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| The Mediterranean Diet and Respiratory Allergies In the April 2007 issue of the journal, Thorax, an article was published about a study of the "Mediterranean Diet". Researchers had noted that children on the island of Crete certainly had allergies but fewer than expected had respiratory allergies such as rhinitis or wheezing symptoms. These researchers surveyed the eating habits of these children and found that adherence to a "Mediterranean Diet" was associated with fewer respiratory allergy symptoms. In explaining these findings to my patients, I have approached the issue with these FAQ's: What are Respiratory Allergies? Respiratory allergies are thos allergies that are manifested by symptoms in the respiratory tract. Researchers in this particular study looked at Rhinitis and Wheezing. What is the "Mediterranean Diet"? The "Mediterranean Diet" is a name given to the dietary habits of those people living in the Mediterranean countries. It typically consists of heavy reliance on fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, olive oil and whole grains. What exactly are the study's findings? The study found that those children who ate more fruits, vegetables and nuts seemed to have fewer respiratory allergies. Grapes, apples, oranges and fresh tomatoes was associated with fewer rhinitis and wheezing symptoms. Nut intake was associated with less wheezing. Margarine intake was associated with more problems with rhinitis and wheezing. What are the study's limitations? Since the study was a retrospective survey, it certainly is open to some interpretation. However, the statistical power of the study was enhanced by its large size. Certainly, a prospective, long-term study would be helpful though this would be a difficult study to perform. What other medical conditions are linked to dietary factors? There are many medical conditions that are linked to dietary factors. These include heart disease, breast cancer, colon cancer, diabetes, and hypertension to name a few. If I don't want to change my eating habits, are there some pills or supplements that I can take instead? Though it's attractive to go for the "quick fix" and just take a pill or vitamin, I always recommend that my patients "let food be food". |
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| IMPORTANT: The information providied is of a general nature and should not be used as a substitute for professional advice. If you think you may suffer from an allergic or other disease that requires attention, you should discuss it with your doctor. |