Mediterranean Diet Helps With Allergies?

Interesting point about dairy. I read somewhere that, by some estimates, as much as 80% of our population may have dairy allergies and not even be aware of it. After I read that I switched to rice milk, and my skin became unbelievably clear.

Brian

Fruits are great for our diet. If only a large variety of fruits are available in different locations. Some fruits are just bland to be eaten everyday. A little viriety could sort it out.

What about a healthy diet in general? Combined with more exposure to dust, pollen, animal hair etc.? All this junk food and overdriven sanitisation isn't good for anyone!

Not surprising! One day people will look back at our typical diets and wonder why we were trying to kill ourselves. Get back to nature. Fruits and vggies are where it's at.
www.thebestlifeever.com

vegetables and fruits are always good..

I agree with the above comments that antioxidants in fruits and vegetables play a big role in the benefits of the Mediterranean diet. A lack of dairy foods may also explain the decrease in allergic symptoms of many of its followers.

But another very important benefit to allergy sufferers is the anti-inflammatory nature of the Mediterranean diet. It turns out that the types of fats we eat affect the levels of inflammatory compounds in our bodies.

Jim mentions that the children from Crete (a Greek island) do not show an inflammatory response to allergens on a skin-prick test. The traditional Greek diet is one of the highest in the world in omega-3 fats. These come from fish as well as from some of the greens they eat. The Omega Diet: The Lifesaving Nutritional Program Based on the Diet of the Island of Crete by Dr. Artemis Simopoulos explains the benefits of the omega-3 fats.

Our American diet, unfortunately, is very high in the pro-inflammatory omega-6 fats. These are found in vegetable and soybean oils, margarine, meats, and processed foods.

When most of us think of the Mediterranean diet, we think of olive oil first. Olive oil is an omega-9 fat, and it remains neutral in the Battle of Inflammation. It doesn’t contribute to inflammation. So eating olive oil instead of margarine with your bread is a healthier thing to do. Using flax seed oil may be even healthier (although maybe not as tasty).

The message is very clear: if you have allergies (or even if you don’t), consume more omega-3 fats and limit the omega-6 fats. Omega 3’s may also benefit those with other inflammatory-related problems like arthritis, Crohn’s disease, and cardiovascular disease.

Susan Parsons MD said:

What she said. Plus the grass-fed beef, sheep, goats, other ruminants and dairy products from such. Couple that with nutritional replacement via nuts, which provide more monounsaturates than grains, and there's your answer.

Asthma, allergies, arthritis, heart disease are all diseases of inflammation. Reduce intake of grains and animals fed on such. See relief.

Susan Parsons MD said:
The message is very clear: if you have allergies (or even if you don’t), consume more omega-3 fats and limit the omega-6 fats[...]

It's a garbage claim that Mediterranean diets are low in dairy. All the Tzatziki and other yummy yogurt based foods.

Almost any healthy diet is good for us, especially if it contains fruits and vegetable. As long as we have only the necessary amount of a certain nutrient that our body needs.

Another remark: I'm allergic (since I was a little kid and everyone has been for 4 generations in my family but it's not the point).

I live in Switzerland and I have allergies, but if I travel south, in the meditarranean region, tada, no more allergies! Did I change my diet? Or can their diet influence me overnight? Nope, but there are way less allergens in air in those regions that north.

I am not saying diet doesn't influence allergies (specially if we take crossed allergies into consideration), I'm just saying that CLIMATE may be a bigger factor.