Dust– this is what allergy sufferers need to tackle first. The hypoallergenic method is wet cleaning using plain water and a cloth. All horizontal surfaces in the house should be wiped down at least once every 1 to 3 days.
Vacuum cleaners and their filters. Any filter lets dust pass through, and even more flies out of the cracks of the vacuum cleaner itself. The safest method of cleaning is to use a damp broom, mop, and cloth. Allergy sufferers should avoid "dry" cleaning of the home altogether. And if this is not possible, entrust it to a loved one when you go for a walk.
The best choice for an allergy sufferer is the absence of curtains or their replacement with metal slatted blinds that are easy to clean from dust.
Dust is well retained by the mosquito nets and a special filter will protect you from pollen and other allergenic particles.
The fewer objects in the house that collect dust (fur pelts, carpets, awnings, curtains, souvenirs, figurines, books, soft toys), the better. It is advisable to store items in closets in special boxes or bags.
Inside, it is better to use synthetic fabrics: nylon, polyester. . . They are more practical: they are not destroyed by light, changes in humidity, do not rot and are very resistant to wear. Easy to maintain: 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 materials (viscose, acetate) with pile.
Another risk factor is bedding, as a potential habitat for dust mites, the waste of which can cause serious allergies. It is recommended to use instead of the most allergenic filler material – "feather" – 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, as well as clean pillows at least once every six months.
Using a bunk bed for children is dangerous because the child sleeping underneath receives a double dose of "dust" allergens.
Mold Control and Prevention– an important factor in hypoallergenic living, as mold is second only to 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 there 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. "Popular" methods of humidification include placing containers of water in the apartment, especially during the heating season, hanging wet towels, mainly 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 commonly caused by pet waste (fur particles, lint, feathers, secretions) and food (e. g. dry fish food). Allergens can persist in a room for more than 2 years after a cat, dog, hamster, parrot and other pets no longer live there.
Hypoallergenic diet
The first rule of any allergic person is to avoid contact with the allergen if unpleasant symptoms appear and to take the necessary medication. In this case, adjusting the diet significantly improves the condition of an adult or child.
Of course, in case of 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 accelerate recovery. Including atopic dermatitis, which often worsens in winter.
Prohibited products.Depending on the degree of allergenicity, all products can be divided into highly, moderately and low allergenic.
First of all, you should exclude everything that is fried, smoked, salty and spicy. As well as semi-finished products from meat and fish - cutlets, sausages, fishburgers, sausages, etc. , because they contain a large number of flavoring and aromatic additives, stabilizers. The preferred cooking method when following a hypoallergenic diet: bake, boil, simmer with a minimum of oil. Instead of coffee, drink rosehip infusion, weak tea and plain 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 (one day): kefir, acidophilus, matsoni, nostril, cottage cheese (individually). Butter - young children 10-15 g, older children - 20-25 g. (preferably melted) Non-sharp types of cheese. Hard 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, strong cheeses, cheeses with spices. Egg (including products containing it: mayonnaise, creams, sauces, certain types of bread, sweets). If you are sensitized to mold, exclude kefir, cottage cheese, muffins, kvass and moldy varieties of cheese. |
Cereals and dishes based on them. Buckwheat, pearl barley, oatmeal, corn, rice porridge (cooked in water). Pasta (1 to 2 times a week). To reduce allergenicity, it is advisable to soak the cereals 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; eggplant, peas, beans, peas, celery, raw onions, sorrel, pickles, sauerkraut. |
Fruits, berries (light color).Green apples, plums, white and yellow cherries, white currants, green pears. Blueberries, blueberries, cranberries, prunes. Older children: gooseberries, cranberries, bananas (individually). Peeled fruits, stored in the refrigerator, cooked in the oven or in the form of compotes are less allergenic. |
Strawberries, wild strawberries, raspberries, currants (black, red), cherries. Peaches, apricots, melons, 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.Bran bread. White (unsweetened) and black (unsweetened) bread; simple dryers, crackers, crackers, biscuits for diabetics. 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 bread and rolls, Tula and honey gingerbreads, marshmallows, ice cream. Nuts, halva, honey. |
Meat.Beef (steamed, boiled). Rabbit, turkey. Horsemeat. Pork and lamb (lean). Specialized canned foods for children. The allergenic activity of meat decreases during freezing, then gradual thawing, soaking and prolonged cooking. The meat of young animals is more allergenic. |
Chicken, duck, goose. Chicken broths, meat, fish, mushrooms. Pork, lamb (fat). Calf. 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 proteins have an antigenic affinity with bovine tissue products. |
Beverages. Black tea (leaf, unsweetened, without flavors and fruit additives). Always drinking water. Juices (diluted with boiled water by 1/3) and compotes from dried fruits and fresh fruits and berries recommended above. |
Soft drinks. Kvass. Canned foods. Food additives (colorings, preservatives, emulsifiers, flavors). Chewing gum. |
In addition to a hypoallergenic diet, foods rich in histamine or histamine releasers should be excluded from the diet of people with food allergies.
Foods high in histamine:Marinated herring, strawberries, wild strawberries, peanuts, beans, game, brewer's yeast.
Histamine releasers:Sour cabbage, spinach, pork liver, dried 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 is no noticeable improvement, you should consult a doctor and carry out a series of laboratory tests. They will help establish the true cause of the allergy and differentiate it from intolerance.
I hope this information will help you create comfortable and safe living conditions. Be healthy and take care of yourself!