Poor digestion may result in food allergies, especially as you get older, says, Pennsylvania. To improve digestion, we suggest trying an exercise called Agni Sara, or strengthening the fire.

Here are instructions for performing the exercise: Stand with your feet about three feet apart, toes pointed slightly outward. Bend your knees slightly and place your right hand on your right thigh and your left hand on your left thigh. Your fingers should be pointing inward, toward the opposite leg. Bend your neck so that you’re looking down at your stomach. Breathe out completely. Then suck in and lift your abdomen without taking a breath. Now pump your stomach muscles, pushing your abdomen in and out without breathing. Pump this way 10 to 15 times, then relax, stand up straight and breathe. Repeat the exercise three times per day.

What kinds of foods you’re allergic to depends on your Ayurvedic dosha
Pitta people are allergic to hot, spicy foods, fermented foods, sour fruits, tomatoes, potatoes and eggplant, according to Dr. Lad. He says that kaphas develop allergies to dairy products and cold beverages. And, he says, vatas may have allergic reactions to hard-to-digest foods such as popcorn, beans and raw vegetables. No matter what your dosha, says Dr. Lad, the symptoms of food allergies include constipation, burping and hiccupping. (For more information about the Ayurvedic dosha, see To avoid adverse reactions to foods, find out what your dosha is and follow the proper diet for that dosha,. We also offer the following remedies.
· For pitta allergies, Dr. Lad suggests eating cooked apple pulp (peel, core and mash the apples to make the pulp) with a pinch of cumin and one teaspoon of ghee, or clarified butter (for a recipe, see “How to Make Ghee” on page 26). Eat a small amount, about ½ cup, twice daily, at least an hour before or after a meal, he says.
· For kapha allergies, Dr. Lad suggests drinking licorice tea. To make the tea, he says to blend ½ teaspoon of licorice (which is available in most health food stores), ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon and ½ teaspoon of coriander, then steep the mixture in one cup of hot water for ten minutes. Don’t strain out the herbs before drinking, he says. His suggested dosage: Sip about an ounce of the tea every half-hour for the first few hours, then for the next few hours, sip an ounce every hour. Continue as needed, he adds.
· For vata allergies, Dr. Lad recommends another variation of licorice tea: Mix ½ teaspoon of licorice, ½ teaspoon of honey and 1 teaspoon of ghee in a cup of hot water. As with the other tea, do not strain out the herbs before drinking. He says to sip an ounce of the tea every half-hour for the first two hours, then for the next few hours, sip an ounce every hour. Continue as needed, he adds.
One cautionary note from us: We say people with high blood pressure should not drink licorice tea. For them we 4 recommend cinnamon/clove tea as an alternative. His recipe: Steep ½ teaspoon of cinnamon and two or three cloves in a cup of boiling water for ten minutes. Sip an ounce of the tea every half-hour for the first two hours, then for the next few hours, sip an ounce every hour. Continue as needed.

You experience any of these symptoms within two hours of eating a certain food:
· Hives or another skin reaction
· Swelling, especially of the lips or face
· Vomiting or nausea
· A tight feeling in your chest
· Trouble breathing, whether from an asthmatic reaction or throat swelling
· Nasal congestion
· Diarrhea
· Cramping or feelings of faintness

It may be wheezing from wheat or a rash from radishes. But while food allergies are rare, affecting only 1 percent of the population and usually outgrown by age six, the foods that can trigger them aren’t.
Cow’s milk, eggs, peanuts, wheat and soybeans lead the list of eats that can cause swollen lips, throat or tongue, eczema, hives, vomiting, fainting, nausea, diarrhea and other reactions. But they’re not alone. Even food additives such as yellow dye #5 and gum arabic can cause allergic reactions in some people, usually within a few minutes of consumption. Reactions range from minor to life-threatening, so see your doctor to pinpoint the cause and come up with a preventive strategy. But the natural remedies in this chapter-in conjunction with medical care and used with the approval of your doctor-may help relieve the symptoms of a food allergy, according to some health professionals.