dust– people suffering from allergies should deal with this 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 their filters. Each filter allows dust to pass through, and even more of it flies through the cracks of the vacuum cleaner itself. The safest cleaning method is a broom, mop and damp cloth. Allergy sufferers should completely avoid "dry" cleaning at home. And if this is not possible, trust someone close to you when you go for a walk.
The best choice for an allergic person is the absence of curtains or replacing them with curtains with metal slats that are easily cleaned of dust.
Dust is well kept 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, tents, curtains, souvenirs, figurines, books, soft toys), the better. It is advisable to store things in closets in separate boxes or bags.
In the interiors, the use of synthetic fabrics is preferred: nylon, polyester, etc. They are more practical: they are not destroyed by light, do not change humidity, do not rot and are very resistant to wear. Easy to care for: they collect 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 the bed, as a possible habitat for dust mites, whose remains can provoke severe allergies. It is recommended that instead of the most allergenic filler - "feathers" - use hypoallergenic options: holofiber, bamboo, natural latex, etc.
There are special covers with locks that protect the bed from dust mites. It is best to change your bedding once a week and wash it at high temperatures and clean your 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 a hypoallergenic life, because molds are 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 in it and it is difficult to breathe, and if there is excess moisture, this contributes to the spread of dust mites and mold.
Humidity in the home can be controlled using a special humidifier. "Popular" humidification methods include placing containers of water in the apartment, especially during the heating season, hanging wet towels, mainly on radiators. Keeping an aquarium or an indoor fountain in the apartment serves the same purpose. Indoor plants (they must be hypoallergenic), which require daily spraying, also contribute to air humidification.
Pets.Allergies are usually caused by pet waste products (fur particles, fluff, feathers, secretions) and food (for example, 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 allergy sufferer is to avoid contact with the allergen if unpleasant symptoms appear and take the necessary medications. Adjusting the diet in this case significantly improves the condition of an adult or child.
Of course, if there is a 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 burden on the body and accelerate healing. Including atopic dermatitis, which often worsens in winter.
Prohibited products.According to the degree of allergy, all products can be divided into very, moderately and slightly allergic.
First of all, it is necessary to exclude everything fried, smoked, salty and spicy. As well as meat and semi-finished fish products - cutlets, sausages, fishburgers, sausages, etc. , as they contain a large number of aromas and aromatic additives, stabilizers. Preferred cooking method when following a hypoallergenic diet: baking, stewing, boiling with a minimum amount of oil. Instead of coffee, drink rose 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 (one day): kefir, acidophilus, matsoni, narine, cottage cheese (individually). Butter - younger children 10-15 g, older children - 20-25 g. (preferably melted) Non-sharp cheeses. Hard-boiled yolk at least 1-2 times a week (individually). |
Unleavened cow's milk (including dry and canned), sour milk, mature fermented milk, cream, sour cream, cream cheese for children, processed cheese, sharp cheeses, spicy cheeses. Eggs (including products containing it: mayonnaise, creams, sauces, some types of bread, cakes). If you are sensitive to mold fungi, exclude kefir, cottage cheese, muffins, kvass and moldy varieties of cheese. |
Cereals and preparations made from them. Buckwheat, pearl barley, oatmeal, corn, rice porridge (cooked in water). Pasta (1-2 times a week). To reduce allergy, it is advisable to soak the cereal in cold water for 1-2 hours. |
Oatmeal 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 (individual). To reduce the allergy, it is advisable to soak the vegetables in cold water for 1-2 hours. |
Pumpkin, turnip, rutabaga, tomato, tomato sauce, radish, sunflower seeds; eggplant, peas, beans, green peas, celery, raw onions, sorrel, pickles, sauerkraut. |
Fruits, berries (light color).Green apples, plums, white and yellow cherries, white currants, green pears. Blueberries, blueberries, lingonberries, prunes. Older children: eggplants, blueberries, bananas (individually). Fruits that are peeled, refrigerated, baked, or in compote form are less allergenic. |
Strawberries, wild strawberries, raspberries, currants (black, red), cherries. Peach, apricot, melon, date, grape, pineapple, mango, 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). |
Pork, 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; plain driers, cookies, cookies, diabetic cookies. For older children - homemade sourdough pie without eggs, with prunes or apples. Apple marmalade. Marshmallows (in small quantities). |
Chocolate, chocolate candies, coffee, cocoa, cream cakes, rich baked breads and buns, Tula gingerbread and honey, marshmallows, ice cream. Nuts, halva, honey. |
Meat.Beef (steamed, boiled). Rabbit, turkey. Horse meat. Pork and lamb (lean). Specialized canned foods for children. Allergic activity of meat decreases during freezing and subsequent gradual thawing, soaking and prolonged boiling. The meat of young animals is more allergenic. |
Chicken, duck, goose. Broths of chicken, meat, fish, mushrooms. Pork, lamb (fatty). Beef. Liver, kidneys. Mushrooms. Sausages, 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, because cow's milk protein has antigenic affinity with bovine tissue products. |
Drinks. Black tea (leaf, without sugar, without flavoring and without fruit additives). I still drink water. Juices (diluted with boiled water by 1/3) and compote from dried fruits and fresh fruits and berries recommended above. |
Carbonated drinks. Kvass. Canned foods. Food additives (colors, preservatives, emulsifiers, flavorings). Chewing gum. |
In addition to a hypoallergenic diet, histamine-rich or histamine-releasing foods should be excluded from the diet of people suffering from food allergies.
Foods rich in histamine:Pickled herring, strawberries, wild strawberries, peanuts, beans, game, brewer's yeast.
Histamine releasers:Sauerkraut, spinach, pork liver, dry 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 are no obvious improvements, you should consult a doctor and perform a series of laboratory tests. They will help to determine the true cause of the allergy and to distinguish it from intolerance.
I hope this information will help you create comfortable and safe living conditions. Be healthy and take care of yourself!