Top it with cereal, fresh fruit, or a little swirl of honey. Any way you serve it up, this creamy breakfast food may be an allergy fighter. We're talking about yogurt.
Research suggests that the powerful probiotic bugs -- called Lactobacillus casei (L. casei) -- in yogurt may decrease body levels of immune substances involved in seasonal allergies. So every cup of goodness means fewer sniffles and "achoos."
The Nose Knows
Your
gastrointestinal tract naturally plays host to a variety of bacteria.
But in people who suffer from allergies, those bacteria levels are a
little off. And researchers think that probiotics may help shift the
balance of bugs back to a healthier status that helps support the immune
system. That's exactly what a recent small study suggests. Seasonal
allergy sufferers in the study consumed either a probiotic-fortified
dairy drink or a placebo drink for 5 months. And at the end of the
study, those who had knocked back the L. casei drinks showed lower levels of immune substances that contribute to allergies. (There's more! Discover all the health benefits of probiotics in this YOU Docs Daily Blog.)
Beneficial Bugs
Whatever
you do, don't ignore sneezes, itchy eyes, and a runny nose. If you have
allergies, it's best to nip your symptoms in the bud so they don't turn
into something more serious -- like asthma or a sinus infection. Eating yogurt might help, but a comprehensive allergy-treatment plan laid out by your doctor is best.
body care products
- e-doolittle
on Sep. 23, 2010 at 8:44 AM