Re: My suggestions for eczema freedom...

Hello Rick,

You are correct in that you should have seen a difference (for the better) in your condition by now. In the case where eczema persists, it is a strong indication that allergen/irritants are still present in your environment (system/body), seriously compromising your immune health. I noticed several allergen instigators in the medications and creams you currently use for treatment of the eczema. However, I also wanted to make sure that other possible allergen/irritants had been addressed by you as well. This is why I posted a second message with an inquiry regarding household pets in your environment and the condition of your water system (whether or not it is treated with chlorine or fluoride).

I want you to have the success that you deserve. In order to ensure that type of success, all three areas of eczema concern, [internal - (restoring balance to immune sytem), external - (natural skin care/rehydration of skin cells), & foreign - (identification & removal of allergen/irritants)], will have to be simultaneously and sufficiently addressed.

You have taken things out of your diet that you perceive to be contributing to your discomfort. That is a smart move; however, it still doesn't address the deficiencies your eczema symptoms shouted existed. Although I do see that you attempted to supplement those deficiencies through pill form, the true balance that your system desires needs to come from the whole foods you eat. In my more recent postings, I've been referring people to review a listing of the vitamin/mineral deficiencies that eczema represents at the wholehealthmd.com website. Like with any of the things I refer, I make the reference as a 'help' source (I have no personal/business affiliations with any of the recommendations I make).

Here is a quick overview of the deficiencies represented by eczema, along with the whole food sources that fill those deficiencies:

Beta Carotene - broccoli, brussel sprouts, carrots, collard greens, kale, lettuce (green/romaine), pumpkin, spinach, squash, sweet pototoes, apricots, mango, peaches, & pink grapefruit

Zinc - barley, beef, chicken, crab, lamb, oysters, turkey, & wheat

quercetin - cabbage, garlic, kale, onions, spinach, apples, cranberries, grapes, pears, & white grapefruit

omega-3 fatty acids - salmon, trout, & tuna

vitamin C - potatoes, red bell peppers, red cabbage, kiwi, orange, strawberries, & tangarines/mandarines

vitamin E - avocados, broccoli, mangos, almonds, brazil nuts, peanuts, & sunflower seeds

The one thing that should strike most people familiar with any of the eczema research sites when looking at this food listing is the fact that many of the food items that eczema sufferers are told to stay away from, show up in the list as containing vital nutrient sources for good immune health. To me, the mystery behind eczema suffering (in particular, immune health)doesn't seem to be such a big mystery when the food sources needed to provide the necessary nourishment has been eliminated from a persons daily diet. This is why I take the general recommendations for food allergens on a case by case (trial by trial) basis. I didn't remove necessary food groups (whole foods as opposed to junk foods) from my nieces daily nutrition unless they had proven to be allergic to an item. For example, it is suggested that eczema sufferers stay away from dairy. Milk, which is a source for vitamin D & calcium, is essential to a child's growth and development; in particular, growing bones. All three of my nieces still consume dairy and still remain eczema free. The key is balance.

There is a chemistry within the body that takes place with the vitamin, mineral, and protein sources. Calcium and magnesium are those two players in the body that work off of each other. The body doesn't build up magnesium; therefore and because it is flushed out of the system (where kidneys are functioning properly) on a daily basis, it needs to be replenished. "Calcium needs magnesium in order to assimilate into the body, however, when too much calcium is consumed, it will pull magnesium out of body parts in order to assimilate. This creates a magnesium deficiency." [for more magnesium info you can read the article 'Magnesium - the neglected essential mineral' at www.tsangenterprise.com/news56.htm] Based on the facts regarding magnesium and calcium, it is my personal belief, through hypothesis and rationale, that a problem with dairy is more of a problem with a magnesium deficiency. This is why I include magnesium as a deficiency for eczema sufferers as well. It is indeed a balancing act; dairy may just need to be decreased and magnesium increased. Especially in the cases of children and their growth development; if dairy (which provides the essential nutrients calcium and vitamin D) is completely removed from the child's diet, make sure that those essential nutrients (calcium and vitamin D) are being replenished.

The message that I want parents of eczema suffering children and adult sufferers to get is to understand what nutrients are necessary for good immune health and to pay attention to what they are taking away when they take away certain food sources. For example, wheat is a leading food source for zinc (an immune booster). Wheat is one of the food items recommended as a an item or food group to delete from the eczema sufferers diet. My nieces also eat whole wheat breads with no problems to their skin. I would have only pulled this item from their diet if I found them to be specifically allergic (not taking this item out of their diet based solely on a recommended list). Almonds and other nuts are also recommended as food allergens for eczema sufferers. Almonds, peanuts, and brazil nuts are excellent food sources for vitamin E. Again, I would personally test for allergens in this area before eliminating these sources of vitamin E from a diet.

Each eczema sufferer has to be treated on case by case basis. For some these particular food items may serve to cause allergic reactions; and for others (like my nieces), they may not. It is obvious that junk foods/soft drinks produce no nutritional value to the body and actually promote immune imbalance. Therefore, (and across the board) these items should be eliminated from an individuals diet in their efforts to get healthy. However, when it comes to whole foods and the essential nutrients they provide, proceed with caution when taking these items out of your daily nutrition. The added bonus if an individual finds that they are allergic to a particular food item which provides an essential nutrient is that you can opt to pick another food item that provides that essential nutrient. For example; I am personally allergic to mangos (I get an eczema reaction on my lips). Mangos are a good source of both beta carotene (immune booster) and vitamin E. I simply choose to eat other food sources for beta carotene (like carrots, greens, sweet potatoes etc...) and vitamin E (like almonds, peanuts, broccoli). What I am trying to say is that there are enough items within each essential nutrient food source from which an individual could choose should they find they are allergic to a particular item....

I'm going to have to take a break here to post the second part of this message. I'm having problems with the memory on my computer and need to post this before I lose everything

aunty
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