Did you know that allergy symptoms have a lot to do with your immune system’s response to food and particulates? So if your immune system is in bad shape, your chances of getting allergies go up. You may have noticed that more and more children are growing up with allergic reactions to pets and food. You also see more people with eczema, hay fever, lupus, multiple sclerosis, and asthma due to a poor immune system. You will find more and more families who trust and use the naturopathic care center for allergy testing and natural treatments.

All of the above-mentioned diseases are caused by the immune system that is unable to recognize common substances that are harmless, such as peanuts and pollen. If this is a problem you have, then your body’s defense systems are out of whack. MS, lupus, type 1 diabetes, and inflammatory bowel disease are considered autoimmune diseases.

An autoimmune disease is when your body attacks itself, such as your nerves, digestive tract, or pancreas. According to experts, the number of people suffering from allergies and autoimmune diseases has quadrupled in just a few decades. In fact, more than 50 percent of Americans today have at least one allergy.

Why the increase in allergies?

There are different speculations about the reasons why this problem is growing at such a rapid rate in a short period of time. One explanation given is that it is due to our modern way of life. Today’s children are growing up in sterilized homes, which prevents their immune systems from getting stronger. In the past, your body was exposed to numerous bacteria and viruses at a young age, which helped build your immune system. This is known as the hygiene hypothesis.

Another explanation is that our diet and air pollution are to blame, along with our sedentary lifestyles and obesity. They both seem to point to how we live today, which shows that whatever we do is causing our health to deteriorate. These problems are mainly seen in North America and Europe. However, allergies and autoimmune diseases are now beginning to increase in other developing countries.

Sterile lifestyles = increased allergies

You would think that living a cleaner life would be better for your body and your health, but if the hygiene hypothesis is correct, this is why most people in America now suffer from allergies. Your immune system is underdeveloped and therefore cannot decipher between real threats and harmless particles such as dust and pollen.

You may know some people who like to travel with a bottle of antibacterial hand sanitizer wherever they go. Then the food they eat and the recipes they take are also full of antibiotics, which are used to kill all kinds of germs. This lifestyle prevents you from being exposed to germs, which in turn allows your body to identify them.

The food and medical industry is too busy killing these bacteria and now, generations later, we have children and adults who have never been exposed to them. While it is good for viruses, bacteria, and parasites to be reduced, it is not good for your body’s defense mechanisms.

Talking to a naturopathic doctor can help you learn how to better care for members of your family who have allergies.

How the immune system works

Your immune system has two parts: one releases white blood cells, which attack cells in your body that have been infected, and the other attacks the intruder responsible for infecting the cells. You should consult with a family care physician who specializes in naturopathic care, so that you can learn natural ways to treat allergy symptoms. You can also get other services, such as ozone therapy.