Next week, from May 11-17, 2008, will be the Food Allergy Awareness Week, initiated by the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network.

Looking for ideas how you can contribute and make more people aware of food allergies - how important it is, how it impacts the lives of people, and how non-allergic people can help make the lives of allergic individuals a tiny bit easier? Here's a calendar of activities (pdf file) prepared by FAAN for individuals, schools, families, and communities.

See the FAAN website for more activities and ideas for spreading the word about food allergies.

Got an email from Alex, about the revamped site design of Cooking Allergy Free:

While not a drastic overall, we definitely think we've made it even easier to find recipes tailored to your allergy-diet, along with more recipes and recipe photos!

We've also just added the ability for users to create their own Profile. They can enter some information about themselves, upload a photo, allow others to see their allergies, and allow people to privately contact them. It's just another way that we're trying to keep our great community of users together and providing great support to each other.

And here's the best part:

To celebrate the addition of Profiles we're having a contest through May for any users that create their own Profile. At the end of the month, all users who have created one will be entered in a raffle for a free cookbook of their choice!

SO head on over and create your profile. And while you're there, I'm sure you'll find great allergy-free recipes to try!

Now that the allergy season has started, how much do you spend on allergy medications? How much is your temporary relief costing you? Dr. Daniel More offers some ways to cut corners with cheap allergy treatments.

Still, if you have severe allergies, allergy medications can eventually eat into your budget. Allergy shots are quite costly, actually, not just in terms of money, but also in terms of time, as you would have to arrange to go to the clinic several times during the course of treatment. However, in the end, it might be the more cost-effective option. Consult your allergist if this allergy management option is suitable for you.

Little Bay Baking Company is recalling "http://www.littlebaybaking.com/cornbreadmx.htm" due to undeclared soy.

The product comes in a 12.6-oz. white paper tin tie bag and was sold under the names Little Bay Baking or GFCFDiet.

If you have soy allergies and have purchased this product, you may return the product to the manufacturer or call (603) 828-7236 for a full refund.

As suggested by a research published ahead of print in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, children who live in tree-lined streets have lower rates of asthma.


© Phillie Casablanca



The said finding was based on rates of asthma rates for the disease among 4 to 5 year olds, and hospital admissions for the disease among children up to 15, from 42 health service districts of New York City, USA.

US rates of childhood asthma soared 50% between 1980 and 2000, with particularly high rates in poor urban communities.

In New York City, asthma is the leading cause of admission to hospital among children under 15.

The medical data were then plotted against city data on the number of trees in each area, sources of pollution, racial and ethnic make-up, and population density. The City had an average of 613 street trees per square kilometre, and 9% of young children had asthma.

I agree, let's plant more and more trees. That would help the environment in general.

Find more details from Science Daily.

Remember nickel allergy? It is an allergy to metals (most metals have nickel!) wherein direct skin contact can lead to itching and rashes.

Mobile phones can be a cause of nickel allergy too.

According to Slash Gear:

If you've ever felt a bit itchy after messing with your cellphone or iPod for a while, you might have to face facts that you're a bit allergic to technology. I have a slight nickel allergy, but luckily my ears and hands can handle it. Whereas my neck and wrists will break out in a rash over almost nothing. Well apparently those with a nickel allergy are the ones that need to worry.

There is cause for worry but this is something that can easily be resolved. Like opting for a a model of mobile phone that has outer rubber or some kind of plastic coated to the metal house.

Like I do. Yes, I have nickel allergy too! ;-)

And if you really cannot resist the mobile phone with a metal finish, then you can easily buy the so called cellphone condoms that are all abound these days. Yes, the cellphone condom is a like an extra, thin, rubber housing that you cover the body of your cellphone with. That way direct skin contact of the metal will be prevented. Unless of course you have rubber allergy! But then, that is another story.