Issue #146: Fight Seasonal Allergies
Good morning. It’s Monday, March 13th.
Today’s Quick Win
Did you miss any of our issues on GROWTH last week? Catch up on Issues #141 - #145 here.
This week we're switching gears and talking about ENVIRONMENT, specifically Allergies.
From the Lab: Natural Allergy Remedies
Speed Read: ChatGPT Founder Wants to Live 10 Years Longer
Monday Q: Allergic?
“I am allergic to alcohol and narcotics. I break out in handcuffs.”
Number of Americans suffering from seasonal allergies, like hay fever, in 2021. (Source)
From the Lab
Growing up in the Midwest I got crushed every spring with allergies - like embarrassing allergies.
This continued until I eventually got a prescription for Allegra (this was back in 2003) and got some relief.
Much of why allergies happen to some people and not others - for example, why my dad is deathly allergic to bee stings, but it would be a minor nuisance to me - is still unknown.
Just like what happens with those invaders when we get sick (see Issue #78), it’s not the pollen causing all that sneezing and runny nose - it’s our body producing more of the chemical histamine.
This hormone supports our immune system - which does everything possible to get the invader out, hence sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes.
So antihistamine medicines (like Allegra) reduce the signal to produce more histamine, and thus lowers the symptoms.
But there are some natural alternatives that bring better balance in the long-term without some of those side effects of the OTC medications (beyond the famous “do not operate heavy machinery while taking this pill”).
Here are 5 alternatives to try when you’re going to be out cutting the grass or taking a springtime hike:
Before you head out - get the right vitamins/minerals. Natural antihistamines like quercetin help balance your immune system. (Top quercetin foods - hint, an apple a day…). Others include Vitamin C, Vitamin B-complex, Omega-3. BONUS: Try some raw, local honey - my wife puts this in her smoothie.
As soon as you get back home - change clothes and throw ‘em in the laundry. Use a natural laundry detergent to wash off the allergen (including bed sheets at least 1x/week).
Hop in the shower - wash allergen off your skin too, as well as giving your nose a shower with a neti pot. Remember, your eyes/nose/mouth are the most common place for foreign invaders to attack - keep ‘em clean.
Keep your air clean with a HEPA air filter (like AirDoctor) and change your HVAC filters at least every 3 months (Issue #25).
Finally - manage stress. Don’t be surprised that cortisol can worsen allergy symptoms. Keep at that meditation like Max or whatever else helps you stay positive.
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Speed Read
Health & Longevity in the News
Nah, Chimp: Are you smarter than a chimp? Kinda, but not when it comes to rock, paper, scissors; the inaccessible peanut; or the game memory (with numbers). (Big Think)
Creator of ChatGPT Wants Us All to Live 10 Years Longer: Sam Altman, CEO and founder of OpenAI, has quietly invested in a biotech startup Retro Biosciences that works with artificial intelligence and genetic engineering to rejuvenate human cells. (Read more)
Outlast: Netflix’s entry into reality-show survival, pits survivalists against each other in a cross between ‘Alone” and ‘The Hunger Games.’ The show debuted on Netflix March 10th takes place in the Alaskan wilderness. FYI…this article is great, but full of spoilers. (Outside)
Monday Metabolic
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Monday Q
Do you know what triggers your allergies?
Product Recs
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The information in this newsletter is for informational purposes only and may not be appropriate or applicable based on your individual circumstances. Thrive25 Labs LLC does not provide medical, professional, or licensed advice. Please connect with your healthcare professional for medical advice specific to your health needs.