Prevention is Better than Cure

When it comes to prevention, the majority of allergy sufferers get an “F” on their “Allergy Report Card” according to a recent survey because nearly half wait until symptoms occur before taking action, rather than taking advantage of therapies that can prevent symptoms from occurring. For the survey, conducted by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, researchers interviewed 1,000 men and women about their knowledge of allergy triggers, symptoms, prevention and treatment. About half of those surveyed were seasonal allergy sufferers who were also asked questions about their management of their allergies. Unfortunately, most scored poor marks in many areas of allergy knowledge, including the following:

• Awareness, “F.” Only 28 percent said they were very knowledgeable about allergies. In addition, only one in five knew that having a family history of allergies increases their risk of allergies.
• Triggers, “C.” Most could identify common triggers such as pollen, pet dander, and mold. But awareness was lower for other triggers such as cockroaches.
• Symptoms, “F.” About 80 percent said allergy symptoms (such as stuffy nose, congestion, itchy and watery eyes, or a runny nose) disrupt their lives.
• Prevention, “F.” Most fail to act before allergy symptoms occur.
• Treatment, “D.” Many are aware of over-the-counter allergy medications, but many aren’t treating their symptoms because of fears about side effects.

The Healthy Grilling Guide

A new poll by Weber-Stephen Products of more than 1,000 adults forgoing traditional vacations this summer shows that 24% plan to host more barbecues than in past years, and 21% plan to spend more on grilling this season than they typically would. Healthy Grilling Guide Grill owners, industry experts say, also are increasingly adding healthy options to their outdoor meals, including leaner meat, chicken, fish, vegetables, veggie burgers, tofu and fruit. But they don’t always know the quick tricks or have the tools that can make grilling a healthy, delicious feast a snap. Spice It Up If you’re trying to keep your waistline in mind when you’re firing up the grill, a smart place to start is the pantry. You only need a few ingredients to give your meals a lot of flavor, says Jim Shults, spokesperson for Solaire Grills and former publisher of the magazine Barbecue and Beverage.

When working with fruits and vegetables, apply a light coating of oil-olive, canola or Enova (a blend of soy and canola oil that’s lower in saturated fat than canola oil)-and grill over a medium flame (280 to 350 degrees) to avoid burning. If you want grill marks, let the grill heat for a while before you add food and don’t constantly flip pieces, checking to see if they’re done. One easy way to change up veggies, such as parboiled corn, is to apply flavored oil, vinegar or dressing just prior to grilling. Fruits, Shults says, need little beyond oil, since the heat from the grill chemically changes them and brings out their sweetness.

How Good Is Your Faith

“And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!” — 2 Timothy 4:18. One of the things that amazes me about the apostle Paul is how he always seemed to rise to the top of every situation and seized every opportunity to preach the gospel. We read in the Book Acts that when Paul and Silas were thrown in prison, they began to sing praises to God at midnight. An earthquake struck, the walls fell, and the next thing you know, the very jailer who was responsible for chaining them up and whipping them asked, “What must I do to be saved?”