Ending April - Health Update - Your recipe for success ***REDUCE ALLERGY SYMPTOMS*** VEGAN

So my internal health feels great right now (body feels bloated from sodium intake).  I've had maybe one "bad day" of allergies attacking me and it was probably because went without medicine for a little while.  The pollen count as had some bad days but my body was unaware with maybe the exception of my eyes which would twitch now and then.  I've greatly reduced my Post nasal drip (PND), exercise induced asthma and coughing while I eat.  *** I HAVE NOT CURED MY ALLERGIES *** *** THIS JUST GREATLY REDUCES MY SYMPTOMS ***  So here's exactly what I'm doing and if this works for ANYONE ELSE; Congratulations!  I knoooow your happiness!  And you're welcome!

What you need:

• NeilMed Nasal Irrigation (I use the bottle) & Salt packets
• Small Slim Kettle for Bathroom (Make distilled water and heat it up for your nose)
• Zyrtec (I know it has lactose, get over it)
• Claritin
• Bausch + Lomb Alaway (Eye Itch Relief - if necessary)
• Multi-vitamins
• Eczema cream (if applicable - I use either Cetaphil or Aveeno) 
• Positive Energy (Really important)

Avoid:

• Eggs
• Dairy
• Meats (If it was a living animal then yes avoid it)
• Processed sugar, flour oils
• Huge amounts of soy intake

Morning:

• Warm distilled water (previously boiled the night before) and saline solution in NeilMed device
• Irrigate nasal per instructions
• Take 2 or 3 (I take 3) mulit-vitamins
• Take 1 claritin
• One drop of Bausch + Lomb Alaway in each eye
• I've had eczema growing up but have reduced the amount of lotion I use on my face for this skin disorder
• Look in the mirror, smile and feel great =)

Throughout the day monitor what you eat and drink.  Please by all means drink as much water as you can.  Bring lemon juice to work or a Soda Fountain and carbonate a liter of water up.  Totally worth it!

My coffee!  My coffee!  Mike I can't give up my 1/2 & 1/2....oh I know!  It ain't easy!  I've battled and battled that out, and to save you about $80 and several tastings here is my analysis. THERE IS A WAY! =) (positive thinking!)...and it involves coconut creamer.  I placed 1/2 coconut creamer with 1/2:
Rice Milk
Oat Milk
Almond Milk
Almond Creamer (NASTY!! DONT DO IT!!!)
Almond "Unsweetened" Chocolate Milk
Hemp Milk
Soy Milk (YUCK!)

I'm not crazy about more soy intake so was NOT UPSET that soy failed (Yesssss!).  Almond Creamer (Mimiccreme) was so nasty I didn't even wanna dump it in my sink! Ok Ok...so what's the winner?!?
1/2 coconut creamer & 1/2 rice milk...this is as close to 1/2 & 1/2 as I'll get...so I started dumping all the other contenders in the sink and noticed that unsweetened label on the chocolate milk....hmmm if I add this to the 1/2 & 1/2 with a packet of splenda.....****OMG**** MOCHAS!!!!  Who's dairy free mouth is in heaven right now?!?  Damn right, mine!


Dinner time has been FAN-BLOODY-TASTIC at my house.  Who doesn't eat salad?!?  That was me...I'd buy the mesclun which looked appealing, some dressing, throw it in the fridge and never eat, toss it out 2 week or 2 months later (It was in a drawer people, I never paid attention until it started moving towards the trash bin).  Going vegan guess what my new friend was?!  Ugh....I mean, GREAAAAT!  Well from time to time at lunch I would hit au bon pain or chiptole up for a salad so maybe if I made my fridge look like a variety of toppings I too could be my own server.

Mike...I seriously do NOT wanna cut veggies up all damn day!  And this is also cutting into my vodka hour, cause oh yea, I can still drink my belvedere, club soda, splash of cran with a twist of lime!  I totally get you guys and am at my job at 214pm with my water now fantasizing....*excuse me* =)

Ahhhhh!  There goes 32oz! ok where was I..oh yea! Salad!  FOCUS (>_<)!!!  So if you got the $20 to spare get these life safevers:  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004HINF3U

I got like 8 of them.  I loves chopping my salads and ingredients!  If you need inspiration here is what I keep loaded in the house:

• Mesclun (Salad)
• Tomatoes
• Cucumbers
• Hummus or Roasted Chickpeas (http://www.amazon.com/The-Good-Bean-Cracked-2-5-Ounce/dp/B00474HDX2)
• Frozen edamame (microwave then let'm cool off then store - get them already shelled SOY)
• Whole Foods - General Tso's "Chicken" (SOY)
• Low sodium tortilla chips
• Crispy Wonton Strips
• Annie's Thai Peanut sauce
• Balsamic Vinegar (get an aged one...go on! Treat yourself)
• Frozen corn

I'll give you other ingredients if you go to level two (bringing back seafood - Pescetarian still restricting the dairy and egg intake)

I like chopping everything up individually then adding them into bowls to take to work or just eat for dinner.  Salads don't spoil but they will wilt so if you can keep'm bagged or air tight do that!


Evening:

• Warm distilled water (previously boiled the night before) and saline solution in NeilMed device
• Irrigate nasal per instructions
• Take 1 zyrtec (if you're hardcore - get rid of this lactose pill and find an alternative, ask your doctor or pharmacist)
• One drop of Bausch + Lomb Alaway in each eye (if needed)
• If needed, eczema lotion
• Boil new water for the next day
• Look in the mirror, smile and feel great =)