I wasn’t always an allergy specialist. I had a thriving sports medicine clinic when my son Cody was born, and soon the nightmare followed. At three months old, he became plagued with allergies — and I don’t mean simple rashes and sneezing. Cody suffered from a wide range of severe allergic reactions, including hives and intense rashes that wouldn’t go away. Things only got worse over time and his allergies went deep into his lungs, causing asthma and difficulty breathing. By the time he was 15 months old, he had severe allergic reactions to food, inhalants and chemicals and started to have anaphylactic reactions, which meant we had to carry a medical injection device in case we needed to open his airways and save his life.

Needless to say, I was disappointed with the doctors, the treatments and myself as a mother. I was scared for my son’s life and for his future. I became fully committed to finding the root cause of his allergies and illnesses. I took post-graduate programs in allergies and environmental medicine. I read endless medical studies and books. I contacted doctor after doctor in my search for answers. I soon made nutrition his medicine. Changing his diet was a huge step but it just wasn’t enough to address all of his reactions. I had to take proactive steps to strengthen his body’s innate ability to deal with the moulds, toxins, metals and chemicals that are an inescapable part of our environment. We cleaned up different aspects of our lifestyle: the water we ingested and bathed in, the air quality in our home, the living and kitchen environment. We also implemented healthy physical activity and reduced our stress levels.

The result? By the time my son Cody was four years old, he was 100 per cent allergy-free. Today, he is studying at a university and has no allergies at all. What began as a mother’s desperate search to save her son evolved into a comprehensive program and book, The 7-Day Allergy Makeover. Now, I’d like to share some facts with you about allergies that may surprise you — and may open your eyes to the possibility that more of us suffer from allergies than most people realize.

1 Allergies don’t always show visible signs. It is a common mistake to associate all allergies with symptoms like a runny nose, water eyes (hay fever symptoms) or severe inflammation (as in people with shellfish or peanut allergies.) These are what are known as IgE or severe allergic reactions caused by acute inflammation. But there are numerous less “common” symptoms that people don’t realize could be caused by allergies; symptoms like fatigue, insomnia, lack of concentration, stomach bloating and even joint pain and anxiety. These can all be caused by allergies.

2 Our environments are loaded with allergens. Allergens are carried in our furniture, our cars and even in the very air we breathe and water we drink. Toxic chemicals and fungi are two very common types of allergens that may be hidden in our everyday environments.

3 Your skin is overloaded with allergens. If you’re using beauty products and soaps with chemicals in them (sodium lauryl sulfate, parabens and phthalates, just to name a few), you are wearing your body down with chemical allergens. Your pores are permeable; you will absorb whatever you apply on
your skin.

4 Dairy alternatives? Be careful! Ever wonder why you feel bloated and gassy after that vegetarian meal or cup of dairy-free ice cream? One of the most common allergies I’ve seen is to soy. While avoiding dairy is essential for healing your allergies, replacing it with soy can give you terrible indigestion and leave
you tired. Try almond or coconut options instead.

5 Only seven types of foods cause the majority of food allergies. The seven foods that account for the vast majority of allergic sensitivities are dairy products, gluten products (wheat, barley and rye), sugar, alcohol, peanuts, eggs and mould-containing foods such as many dried fruits, mouldy cheeses and mushrooms. By eliminating or even reducing your intake of these foods, you can help reset your body’s load of allergens and eliminate your allergy symptoms.

6 Allergies can be healed all-naturally. The good news is that allergies can be healed without drugs, creams or medication. By improving the quality of seven key areas in our lives (nutrition, water, air, environment, kitchen, body and stress), we can rid ourselves of the buildup of allergens and toxins in the body. You will restore vibrant health from the inside out.

Susanne Bennett
Guest health Editor
Natural allergy doctor Susanne Bennett has been promoting vibrant, natural health for over 24 years and is the founder of the Wellness for Life Center in Santa Monica, California. As a leading natural allergy specialist, she believes that everyone can regain their energy, vitality and optimum health by honouring the body’s innate healing powers. Learn more about allergies and how to overcome them at
www.the7dayallergymakeoverbook.com.