Signs and Symptoms of Low Iron Deficiency

 Have you been feeling tired and wondering if the cause of your low energy levels is due to low iron levels in your blood? Iron deficiency is easy to diagnose and easy to treat but how do you discover if you have low iron?

 The most common symptom of a low iron problem is fatigue and that may be the reason to wonder if you have low iron. Of course, there may be other reasons that you are tired, like lack of sleep. So it is good to know other signs and symptoms of low iron deficiency. Iron deficiency is easy to diagnose and easy to treat. The first step in finding out if low iron may be the cause of your fatigue is knowing what other symptoms of low iron are.

 Once you look at the signs and symptoms of low iron and you realize that you have several of them. It may be time to get some blood work done. The right blood test will help the doctor diagnose a low iron deficiency. Then you will be able to start an iron treatment plan. It is important to note, that it is not wise to take iron supplements without having the proper blood work testing done for iron deficiency.

What are The Signs and Symptoms of Low Iron Deficiency?

 If you may be wondering if you have low iron levels or Ferritin levels in your body, take a look at the below list. If you have 1 or more symptoms, it may be a good time to call your doctor and request lab testing for low iron. A blood test will not cause any harm to your body but it may lead to a treatment plan to correct low iron in the body. Then you can be on your way to feeling better.

Signs and symptoms of iron deficiency

+ Poor mental performance

+ Headaches

+ Fatigue

+ Low sex drive

+ Weakness

+ Trouble swallowing

+ Shortness of breath with  activity

+ Restless leg syndrome

+ Hair loss

+ Cold all the time

+ Palpitations 

What is the role of iron in our body

 Iron is an essential mineral that helps your body carry out a number of important processes. One of the most essential roles iron plays is helping make and maintain healthy blood. Iron is needed to form hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen throughout the body. 

Potential causes of iron deficiency include:

+ Heavy menstrual cycles

+ Pregnancy, whether due to the body making more blood to support the growing baby or blood loss during delivery

+ Decreased ability to absorb iron, which can be due to certain health conditions (Celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, H. pylori infection) or weight loss surgery

+ Low-dietary iron intake, though this is rare in the U.S.

+ Chronic bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract

Testing for Low Iron Deficiency

 If you have one or more symptoms from the iron deficiency list above, having blood work for Ferritin levels is the best way to know if your body is low in iron. Your doctor can order the iron blood work or you can order lab tests here. If you do your own lab work, please do your research to order the correct test and to interpret the results. Specific blood tests are needed to check iron levels.

I received samples from optimizeiron.com to facilitate this article. The medical information was obtained from this website.

 Treating Low Iron Deficiency

 If your blood test for Ferritin levels comes back with an indication that you have low levels of Ferritin in your blood and the doctor gives the diagnosis of low iron, an iron supplement is the best way to treat low iron. Your doctor may write you a prescription for an iron supplement. Before you fill that prescription, learn about an iron supplement for people with low iron/iron deficiency.

~ Optimal ferritin is somewhere in the range of 70 to 150

 Blood Vitality, it is a bioavailable iron supplement for people with low iron/iron deficiency. Dr. Matt Angove is a Naturopathic Doctor who researched and created the supplement after his wife had iron issues during her pregnancies and for his various patients presenting with low iron.

 Blood Vitality is an iron-containing formula you can rely upon to safely raise your ferritin levels within 30 days, which is easy to digest without the side effects associated with many iron supplements.

Facts about Blood Vitality 

+ Blood Vitality is an iron-containing formula you can rely upon to safely raise your ferritin levels within 30 days

+ Gentle on the stomach - a non-constipating iron supplement that won’t cause digestive discomfort, black stools, or nausea 

+ Blood Vitality has 15mg of elemental iron per serving along with other blood-building minerals in a unique form called Hydrolyzed Whole Protein Chelate. This is 83% of the daily recommended for iron, so can be safely used by anyone. See the dosing chart below for those with Low Iron Deficiency.

Get your energy back and start enjoying life

If you are experiencing any of the Signs and symptoms of iron deficiency, it may be time to get your iron and ferritin levels checked to see if you need an iron supplement. ⁠⁠

What I Eat In A Day For A Healthy Body

I received samples of Macrolife products to facilitate this post.

Check out what I eat during the week

    I have learned over the many years of my life what foods are good for keeping my body healthy and happy. I like to think of my body as a well-maintained machine and the right food makes it work the way it is supposed to. Food is like medicine and the right foods can make us happy, energized, smarter, faster, give us healthy hair, clear skin, and so many more benefits. The wrong foods can do the opposite, making us tired, sad, bad skin, and sick. Now I am not saying that food is the cure all but it can keep out bodies strong to fight against germs and diseases. I have such a passion for food and care so much about what I put into my body because it directly impacts me! Medicine may be needed and I am glad that it is available but for me personally, I like to try food first before medicine.

Get the recipe for roasted rainbow brussels sprouts HERE 

I have a passion for nutrition!

Everyone's body is different so what you eat for health may be different than what I eat. I am glad that God gave us a wide variety of healthy foods so that we can choose foods that we like to get the proper nutrition that our body needs. I love learning about nutrition and that was my major in college until a bike accident made it difficult to concentrate so I knew that I could not handle all the math and science to finish my degree. I am the mom that makes her kids wear bike helmets as I was not wearing one when I had my bike accident. I probably suffered a small concussion that day as I do not remember getting hit by a car. All I remember was waking up in the hospital as they were pushing my two front teeth back into my mouth. Yes, that hurt so much!

I do not count calories!

   So I now use my passion for nutrition to keep my family healthy. I am not a certified nutritionist or a doctor so this is not medical advice that I am giving but rather a look into my daily eating that keeps my body happy and healthy. I think my feelings about nutrition have changed over the years too. When I was younger it was all about looking good and eating to have that great looking body but now that I am older and have had some food issues/allergies it is about eating for a healthy body. I have never liked following strict diets or ones that eliminate food groups(having a dairy allergy already eliminates a lot.)  I also do not count calories as I have better things to do with my time. I simply listen to what my body needs and try to eat from all the food groups at every meal except the dairy group as I have issues with dairy. I also do not deprive myself of favorite foods and instead try to eat healthier versions of them. I stock my house with healthy foods but will eat something sweet like chocolate a couple times a week if I have a taste for it. I will also allow myself to enjoy food at parties or when I eat out. For the most part, I enjoy food that is loaded with nutrition as my taste buds have adapted over the years. Yes, I am the one who likes plain cooked vegetables with a bit of salt to bring out the flavor. 

Food is my medicine!

               I believe that eating healthy foods can prevent illness and disease like heart disease and type 2 diabetes. I also believe that certain foods can cause problems for some people. If you are experiencing stomach problems or skin issues eliminating a suspected food from your diet can help you pinpoint those. I recently eliminated all dairy from my diet to see if it could be causing my asthmatic cough. I realized that this severe cough came about around the time I was eating cheese and crackers for a bedtime snack. I already had dairy problems as eating ice cream or milkshakes made me nauseated. I was not happy when I realized that cheese was making my asthma worse and found out I had a dairy allergy. I eliminated dairy from my diet as my asthmatic cough has gone away after 4 weeks of no dairy. I no longer cough at bedtime and I finally sleep through the night. The days of not being able to think straight are gone for me thanks to me sleeping again. I also can't eat mushrooms as I have mold allergies that present symptoms like coughing and a drippy nose.

     So I just wanted to share what I eat during the week to show you that eating for health does not have to be painful. Eating these foods and exercising keeps my body happy and looking good. I will also share my exercise routine at the end of this post to show you that one does not need to go crazy with exercise to maintain a proper weight.

         Use code MOMKNOWSBEST to get 20% off at https://macrolifenaturals.com

++ Discount does not apply to MacroNutrition packages-United States orders ONLY!

I start my day with a protein smoothie

 Breakfast

 I like starting my day with a glass of water and then for breakfast I eat a protein smoothie. I like smoothies as I can add the supplements that I use in a delicious drink along with a cup of frozen fruit. It is also how I get protein in my body as I don't eat meat. I find that having a smoothie not only keeps me full for hours but it also starts my mind thinking about taking good care of my body. My favorite protein powder that I use is a vegan MacroMeal Protein. This protein powder has 25g Protein + Super Fruits and Vegetables per serving and is scientifically formulated with
an advanced blend of fast, medium and slow digesting proteins that deliver protein for sustained energy. I really like that this protein powder has probiotics in it and some of my favorite supplements like maca, spirulina, flax meal, and MTC oil. This protein powder keeps me full for a long time so I am not snacking all morning. I also like to add a green superfood or red supplement to my protein smoothie for more benefits. Some days my smoothie is chocolate flavor and other days fruit flavored.

  On the weekends I like to enjoy healthy protein pancakes. These pancakes are so delicious and my boys love when I make them into chocolate pancakes. https://www.momknowsbest.net/2018/12/the-most-delicious-healthy-protein.html

Use code MOMKNOWSBEST to get 35% off at https://macrolifenaturals.com

++ Discount does not apply to MacroNutrition packages-United States orders ONLY!

 The green and red superfood that I have been using are from a company that I discovered at my last health conference. I was amazed at all the nutrition that Macrolife packed into these superfood powders and that they tasted good when mixed into a glass of juice. Macrolife sent me home with some samples and after I tried them I knew that I had to use these on a regular basis. The first time that I tried the Macro Greens was before I went to the gym and this raw green drink gave me incredible energy. I like that it did not taste like a typical green drink, you know the ones that taste like grass and are hard to swallow. This green drink supplement tasted quite good and left a pleasant taste in my mouth.

Morning & afternoon snacks

I like to snack and I will grab a handful of tamari nuts or a granola bar. In the afternoon, I usually have a protein bar or a glass of almond milk with turmeric and honey as these are both great for muscle recovery after I run.

Lunch

For lunch, I like to have cooked veggies, some kind of grain like brown rice, and a protein like beans or fish. If I am busy, I will grab a protein bar with a piece of fruit.

Dinner

 My dinner is the meal that I take the time to enjoy the most so it is the meal that changes day to day. My dinner always has some type of protein like eggs, fish, or beans along with vegetables and a grain. Last night I enjoyed a three-egg omelet that I made with spinach, tomatoes, red pepper, and dairy-free cheese. I also had a plain bagel with it. Other nights, I will have fish, cooked barley, and veggies. I also enjoy sushi burritos and bowls. My favorite weekend dinners are vegan tamales and pizza. I love eating avocados and will eat a whole one with my meals several times a week.

Late night snack

  I love eating and always have a snack before bed. That snack is usually a couple of wheat crackers or a handful of granola. I may also enjoy a piece of chocolate after dinner and my favorite is Ocho dark peanut butter as it is dairy-free yet filled with flavor.

  So that is what I typically eat every day. There are days that I have a dish of vegan ice cream or I go out to eat. I am not strict on my diet except for the dairy and eat what I enjoy. I stock my house with healthy food and plenty of fruits and veggies.  I am not perfect when it comes to eating and may eat too many cookies or pizza slices but I go back to my healthy foods the next meal. I find that exercising for 40 minutes, five days a week helps keep my body in shape. My exercise is either running or the elliptical machine at the gym. I also do simple weights at the gym three days a week for 30 minutes.

Exercise

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
Day off	Run 40 Weights 30	Elliptical 40	Run 40 Weights 30	Elliptical 40	Run 40 Weights 30	Day off

Use code MOMKNOWSBEST to get 35% off at https://macrolifenaturals.com

++ Discount does not apply to MacroNutrition packages-United States orders ONLY!

Give The Best Gift Of Healthy Home Air Quality

Over 24 million people in the US suffer from asthma.

         I received several air purifiers from EdenPure to facilitate this post.

  One of the main triggers of asthma is from things in the air. Things like pollution, plants, smoke, mold, chemicals, and dust. I am sure there are other things in the air that affect asthma but these are the triggers that I have. I also experience asthma symptoms when I ingest dairy and soy. Up until this year, I never knew that food allergies could cause asthma. I wish that just eliminating dairy and soy from my diet could control my asthma. Sure I am able to eliminate some chemicals from the air like toxic fragrances but unless I want to live in a bubble, I can not avoid all the things that trigger my asthma. I can control the air quality in my house and limit the allergens that come into my home by not buying chemical cleaners or running the swamp cooler. Our swamp cooler is located on top of our house roof and when it operates it pulls in the outside air along with all the junk in the air that makes me cough up a lung. I can not control the smoke or weeds that are outside my house and during the summer I need to have the windows open to keep the house cool as I have no AC. Even if I had AC, I would not use it as I love the feeling of fresh air. So I use an Air Purifier year round so I can have healthy air in my home.

The gift of healthy home air quality couldn’t be more essential.

  I received the best gift ever the other day and I am amazed at how it has helped me control my asthma symptoms while at home. The gift that is making me so happy is an EdenPURE® Airdog®.  Air Purifier. This gift has changed my life dramatically. It has helped me get some much-needed sleep as I am no longer waking up several times a night with coughing attacks and having to get up to expel the mucus from my lungs. At night time I keep the Airdog® by my bedroom window so the outside junk that is in the air can pass through the 5 stages of purification. I like that the unit shows the number of pollutants that are being destroyed. I also love that it is whisper-quiet, unlike the last purifier that sounded like a loud fan and had cold air coming out of it. That old purifier was useless at bedtime and in the winter. The Airdog® even has a nighttime mode so there is no annoying light glowing to annoy my husband as he is trying to sleep.

I love that it is whisper-quiet

  During the day I bring this air purifier downstairs so I can have clean air while I work. The unit has side grips so it is easy to transport to another room. Even my skinny 11-year-old can carry it down the stairs. I now can enjoy my fresh air as I park the EdenPURE® Airdog® right by the open back door. So now I can laugh at the growing weeds in my backyard as they no longer bother me. Once the rain stops, I will have my husband burn those weeds, of course on a day that I am not home. The last time I pulled weeds, I broke out in a rash and my oxygen levels dropped so I will not be pulling them again. Got to love these allergies! Just don't get me started on smoke from fires. I think my asthma got worse after the forest fires that were near my home, making me ultra-sensitive to smoke. I wish I had an EdenPURE® Airdog® seven years ago. Now I am wiser and I check the Particulate Index on days that my city issues an air quality warning and I stay indoors if the color is not green.

The EdenPURE® Airdog® cleans and removes microscopic particles as small as 14.6 nanometers. Most allergens and bacteria are over 30 nanometers in size 

• Cleans 300 sq. ft. room in 20 minutes

• Kills & removes 99.9% of bacteria and other harmful elements

• No filters to replace, nor any dangerous air byproducts

• 360-degree airflow circulation

Now if I could just control the air when I am out of the house!

 I take two different allergy medicines and use Airborne Particle Blocker Gel to control my allergies when I am outside but that just alleviates my symptoms like sneezing and some coughing. I find that exercising, a warm drink like coffee or tea, and a warm shower helps bring up the mucus from my lungs after a day of being outside. I recently discovered that arm weight lifting that involves my chest is great for helping my lungs expel the gunk from my lungs.

If I could just avoid the lady with the strong perfume

  The other day at my church bible study a lady sat at my table and she was wearing strong chemical perfume. I did my best to take deep breaths so I would not cough from the perfume. That helped for a while but I was still feeling queasy from the smell. My lungs could not take it anymore and I had a coughing attack and I had to leave the table. How do you tell someone, without offending them that their perfume is making me cough? This was not a situation that I could avoid, like avoiding the gym when the cleaning crew comes. I now know the day and times when the gym gets cleaned.

A small Leaf-shaped box is my answer to clean air on the go

 The Oxileaf is a completely portable air purifier that takes up little space and it cleans the air and kills mold. This amazing air purifier can be plugged in an electric outlet or into my computer! So I can take the Oxileaf when I am traveling and use it in musty hotel rooms. I can even power it with my portable phone charger (this portable charger charges my 4 four times) for about 6 hours as this purifier does not use that much energy. I wonder how many hours the Oxileaf will operate if  I use MyCharge PortableOutlet charger( a charger that can even charge my laptop.) I am thinking that I can use this purifier on airplanes or at the coffee shop as I always have my computer with me. So as I am working, I have clean air and no asthmatic coughs.

 The EdenPURE® OxiLeaf™ removes pet, cigarette, urine and cooking odors. It also removes smoke, pollen, dust, pet dander, and carbon monoxide and kills dust mites. It removes virtually all organic and inorganic pollutants, including toxic gasses. It can also relieve allergies and sinus problems caused by air pollution. 

Give Yourself The Gift Of Healthy Home Air Quality

Make Your Hospital Cafeteria Space Livelier for Everyone - A Guide

 Hospitals often tend to bring out feelings of depression and sorrow among the visiting people.

  After spending four days at the hospital last month while my daughter was in a long labor and then giving birth to her first baby, I agree that hospitals could use a livelier cafeteria space. I was there for a joyous occasion but others may be there for sorrow so having uplifting spaces to relax in are so needed. I would love these spaces in my own house.

 Hospitals often tend to bring out feelings of depression and sorrow among the visiting people. The simple reason for the development of such feelings is the fact that people go to hospitals to visit their suffering, wounded and injured relatives, who are in these establishments for treatment. The only feelings of happiness to be gained from such establishments can be gained when they see a relative or loved one recovering from the illness.

Interior décor can improve moods

 It is important for hospitals to invest in high-end interior design décor that helps in the uplifting of moods among the patients as well as their visiting relatives and friends. The décor of a hospital has effects quite similar to those of homes and set the moods and mental conditions of all the people who visit and stay here. A bright ambiance and setting will help to improve the moods of the patients and visitors, and a dull décor will create the opposing effects. 

Hence, it is important for hospitals to utilize proper and attractive architectural wall panels all around the establishment to create the perfect ambiance.

The Cafeteria can be the ideal spot for visitors to interact

 The cafeteria of a hospital is not just a place for the patients, their visitors and the medical staff of the hospital to get their food items and refreshments. It is also a place where people can socialize and spend some time together without disturbing the other patients. After all, if people cluster by the side of their ailing relatives in the ward, they might as well be disturbing the other patients in the ward.

It would be better if they can meet other visitors and join them for some refreshments in the cafeteria. This will not only help them to get some refreshments in a hygienic area of the hospital but also ensure that they can interact with others without causing hindrance to others.

Importance of making the cafeteria livelier

 With a large number of people visiting the hospital cafeteria, it is important for you to make your hospital cafeteria livelier for many reasons. Some of these reasons have been discussed here.

·  Uplifting the mood of all visitors

 As discussed earlier, visitors and patients in a hospital tend to suffer from deteriorating moods and feelings of suffering and sorrow. Using 3D decorative wall panels in the area can create positive visual effects and help to cheer the people up. This will also help the people to avoid imparting any sorrowful and depressing feeling to the patients, which can help the efforts of the doctors.

Such décor can also help the doctors and medical staff of the establishment. They have to spend a majority of their working time among people who are suffering from critical conditions. This can often cause a serious blow to their mental conditions, causing them to suffer deteriorating moods. A bright interior décor with decorative wall panels can help them to maintain focus and a lively mood that will help them to treat the patients effectively.

 Acoustic wall paneling to reduce noise levels

 Hospitals tend to advise people to maintain a certain level of noise to avoid disturbing patients. This can often be disturbing to people visiting the place as they are not able to communicate freely. However, using acoustic wall panels in the cafeteria will allow the people to converse more freely. This is because these wall panels can prevent the flow of unnecessary noise from one place to another. It will also allow the patients to rest in peace as they do not have to suffer from unwanted noise from other areas of the hospitals.

·   Improvement in the quality of the food

 Besides all the décor and show, the primary objective of the hospital cafeteria is to serve the people in the establishment with food and refreshments. Hence, it is important for the hospital to ensure that upheld a high standard in regards to the quality as well as the taste of the food served in the area. While packaged and prepared food items can be great to serve the guests and customers in the hospital cafeteria, the best thing to do with regards to the food items would be to serve Farm-to-Table foods.

 This will not only ensure that the taste of the foods being served is of the best possible kind, but will also mean that the customers are served with fresh and good-quality refreshments. This will also make sure that the people consuming the food do not have to suffer from any health conditions arising from the poor quality of the food. The quality and taste of such refreshments will help to make the space livelier and more cheerful for all people.

·         Maintaining health and hygiene of the place

  A hospital often serves as a pool for germs and diseases due to the accumulation of so many ailing patients in one place. Hence, it is important to maintain maximum hygiene in every corner of the establishment to prevent visiting people from catching some of the conditions. The same applies to the hospital cafeteria as well. Hospital staff must ensure that the interior wall paneling, as well as every inch of the floor,  is cleaned at regular intervals to ensure that they are free from germs and bacteria.

  The wall panels must be cleaned with anti-bacterial agents as they often come in contact with people. The standard of hygiene in the cafeteria will also ensure that the place is livelier for everybody visiting the hospital at all intervals. After all, there is absolutely no point in using 3D wall panels to make the cafeteria look attractive if you cannot uphold the hygiene of the place.

Hospitals do not have to be dull and depressing if you can work on the décor to create a cheerful environment. All you need is a few innovative ideas and some exquisite decoration materials. With the proper tools at hand, you can surely transform the place to create a lively environment for the patients, hospital staff and all people visiting the establishment.

Discovering A Milk Allergy With A Blood Test

Do I have a milk allergy? Wondering if you are allergic to dairy products? Keep reading to discover my experience with discovering my dairy allergy.

  This post may contain Amazon affiliate links

A bit of history about why I think I have a dairy allergy

 After eliminating all dairy products from my diet, my asthma symptoms improved and I was curious to see if I was allergic to dairy. All my life, I felt sick when I had a glass of milk. Then as I got older, eating ice cream would also make me nauseated. Then when I turned 50, I started to have severe asthma symptoms that interfered with my sleep. It was a answered prayer from God, that had me wondering if my lactose issue was instead a dairy allergy. Keep reading to find out more.

     For many years, I was able to control my allergy induced asthma symptoms with two allergy medicines. Then in the year 2018, that all changed when I started to experience severe asthma attacks. 

 What I thought was cold in January turned out to be worse than I thought. When this cough that left lasted more than three weeks and left me gasping for air, I suspected that my allergy medicine was not working anymore. I tried natural things to see if it would help with my allergies but they did not control the terrible coughing attacks that I was having all day and night. 

 My family was pushing me to see a doctor but I was reluctant to go as from the past experience with my son's asthma diagnosis, I knew that it could take several months to see a doctor and I would also have to stop taking my allergy medicines for two weeks. I did not want to stop taking my medicines because I was afraid that my asthmatic cough would get worse and I would end up in the emergency room. I had already had several coughing episodes that I had trouble breathing but since I was able to rebound in less than 2 minutes, I thought I was fine but I was not. 

 During this time I was not getting much sleep as I would wake up way too many times to cough. I also tried my son's asthma inhaler but it did not help. I also did not want to take medicine if I could treat this naturally. I was getting used to this nagging asthma cough and lack of sleep. I did discover that a natural menthol rub which helped open my airways while I was having an asthmatic coughing fit. So I carried that menthol rub everywhere I went.

  There were a couple times that I almost called the doctor after some pretty bad coughing attacks, that left me gasping for air. One time I had a severe asthma attack in the car. My teen was in the car with me in the car and I joked with him about him grabbing the steering wheel if I passed out. The scary thing was I was not joking, I was afraid that I was going to stop breathing. My son even said, "Mom you are wheezing and you need to see the doctor!" 

 During this time I was also having bad coughing attacks after I worked out at the gym, again telling myself that the coughing was a good way to get the mucus out. Why is it that I get my children to the doctor but not myself?

My asthma was not in control but God was

  Finally one day in church, after struggling for 6 months, I prayed to be healed of this cough. God did not heal me that day but the next day, He revealed to me that maybe it might be dairy that is causing this asthmatic cough. A lightbulb went off in my head!

 I already had lactose issues and my daughter had a milk allergy when she was little so it made me think. It made perfect sense as looking back to January, this was also the time when I started eating a bedtime snack of cheese and crackers. I also was consuming a protein drink made from whey(dairy) protein. So I made the decision to cut out all dairy from my diet and I was not happy about it. 

 After a week of craving pizza and I still had a cough, I was hoping that it was not a dairy allergy. So I gave in and ate several slices of pizza. Several hours later I could not stop coughing when my husband called me on the phone. He asked me if I ate cheese. 

 So I again stopped eating all dairy and enlisted my boys to make sure I did not. I had read that it could take 4-6 weeks to get the dairy out of my system. I also prayed for God to take my craving for cheese away. Later that week, God answered my prayer in a huge way! 

  I was craving pizza again, so I went to the store in search of dairy-free cheese. I found 4 packages of dairy-free cheese that were on clearance and I also found several packages of dairy-free ice cream on clearance too.

Could my asthmatic coughing be related to dairy?

  I got through the next four weeks of my dairy-elimination diet by telling myself that I would enjoy pizza when we visited my son in New York. Then I would be able to confirm if it truly was a dairy issue. Those four weeks passed and I began to notice, my family did too, that I was coughing less and I was not gasping for air after the coughing attacks. I was also not coughing up buckets of mucus. When this cough first started, I had a cloth always by my side to spit all that excess mucus in. I also was finally sleeping through the night as I did not wake up with an uncontrollable cough.

I went without dairy for six weeks

  Five weeks of no dairy passed and we headed to New York. The first night we were there my family had pizza but I instead had a pho bowl from a restaurant that was near the pizza place. I was convinced that dairy was causing this asthmatic cough and I no longer was craving pizza or cheese. I also realized it was never my allergy medicine not working as we had way too much rain here in the past month and the weeds are growing like crazy. 

 I was not coughing anymore. So when the opportunity came up for me to have a blood test to see if I was allergic to dairy, I decided to test my blood to confirm my dairy allergy so I will not be tempted to eat cheese or yogurt. When I told my friends about my dairy-free diet, they asked me what do I eat?  I also don't eat meat and have problems with soy so I am thankful for my vegan & allergy-friendly protein bars.

A food allergy blood test to confirm if I was allergic to dairy

 I made an appointment to get blood work done to find out if I had a dairy allergy. I was able to visit a lab that did not require a doctor's order. I decided to get a basic food allergy profile test that would not only test for an allergy to dairy but for my other common food allergies. This test included things like soy, wheat, peanuts, and egg whites.

 I thought that I might have issues with soy also as I tend to get a drippy nose and belch a lot after I eat tofu. So I decided to get the info on soy also as I do not want this asthmatic cough to return. 

The results of the blood test

  I was surprised that my food allergy blood results came back in 6 days. The results indicated that I had a likelihood of a milk allergy and a soy allergy. My IgE results also showed a likelihood of a wheat and a peanut allergy which was surprising to me as I had no symptoms. Now after doing some research, I learned that food allergy testing may have false negatives and false positives.

 So these results are only useful if you have had reactions to the food. Also that the IgE levels do not indicate the severity only that you may have an allergy. Any level over 0.10 indicates a likelihood of a food allergy.  You could also have a negative result and still be allergic to the food especially if you have symptoms. An oral food test gives the best results but can take several hours in a doctor's office. I could also reintroduce the dairy into my diet but I don't want to experience severe asthma symptoms and then have to wait 3-4 weeks for it clear out.

 Since my asthma got better after eliminating milk and I have bad indigestion after eating soy, then the high IgE tells me that I am allergic to milk and soy. Since I have not had any known reactions to wheat or peanuts, then the results may be a false positive. My son had allergy testing last year and it showed he was allergic to eggs and the doctor said to not eliminate them from his diet unless he showed symptoms. My son hates eggs and does not eat them so he may be allergic to them. 

 For now, I will not eat milk or soy products as I do not want to experience those severe asthma symptoms again. I will still eat peanuts and wheat but I will pay attention to how I feel after I eat those. I dislike peanut butter so that is not a problem for me. My son told me to eat two peanut butter sandwiches on whole wheat bread to see if I do have any reactions. 

My dairy allergy was confirmed a couple of days later when I accidentally had pesto on my cheeseless pizza and I noticed that later that day I had a drippy nose and coughed up some phlegm. This again happened after I had a piece of chocolate. 

  So why did this develop later in life?

 I guess that some milk was causing reactions and my allergy medicines were relieving the symptoms or I was blaming other allergies like weeds and mold. I had always eaten cheese on occasion, up until last year, and when I ate it every day is when it developed into uncontrollable asthma. Drinking milk and eating ice cream has always made me feel sick. I did not drink milk as a kid as I hated the taste but I look bad and remember that I was sick a lot as a kid with ear infections and upset stomach problems.

What I thought to be a lactose problem was a milk allergy.

Common allergy symptoms:
Skin rash, itching, hives
Swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat
Shortness of breath, trouble breathing, wheezing, coughing
Stomach pain, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea

 Since I always experience nausea after eating milk products, I thought that I had lactose issues and I just tolerated it. I guess my nightly snack of cheese and crackers was just too much and that caused my asthma to be out of control. The crackers were wheat crackers, which makes me wonder about the wheat allergy thing. For now, I will avoid all dairy and soy. I may in the winter when my seasonal allergies subside, another cause of my asthma, eat dairy on occasion to see how my body reacts as I do love pizza. I am glad that I discovered dairy-free cheese and dairy-free ice cream.