dust– this is what allergy sufferers have to deal with first. The hypoallergenic method is wet cleaning using plain water and a cloth. All horizontal surfaces in the house should be wiped at least once every 1-3 days.
Vacuum cleaners and filters. Any filter allows dust to pass through it, and even more so it flies out of the cracks of the vacuum cleaner itself. The safest cleaning methods are brooms, mops and rags. Allergy sufferers should completely avoid "dry" cleaning indoors. And if this is not possible, confide in someone close to you when you go for a walk.
The best option for allergy sufferers is the absence of curtains or replacing them with blinds with metal slats that are easy to 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 (furs, rugs, canopies, curtains, souvenirs, figurines, books, soft toys), the better. It is advisable to store items in the closet in a special box or bag.
In the interior, it is better 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 very wear-resistant. Easy to care for: it does not accumulate dust, is easy to wash and clean. And they themselves are not a source of dust and allergens. The most allergenic natural fabrics are wool and wool, as well as natural and artificial materials (viscose, acetate) with piles.
Another risk factor is bedding, as a potential habitat for dust mites, whose waste can trigger severe allergies. It is recommended that instead of the most allergenic filler - "wool" - use hypoallergenic options: holofiber, bamboo, natural latex, etc.
There is a special cover with a lock that protects the bed from dust mites. It is recommended to change the bed linen once a week and wash it at high temperature, and clean the pillow at least once every six months.
Using children's bunk beds is dangerous because the children sleeping underneath receive a double dose of "dust" allergens.
Mold control and prevention– an important factor in 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 excessive humidity, this contributes to the proliferation of dust mites and mold.
Humidity in the house can be controlled using a special humidifier. "Folk" humidification methods include placing containers of water in the apartment, especially during the heating season, hanging wet towels, especially on radiators. Having an aquarium or 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 (hair particles, dander, fur, secretions) and food (for example, dried fish food). Allergens can remain in the room for more than 2 years from the moment cats, dogs, hamsters, parrots and other pets no longer live there.
Hypoallergenic diet
The first rule of thumb for any allergy sufferer is to avoid contact with the allergen if unpleasant symptoms occur and take the necessary medication. Adjusting the diet in this case significantly improves the condition of adults or children.
Of course, if there is a food allergy confirmed by clinical diagnostic studies, the doctor prescribes a special diet. But there are also non-specific hypoallergenic diets approved by doctors. It can be followed regardless of the nature of the allergen (household, insect, medical, etc. ) to reduce the burden on the body and speed up recovery. Including atopic dermatitis, which often gets worse in winter.
Prohibited products.According to the level of allergenicity, all products can be divided into high, medium and low allergens.
First of all, it is necessary to exclude all fried, smoked, salty, and spicy. As well as semi-finished meat and fish products - cuts, sausages, fish burgers, sausages, etc. , because they contain a large amount of flavors and aromatic additives, stabilizers. The preferred cooking method 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's milk. Fermented milk products (per day): kefir, acidophilus, matsoni, narine, cottage cheese (individually). Butter - younger children 10-15 g, older children - 20-25 g. (preferably melted) Not the sharp type of cheese. Boil yolks at least 1-2 times a week (individually). |
Unfermented cow's milk (including dry and canned), curdled milk, fermented baked milk, cream, sour cream, children's cream cheese, processed cheese, sharp cheese, cheese with spices. Eggs (including products containing them: mayonnaise, cream, sauces, some types of bread, sweets). If you are sensitive to mold fungi, exclude kefir, cottage cheese, muffins, kvass and moldy types of cheese. |
Cereals and dishes made from them. Buckwheat, pearl barley, oats, corn, rice porridge (cooked in water). Pasta (1-2 times a week). To reduce allergenicity, it is advised to soak the cereal in cold water for 1-2 hours. |
Semolina and millet grains, Artek grains, wheat, rye. |
Vegetables (green or white).Potatoes (soaked for 10-12 hours). Cabbage (white, cauliflower, fresh). Parsley, dill, lettuce, zucchini, pumpkin, fresh cucumber (except greenhouse). Boiled carrots (individually). To reduce allergenicity, it is advised to soak vegetables in cold water for 1-2 hours. |
Pumpkin, radish, rutabaga, tomato, ketchup, radish, sunflower seeds; Eggplant, beans, peas, green beans, celery, raw onion, dark chocolate, pickles, sauerkraut. |
Fruits, berries (bright color).Green apples, plums, white and yellow cherries, white currants, green pears. Blueberries, blueberries, lingonberries, prunes. Older children: gooseberry, cranberry, banana (individually). Fruits that are peeled, stored in the refrigerator, baked or in the form of compote are less allergenic. |
Strawberries, wild strawberries, raspberries, currants (black, red), cherries. Peach, apricot, watermelon, persimmon, grape, pineapple, mango, papaya, pomegranate, sea buckthorn. Canned juice and compote. Citrus fruits (orange, tangerine, lemon, kiwi, etc. ). |
Fat.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. |
breadBread with bran. White (sugar-free) and black (sugar-free) bread; easy dryer, crackers, crackers, diabetic cookies. For older children - homemade yeast pies without eggs, with prunes or apples. apple marmalade. Marshmallows (in small quantities). |
Chocolate, chocolate candies, coffee, cocoa, cream cakes, rich bread and toast, Tula gingerbread and honey, marshmallows, ice cream. Nuts, halva, honey. |
meat.Beef (steamed, boiled). Rabbit, turkey. Horse meat. Pork and lamb (lean). Special canned food for children. 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 soup. Pork, lamb (fatty). calf. Liver, kidney. mushrooms. Sausages, frankfurters, offal, sausages, ham, canned meat. If an allergy to cow's milk is detected, beef, beef, and beef liver are excluded from the diet, because cow's milk protein has an antigenic affinity with cow's tissue products. |
Drinks. Black tea (leaf, without sugar, without flavoring and without fruit additives). Still drinking water. Juice (diluted with boiled water by 1/3) and compote from dried fruits and fresh fruits and berries recommended above. |
Carbonated drinks. Kvass. Canned food. Food additives (colors, preservatives, emulsifiers, flavors). Chewing gum. |
In addition to a hypoallergenic diet, foods rich in histamine or which are histamine releasers should be excluded from the diet of people with food allergies.
Histamine-rich foods:Pickled herring, strawberries, wild strawberries, peanuts, legumes, game, brewer's yeast.
Histamine releaser:Sauerkraut, spinach, pork liver, dry smoked sausage, fermented cheese, 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 is no significant improvement, you need to consult a doctor and do a series of laboratory tests. They will help to determine the true cause of the allergy and distinguish it from intolerance.
I hope this information can help you create comfortable and safe living conditions. Be healthy and take care of yourself!