This sounds like propaganda to me. The International Food Information Council Foundation masquerades as an independent science-based non-profit, but it is essentially a puppet of the industrial agriculture business. It is aggressively pushing the (incorrect and unscientific) idea that allergies are caused solely by genetic factors because there is fear (and warranted fear) that commercial agriculture could be introducing toxins into the environment that could be one of the many factors contributing to allergies.
My grandfather, Alan Cazort, was one of the early allergists, and I also know a number of contemporary doctors and a few researchers in immunology who have all told me the same thing--that allergies, like most health problems, are caused by an interaction between genetic factors and environmental factors. The Wikipedia page on Allergy has a good section on causes that cites a number of studies. It's common sense and common knowledge, and backed solidly by science.
As the "tea person" I want to also mention that there is a lot of hype surrounding Rooibos (a South African plant used in herbal teas) as a treatment for allergy. There has not been a huge amount of research done on this plant, but so far, there is no evidence that it can treat allergy. However, there is some evidence that it can promote healthy immune system function, so it may show promise for preventing allergy. There is also some evidence that it is helpful for treating respiratory ailments such as asthma, so it may be a useful treatment for the symptoms of respiratory allergy. The page on Rooibos on RateTea.net has a few links to further scientific studies if anyone is interested.
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This sounds like propaganda to me. The International Food Information Council Foundation masquerades as an independent science-based non-profit, but it is essentially a puppet of the industrial agriculture business. It is aggressively pushing the (incorrect and unscientific) idea that allergies are caused solely by genetic factors because there is fear (and warranted fear) that commercial agriculture could be introducing toxins into the environment that could be one of the many factors contributing to allergies.
My grandfather, Alan Cazort, was one of the early allergists, and I also know a number of contemporary doctors and a few researchers in immunology who have all told me the same thing--that allergies, like most health problems, are caused by an interaction between genetic factors and environmental factors. The Wikipedia page on Allergy has a good section on causes that cites a number of studies. It's common sense and common knowledge, and backed solidly by science.
As the "tea person" I want to also mention that there is a lot of hype surrounding Rooibos (a South African plant used in herbal teas) as a treatment for allergy. There has not been a huge amount of research done on this plant, but so far, there is no evidence that it can treat allergy. However, there is some evidence that it can promote healthy immune system function, so it may show promise for preventing allergy. There is also some evidence that it is helpful for treating respiratory ailments such as asthma, so it may be a useful treatment for the symptoms of respiratory allergy. The page on Rooibos on RateTea.net has a few links to further scientific studies if anyone is interested.
January 26, 2010 - 11:31amThis Comment
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