Can an insect bite make you allergic to meat?

If you've ever spent much time in your garden, hiking, or enjoying the shade of a beautiful tree, you may have discovered a nasty tick biting you. Finding a tick attached to your skin is an unsettling finding. Most people are aware that some kinds of ticks carry Lyme disease and pose other health risks. But now researchers have found something even more life-threatening coming from a tick bite - they can make you allergic to red meat.

Researchers at the Virginia Commonwealth University found that ticks may cause people to develop a meat allergy. And this isn't the type of allergy that makes you sneeze or gives you a tummy ache. This allergy can cause a delayed anaphylaxis. In other words, you could eat meat for dinner and wake up three to six hours later unable to breathe. What's worse, there's no way to know ahead of time if you'll have the reaction. It just hits.

Not all tick bites will produce the allergy. And not all of the allergies that do develop will be anaphylactic. Some will be as simple as itchy hives.

Susan Wolver, MD, Diane Sun, MD, and their colleagues wanted to find out what was causing the sudden meat allergy. It's a relatively new phenomenon that started in the southeastern U.S. But no one knew why the allergy developed.

These researchers examined three patient case studies and found a common link in all three cases. Each of them had antibodies to a carbohydrate (alpha-gal). These antibodies develop in your blood after the tick bites (specifically the Lone Star tick). Lone Star ticks are aggressive females. They have a white spot, or star, on the center of their back.

While alpha-gal is a carbohydrate, you'll find it predominantly in meat. Once a tick bites you, your body begins developing these antibodies. Then, when you eat meat, you begin to react to it. The reaction is a release of histamine, which produces hives and anaphylaxis.

This is the first allergic reaction due to a carbohydrate rather than a protein. And it's unusual in that the reaction is typically delayed. Most anaphylactic reactions occur immediately after exposure.

So what can you do to avoid this life-threatening allergy? First, avoid ticks at all costs. I'm not a fan of insect repellants. But some of the natural repellants may help. Just make sure the product you choose says it repels ticks. Not all of them do. But don't rely on the repellant alone. Take other steps to avoid ticks. Make sure you wear white socks (so it's easier to see the ticks) and long pants. They're easier to see if you're wearing light clothing.

Then, while hiking, make sure you don't brush up against trees. Walk in the middle of the trail. And shower immediately after getting inside and inspect your entire body. If you find one, don't just grab the tweezers and pull. Removing them successfully can be tricky. Make sure you have a tick removal kit (you can find them at your local hardware store) on hand. Do not try to kill the tick with methylated spirits or any other chemicals. This may cause the tick to inject more toxins.

While this type of allergy is rare, it can happen. Take as many precautions as you can, as prevention is much better than treatment. 

5 Best Sandalwood Blends for Peace of Mind

Sandalwood is...

•             Relaxing, reviving and uplifting - excellent for nervous tension and depression.

•             Powerful aphrodisiac - good for sexual problems caused by stress, anxiety and feelings of isolation.

•             Helps free up our creativity by quieting our inner critic and helping us open up to our best self.

Over-Thinking/Over-Analyzing Blend

1 tablespoon carrier oil, 5 drops Sandalwood, 5 drops Vetiver. Apply behind your ears and on your wrists and hold an expectation of kindness from yourself.

Nervous Exhaustion Blend

1 tablespoon carrier oil, 3 drops Sandalwood, 2 drops Geranium, 1! drop Rose. Apply behind the ears, on the chest and the bottoms your of feet, then rub your hands together and inhale deeply, welcoming restful sleep.

Depression Blend

1 tablespoon carrier oil, 4 drops Sandalwood, 2 drops Roman Chamomile, 1 drop each Rose and Ylang Ylang. Apply behind your ears and to the back of your neck, your wrists and the insides of your elbows. Reapply throughout the day to give yourself a lift.

 Fear Blend

1 teaspoon carrier oil, 4 drops Sandalwood, 1 drop each Ginger and Orange. Put some oil on your hands and rub them together, inhaling deeply. Then apply behind your ears and to the back of your neck, expecting a new batch of courage to show up and lead the way.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Blend

1 tablespoon carrier oil, 3 drops Sandalwood, 2 drops Frankincense, 1 drop Orange.  Apply to the back of your neck, then rub your hands together and inhale deeply, bringing yourself into the present moment.

One critical point about Sandalwood - it is absolutely a waste of money to buy cheap Sandalwood. The smell ranges from bad to awful, and it has no health value at all.

If you already have some and it smells strong or overly woody, it's likely that synthetic scent has been added to it to make up for poor quality. 

Panic Attacks: You are in Control

Panic attacks can be terrifying. These attacks stem from profound anxiety that can make your heart pound and your knees go weak. Panic attacks can make it difficult to catch your breath and can also cause chest pain and dizziness — you may even think you're having a heart attack. A panic attack may only last a few minutes, but it can leave you feeling frightened and uneasy.

Understanding Panic Attacks

"People have these panic attacks under various circumstances,” explains Martin N. Seif, PhD, a clinical psychologist in New York City.  They constantly worry about having an attack and may avoid certain situations as a result. Eventually, people  realize that they aren't actually afraid of the situation they are avoiding, but rather of experiencing additional panic attacks, notes Seif.

Fortunately, you don’t have to live in fear of panic attacks. There are specific strategies you can use to help manage your anxiety and control your physical symptoms as well.

Panic Attacks: How to Take Control

The best way to stave off future panic attacks is by learning how to control your anxiety so that if you do start to notice symptoms of a panic attack, you can calm your mind and body until the symptoms fade.

"People who experience panic attacks are best served when they learn how to cope with their feelings of panic," says Seif. While medication can be effective, cognitive-behavioral therapy is one of the best techniques for managing panic and anxiety. "It involves recognizing that the panic-producing process is fueled by future-oriented, catastrophic thinking," explains Seif.  They become aware that their thoughts trigger a physical reaction, which results in a panic attack.

To gain control over panic attacks, it's important to learn and practice anxiety management techniques, says Seif. Strategies that you can use to help you curb a panic attack include:

Breathing slowly and deeply.

Anxiety can cause you to breathe very quickly, which makes both the mental and physical symptoms of a panic attack even worse. When you start to feel panicky, be sure to take slow, deep breaths to soothe your mind and body.

Stop and think.

When your thoughts start spinning out of control, simply tell yourself to stop. Organize your thoughts and decide what you need to do to get yourself calm again.

Think positively.

 Push negative thoughts out of your mind, and remind yourself that you are in control. Think about times when you've been able to manage situations successfully and reduce anxiety.

Stand up for yourself.

If you need to leave a situation, do so or tell someone you need to leave. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Allowing yourself to become more upset will not help if what you really need is to take a walk and blow off some steam.

Relax your muscles.

 Anxiety causes your entire body to tense up, so make a conscious effort to relax each muscle from your toes all the way up to your neck and face.

Don't wait for a panic attack to begin to try these techniques. Seif notes that it's important to use these strategies regularly and learn to manage your anxiety in gradual stages. As you become more confident that you can rein in a panic attack, you can walk out the door each day breathing easier.

5 Ingredients That Give Your Makeup Superpowers

The right cosmetics not only make your skin look good — they're also good for your skin. They contain potent ingredients that fight redness, calm breakouts, battle wrinkles, and more. Find out how to select makeup that does much more than look pretty.

By Sharon Feiereisen

Considering the amount of time makeup spends on your face, it should do more than add a bit of color or mask flaws. Whether you’re dealing with redness, uneven pigmentation, breakouts, or signs of aging (or all of these!), the following skin care ingredients can ensure that your makeup is multitasking.

Green Tea
“Green tea is one of the most powerful antioxidants available,” says Sapna Westley, MD, an attending physician in dermatology at New York Downtown Hospital. “The antioxidants in green tea, called catechins, counter free radicals caused by sun exposure, and studies have shown that using green tea along with sunblock may help prevent skin cancer.” Dr. Westley explains that the combination can also fight other damaging side effects of the sun, such as premature aging. Green tea also acts as a powerful anti-inflammatory and calming agent, so it's not likely to irritate people with sensitive skin.

Hyaluronic Acid 
Hyaluronic acid is a moisture magnet — it has the ability to attract and then lock water into the skin. By drawing moisture deep into the skin, it plumps up the skin, thereby reducing the appearance of wrinkles. “Products that contain hyaluronic acid are particularly effective for oily complexions, but they’re a great choice for all skin types,” says Dennis Gross, MD, the founder of Dr. Dennis Gross Skin Care. As we age, the levels of hyaluronic acid in the skin decline, so products that list it as the first or second ingredient are especially beneficial in treating the effects of aging.

Niacinamide
Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 that hydrates, fights inflammation, and improves collagen production. One of its most impressive benefits is the ability to treat age spots, or hyperpigmentation, and to brighten skin tone, says Craig Austin, MD, the creator of the Cane + Austin skin care line.

Retinol
Retinol, a vitamin A derivative, has long been considered essential for healthy skin because of its ability to encourage cell turnover and to reduce the appearance of wrinkles. “The importance of retinol as an anti-ager cannot be overstated,” says Jeannette Graff, MD, a clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center. “It helps with everything from normalizing the skin and stimulating collagen production to enhancing even skin tone and skin elasticity.”

Salicylic Acid
“Salicylic acid is lipophilic, meaning it’s oil-loving,” says Sarah Eggenberger, vice president of product development at MyChelle Dermaceuticals, “which is why it’s a proven acne fighter.” It eats away at the debris and oil present in the follicle, thus clearing the pore. Heidi Waldorf, MD, an associate clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center, adds that salicylic acid generally produces less irritation than other acne-fighting ingredients, making it more tolerable for people with sensitive skin.

10 Easy Ways to Manage Portion Sizes Sizing Up Your Plate: Why Portion Control Matters Whether you have diabetes or simply want to reduce your risk, monitoring food portion sizes will make it easier to keep your blood glucose levels and your weight in check.

With the introduction of Michelle Obama's healthy eating initiative "My Plate," keeping calories in check by controlling portion sizes is making headlines again — and while keeping an eye on how much you eat is important for all Americans, it's especially vital for the 8 percent of the population who have diabetes. “Portion control is important for blood glucose control and weight control,” says Dietlinde Wolter-Nitta, RD, CDE, a nutritionist and certified diabetes educator at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, N.Y. For someone with type 2 diabetes who is also overweight, simply losing some pounds can lead to an easier time controlling blood sugars and possibly less need for medication.

Weigh and Measure Your Food

Many people — with or without diabetes — have trouble estimating portion sizes. Weighing and measuring food can help. “We can’t be healthy if we eat everything put in front of us, and weighing and measuring teaches us appropriate portion sizes,” says Jill Weisenberger, RD, CDE, a certified diabetes educator and writer in Yorktown, Va. “If you don’t eat the proper amount of carbohydrates at your meal, expect your blood glucose to shoot too high or, if on certain medications, to drop dangerously low.”

Use Visual Aids

How much is a portion, anyway? It's hard to tell in this era of supersized foods. Twenty years ago, the average blueberry muffin was 1.5 ounces and 210 calories. Today, most muffins are 5 ounces and 500 calories. A bagel used to be 3 inches and 140 calories, but now is 6 inches and 350 calories or more. Use a food scale wherever possible. When eating out, you can estimate serving sizes by comparing them to familiar objects — for example, one cup is about the size of a tennis ball, and one serving of meat, which is about 3 ounces, should be the size of a deck of playing cards. A serving of cooked rice, pasta, or cereal should equal the size of a small computer mouse.

Read Food Labels

It’s easy to grab a big bottle of juice and chug it down without thinking — and without reading the nutrition label first. But it’s important to read food labels carefully when monitoring portion sizes. Start with the calorie count, but then look beyond that. Many beverage and food packages contain more than you might think. What seems like a single serving might actually be two. And if it contains two servings, the number of calories in the container must be doubled as well. Food labels can also be useful pieces of information for sugar and carbohydrate counts, both of which are important to monitor when you have diabetes.

Avoid All-You-Can-Eat Buffets

Common sense should tell you that all-you-can-eat buffets are a bad idea for everyone, but especially if you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes. With big plates and the ability to endlessly refill them, portion control becomes a losing battle. If confronted with this type of dining experience, vow to use only two plates. For better portion control, choose low-calorie, low-carb foods like shrimp and raw veggies for the first plate, says Weisenberger, and follow your usual meal plan for the second.

Use Smaller Plates

Buying smaller plates or using a salad plate instead of a dinner plate are good options for people with diabetes because this is a tangible portion control method that’s hard to circumvent. Be sure to fill half your reduced-size plate with vegetables or salad, one-quarter with a starch food, and one-quarter with protein. This is a great way to monitor portion sizes and trick your eye into thinking you’re eating more because the plate will look fuller.

Get a Doggy Bag

Asking for a doggy bag when eating out is an easy way to practice portion control. With so many restaurants taking a bigger-is-better approach to portion sizes, you’re left to rely on nothing more than willpower for portion control. Taking leftovers home is a good idea, but don’t wait until the end of the meal — ask your server to package half your entrée before it makes it to the table or cut it in half yourself before starting to eat to remove temptation. Sharing a meal with a friend and ordering an appetizer instead of an entree are other possible ways to avoid overeating.

Write Down What You're Eating

Besides helping monitor portion control,keeping a food log has another benefit for someone with diabetes. “By recording your intake and your blood glucose, you will learn how foods affect your blood glucose,” says Weisenberger. You’ll need to measure your blood glucose in pairs for this to work. “Measure just before eating and two hours later,” she explains. “If you do this often enough you will know the best foods and portion sizes for you.”

Stay Away From Supersizing

Supersizing is a supersized danger when it comes to portion control. Avoid it at all costs. The average soda today is 20 ounces and 250 calories — compare that to 20 years ago when it was 6.5 ounces and 82 calories. Don’t get carried away with bigger portion sizes just because it’s a good deal for your wallet. Your waist and health will pay for it, especially if you have diabetes.

Watch the Beverages

Another reason to say no to sodas is their notable lack of nutrition. Many beverages tend to deliver empty calories, an enemy of people with diabetes. “Avoid regular sodas and juices as it’s better to eat your carbs than drink them,” says Wolter-Nitta. “Beverages don’t satisfy hunger and they raise blood glucose very rapidly. Choose water or diet beverages instead.” If you occasionally indulge in a regular soda or juice, read the label for the portion size information and practice portion control.

Don't Be Afraid to Snack

People with diabetes may cut down or eliminate snacking to practice portion control. However, this isn’t always necessary. “Snacking can be a critical part of a diabetic’s diet,” says Timothy S. Harlan, MD, medical director of Tulane University Medical Group in New Orleans, author of Just Tell Me What to Eat: The Delicious 6-Week Weight-Loss Plan for the Real World. “It can help control total calorie intake, control cravings and overeating, and help keep blood sugars stable. However, it’s important to check with your diabetes nurse educator or dietitian.”

A Dash of Feng Shui

What if rejuvenating your life was as simple as moving a few things around? According to the ancient Chinese art of feng shui (pronounced "fung shway"), it is. Based on the idea that your living space reflects your life, feng shui strives to achieve balance in both. Feng shui holds that all objects possess an energy called chi, and that you can use this chi to bring luck, wealth, and opportunity into your home. "With feng shui, you don't have to spend 20 years on the couch [with a therapist] to change your life – you just have to move the couch," says Ellen Whitehurst, author of Make This Your Lucky Day: Fun and Easy Secrets and Shortcuts to Success, Romance, Health, and Harmony (Random House, January 2008). Try these ten tips to get that energy flowing.

Open the Front Door

Energy flows through the front door. An open and inviting pathway allows positive energy to flow into your home, whereas energy can stagnate if the entryway is closed off. Want opportunity to come knocking? Place a red-flowering plant outside or put some red accent colors on or around your front door. Red attracts energy, fortune, and luck.

Clear the Clutter

In feng shui, a cluttered house equals a cluttered mind. Even worse, clutter literally sucks up the energy in a space. "You may think you're hiding your clutter, but the closet has as much of an effect on energy flow as anything else," says Whitehurst. If there's clutter somewhere in your home — even tucked away in an attic — then it's also cluttering your head, as well as the rest of your body.

Seek Balance

Make sure you have something representing the five elements — wood, earth, metal, fire, and water — in every room. The goal is to stay grounded, centered, and balanced in your life and your environment. For example, place a wooden bowl filled with stone pebbles alongside a candle and a vase of flowers. Or try to incorporate colors that symbolize the five elements:

Black = water

Green = wood

Red = fire

Yellow, tan, and brown = earth

White = metal

Bring the Outdoors In

Nature creates a sense of peace. In fact, research shows that viewing nature reduces anger and anxiety and enhances feelings of pleasure. So flood your home with natural light, open windows and doors to let fresh air inside, and bring plants indoors. Decorate with bamboo, wood, or wicker, and use stones and rocks to add texture. You can also adorn the walls with paintings of nature and its serenity.

Use Mirrors Wisely

Mirrors reflect energy, so position them in places where you want to increase energy flow. Also, make sure that mirrors reflect something beautiful. "You don't want mirrors to reflect anything low energy or negative, like kitchen trash cans," says Linda Varone, RN, MA, founder of Nurturing Spaces Consulting. Finally, think twice before adding mirrors to your bedroom decor. They can energize the room, which, though it may be great for hot sex, is not so great for getting enough sleep.

Stop Runaway Chi

You can't benefit from the positive energies (or opportunities) that flow through your front door if they zip right out the back door. If you open the front door and there's a direct line to the back door or a window, that's runaway chi. "You want chi to run in a meandering pattern so it can deposit good energy throughout your home," says Varone. You can stop runaway chi by placing furniture or some other decorative object in or near the questionable path and by using rugs to impede energy flow. Hanging a room separator or a faceted crystal near one of the doors will help, too.

Make Your Bedroom Restful

The bedroom is one of the most important rooms in the home, according to feng shui, because it's where we seek restoration, balance, and peace. It's also the place of dreams. In feng shui, the items you place between your mattresses have an energetic association with your intentions. So yes, you can make money (or find true love) in your sleep. Use sensual fabrics and fluffy pillows to promote relaxation and don't store things under your bed — shoes, suitcases, books, pictures, and files are too energizing for restful slumber.

Place Family Photos Wisely

"Family pictures don't belong in the bedroom," says Whitehurst. "It's the most intimate room in the house and should be reserved for you and your partner." Pictures of children, relatives, and friends may cause you to think about your obligations — and that doesn't allow the mind (or body) to rest. So keep only pictures of you and your spouse or partner in the bedroom, and put other pictures in the dining or family rooms.

Place Living Plants

Live plants have their own chi and will draw chi to them. Don't have a green thumb? "The next best thing is to showcase high-quality silk plants and flowers — not plastic," says Varone. The best places for plants are in the kitchen (between hot and cold appliances to create balance), in the dining room (to draw abundance), and in the family room (to promote health, life, and connection).

Light Up Your Life

Bright lights rev up energy. If you're trying to keep energy costs down, then place high-wattage bulbs in the hallways, and lower-wattage bulbs in the rest of the house. "Hallways represent the meridians; the brighter the wattage, the more clean and clear your veins and arteries are," says Whitehurst. Want to light up internally? Place objects around your house that elicit positive emotions and lift your own personal chi. If a particular item makes you feel giddy, put it in a place where it's easy to see.

Bok Choy-Apple Slaw Recipe

Quick Info:

 Servings
Quick MealContains DairyContains EggVegetarian

Nutritional Info (Per serving):

Calories: 56, Saturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 272mg, Dietary Fiber: 1g, Total Fat: 2g, Carbs: 8g, Cholesterol: 3mg, Protein: 2g

Carb Choices: 0.5

Recipe Source:

Prep Time: 20 mins

Total Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup(s) sour cream, reduced-fat
• 1/3 cup(s) mayonnaise, reduced-fat
• 2 tablespoon vinegar, white wine
• 2 teaspoon sugar, granulated, or honey
• 1/2 teaspoon celery salt
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 6 cup(s) bok choy, very thinly sliced, (about 1-pound head, trimmed)
• 1 large apple(s), Granny Smith, julienned or shredded
• 1 large carrot(s), julienned or shredded
• 1/2 cup(s) onion(s), red, slivered

Preparation

1. Whisk sour cream, mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar (or honey), celery salt and salt in a large bowl until smooth. 

 

2. Add bok choy, apple, carrot and onion; toss to coat.