Sauna or Steam Room Treatment for Cholinergic Urticaria?
Post by: Henrik on September 13, 2009, 06:39:30 AM
During the last 13 months I have tried a sauna treatment to alleviate my cholinergic urticaria. In the past I have noticed that my Cholinergic Urticaria tends to get worse during periods where I don’t sweat frequently. For this reason, basically I thought that by sweating regularly in a sauna maybe I could get relief from the terrible heat-induced itching. I am a member of fitness center which has a sauna, and I spend 15 minutes in the sauna three times a week. Here are my experiences with this treatment.
Unfortunately, the sauna routine hasn’t been a cure for me, and I still get attacks when I get hot and so on. However, the treatment seems to have reduced the intensity of the attacks. My Cholinergic Urticaria attacks basically come in two kinds: First the “normal” ones where I get itchy and it’s really annoying, but where I can still function relatively normal and carry on whatever I’m doing. And then, as the second kind, the really bad “attacks” where I have to immediately stop doing anything and just crumble and get through the pain the best that I can. For the first kind my skin won’t show any visible signs of the attack except perhaps from a slight reddening of the skin. For the second kind I usually get very visible rashes on my skin in the same areas where it’s itching.
Ever since I started the sauna treatment the occurrence of the second kind of attack has basically stopped. I haven’t had a single attack with visible rashes since I started. I actually think that I’m really benefitting from the sauna routine.
Concerning the sauna routine itself, of course I usually get a Cholinergic Urticaria attack when I first enter the sauna, due to the high temperature. However, this is not as bad as you might think. In particular, as soon as I start to sweat, the itching almost disappears altogether.
It’s like there is this barrier I must get through every time before the itching subsides. I find that as long as I make sure the sauna is very very hot, I start to sweat almost immediately, and I can almost bypass the itching altogether. The sauna I go to is normally at 90 degrees Celsius, and when I first enter the sauna I pour a lot of water on the oven which makes it a lot hotter. I then start to sweat a lot after just a few minutes, and being in the sauna can actually be quite pleasant.
Based on my experience I would recommend this sauna treatment to Cholinergic Urticaria sufferers. If you try it, I would be interested in hearing about your experience with it.
UPDATE: here is a video on sweat therapy:
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Title: Re: Sauna treatment with some success
Post by: HivesGuy on September 14, 2009, 06:34:12 AM
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Once again thanks for sharing your experiments Henrik.
I totally agree with the ‘2’ kinds of hives. I have the same thing…sometimes just a few prickles which are really annoying, but manageable if I can avoid an attack. And then the full blown “get stung to death and scratch” feeling which usually leaves some hive marks.
It is interesting that the sauna thing didn’t help that much, and it only helped to lower the intensity. I have read several people doing a sauna treatment on the web, and I have also posted an article or two on the subject (see: steam capsule for cholinergic urticaria), but I have never tried it myself (due to expense). But again, most people do seem to agree that sweating helps heat hives.
It is nice to hear about your experience, and I am glad it at least helps a bit. It is especially nice to hear that it stops the full-blown crazy attacks, which are the ones that really traumatized me.
Although it is somewhat disappointing that it still doesn’t stop it 100% (hopefully one day we will get this under control), but it is awesome that it stops those bad ones.
I also agree how it is odd how it feels as if there is a “barrier” we must get through. As if the sweat wants to get out, but can’t at first. So we get the terrible reaction as the sweat tries its best to find its way out of the pore. And once it does, we are fine.
I just wonder if this has anything to do with a layer of chemicals on our skin, or something blocking the pores?? There could be lots of things clogging our pores, such as: bacterial biofilm, soap curd from hard water, dead skin cells, etc.
Anyway, thanks so much for sharing all of that very useful info. I am sure everyone on here appreciates it, as do I.
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Title: Infrared Sauna Relief
Post by: Lenton on February 22, 2011, 01:57:07 PM
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Hello there!
I have posted on here a few times then just began reading, learning, and trying all sorts of things posted here on the site. I am currently 3 months without hives. And I know how it works, winter months are the hardest. During the summer I get relief, but winter/spring/early fall is rough (just like it is for most of us). Intelligence clearly shows us that the way to get through this IS by sweating constantly. Not to let your body quit sweating, ever!
I tried it and I have been much better! I have included the link to the sauna I bought. It works fantastic! I assure you the first few times using it will be VERY painful! I had to get out and cover my body in cold water the first night, even threw-up. But that is all in the past because now, after using the sauna every night for 30-40 minutes, that my hives are completely at bay!
Busy days WILL happen and you WILL miss days, but that’s ok. The next time you use it (depending on how long it’s been since last time) it’ll be a little itchier. But that’s ok, because if you run (I own a treadmill, if not, there are plenty of other ways to run) and get at least a TINY bit of sweat coming then you’ll be able to hop in and it be EASY! I have kept track of EVERY time I used the sauna. The first few times the pain was at 8 or 9 out of 10. Now I have had it at 0-1 every time for the last two months.
Google about it and you will many success stories about using sauna to control Cholinergic Urticaria Hives. Below is a link to the one I use, $200, worth every penny! If you HAVE the money, have seasonal hives, and REALLY want to see a difference, this is totally worth a try! I promise you’ll see results.
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Title: Re: Infrared Sauna Relief
Post by: HivesGuy on February 22, 2011, 02:30:30 PM
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Hey Lenton,
Thanks so much for sharing that! This is something I am seriously thinking about buying. I want to first wait to see about Allegra and how that antihistamine works for me. But if I can start to sweat soon, I am thinking about buying one of these to help me do it regularly.
I have also seen many people post in the past about how a steam room sauna did help them too.
That really isn’t a bad price either. Amazon has a lot of different sizes, and I listed some steam/sauna kits in the Amazon store on the website if anyone is interested in checking out different models.
Thanks again for posting, and I hope this continues to work out well for you. This makes me a bit optimistic.
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Title: Re: Infrared Sauna Relief
Post by: Lenton on February 22, 2011, 02:49:32 PM
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I’d suggest going with infrared over steam. For me at least hot water (showers, steam sauna, hot tub) don’t help me sweat on my body, just my hair. So I have never had luck beating hives with hot water, which is basically what steam sauna does. AND Infrared is healthier/cheaper to run. I have tried steam rooms before for my Cholinergic Urticaria and it did nothing, but infrared did wonders.
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Title: Steam Room and Saunas – Success
Post by: LucidHvn on August 30, 2011, 06:05:06 PM
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Hi everyone, It has been a while since I posted.. last time I thought I would cure my Cholinergic Urticaria because of dustmites.. how wrong was I! .. hehe anyways, It has been a year already since I first got Cholinergic Urticaria. I have tried many medications… you name it.. been through everything.
the ONLY thing that works for me that only way I have been able to control my Cholinergic Urticaria is with sweat therapy. How? Steam Rooms. At first I exercised but I realized it was a bit difficult for me because sweat come out gradually from pores.. so during that time you are itching like crazy and it goes on for about 10 or 15 min. so during this time I have really put up with this really heavy itching. Instead, if I just go to a steam room EVERY DAY in the morning. The second you enter the room, it just takes 5 seconds for you to start sweating profusely.. therefore histamine is completely drenching out at a fast rate. I still get itching int the steam room but it lasts two minutes tops!
generally about a minute or less. After 10 minutes of being in the steam room. I can go out and sweat normally throughout the day.. walk in the sun.. etc.. and no hives whatsoever. The effect lasts for me for about 9 hours, after this Cholinergic Urticaria slowly “regenerates” but even then.. Hives will be gone.. only itching is left on the back and certain other parts of the body. Saunas have the same effect except maybe they don’t make you sweat instantly the moment you step in the room like the steam room does… but it still get’s the job done.
anyways, that’s what I do until now and the only treatment currently working.. even though I know it will probably not cure me… at least I can live a normal life by doing this. So yeah I guess it has the exact same effect as exercise therapy that seems to work on many people..
Take care.
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Title: I’ve had this since I was 7, and I’m 24.
Post by: vrlewand on December 09, 2011, 04:19:00 PM
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I thought I found a cure in high school, which worked for 2 years of my life with not one breakout. Then one day it came back full blown and I panicked wondering why. My mother was always looking for a cure for me, granted I just found out the name of this problem about a month ago, because doctors never knew.
So she bought me this drink called Xango which is a mangosteen drink that supposedly has healing powers. So I’d take 3 ounces 2 times a day and within a week my huge rash turned into little prickles then they eventually went away all together after 2 weeks. I LOVED my mom for finding this and my life went back to normal. But… It came back 2 years after i started taking it like my body found a way around it and became immune to it.
I live in Florida so its super hot and I find that during the summer it goes away. I think mine has a lot to do with humidity…as strange as that sounds. During winter we have lower humidity so I don’t sweat. In the summer I sweat just walking to my car. So the more frequently I sweat the less severe it becomes. So now I have a gym membership and go to the sauna to force myself to sweat. It used to take me 20 min before I’d start to sweat whereas my boyfriend or friends sweat after like 3 min. But the more frequently I go the quicker I sweat so I’m at 8 minutes now 🙂
Anyways so what helped me is excercise, sauna, and Xango. Make sure you drink ALOT of water throughout the day because it helps you to sweat. I’d get heat rash or urticaria after blushing, cleaning, dancing, walking into heat, getting hot in cold weather, you name it. It has caused me anxiety in social situations but I try not to think about it.
You may feel like its the end of the world, but honestly who cares what you look like when you have a breakout? I surround myself with good friends and family so when I have a breakout I just say ok guys I’m breaking out lol and it’s not a big deal. People around me don’t care they know its painful and not contagious and then it goes away 5-10 min later. Yes I may get it again in an hour, but life goes on and there are way more important things to worry about. When I have a breakout and itch like CRAZY I like to walk around and pace to try not to think of how bad it itches.
Hang in there guys. I hate seeing this affect people’s daily lives. It WILL get better and just try to laugh about it and try not to care so much. <3 best of luck
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Title: Re: I’ve had this since I was 7, and I’m 24.
Post by: Nathaaan on December 09, 2011, 08:29:29 PM
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This post put a smile on my face, so thank you for posting it. It’s made me feel better about having Cholinergic Urticaria in a way. I do try to ignore it and at times it works, i’ll have to try laughing about it too and see if it helps. Thanks once again. 🙂
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Title: Re: I’ve had this since I was 7, and I’m 24.
Post by: vrlewand on December 10, 2011, 12:03:24 PM
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Hey Nathaan. What ever I can do to help. I’m glad it allowed you to look at it from a better perspective. Having a positive outlook rather than feeling bad about it makes a WORLD of a difference. It may be hard sometimes but it’ll pass like everything else. 🙂 keep smiling!
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Title: Re: I’ve had this since I was 7, and I’m 24.
Post by: Joe W. on December 10, 2011, 12:10:09 PM
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Are there any cyclists in this forum?
My cholinergic urticaria is seasonal. It begins in October and lasts through March or until the weather warms up in New Jersey. Ive had it for about three years. I’m in my early 40s.
I’m a cyclist and despite riding in temperatures below freezing I still break out in hives on my rides. It isn’t easy trying to scratch myself when I’m climbing a big hill. It’s so annoying; every expletive I can think of comes out of my mouth on the ascent.
But what I’m asking is there a certain kind of clothing that might help minimize the hives? I understand cotton isn’t the best material to wear for someone with cholinergic urticaria. But what is better?
Thanks.
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Title: Re: I’ve had this since I was 7, and I’m 24.
Post by: vrlewand on December 10, 2011, 12:43:31 PM
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Hey there. So in my experiences, when I layer my clothing I break out way easier. Since you are a cyclist in New Jersey I’m guessing you definitely layer your clothing…but I honestly haven’t experimented with certain types of fabric. I know polyesters don’t breathe well at all. Hope this helps?!
And I’m seasonal as well. I am a dancer (ballet, jazz, etc) so once I get hot my rash only lasts for about 5 min so I try to stay hot because when I heat and cool and heat and cool it drives me nuts and I get very frustrated and itchy. Then I get tired from all that my body just went through.
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Title: Re: I’ve had this since I was 7, and I’m 24.
Post by: VIP on December 10, 2011, 07:51:54 PM
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Quote from: Joe W. on December 10, 2011, 12:10:09 PM
Are there any cyclists in this forum?
My cholinergic urticaria is seasonal. It begins in October and lasts through March or until the weather warms up in New Jersey. Ive had it for about three years. I’m in my early 40s.
I’m a cyclist and despite riding in temperatures below freezing I still break out in hives on my rides. It isn’t easy trying to scratch myself when I’m climbing a big hill. It’s so annoying; every expletive I can think of comes out of my mouth on the ascent.
But what I’m asking is there a certain kind of clothing that might help minimize the hives? I understand cotton isn’t the best material to wear for someone with cholinergic urticaria. But what is better?
Thanks.
It’s hard enough for me to cycle on a stationary bike in the gym without F’n the whole place down
I can only imagine how difficult it is for you to concentrate on cycling in a dynamic environment when your entire body is tingling and twitching in pain
Excess/minimalist clothing will only hasten/prolong the time it takes for you to get the hives
With cholinergic urticaria due to poral occlusion we need to either be in constant hot weather and humidity low enough humidity to allow us to sweat constantly, or we will have this non-stop warming up hives *threshold* no hives, cooling down. Followed my warming up hives *threshold* no hives, cooling down. Multiply times through out the day as you well know.
Winter is our enemy because it causes our sweat to leak under our skin due to our occluded sweat gland which causes inflammation and gives us hives. Nothing and no drug I have come across (20+) can control the inflammation.
Bring on the summer!!! (or a cure)
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Title: Sauna
Post by: Twiston on February 07, 2012, 04:15:29 AM
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Has anyone of you tried sauna to cure urticuria?
Please reply me if anyone tried, and how effects it did. 😀
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Title: Re: Sauna
Post by: HivesGuy on February 11, 2012, 06:28:49 AM
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There has been a few posts in the past where some Cholinergic Urticaria people do indeed use a personal sauna at home. You can buy these inexpensive ones on Amazon for around $100 (by inexpensive, I mean inexpensive in comparison to a full sauna).
They are typically used by those who try to keep regular sweating, and are able to reduce symptoms by doing so. They seem to suggest that it does help them, and they do it daily (especially in the winter).
I often use a vaporizer in the room I’m in, and that makes it pretty moist after a few hours. They are only about $15 or so.
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Title: 19 Years of age with Urticaria… Trying to power though it!
Post by: McGee on February 23, 2012, 07:11:27 PM
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Hi there.. I first noticed the symptoms of this horrendous condition at the end of August 2011 where about 2-3 times a day I would get randomly profoundly itchy but never really questioned it, nor really told anyone about it because it wasn’t unbearable. I remember the first time it happening when I was painting the ceiling and didn’t have a clue what on earth was going on! At this stage there was no visual signs of this on the skin at all and was living a happy normal life.
This was the case then until around mid October when it got progressively worse, still not having the slightest clue what it was, but I did know what would set this unknown reaction off. Such as going from the heat into the cold or getting a shock, where I would naturally be a quite nervous person anyway on the inside.
By this point I thought, yeah, I may as well go to the doctor now to see what the craic was and had the blood tests etc and they came back normal. The doctor didn’t know what was going on to be honest really and put me on citrizine tablets. No improvements occurred and by the end of October 11′ I nearly fainted at seeing my body being covered in small red dots all over along with the vigorous itch/stinging feeling. I was literally lost and didn’t know where to turn or anything, where I was feeling very down and lost all confidence in doing anything.
I started then in searching online and thank God I eventually came across this superb website to see I was not alone in this mad oul thing! I went back to my doctor and informed him about what I found out and basically said ‘fair play, you’ve diagnosed yourself’ once he seen the red dots break out all over my torso. Since this I’ve been put on another couple of types of histamine blockers but gained no relief in fairness. I tried in making myself to forget about it but the pain is unreal as you’s will know! But I did start thinking more positive.
Due to this website I found out people were getting some sort of relief out of physical exertion which made me die inside as I thought I might go unconscious by doing this. I tried it various times as I was so aggravated by not being able to do any sport, but the pain was to great to overcome unfortunately >:( …
In January I seen about people using sauna therapy which sounded grim but then I thought I’ll face the fears when I get back to College in Belfast (Ireland) and see what it does for me where there’s a sauna in the swimming area. The pain in the sauna is unreal and made myself see it through, then a wee while later my body was sweating like mad and I got such relief and felt I was on top of this stupid annoyance which literally drags your life down! My skin itself went a sort of ‘bobbely’ texture along with a redness of the skin, but boy it’s worth it in keeping the deadly hives at bay for the rest of the day.
My life at this stage is something closer to normal again but it means using the sauna everyday which in my position in college is handy as the gym is a five minute walk away. My condition of Cholinergic Urticaria is very severe and the sauna has to be done everyday along with the occasional taking of an anti-histamine. This is an improvement of only getting relief from alcohol anyway aha, and now also use the gym/ play bit of sport again too! I would advise anyone if it was possible to sweat it out of you in some way or another regularly and also keep that chin up above Urticaria!
The sauna is my way of carrying on but there’s surely better treatments out there in permanently alleviating this nasty random condition we have. For me it’s not the red weals that bother me, but the insane pain that comes with them!
May I just say to the creator of this website that it is very much appreciated and has helped many find ways to alleviate some of the symptoms related to this nasty oul disease of Urticaria.
Cheers.
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Title: Re: 19 Years of age with Urticaria… Trying to power though it!
Post by: void on February 23, 2012, 08:26:41 PM
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I broke a smile when I saw the word “craic” I instantly knew you were Irish
From an Irish brother to an Irish brother there is nothing easy about the journey that lies ahead of you, this monkey on your back will not let go and will slowly over time try to break your spirit.
If the medical care in the south is anything to go by your next encounter will be with a dermatologist who will likely prescribe some drugs along the lines of either hydroxyzine or doxepin.
I wish you luck but I fear it may be fruitless.
I have some more bad news McGee… what you have experienced this year during mid October of this year will return with the same severity around mid October of next year. It will ease off during the comparatively less cold months to the same severity as it was in August if my gut is anything to go by.
You will find that if you move to a tropical climate your urticaria will vanish. For reasons I will be explaining in due course.
I will be partaking in medical research in the coming months and will be able to share medically accurate information once I have mined the data.
– Be aware of heat stroke symptoms when exercising –
If my preliminary research is anything to go by, your and my subtype alike is a form of acquired cold induced anhidrosis of the eccrine sweat ducts with associated cholinergic urticaria.
I have theories on how to cure this but the tech is down the pipeline as of now.
I will be creating a website in the coming year sharing a lot of this info.
I felt compelled to share this information with you because I feel that I have already walked many miles in the shoes you are about to place apon your feet.
I hope my wise words are taken with appreciation if not then time will yet be your teacher, I hope you will yet still remain with us to pass on this information to the next generation.
– void
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Title: Re: Sauna
Post by: Peter Belgium on April 05, 2012, 08:20:14 AM
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Hello!
This is my first post. I’m a chronic cholinergic urticaria patient for over 10 years. I am 25 years old.
A year ago i started taking sauna’s. Now i’m still doing it because i feel it helps. I take one on sunday evenings before the workweek starts and i take one on Wednesday evenings in the middle of the workweek. I have the feeling that sauna’s have a good effect on my Cholinergic Urticaria and on my psyche. I think taking a sauna once or twice a week can help you with your Cholinergic Urticaria. It sure helps for me!
I take the classical sauna. You have to pour water on heated stones to create steam. Then i usually stay in for fifteen minutes. Then out for 10 minutes. Then again in for 15 minutes. Then out again. Sometimes i go in for a third time. So i spend like 3-4 hours a week in the public bathhouse. I have tried infrared sauna’s as well. I don’t feel that they do the job as well as a classical finnish sauna.
Sometimes i take a cold shower immediately after leaving the sauna (which is 85°C) and i get red and swollen all over my body. If i take a cold bath afterwards you can see exactly until where the water level of the bath went. The part of my body that was exposed to the old water will be swollen and red, much worse then the part of my body not submerged. When the swelling starts it hurts like …hell as many Cholinergic Urticaria patients will know. But when the hurting starts i go in the sauna again and the pain becomes less. After doing this of course you will be tired from your Cholinergic Urticaria reaction and also from the sauna itself so its best to take a sauna before you go to sleep. The next days you may have what they call a ‘refractionary period’ in which your Cholinergic Urticaria symptoms will be less.
I take my sauna’s in a public space and have made an agreement with management that i need it for my health so they were nice enough to give a discount. Soon enough they could see with their own eyes that i indeed have a problem. They even keep an eye on me when i have a bad day. You should be careful the first few times when you take a sauna because if you get swollen all over your body your blood pressure may drop and you may faint or even go into shock. Notify someone of the staff that they keep an eye on you or take someone in with you…
Afterwards you will be thirsty. It’s a good idea to drink a lot of water afterwards. This may give your body a good ‘flush’. Also eat some salt because you will lose a lot by sweating.
Greets Peter
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Title: Re: Sauna
Post by: HivesGuy on April 05, 2012, 11:20:40 AM
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Hey Peter,
Thanks for the interesting story and welcome to the forum.
I’m glad to hear that the sauna idea is giving you some comfort. I hope it continues to help some for you. Thanks again for sharing your story/experience with this.
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Title: Re: Sauna
Post by: Peter Belgium on May 07, 2012, 07:28:41 AM
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Thanks Hivesguy,
Other ideas that may help with this frustrating disease:
1) Healthy diet
Try to eat and drink as close to nature as you can. Avoid colorants, conservants, processed foods. Try to be moderate with alcohol and tobacco!
Think about this: in these times we put a lot of substances in our bodies that are unnatural. These artificial substances then have to work together with an natural and complex machine (your body). Of course this will give problems, it is an unnatural and new situation since the dawn of mankind. Just compare to what people ate 100 years ago! It’s very very different.
I also believe there’s much more JUNK in the food cycle nowadays because food producers want to earn a quick buck with fast results so they add antibiotics, pesticides, herbicides, artificial fertilizer.
The food and drink industry’s primary goal is not to care about your well being or health, their main concern is to make profit and sell. Take your responsibility and protect your body from these aggressors! It really is up to you!
It’s a good idea to consult a nutritionist to make sure you get enough of everything you need (proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, fibers, water, …). You can eat healthy and natural and STILL have high energy levels. Don’t overdo it but pay attention to what you eat, drink and inhale..;
WILL BE CONTINUED…
(English is not my primary language)
Greets Peter