ways to create the most attractive glow for your skin is by consuming vegetables and fruits that are high in carotenoids. Carotenoids give red, orange and yellow fruits their color, and also occur in green vegetables. Studies have shown that eating foods with these deeply colored pigments can make your face actually look healthier than being tanned.8

The more red and yellow tones found in your skin, the more attractive the people were found to be. The redder tones are caused when people are flushed with blood, particularly if the blood has lots of oxygen in it. Researchers found that, given the choice between skin color caused by suntan and skin color caused by carotenoids, people preferred the carotenoid skin color, so if you want a healthier and more attractive skin color, you are better off eating a healthy diet. In order to have clear, healthy skin, you need to make sure your body is relatively free of toxins as well, so cleansing your body of dangerous substances while putting in the finest nutrients is essential.

Eating a healthy diet as described in my nutrition plan, which focuses on whole, bioavailable organic foods, is your number one strategy for helping your body detox naturally while supplying the necessary nutrients your skin needs to thrive. That said, some foods are particularly effective at promoting beautiful, clear skin, including:

• Animal-based omega-3 fats: Omega-3 fats help to normalize skin lipids and prevent dehydration in the cells. This keeps skin cells strong and full of moisture, which can help to decrease the appearance of fine lines.
  Fatty acid deficiency can manifest in a variety of ways, but skin problems such as eczema, thick patches of skin, and cracked heels are common. Plus, omega-3 fats may have an anti-inflammatory effect that can help to calm irritated skin, giving you a clear, smooth complexion. Sardines and anchovies are excellent sources of animal-based omega-3s, as is krill oil.
• Vegetables: Ideally fresh, organic and locally grown. Fresh vegetable juice is also wonderful for your skin.
• Fermented foods are even better as they can start with the same vegetables but are converted by bacteria to superfoods, which help promote the growth of friendly intestinal bacteria and aid in digestion. Signals from these gut microorganisms are sent throughout your body—they even interact with organisms in your skin. Researchers are now looking into how these interactions can help with a wide variety of skin conditions, including dryness and poor collagen production.
• Avoid Sugars, Fructose and Grains: This is probably the single most important step you can take to improve your skin health. If you eliminate all sugars, fructose and grains from your diet for a few weeks there is a major likelihood you will notice rapid improvement in your complexion.

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Got Allergies? Here’s How Dishwashers Can Hurt You and Peanuts Can Help You

Your body is a complex ecosystem made up of more than 100 trillion microbes that must be properly balanced and cared for you to achieve optimal health.

This system of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoa living on your skin and in your mouth, nose, throat, lungs, gut, and urogenital tract is referred to as the “human microbiome.”

It varies from person to person based on factors such as diet, health history, geographic location, and even ancestry. When your microbiome falls out of balance, you can become ill.

Those organisms perform a multitude of functions in key biological systems, from supplying critical vitamins to fighting pathogens, modulating weight, and metabolism.

This army of organisms also makes up 70 percent of your immune system, “talking” directly to your body’s natural killer T-cells so that they can tell apart “friendly” microbes from dangerous invaders.

Meanwhile, it’s becoming common knowledge that growing up in an overly clean environment – complete with antibacterial soap and hand sanitizers – might backfire because it keeps you from getting normal and healthy microbe exposure.

The hygiene hypothesis suggests that exposure to bacteria and other microbes early in life is beneficial, as it stimulates your immune system, which then develops tolerance and reduces your risk of allergies.

The same can be said about food allergies, researchers claim, noting that eating small amounts of foods such as peanuts, which is a common food allergen, early on in life may “train” your child’s immune system to avoid allergy in the first place.

Dishwasher Use Linked to Allergies

Researchers from Sweden's University of Gothenburg recently added another piece of research in favor of the hygiene hypothesis, concerning a device that’s found in about 75 percent of US homes:1 the dishwasher.

If you have a dishwasher in your home, you probably consider yourself lucky. But there may be reason to wash your dishes by hand instead. Because they use very hot water (water typically too hot for human touch), dishwashers kill far more germs, and leave your dishes cleaner, than ordinary hand washing.2

But this purported benefit might also be their downfall. In a study of more than 1,000 Swedish children, those with increased microbial exposure were less likely to develop allergies… and this included potential exposure through hand-washed dishes.3

In households where dishes were always washed by hand, rates of allergies in the children were half those from households that used dishwashers. The children using hand-washed dishes were less likely to develop eczema, asthma, and hay fever.

According to the researchers:

“We speculate that a less-efficient dishwashing method may induce tolerance via increased microbial exposure.”

Fermented and Farm-Fresh Foods Also Reduced Allergy Risk

This portion of the study hasn’t been as widely publicized by the media as the dishwasher finding, but the study also showed lower rates of allergies in children who ate more fermented foods and foods that came fresh from the farm, including eggs, meat, and unpasteurized (raw) milk.

Both of these were included as examples of lifestyle factors that may increase microbial exposure. Research shows, for instance, that women who takeprobiotics—i.e. healthy bacteria—during pregnancy reduce their child's risk of developing allergies.4

Daily supplements of probiotics have also been shown to reduce a child's risk of eczema by 58 percent.5 Well, some fermented foods can contain about 100 times more beneficial bacteria than a probiotic supplement, making them one of the best ways to nourish your body’s microflora.

As for the farm-fresh foods, kids who grow up in extremely clean homes are more likely to develop asthma and hay fever than kids who grow up on farms or in houses with a little bit of dirt.6

Foods from the farm, such as raw milk, will also have more beneficial bacteria than processed or pasteurized food, as the heating kills off many microbes.

School-aged children who drank raw milk were 41 percent less likely to develop asthma and about 50 percent less likely to develop hay fever than children who drank store-bought (pasteurized) milk, according to one study that used data from more than 8,000 children.7

Other ‘Dirty’ Things That Might Be Good for You

There's a tendency in our modern culture to be obsessive about cleanliness, especially in children. But the evidence is growing that a little dirt is good for you and probably even essential to keeping your body in sound working order.

A biochemist from the University of Saskatchewan has theorized, for instance, that nasal mucus, or as it’s more commonly known, boogers, has a sugary taste that’s meant to entice you to want to eat it.

Doing this, he believes, may help introduce pathogens from your environment to your immune system, resulting in the building up of natural defenses.

Other “dirty” factors associated with a lower risk of allergic disease include having a dog or other pet in the home, attendance at day care during the first year of life,8 and even receiving oral dust-mite drops twice a day from the age of 6 months to 18 months.

Dust mites are one of the most common allergens in the US and the UK, and are a common trigger for asthma symptoms as well. Remarkably, dust-mite exposure reduced the incidence of allergy by 63 percent, and this was among infants at high risk of allergy (they had a history of allergy in both parents).

Among the infants exposed to dust mites, only 9.4 percent developed allergy to dust mites or other allergens compared to more than 25 percent in the placebo group.9

In a separate study, researchers found that urban babies exposed to cockroach, mouse, and cat allergens (via house dust), as well as to certain types of bacteria, during their first year of life were less likely to suffer from wheezing and allergies at the age of 3.10

In fact, wheezing was three times more common among children who grew up in homes without allergen exposure. Dr. Todd Mahr, an allergist-immunologist and chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics' Section on Allergy & Immunology, told WebMD:11

"The environment appears to play a role, and if you have too clean of an environment the child's immune system is not going to be stimulated."

You Need Dirt to ‘Exercise’ Your Immune System

Your immune system is composed of two main groups that work together to protect you. One part of your immune system deploys specialized white blood cells called Th1 lymphocytes, which direct an assault on infected cells throughout your body.

The other major part of your immune system attacks intruders even earlier. It produces antibodies that try to block dangerous microbes from invading your body's cells in the first place. This latter strategy uses a different variety of white blood cells, called Th2 lymphocytes.

The Th2 system also happens to drive allergic responses to foreign organisms. At birth, an infant's immune system appears to rely primarily on the Th2 system, while waiting for the Th1 system to grow stronger. 

But the hygiene hypothesis suggests that the Th1 system can grow stronger only if it gets "exercise," either through fighting infections or through encounters with certain harmless microbes.

Without such stimulation, the Th2 system flourishes and the immune system tends to react with allergic responses more easily. In addition to allergies and asthma, eczema, autoimmune diseases, and even heart disease have been associated with the hygiene hypothesis.  

One study found early exposure to viral infections during childhood could reduce the risk of heart disease later in life by up to 90 percent.12 Even depression has been connected to early exposure to pathogens, via an inflammatory connection.13 Neuroscientist Charles Raison, MD, who led that study, said:14

"Since ancient times benign microorganisms, sometimes referred to as 'old friends,' have taught your immune system how to tolerate other harmless microorganisms, and in the process, reduce inflammatory responses that have been linked to the development of most modern illnesses, from cancer to depression."

Exposure to Peanuts During Infancy May Prevent Peanut Allergy, Researchers Say

An estimated one to three percent of children in Western Europe, Australia, and the US are allergic to peanuts, and parents are typically warned not to give peanut-containing foods to their young children. Peanut allergies are also starting to become more prevalent in Asia and Africa. Allergic reactions can vary in severity, from difficulty breathing, swelling of the tongue, eyes or face, stomach ache, nausea, skin rashes, and in severe cases, anaphylactic shock that can lead to death.

However, according to one recent study15,16,17 early avoidance of peanuts may in fact be part of the reason why peanut allergy is so common. The randomized controlled trial enrolled 640 children between the ages of four and 11 months, all of whom were at high risk of developing an allergy against peanuts as they’d already been diagnosed with eczema or egg allergy, or both. Severity of preexisting sensitivity to peanuts was determined with the use of a skin-prick test, The children were then divided into two groups based on having a positive or negative test result, and each of those groups were again divided into two; half were given peanuts on a regular basis while the others were told to avoid peanuts until the age of five.

Children in the treatment group who had a positive skin-prick test were given tiny doses to start, gradually increasing the amount as tolerance grew, while those with a negative test results were given higher doses. Please do note that whole peanuts should be avoided due to choking hazard. Organic peanut butter would likely be ideal. On the whole, those who received small amounts of peanuts three or more times a week ended up having an 80 percent reduction in the prevalence of peanut allergies, compared to those who avoided peanuts up until the age of five. More specifically:

• Among those who initially had a negative result on their skin-prick test, suggesting their risk of allergy was low, the prevalence of peanut allergy at 60 months of age was just under 14 percent in the avoidance group, and less than two percent among those who regularly ate peanuts
• Among those with a positive skin-prick test, indicating heightened allergy potential, the prevalence of peanut allergy was just over 35 percent in the avoidance group, and less than 11 percent among those who ate peanuts.

According to lead author Gideon Lack at King's College London:18,19

"This is an important clinical development and contravenes previous guidelines. New guidelines may be needed to reduce the rate of peanut allergy in our children... In primary prevention we can halt the process before the disease starts. In secondary prevention, in the babies who already were positive for peanut allergy, the ball is already rolling downhill, but we can still prevent it, and push it back up the hill. We showed both primary prevention and secondary prevention were effective.”

It’s worth noting that caution is still warranted though. I’d be hard-pressed to recommend feeding your child peanut butter at a young age without taking basic precautions, especially since peanuts are not particularly healthy based on their fatty acid composition. Ideally, work with your pediatrician and get an allergy test to ascertain susceptibility to peanut allergy first, and then start out with minute amounts if the risk of allergy is low. Some women are still advised to avoid peanuts during pregnancy as well, and here I believe there’s far less potential risks involved, and eating peanuts during pregnancy (provided you’re not allergic), may be a safer way to go.

Wash Your Dishes By Hand… and Other Tips for Allergy Reduction

If the hygiene hypothesis is true, and there’s mounting research that it is, there may be good reason to wash your dishes by hand more often. Just recognize that most dishwashers need to be used at least once or twice a month to prevent parts from drying out and damaging the machine. You can also avoid being “too clean,” and in turn help bolster your body’s natural immune responses, by:

• Letting your child get dirty. Allow your kids to play outside and get dirty (and realize that if your kid eats boogers, it isn’t the end of the world).
• Not using antibacterial soaps and other antibacterial household products, which wipe out the microorganisms that your body needs to be exposed to for developing and maintaining proper immune function. Simple soap and water are all you need when washing your hands. The antibacterial chemicals (typically triclosan) are quite toxic and have even been found to promote the growth of resistant bacteria.
• Avoiding unnecessary antibiotics. Remember that viral infections are impervious to antibiotics, as antibiotics only work on bacterial infections.
• Serving locally grown or organic meats that do not contain antibiotics.
• Educating yourself on the differences between natural and artificial immunity, and making informed decisions about the use of vaccinations.

Finally, if you’re one of the tens of millions of allergy sufferers in the US, please know there is plenty you can do besides lining the pockets of the pharmaceutical industry. Eating a wholesome diet based on unprocessed, ideally organic and/or locally grown foods, including fermented foods, along with optimizing your vitamin D levels and correcting your omega-3 to omega-6 ratio, will form the foundation upon which your immune system can function in an optimal manner.

For short-term relief of symptoms, you could give acupuncture a try, and irrigate your sinuses with a neti pot. There are also a number of foods and herbs you can try to alleviate symptoms, which are listed here. For more long-term relief, you may want to consider provocation neutralization treatment, or sublingual allergy drops, which work just as well as inhalers. Last but not least, you may want to discuss the peanut issue with your pediatrician. As with bacteria avoidance, strictly avoiding common food allergens could potentially backfire, raising your child’s risk of a food allergy rather than lowering it.