Dust– this is what allergy sufferers should deal with first. The hypoallergenic method is wet cleaning using ordinary water and a cloth. All horizontal surfaces in the house should be wiped at least once every 1-3 days.
Vacuum cleaners and their filters. Any filter allows dust to pass through, and even more of it flies out of the cracks of the vacuum cleaner itself. The safest cleaning method is a damp broom, mop and rag. Allergy sufferers need to completely avoid "dry" cleaning in the house. And if this is not possible, trust it to someone close to you when you go for a walk.
The best choice for an allergy sufferer is the absence of curtains or replacing them with blinds with metal slats that are easy to wipe clean from dust.
Dust is well retained by mosquito nets, and a special filter screen will protect you from pollen and other allergenic particles.
The fewer items in the house that collect dust (fur skins, carpets, canopies, curtains, souvenirs, figurines, books, soft toys), the better. It is advisable to store things in closets in special boxes or bags.
In the interior, it is preferable to use synthetic fabrics: nylon, polyester, etc. They are more practical: they are not destroyed by light, changes in humidity, do not rot, and are highly wear-resistant. Easy to care for: they accumulate less dust, are easy to wash and clean. And they themselves are not a source of dust and allergens. The most allergenic natural fabrics are wool and fur, as well as natural and artificial (viscose, acetate) materials with pile.
Another risk factor is bedding, as a potential habitat for dust mites, whose waste products can provoke severe allergies. It is recommended that instead of the most allergenic filler – "feather" – use hypoallergenic options: holofiber, bamboo, natural latex, etc.
There are special covers with locks that protect bedding from dust mites. It is best to change bed linen once a week and wash it at high temperatures, and clean pillows at least once every six months.
Using a bunk children's bed is dangerous because the child sleeping below receives a double dose of "dust" allergens.
Mold control and prevention– an important factor in a hypoallergenic life, because mold fungi are in 2nd place after dust mites in the list of household allergens, and in most cases they act together.
If the air in the apartment is dry, more dust accumulates in it and it is difficult to breathe, and if there is excess humidity, this contributes to the proliferation of dust mites and mold.
The humidity in the house can be controlled using a special humidifier. "Folk" methods of humidification include placing water containers in the apartment, especially during the heating season, hanging wet towels, primarily on radiators. Having an aquarium or an indoor fountain in the apartment serves the same purpose. Indoor plants (they should be hypoallergenic), which require daily spraying, also contribute to air humidification.
Pets.Allergies are usually caused by pet waste products (particles of fur, fluff, feathers, secretions) and food (for example, dry fish food). Allergens can persist in a room for more than 2 years from the moment a cat, dog, hamster, parrot and other pets no longer live there.
Hypoallergenic diet
The first rule of any allergy sufferer is to avoid contact with the allergen if unpleasant symptoms occur and take the necessary medications. Adjusting the diet in this case significantly improves the condition of an adult or child.
Of course, if there is a food allergy confirmed by clinical diagnostic studies, the doctor prescribes a specialized diet. But there is also a non-specific hypoallergenic diet approved by doctors. It can be followed regardless of the nature of the allergen (household, insect, medicinal, etc. ) to reduce the load on the body and speed up recovery. Including atopic dermatitis, which often worsens in winter.
Prohibited products.According to the degree of allergenicity, all products can be divided into highly, moderately and lowly allergenic.
First of all, it is necessary to exclude everything fried, smoked, salty, and spicy. As well as semi-finished meat and fish products - cutlets, sausages, fishburgers, sausages, etc. , as they contain a large number of flavoring and aromatic additives, stabilizers. The preferred method of cooking when following a hypoallergenic diet: baking, boiling, stewing with a minimum amount of oil. Instead of coffee, drink rosehip infusion, weak tea and still water. To control your diet, keep a food diary and write down everything you eat during the day.
Recommended Foods |
Products to exclude |
|---|---|
Dairy products and eggs. Goat milk. Fermented milk products (one-day): kefir, acidophilus, matsoni, narine, cottage cheese (individually). Butter - younger children 10-15 g, older children - 20-25 g. (preferably melted) Not sharp types of cheese. Hard-boiled yolk at least 1-2 times a week (individually). |
Unleavened cow's milk (including dry and canned), curdled milk, fermented baked milk, cream, sour cream, children's cream cheese, processed cheese, sharp cheeses, cheeses with spices. Egg (including products containing it: mayonnaise, creams, sauces, some types of bread, sweets). If you are sensitized to mold fungi, exclude kefir, cottage cheese, muffins, kvass, and moldy varieties of cheese. |
Cereals and dishes made from them. Buckwheat, pearl barley, oatmeal, corn, rice porridge (cooked in water). Pasta (1-2 times a week). To reduce allergenicity, it is advisable to soak the cereal in cold water for 1-2 hours. |
Semolina and millet cereals, Artek cereals, wheat, rye. |
Vegetables (green or white).Potatoes (soaked 10-12 hours). Cabbage (white, cauliflower, fresh). Parsley, dill, lettuce, zucchini, squash, fresh cucumbers (except greenhouse ones). Boiled carrots (individually). To reduce allergenicity, it is advisable to soak vegetables in cold water for 1-2 hours. |
Pumpkin, turnips, rutabaga, tomatoes, tomato sauce, radishes, sunflower seeds; eggplants, peas, beans, green peas, celery, raw onions, sorrel, pickles, sauerkraut. |
Fruits, berries (light color).Green apples, plums, white and yellow cherries, white currants, green pears. Blueberries, blueberries, lingonberries, prunes. Older children: gooseberries, cranberries, bananas (individually). Fruits that are peeled, stored in the refrigerator, baked or in the form of compotes are less allergenic. |
Strawberries, wild strawberries, raspberries, currants (black, red), cherries. Peaches, apricots, melon, persimmons, grapes, pineapples, mangoes, papaya, pomegranate, sea buckthorn. Canned juices and compotes. Citrus fruits (orange, tangerine, lemon, kiwi, etc. ). |
Fats.Refined vegetable oil - up to 30 - 40 g (preferably corn or olive oil). |
Lard, animal cooking fat, margarine. Fish (red and white, smoked and salted), canned fish. Caviar (red and black). Vinegar, mayonnaise, pepper, mustard, garlic, cinnamon, horseradish, salty foods. |
Bread. Bread with bran. White (unsweetened) and black (unsweetened) bread; simple dryers, crackers, crackers, diabetic cookies. For older children - homemade yeast pie without eggs, with prunes or apples. Apple marmalade. Marshmallows (in small quantities). |
Chocolate, chocolate candies, coffee, cocoa, cream cakes, rich baked bread and buns, Tula and honey gingerbreads, marshmallows, ice cream. Nuts, halva, honey. |
Meat.Beef (steamed, boiled). Rabbit, turkey. Horsemeat. Pork and lamb (lean). Specialized children's canned food. The allergenic activity of meat decreases during freezing and subsequent gradual thawing, soaking, and prolonged cooking. Meat from young animals is more allergenic. |
Chicken, duck, goose. Chicken, meat, fish, mushroom broths. Pork, lamb (fatty). Veal. Liver, kidneys. Mushrooms. Sausage, frankfurters, offal, sausages, ham, canned meat. If an allergy to cow's milk is detected, beef, veal, and beef liver are excluded from the diet, becauseCow's milk protein has antigenic affinity with bovine tissue products. |
Beverages. Black tea (leaf, unsweetened, without flavorings and without fruit additives). Still drinking water. Juices (diluted with boiled water by 1/3) and compotes from dried fruits and fresh fruits and berries recommended above. |
Carbonated drinks. Kvass. Canned foods. Food additives (dyes, preservatives, emulsifiers, flavors). Chewing gum. |
In addition to a hypoallergenic diet, foods rich in histamine or that are histamine liberators should be excluded from the diet of people suffering from food allergies.
Histamine-rich foods:Pickled herring, strawberries, wild strawberries, peanuts, beans, game, brewer's yeast.
Histamine liberators:Sour cabbage, spinach, pork liver, dry smoked sausages, fermented cheeses, mayonnaise, vinegar.
It is recommended to follow a hypoallergenic diet for at least 7-10 days. And if at the end of this period there are no noticeable improvements, you need to consult a doctor and perform a series of laboratory tests. They will help to establish the true cause of the allergy and differentiate it from intolerance.
I hope that this information will help you create comfortable and safe living conditions. Be healthy and take care of yourself!