Q. I recently developed an allergy to all types of nuts. A couple of years ago I became allergic to bee stings. I’ll be 50 in July. Why am I getting allergy problems now? Should I be concerned? — Kathy, Campbellstown, Ky.
A. Although allergies seem like something you develop as a child, the truth is that they’re like wild days in the stock market: They can happen anytime and for no apparent reason. We think the recent dramatic increases in nut allergies may be due to the ever-expanding number of ways they’re used by food companies: The more nuts are combined with other ingredients — especially proteins — the more these nut combos seem to alarm our immune systems. Regardless, food allergies occur when your immune system mistakenly decides something you’ve eaten (usually a protein, like nuts or shellfish) is harmful and orders antibodies to attack it immediately. The effects of your immune system’s assault can include anything from an itchy rash to a frightening swelling of your airways.
Fortunately, allergies to food and bee stings usually produce unpleasant but non-life-threatening symptoms in most people. However, every year, around 30,000 people are treated for what’s called anaphylactic shock (which can shut down your respiratory system), and 150 die. If you have severe allergic reactions to nuts and bees, always carry two EpiPens with you to inject yourself with a dose of epinephrine; this will open your airways long enough for you to get to an emergency room. Why two? One may get damaged or broken in the rush to inject yourself. A back-up can be a lifesaver.
Q. After trying Zumba — a sizzling-fun kind of Latin dance and exercise — my knees hurt for two days. I have arthritis and some joint degeneration. Is this just a short-term reaction, or should I not take Zumba classes? – Cathy, via e-mail
A. Don’t give up on Zumba just yet. Some people with arthritis say this spicy, energizing blend of aerobics, salsa and basic dance moves has gotten them moving when nothing else has. Zumba turns boring exercise classes into a party (without the chips and dip). It’s also been estimated that you can burn 400 to 1,000 calories an hour moving to Zumba’s Latin beat. But if all that hip-swiveling motion is too much for your knees, talk to your instructor about ways to still get the benefits but do less-dramatic knee moves. If you’re embarrassed about not keeping up with the hot tempo, just slip to the back of the room. You’re likely to find other folks there making similar adjustments; cool it together. Also, talk to your doc about trying an anti-inflammatory (like two aspirins with a glass of water) an hour before and an hour after your class. Finally, begin doing some squats and lunges with light weights three times a week (start slowly). This will strengthen the muscles around your knees, which helps support and protect these joints.
Q. I don’t eat fish, so to get my omega-3s, I added flaxseed to my diet. But my eye doctor told me that flaxseed isn’t absorbed by the body as well as fish oil. Is that true? – Becky, South Dakota
A. Your eye doctor isn’t seeing 20/20 on this one. Let’s straighten out the science. It’s true that fish oil is a better source of omega-3s than freshly ground flaxseeds (yes, you have to grind them fresh; otherwise the oil becomes oxidized and irrelevant). But we still recommend flaxseeds all the time (one or two ground tablespoons a day). Flaxseeds are rich in alpha-linoleic acid (ALA). Your body converts a little of that ALA into omega-3s, but much more important, ALA seems to curb inflammation, a risk factor for heart disease and many other problems. Also, daily doses of flaxseed can reduce irregular heartbeats, lower your total cholesterol by up to 11 percent and your lousy LDL cholesterol by 10 to 18 percent. It also can improve your arteries’ ability to relax (it’s as healthy for them as it is for you). So keep eating that flax and only ask your eye doctor for vision advice.
All that said, we also recommend taking 600 to 900 mg daily of DHA omega-3 supplements for your eyes. Over 60 percent of the key sensing nerves in your retina are fat, and more than 60 percent of that fat is DHA. Look for DHA supplements made from algae. Not only is DHA our favorite form of omega-3, but algae is where fish get their omega-3s.
The YOU Docs, Mehmet Oz and Mike Roizen, are authors of “YOU: On a Diet.” Want more? See “The Dr. Oz Show” on TV (check local listings). To submit questions, visit realage.com.
