I wish I had read something like this years ago. I could have saved a lot of time and money!
I have been highly allergic to trees for many years. Maples, Oaks, Poplars Ash... All the trees that are prevalent in the Northeast where I live.
I was constantly getting sick, ear & sinus infections, colds and such. I finally went to an ENT and found that I had polyps in my nasal passages that were blocking it, causing the infections.
I had an operation in which they removed the polyps and two of my turbinates. I also got diagnosed with the allergies and started getting regular shots.
When my insurance changed, and the new company did not cover the shots at all, I had to stop. I started taking natural remedies which helped a lot*
Throughout all this, I still got sniffles and coughs, but far less. I also seemed to be just as bad in the middle of winter as in spring or summer. It just seemed to be a constant, year long thing. This made no sense, but I figured it may be dust allergies, which were supposed to be very light for me.
A couple of weeks ago, I came down with a bad stomach bug. I could hardly eat for days. I could not drink coffee during this time either. Now, that was bad, as I had been a caffeine fiend for years. I could easily drink an entire pot of coffee in a day. I could drink a cup right before bed and not even notice. If I did not have a cup of coffee by eleven in the morning, I would start getting headaches.
Well, when I got over the stomach bug, I decided to try and quit coffee. Nothing serious, I would start right up again if it got inconvenient.
In a short while, I noticed that I could breath better. I was no longer sniffing and coughing. I stopped taking my allergy remedies and had no issues. I was completely confused. What could be happening?
One day, I bought a Godiva candy bar and munched it on the way home. Halfway through, my nose suddenly started running, and my head stuffed up. Just like my allergies would cause.
My wife and I decided it must be the caffeine, and checking the internet, I verified it.
Another thing that stopped when I quit the caffeine was night sweats. I would generally sweat at night very badly, soaking the sheets. My wife would sometimes sleep on the couch in disgust. As I mentioned, this has ended.
I could never eat much carbs, I had to stick mostly to protein. If I ate a bit too much carb I would become weak, lightheaded, and start shaking when I got hungry. Much like hypoglycemia, but I was never diagnosed with it. I never let it bother me (not bright I know), but just made it a point to try and stay on high protein.
I could never have a bowl of oatmeal or dry cereal for breakfast because I'd be in bad shape by 10 am if I did.
Now, since quitting caffeine, I can literally go an entire day and eat nothing but carbs. I tried it as an experiment. No immediate ill effects, nor none the next day. I can mix up my meals much more now, which I think will be healthier.
I have noticed no decrease in alertness, my ability to focus, energy levels, nothing.
I do drink an occasional tea, which has caffeine, but very few, and I stay mostly with green and white teas, which have much less caffeine. I do NOT want to drink decaffeinated tea as I suspect the procedure is likely unhealthy.
I can eat light chocolates, such as a cup of Swiss Miss hot chocolate, or just one or two bites of a chocolate protein bar or the like, but if I do too much, I can feel it.
Of course, coffee and cocoa come from trees. So do pecans and almonds, which I can't eat because I get the nose busting allergic reaction.
I'm going to try carob. It comes from an evergreen shrub, not a full fledged tree, so it's worth a shot.
I do have a problem with evergreen type trees in that if I touch them, I break out in a rash. But I have no problems with breathing around them, and the allergist tested me for those and it was negative.
I'm also going to try pine nuts, what the heck right?
I'll just make sure I have some Benadryl with me!
So, if you have night sweats, or allergy symptoms you just can't shake, or symptoms of hypoglycemia, try quitting caffeine and see what happens. You should probably go to a doctor anyway, but give it a try!
*Quercetin, Bromelain, Stinging Nettle Root, vitamin C, EPA (fish oil)
I have been highly allergic to trees for many years. Maples, Oaks, Poplars Ash... All the trees that are prevalent in the Northeast where I live.
I was constantly getting sick, ear & sinus infections, colds and such. I finally went to an ENT and found that I had polyps in my nasal passages that were blocking it, causing the infections.
I had an operation in which they removed the polyps and two of my turbinates. I also got diagnosed with the allergies and started getting regular shots.
When my insurance changed, and the new company did not cover the shots at all, I had to stop. I started taking natural remedies which helped a lot*
Throughout all this, I still got sniffles and coughs, but far less. I also seemed to be just as bad in the middle of winter as in spring or summer. It just seemed to be a constant, year long thing. This made no sense, but I figured it may be dust allergies, which were supposed to be very light for me.
A couple of weeks ago, I came down with a bad stomach bug. I could hardly eat for days. I could not drink coffee during this time either. Now, that was bad, as I had been a caffeine fiend for years. I could easily drink an entire pot of coffee in a day. I could drink a cup right before bed and not even notice. If I did not have a cup of coffee by eleven in the morning, I would start getting headaches.
Well, when I got over the stomach bug, I decided to try and quit coffee. Nothing serious, I would start right up again if it got inconvenient.
In a short while, I noticed that I could breath better. I was no longer sniffing and coughing. I stopped taking my allergy remedies and had no issues. I was completely confused. What could be happening?
One day, I bought a Godiva candy bar and munched it on the way home. Halfway through, my nose suddenly started running, and my head stuffed up. Just like my allergies would cause.
My wife and I decided it must be the caffeine, and checking the internet, I verified it.
Another thing that stopped when I quit the caffeine was night sweats. I would generally sweat at night very badly, soaking the sheets. My wife would sometimes sleep on the couch in disgust. As I mentioned, this has ended.
I could never eat much carbs, I had to stick mostly to protein. If I ate a bit too much carb I would become weak, lightheaded, and start shaking when I got hungry. Much like hypoglycemia, but I was never diagnosed with it. I never let it bother me (not bright I know), but just made it a point to try and stay on high protein.
I could never have a bowl of oatmeal or dry cereal for breakfast because I'd be in bad shape by 10 am if I did.
Now, since quitting caffeine, I can literally go an entire day and eat nothing but carbs. I tried it as an experiment. No immediate ill effects, nor none the next day. I can mix up my meals much more now, which I think will be healthier.
I have noticed no decrease in alertness, my ability to focus, energy levels, nothing.
I do drink an occasional tea, which has caffeine, but very few, and I stay mostly with green and white teas, which have much less caffeine. I do NOT want to drink decaffeinated tea as I suspect the procedure is likely unhealthy.
I can eat light chocolates, such as a cup of Swiss Miss hot chocolate, or just one or two bites of a chocolate protein bar or the like, but if I do too much, I can feel it.
Of course, coffee and cocoa come from trees. So do pecans and almonds, which I can't eat because I get the nose busting allergic reaction.
I'm going to try carob. It comes from an evergreen shrub, not a full fledged tree, so it's worth a shot.
I do have a problem with evergreen type trees in that if I touch them, I break out in a rash. But I have no problems with breathing around them, and the allergist tested me for those and it was negative.
I'm also going to try pine nuts, what the heck right?
I'll just make sure I have some Benadryl with me!
So, if you have night sweats, or allergy symptoms you just can't shake, or symptoms of hypoglycemia, try quitting caffeine and see what happens. You should probably go to a doctor anyway, but give it a try!
*Quercetin, Bromelain, Stinging Nettle Root, vitamin C, EPA (fish oil)
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