High Quality
Open the downloaded document, and select print from the file menu (PDF reader required).
1
BASG
Bedford Allergy Support Group
In partnership with
BE HEALTHY
Bedford Healthy Living Initiative
Newsletter—No 8 Winter 2007
‘It is not enough for a great nation to have added new years to life.Our objective must be to add new life to those years.’
J.F. Kennedy
Stop Press – News from BASG
The Bedford Healthy Living Initiative funding, which we have been using for the last five years, will end inMarch. After careful consideration, and due to time/financial constraints, we have decide to:1.Have two meetings per year with a speaker. One will be the AGM.2.Produce one newsletter a year in the winter, which will be available from libraries or on the website.We will not have funds to post them.We will of course still be available for information and support as needed, and will welcome your suggestions.
Thank You and Good Luck
Malcolm Fairbrother (pharmacist from Janssen’s on Ampthill Rd, Bedford), has retired to Cornwall.We would like to thank him for all his help and advice throughout the years.
Congratulations, and good wishes for the future.
One of our founder members, Val Saunders, was married last September. It was a wonderful day, and we allwant to wish Val and Brian well for the future! Be happy, healthy, and have fun!
Hayfever
.
Extracted from The Guardian 12 December 2006
Trials of a new vaccine pill, to protect against the effects of grass pollen, are proving to be very successful. Thenew pill called ‘Grazax’ , dissolves under the tongue, needs to be taken eight weeks before the season’s start.This treatment has been developed from a monthly vaccination, which also was found to be successful. Theseare both available from the GP to those who cannot be treated successfully with other treatments.
Comment:
This is very similar to the vaccines that Dr Jean Monro uses at Breakspear. Homoeopathic treatment, is also very effective for some people, ask at Janssens Chemist Ampthill Rd
Stress-Allergy Link Uncovered
A new study from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden confirms that there are important links between mentalstress and the complex physical inflammation reactions characteristic of allergies. The study was conducted withtwo groups of students, (22 hay-fever/asthma sufferers, and 19 healthy students), observed under relaxed studyconditions and again when studying for major exams. In both groups, T cells appeared to increase in response tomental stress (these cells are central to the immune system). Also in the allergic group, the blood concentrationsof inflammatory cytokines had changed in a pattern associated with a reaction in the students. This was not seenin the healthy group.
Extracted from CAM Sept 2006: Clinical & Experimental Allergy 2006, 36(8): 982-92
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------BASG Telephone Numbers/Contacts
Franca Garrick, 51 Rowallan Drive, Bedford, MK41 8AS 01234 360941Cynthia Bagchi, 39 Bushmead Ave., Bedford, MK40 3QW 01234 354499 Email:
cynthiabagchi@hotmail.com
Website:
www.bedfordallergy.co.uk
BASG
extracts information from various sources. It accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of the material published or anyadvice given, although it is all checked carefully.
We suggest that members check with their GP before altering or starting a new treatment
Food for Thought
Organic Diets Lower Children's Dietary
2
Exposure to Common AgriculturePesticides
A study led by an Emory University researcher concludes that an organic diet given to children provides a "dramatic and immediate protectiveeffect" against exposures to two pesticides that arecommonly used in U.S. agricultural production.Organophosphorus pesticide residues are stillroutinely detected in food items that arecommonly consumed by young children. Thestudy was funded by the United StatesEnvironmental Protection Agency.The full article is available at: ehp.niehs.nih.gov/docs/2005/8418/abstract.html Advanced Nutrition& Self-Help Resources:
www.health-diets.net/ downloads
Adventure Gourmet Cookery School
Has run a special 1-day course for foodintolerance at the Wyndham Centre, Letchworth.The school has an ongoing program of courses.Details. Greenfield Farm, Ickwell, Beds.Tel: 01767 627101
Allergy Show London 2007
15-17
th
June Olympia, London. Over 100exhibitors are listed so far.More Info:
www.allergyshow.co.uk
DVDs- Asthma Arthritis and Diabetes
These are packed with information on currentresearch, treatments etc with input from experts inthe fields of allergy, environmental, andnutritional medicine. Dr Jean Monro, Dr JohnMansfield, and Professor Dame Julia Polak, areamong the long list of contributors.Tel: 0800 078 7080;
www.healthdvds.com
Homoeopathic Pharmacy
Remedies and advice available at:
‘Ainsworths’, 38 New Cavendish St, London,W1M 7LH. Tel: 0120 7935 5330
Gluten-Free Chips?
A lawsuit against McDonalds highlights the factthat some chips/wedges/hash brownies maycontain wheat. If you are a sufferer please be surethat all food sources are free from gluten!
Book
‘The Diet Doctors-Inside and Out’ by Drs WendyDenning and Vicky Edgson. ISBN 009191050-1Picture guide to reveal what skin, nails, tongue,eyes, and hair reveal about your well-being.Simple tests to check for food sensitivities, lack of essential minerals or a struggling digestivesystem
.
Herbal Remedy
Sutherlandia
has been used for several hundredyears in South Africa as a traditional herbalremedy. It is described as having anti-oxidant andanti-inflammatory properties, and also appears to be anti-bacterial, anti- fungal, and anti-viral. It isalso said to reduce anxiety. The Dove Clinic for Integrated Medicine reports its use in their summer 2006 newsletter, and is particularlyinterested by its use as an anti-inflammatory for rheumatoid arthritis. Tel 01962 718000 or searchthe web for links to this herb.
Reproductive health
In May 2006, Greenpeace released a reportentitled,
"Fragile: Our Reproductive Health and Chemical Exposure"
which contains informationabout how household chemicals could beseriously harming people's reproductive health.The study claims sperm counts have fallen 50%in 50 years and that the rates of infertility andtesticular cancer have doubled in 40 years. Thestudy also states that "infertility may now affect15-20% of couples in industrialized countriescompared to 7-8% in the early 1960s."
Extracted from Breakspear Bulletin 11. Toview/download this report, visit:
www.greenpeace.org
ME again
About 25% of the 200,000 people suffering fromME in the UK, will remain long-term ill andseverely disabled. These are people from all walksof life and may well end up isolated andhousebound by their illness. The 25% group offer support, advice and contacts for those affected.Tel 01292 318611;
www.25megroup.org
The Pioneer Group
This support group is for anybody living with along-term illness or condition. It aims toencourage a more positive, confident, and activelifestyle and runs meetings and trips. Tel: LesleyHutchings 01234 317351
Useful information web addresses
www.kidsaware.co.uk
Near Bedford, sells clothes and accessories for allergic families
3
www.wddty.com
What doctors don’t tell you, easy to use; Tel: 0800 146054
www.targetpublishing.com
CAM magazine publishers; Tel 01279 816300
www.healthy.net
Lots of information on all health-related topics
www.telegraph.co.uk/health
Search for keywords, related health stories available
www.foodsmatter.com
Magazine for food sensitivity problems; Tel: 020 7722 2866
www.vitacare.co.uk
Goat based product for toddlers and young children; Tel:0800 328 5826
www.tropicaloileurope.com
Organic virgin coconut oil; Tel 00353 1 287 3216 (International)
www.ibsnetwork.org.uk
Information about Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and its effect on life at work;Tel: 0114 272 3253
The importance of Vitamin D
With our busy and largely indoor modernlifestyles, it is likely that many of us are notgetting sufficient sun exposure during the winter months and this is almost certainly a national problem. Furthermore, with all the news aboutsun damage and skin cancer, it may be that manyof us are taking extra care not to be in the sun. Infact, by avoiding sunshine we may be doingourselves a disservice, as we need it to makevitamin D. The importance of vitamin D cannot be too strongly stressed. It is essential for regulating calcium and phosphate absorption andmetabolism. These actions form and maintainhealthy bones.Vitamin D is also essential to maintain a healthyimmune
system and regulates cell growth anddifferentiation. Therefore vitamin D is important for all aspects of good health and protects againstosteoporosis, bone fracture, cancer, hypertension,hypercholesterolaemia, diabetes, heart disease,multiple sclerosis and susceptibility to infections.Vitamin D is made in our skin as well as comingfrom our diet. 80% of the body's vitamin D comesfrom the action of UVB (sun’s rays) on thecholesterol in our skin. Vitamin D from the dietcomes from only a few foods including fish oilsand eggs. The highest amount comes from herring,sardines, pilchards and rainbow trout. Therequirement for vitamin D increases with age.People aged 19 - 50 require 5 mcg, which is equalto 200 international units (iu), per day. For thoseaged 51 to 70, 10 mcg or 400 iu, is recommendeddaily while for those over age 70, 15 mcg, which is600 iu, is recommendedA survey of nutrition in adults showed that the meandaily intake from food is only 3.7mcg for men and2.8 mcg for women. In contrast, if a person gets 15minutes of sunshine, this is equivalent to 10,000 iuof vitamin D! This can be stored and used over thewinter months. The prevalence of vitamin Ddeficiency has increased in the UK and today is asignificant public health problem. Those particularlyat risk are babies and toddlers who have beenexclusively breast-fed. (Although breast milk is a perfect baby's nutrition, it has only a little vitaminD).People with dark skin living in this country are alsoat higher risk of deficiency as they have less UVB penetrating the skin. People with vitamin Dinsufficiency can be asymptomatic or may presentwith the insidious onset of non-specificmusculoskeletal aches. Muscle weakness occurs andcan be marked and is most noticeable in the thighs.There can also be generalized bone pain or local bone tenderness. Those with osteoporosis or osteomalacia will be prone to fractures.Many studies show a link between low vitamin Dand colon cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer andovarian cancer. There is also a link between lack of sunshine and vitamin D and seasonal affectivedisorder (SAD). The Journal of the AmericanMedical Association confirmed that vitamin Dsupplements reduce the risk of falling in older people, and also prevents hip and non-vertebralfractures when compared with taking only calcium.The safe current recommendation for supplementis to have up to 1,000 iu per day.
Extracted from Breakspear Bulletin 11
Vitamins
Don’t forget that our food sources are often short of vitamins and minerals. Supplements can be the answer, particularly if you are suffering long-term illness or seeking optimum health.
News from PCTPodiatry, Continence and Wheelchair Services
Referral to these services is by contact with GP, district nurse, health visitor, or other health professional e.g. physiotherapist or with Social services. Also contact the child’s school, for wheelchair/continence service.More information from: PALS Patients Advice and Liaison Service - 01525 636882.
Add a Comment
raquel22left a comment
bailarinaleft a comment