Dust– allergy sufferers should deal with this first. The hypoallergenic method is wet cleaning with plain water and a cloth. All horizontal surfaces in the house should be wiped down at least every 1-3 days.
Vacuum cleaners and their filters. Each filter lets dust through, and even more of it flies out of the vacuum cleaner's cracks. The safest cleaning method is a damp broom, mop and rag. People who suffer from allergies must completely avoid "dry" cleaning in the house. And if this is not possible, entrust it to someone close to you when you go for a walk.
The best choice for allergy sufferers is to avoid curtains or replace them with blinds with metal slats that are easy to clean from dust.
Dust is well retained by mosquito nets and a special filter screen protects you from pollen and other allergenic particles.
The fewer items in the house that collect dust (fur skins, carpets, canopies, curtains, souvenirs, figurines, books, soft toys), the better. It is advisable to store things in closets in special boxes or bags.
Synthetic fabrics are preferably used in the interior: nylon, polyester, etc. They are more practical: they are not destroyed by light and changes in humidity, do not rot and are very wear-resistant. Easy to care: 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 materials are wool and fur, as well as natural and artificial (viscose, acetate) materials with a pile.
Another risk factor is the litter as a potential habitat for house dust mites, whose waste products can cause severe allergies. Instead of the most allergenic filler – "feather" – it is recommended to use hypoallergenic options: holofiber, bamboo, natural latex, etc.
There are special covers with locks that protect bedding from dust mites. It is best to change the bed linen once a week and wash it at high temperatures, clean the pillows at least every six months.
Using a bunk bed for children is dangerous because the child sleeping under it receives a double dose of "dust" allergens.
Mold control and prevention– an important factor for a hypoallergenic life, because mold is second only to house dust mites in the list of household allergens and in most cases they work together.
If the air in the apartment is dry, more dust accumulates in it and it becomes difficult to breathe, and if there is too much humidity, this contributes to the proliferation of dust mites and mold.
The humidity in the house can be regulated with a special humidifier. The "folk" methods of humidification include placing water containers in the apartment, especially during the heating season, and hanging wet towels, especially on radiators. An aquarium or an indoor fountain in the apartment serves the same purpose. Also houseplants (they should be hypoallergenicbe), which have to be sprayed daily, contribute to the humidification of the air.
Pets.Allergies are usually caused by pet waste products (fur particles, lint, feathers, secretions) and food (e. g. dry fish food). Allergens can persist in a room for more than two years after a cat, dog, hamster, parrot and other pets no longer live there.
Hypoallergenic diet
The first rule for every allergy sufferer is to avoid contact with the allergen and take the necessary medication if unpleasant symptoms occur. Adjusting the diet in this case significantly improves the condition of an adult or child.
If there is a food allergy confirmed by clinical diagnostic studies, the doctor will of course prescribe a special diet. But there is also a non-specific hypoallergenic diet approved by doctors. It can be used regardless of the type of allergen (household, insect, medicinal, etc. ) to reduce the burden on the body and speed up recovery. Including neurodermatitis, which often worsens in winter.
Prohibited products.Depending on the degree of allergenicity, all products can be divided into highly, moderately and slightly allergenic.
First of all, it is necessary to exclude everything fried, smoked, salty and spicy. As well as semi-finished meat and fish products – cutlets, sausages, fish burgers, sausages, etc. , as they contain a variety of flavor and aroma additives and stabilizers. The preferred cooking method on a hypoallergenic diet: baking, boiling, stewing with a minimal amount of oil. Instead of coffee, drink rosehip infusion, weak tea and still water. To control your diet, keep a food diary and record everything you eat during the day.
Recommended foods |
Products to exclude |
|---|---|
Dairy products and eggs.Goat milk. Fermented milk products (one day): kefir, acidophilus, matsoni, narine, cottage cheese (single). Butter – younger children 10-15g, older children – 20-25g. (preferably melted) Non-sharp cheeses. Hard-boiled egg yolks at least 1-2 times a week (one at a time). |
Unleavened cow's milk (including dry and canned milk), sour milk, fermented baked milk, cream, sour cream, children's cream cheese, processed cheese, sharp cheese, cheese with spices. Egg (including products containing it: mayonnaise, creams, sauces, some types of bread, sweets). If you are sensitive to mold, avoid kefir, cottage cheese, muffins, kvass and moldy cheeses. |
Grains and dishes made from them. Buckwheat, pearl barley, oatmeal, corn, rice porridge (cooked in water). Pasta (1-2 times a week). To reduce allergenicity, it is recommended to soak the cereal in cold water for 1-2 hours. |
Semolina and millet cereals, Artek cereals, wheat, rye. |
Vegetables (green or white).Potatoes (soaked for 10-12 hours). Cabbage (white cabbage, cauliflower, fresh). Parsley, dill, lettuce, zucchini, pumpkin, fresh cucumbers (except greenhouse cucumbers). Cooked carrots (individually). To reduce allergenicity, it is recommended to soak vegetables in cold water for 1-2 hours. |
Pumpkin, turnips, turnips, tomatoes, tomato sauce, radishes, sunflower seeds; Eggplant, peas, beans, green peas, celery, raw onions, sorrel, cucumbers, sauerkraut. |
Fruits, berries (light color).Green apples, plums, white and yellow cherries, white currants, green pears. Blueberries, blueberries, cranberries, plums. Older children: gooseberries, cranberries, bananas (single). Fruits that are peeled, stored in the refrigerator, baked or in compote form are less allergenic. |
Strawberries, wild strawberries, raspberries, currants (black, red), cherries. Peaches, apricots, melon, persimmons, grapes, pineapple, 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 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.Bread with bran. White (unsweetened) and black (unsweetened) bread; simple dryers, crackers, crackers, diabetic cookies. For older children – homemade yeast cake without eggs, with plums or apples. Apple jam. Marshmallows (in small quantities). |
Chocolate, pralines, coffee, cocoa, cream cakes, rich baked bread and rolls, Tula and honey gingerbread, marshmallows, ice cream. Nuts, halva, honey. |
Meat.Beef (steamed, boiled). Rabbit, turkey. Horse meat. Pork and lamb (lean). Specialized canned food for children. The allergenic activity of meat decreases with freezing and subsequent gradual thawing, soaking and prolonged cooking. Meat from young animals is more allergenic. |
Chicken, duck, goose. Chicken, meat, fish, mushroom broths. Pork, lamb (fat). Veal. liver, kidneys. Mushrooms. Sausage, sausages, 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 an antigenic affinity for bovine tissue products. |
beverages. Black tea (leaf, unsweetened, without flavors and without fruit additives). Still drinking water. Juices (diluted 1/3 with boiled water) and compotes from dried fruits and fresh fruits and berries are recommended above. |
Carbonated drinks. Kvass. Canned goods. Food additives (colorings, preservatives, emulsifiers, flavors). Chewing gum. |
In addition to a hypoallergenic diet, foods rich in histamine or histamine liberators should be excluded from the diet of people with food allergies.
Histamine-rich foods:Pickled herring, strawberries, wild strawberries, peanuts, beans, game, brewer's yeast.
Histamine liberators:Sauerkraut, spinach, pork liver, dry smoked sausages, fermented cheese, 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 noticeable improvements, you need to see a doctor and undergo a series of laboratory tests. They help to determine the true cause of the allergy and distinguish it from intolerance.
I hope this information will help you create comfortable and safe living conditions. Stay healthy and take care of yourself!