If you still can’t seem to get a grip on your allergy and asthma problems, it may be time to think green.

That’s green as in those wonderful leafy green veggies like lettuce and spinach. They’re rich in folic acid, otherwise known as vitamin B9, which new research finds can help manage asthma and allergy symptoms.

The study, published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, looked at the medical records of 8,000 people between the ages of 2 and 85. And researchers found that people with higher levels of folic acid in their blood had fewer allergies and were less likely to develop asthma and its symptoms.

These patients also had fewer IgE antibodies, which are one of the markers in your immune system that increase in response to an allergen.

As I’ve mentioned before, asthma and allergies are two of our most overmedicated disorders. What makes it worse is that these meds never treat the underlying condition, they merely manage the symptoms – making those who take them even more dependent on them.

The sad truth is these meds were never necessary to begin with, because asthma and allergies can be managed without them – if your doctor looks in the right place.

These conditions are almost always triggered by a specific allergen, or a nutritional deficiency. Once you identify that cause, you can correct the condition without drugs by either removing the allergen or correcting the deficiency.

One of the reasons folic acid deficiencies are causing so many problems is because they come from foods too many of us just don’t eat often enough: leafy greens, beans and nuts.

Now, you really shouldn’t have any trouble working these into your daily diet. In addition to being rich in folic acid, they’re packed with other great nutrients too. But if you want to be safe, you can also work a folic acid supplement into your regimen.

You’ll also want to make sure you get some more thorough tests from your own doc. Folic acid may not be your only deficiency, and you’ll also want to know if there are specific allergens you need to avoid. You see, the identities of the true allergens lie in the often untested IgG class of antibodies.

Those of you suffering from asthma and allergies may find it hard to believe, but there are simple drug-free alternatives to that steady stream of meds you’ve become dependent upon.

Now all you need to do is find the ones that are right for you.

by Dr. Alan Inglis

There are few more terrifying parts of aging than vision loss. It’s one thing to need a stronger prescription for eyeglasses every few years or so – but it’s quite another when your deteriorating vision starts to rob you of your independence.

Folks suffering from age-related macular degeneration can lose the ability to read, drive, and even recognize the faces of their friends and loved ones. It’s an agonizing condition, but new research shows that a simple vitamin regimen can help you prevent it.

A new study out of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston found that women who took a combination of B vitamins – specifically B-6, B-12 and folic acid, reduced their risk of macular degeneration by one-third compared to women who took a placebo.

The reduction didn’t happen overnight. The study charted the women over the course of seven years. It proves what I’ve been saying all along – one of the greatest benefits of vitamins and supplements is what they can do for you through long-term, repeated use.

The researchers think that B vitamins may help prevent macular degeneration because they lower homocysteine, a substance in your blood that’s been linked to heart disease. Lowering homocysteine may be particular important for the small, sensitive blood vessels of the eye.

If you’re concerned about vision loss – and if your worried about macular degeneration in particular – it makes sense to consider vitamin B supplements or a multi-vitamin with a full supply of vitamin B. Aside from helping your vision, B vitamins are important for metabolism, central nervous support and even for staving off depression.

These vitamins are inexpensive, widely available and safe – and their only side effect is overall good health.