We should be as concerned about the quality of the air we breathe as we are about the food we eat and water we drink. Since most people spend 90% of their time indoors, the quality of indoor air is a major health concern.

Indoor air pollutants consist of allergens and irritants. Airborne allergens include dust, mold spores, pet hair and dander, and pollens that sneak in through open windows and doors. Airborne irritants include tobacco smoke and, more prevalent in urban areas, diesel fuel particles and chemicals. These airborne allergens are the root cause of the itchy eyes, runny nose and sneezing symptoms experienced by many allergy sufferers.

Taking medications to control allergy symptoms, however, is only one option. People with allergies can reduce or completely eliminate the need for prescription drugs by reducing allergens like dust mites, pollen, mildew and pet dander from their surroundings.

Taking steps to control indoor allergens and irritants is called environmental control. The three main steps are: encase, clean and purify. Encase pillows, mattresses, duvet covers and box springs in anti-allergen encasements to keep dust mite particles away from your nose and mouth. Clean thoroughly, at least weekly, using cleaning products and tools that remove and collect dust and other allergens. (Don't forget to use a protective mask when cleaning your home, to reduce exposure to elements that can trigger allergic symptoms.) Last and most importantly, use a HEPA air purifier to filter airborne allergens and irritants from room air.

HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Arresting) air purifiers filter or remove 99.97% of airborne allergens and irritants from the air inside your home. As reported in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, HEPA air filters also remove mold and fungal spores from the air, especially useful for those with mold and mildew sensitivities. Also, in homes where a person is allergic or sensitive to their pet, a HEPA air purifier is now recommended by the Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology in the recently published "The Allergy Report."

Encase, clean and purify: three simple steps to improve the air quality in your home and office.

Additional Resources: Visit www.gazoontite.com and choose products that can help you breathe healthier year round. Their toll-free customer service number, 1-800-4MY-NOSE (1-800-469-6673), and three retail stores are staffed by trained "Breathing Solutions Specialists." They can guide you and help you select from a comprehensive assortment of better breathing products for your home and workplace.

INTERVIEW SPECIAL:
PEGGY WAGENER
PUBLISHER OF LIVING WITHOUT MAGAZINE

By Andy Summa

Peggy Wagener’s interest in food sensitivities is very personal. A food sensitivity could have killed her.

“I was diagnosed with celiac disease in 1997,” she said. “I’d had cancer ten years prior to that and had been chronically ill since that time. I was terrified that cancer continued to grow in my body, but doctors gave me a clean bill of health and could find no reason for my continued distress. I was beginning to believe I’d never feel healthy again.

“The diagnosis of celiac disease changed my life.”

Celiac disease is an inherited, genetically linked condition and affects as many as one in 250 people. It is a permanent disorder in which gluten (a protein found in wheat, rye, barley and oats) destroys the small intestines’ ability to absorb nutrients in food. The only cure is to maintain a life-long gluten-free diet.

It was this diagnosis that led Wagener to develop Sully’s Living Without magazine, which focuses on chemical intolerances, allergies and food sensitivities.

“In the spring of 1998, I left my job, sold my home and used those proceeds to develop (the magazine),” she said. “The information contained in the magazine goes far beyond celiac disease. My mission is to awaken people to the impact food and environment play in attaining and sustaining better health.”

The magazine provides resources, support and guidance to those with special dietary and environmental needs.

“We want people to know that life with a sensitivity needn’t be a life of deprivation,” she said. “You can live well and abundantly, living without.”

Industry research indicates food and environment can provoke asthma, arthritis, autism, headaches, behavioral problems, skin conditions, and other ailments.

“What you eat and breathe does make a difference in how you feel,” Wagener said.

The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) estimates that about four million Americans have true food allergies. Any food can be an allergen, Wagener said, but the most common food allergies are to peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, dairy, wheat, soy, corn and eggs.

Between 150 and 200 people die from food allergies annually, according to the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network.

But these numbers don’t take into consideration food intolerance.

“The number of people with food intolerance has not been determined, but some researchers believe more than 50 percent of Americans suffer from food sensitivities, and that number is on the rise,” Wagener said. “Symptoms of food intolerance include congestion, stomach ache, headache, gastrointestinal distress, depression, anxiety, mental fog, rashes and heart palpitations.”

The primary culprit is processed food, she said.

“One of the primary reasons for the rise in food sensitivities appears to be linked to the increase consumption of processed foods in the American diet,” she said.

Making things worse, many allergens are hidden by misleading terms for particular ingredients on food labels. Examples include “binders and emulsifiers” for egg products, “casein, caramel coloring and natural flavoring” for cow milk, and “starch” or “thickener” for soy.

But Wagener said changing your diet doesn’t have to be scary.

“Change in diet and lifestyle can be intimidating,” she said. “People can feel alone and unsupported with their special needs. That’s why Living Without is designed to be warm, friendly, inviting and beautiful.”

LEGAL RESOURCES:

• ToxLaw.com

HOME & TRAVEL :

• The Natural Place - Environmental Residence & Hotel
• The Healthy House Institute

ALLERGIES- FOOD :

• Allergic Child

• Food Allergy Network

• Food Allergy Survivors Together

• Peanutallergy.com

• MSG Truth

GLUTEN FREE

• Glutino.com

ALLERGIES- LATEX :

• American Latex Allergy Association
• Latex Allergy Links

HOME & TRAVEL :

• The Natural Place - Environmental Residence & Hotel
• MCS Housing Resources
• The Healthy House Institute

PRODUCTS FOR MCS RELIEF:

• Nirvana Safe Haven

• Healthy Clean Buildings

• Allens Naturally

• Planet Solutions

• NEEDS

• Lifekind

MCS RESOURCES:

• MCS Primer
• MCS Survivors
• Immune Web
• Holistic Health Yellow Pages
• MCS Referral & Resources
• The Edelson Center for Environmental and Preventive Medicine
• Disability Resources
• Chemical Injury Information Network
• Disease World—MCS
• Human Ecology Action League
• Health & Environment Resource Center
• Disability Studies– MCS
• Our Little Place (Gordon & Jacki’s)
• Fragranced Products Information Network
• Chemsense
• Earth Dr
• Co-Cure

LOCAL RESOURCES:

• North Carolina Chemical Injury Network

IS YOUR HOME
MAKING YOU SICK?

Have you ever felt woozy, dizzy or nauseated after getting a new piece of furniture, or moving in to a new house or apartment? It could be the formaldehyde fumes from the floors, furniture, kitchen or bathroom cabinets.

You spend approximately a third of your life at home -- make it livable!

This line of sealants from Nirvana Safe Haven blocks formaldehyde, odorous walls, mold or tobacco odors. You can use the Floor Sealant to take care of your hardwood; the Crystal Aire to seal your walls from fumes and odors from previous tenants; or the Crystal Shield for furniture, cabinets and more.

The Crystal sealant products dry in about 2 hours and leave no odors, toxic fumes or sealants. They come in glossy, satin or matte finish, and can be applied with a brush, spray gun or paint pad. 

You can find it at Nirvana Safe Haven, and will run about $42-48 dollars per gallon. A pretty low price for peace of mind and a livable home. Visit their website or call Nirvana Safe Haven for more information about their products (800) 968-9355. Go there...