Our Skin and mucus membrane are our first line of defense, forming a barrier between our inner tissues and the outside environment.
Common skin allergy reaction are eczema, hives or psoriasis.
Those that affect the mucus membrane would include :
asthma –
inflammation of the mucus membrane inside the lungs
hay fever and sinusitis –
involve the irritation of the mucus membranes inside the nasal and head cavities
colitis –
irritation of the mucus membranes of the lower bowel
Nutrients Required
Skin and the mucus membrane cells are composed of proteins and fats.
The type of fats that are lodged in the cell membranes determine how flexible they are and what types of local hormones (prostaglandins) they manufacture. This is what affects any inflammation.
So remember your body needs fats – essential fats -for the structure of the cells as well as the effect on prostaglandins.
Apart from essential fats, other nutrients that are vital for maintaining good skin and mucus membranes would include:
Vitamin A :
an antioxidant essential for skin repair.
Signs of deficiency: dry and scaly skin, acne, dandruff
Source : liver, fish oil, egg yolks,Dark green vegetables and orange fruits and vegatables.
These contain beta carotene which converts to vitamin A when required.
Vitamin C :
needed for collagen synthesis and therefore vital for the integrity and building of skin.
Source : found in all fruits and vegetables but especially in citrus, strawberries, kivi broccoli and cabbage.
Vitamin E :
sits in the membranes of cells fighting off free radical damage (lipid proxidation)
Signs of deficiency : damage to skin cells
Source : wheatgerm, olive oil, nuts, seeds, brown rice, other grains
Zinc :
needed for all protein growth process, in this case repair of skin and mucus membranes
Source : nuts, pumpkin, sunflower seeds, red meat, liver, sardines, berries, brown rice
Support Adrenal Glands
To help control inflammation, the main symptom of allergy,
you need to support the adrenal glands so they can produce the natural steroid hormones that keeps inflammation in check.
Taking note of what trigger foods to avoid, reducing stimulant intake , balancing sugar levels that accompanies a low stimulant diet benefits adrenal health.
Adrenal hormones are made from cholesterol,
so by eating healthy essential fats improves the cholesterol production.
Supplements/Food that helps support adrenal glands are:
B vitamins :
used in all energy processes. B5 and B6 are used directly in the production of stress hormones.
Source : whole grains, oatmeal, brewer’s yeast, legumes, molasses , yoghurt, dark green vegetables.
Vitamin C :
anti-stress nutrient. Normally excreted and is only stored in the adrenal glands. Large quantities is required to make stress hormones.
Zinc :
used in repair job and also in making stress hormones
Ginseng :
contain adaptogens which helps the adrenal glands to work more effectively and helps your body to adapt to stress.
Korean ginseng is the most stimulating, American, the most calming and Siberian in between the two.
People with high blood pressure should avoid Korean ginseng.
Liquorice :
the herbal form is an adrenal tonic.
It has cortisone-like effects which helps in inflammatory conditions.
This too should not be taken by those with high blood pressure, water retention or are taking steroids.
