Seasonal allergies, often called hay fever, are symptoms that occur during specific times of the year.  This usually occurs at times when outdoor molds release their spores or when plants release tiny pollen particles into the air to fertilize other plants.  Allergies are an indication of a hypersensitive immune system and an inability to effectively metabolize histamine. 

Seasonal allergies depend on what the individual is having a specific immune reaction to.  In the mid-Atlantic states, tree pollination happens between February and May.  Grass pollination happens in May – June and weeds from August – October.  Mold spores usually increase between mid-summer through the fall.  If you have stronger symptoms during one of these periods, it is an indication your body is struggling with that particular particle.

Introducing Allergy Defense:

Individuals with hypersensitive immune reactions often experience physical, mental, and functional decline even with moderate onset of discomfort (1). 

Formulated with a synergistic combination of vitamins, bioflavonoids, amino acids, and herbs, Allergy Defense addresses the distressing signs of immune hypersensitivity.

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid):
Vitamin C is essential to humans and must be obtained exogenously. While most mammals are able to synthesize ascorbic acid, humans lack one of the enzymes required for this process and can quickly become deficient if dietary or supplemental intake is inadequate. Stress, smoking, pollution, and temperature changes increase our requirement for vitamin C.

Well known functions of vitamin C include antioxidant protection from damaging free radicals and the synthesis of collagen, carnitine, and neurotransmitters. Vitamin C also plays a lesser-known role in the deactivation of histamine (2,3).

Bioflavonoids:
Quercetin is an active bioflavonoid incorporated into Allergy Defense for its role in moderating an exaggerated immune response. Bioflavonoids work synergistically with other antioxidants to protect tissues from the negative effects of oxidation and inflammation often observed during hyperimmune reactions (4)

Immune-moderating effects include inhibition of mast cell degranulation and prevention of histamine release during hypersensitive episodes (1,5,6)

N-Acetyl-Cysteine
NAC is the acetylated form of the conditionally essential amino acid L-cysteine. As a precursor to the “master antioxidant” glutathione, NAC plays a significant role in detoxification and antioxidant protection.

NAC also functions as a natural mucolytic, helping improve lung health during a hyperimmune response (10,11).

Stinging Nettle Extract:
Stinging nettle leaf has been found to regulate a variety of inflammatory activities associated with hyperimmune response, including mast-cell degranulation, prostaglandin formation, and histamine action (12, 13)

CalMag Support is a delicious, pear-flavored powdered supplement that provides high-quality, patented Albion^® minerals in a state-of-the-art calcium/magnesium formulation. This supplement is easy to take for all ages, and the special forms of the minerals promote optimal absorption and utilization while being gentle on the gastrointestinal tract.*

Calcium and magnesium are critical minerals involved in a plethora of biochemical and structural functions within the body. Insufficient intake of these minerals, due to the modern Western diet, is not unusual.

Adding to this, functional medicine practitioners find that individuals, including children, who consume restricted or specialized diets due to food intolerance or health challenges may be at greater risk for deficiency. *

Magnesium

Magnesium, the fourth most abundant mineral in the body, participates in over 300 enzymatic reactions in nearly all tissues. Deficiency is common. The average American diet is thought to provide about 40% of the daily magnesium needed, and reports from the World Health Organization have suggested that three-quarters of American diets fall short of this amount (1).

Deficiency can result from poor dietary intake, poor absorption, and excessive losses through urine, stool, perspiration, or lactation. Because magnesium is predominantly an intracellular cation, serum magnesium levels remain a poor predictor of tissue magnesium content and availability (1).

How Is Magnesium Used?

Particular drugs, certain herbs, poor kidney function, excessive alcohol intake, and drinking mostly “soft” water can contribute to magnesium depletion (1, 2). It is also important to note that physical and emotional stress can increase the need for magnesium and that hypomagnesemia and stress potentiate each other’s negative effects (3)

Furthermore, the adrenergic effects of psychological stress cause the movement of magnesium from intracellular to extracellular space, which increases urinary excretion and depletion of body stores (4).

Magnesium participates in the development and maintenance of bones and teeth; the metabolism of carbohydrates, blood glucose, fats, and proteins; the formation of cells and tissues; the modulation of cytokines; and the maintenance of muscle function (1, 5, 6)

In addition, magnesium is often used to support normal, healthy bowel movements. Of particular interest are the associations between levels of magnesium and neurological health, behavior, and brain function.

Magnesium and Neurological Health

Magnesium is an integral part of nervous system function—from biosynthesis of neurotransmitters to neurotransmission. Magnesium affects the permeability of excitable membranes and thereby acts as a “gatekeeper” to excitatory neurotransmitters (e.g., glutamate) (1).

According to researchers, the most common clinical manifestations of magnesium deficiency are produced by neural and neuromuscular hyperexcitability (2, 5). Animal and human studies suggest that magnesium supports relaxation, successful sleep, comfort with surroundings and situations, attentiveness, and a healthy mood (1, 7, 8).

Low intracellular magnesium is associated with increased defensive behaviors in animals (9) As an example, mice with low magnesium erythrocyte levels displayed restless and aggressive behaviors when under stress (9, 10)

Several animal studies show the positive impact of magnesium administration on stress-related behaviors (9). Low levels of magnesium have been observed in children who have difficulty focusing and magnesium supplementation has been observed to influence attention behavior positively (5, 8)

Magnesium Quality and Absorbability

Magnesium lysinate glycinate comprises magnesium bound to two amino acids to create a chelate that is more readily absorbed through the mucosa than other mineral forms. Since the body can efficiently absorb dipeptides (two amino acids linked together), Albion’s TRAACS® magnesium lysinate glycinate is an excellent delivery system for magnesium.

Di-magnesium malate consists of magnesium complexed in a 2:1 ratio of magnesium to malic acid. As a naturally occurring organic compound, malic acid is found in apples, watermelon, plums, lychees, and cherries in high concentration. It is more soluble than citric acid, and it forms mineral complexes (11).

Magnesium and malate play critical roles in the Krebs and glyoxylate energy producing cycles (16). Malic acid also appears to exert a protective effect by binding aluminum.

Calcium

During childhood and adolescence, the body uses calcium to build strong bones. Calcium is required for vascular contraction and vasodilation and intracellular signaling and hormonal secretion. It also plays an important part in making sure that muscles and nerves work properly. Children and adults that adhere to a dairy free diet are often at greater risk of an insufficient intake of calcium.

CalMag Support provides 600 mg of elemental calcium as DimaCal in every scoop. Many calcium forms have low elemental calcium content when compared to DimaCal, which has 29% elemental calcium and 64% malic acid.

Additional factors such as bioavailability and gastric tolerance should be evaluated when comparing DimaCal to calcium carbonate. Unlike calcium carbonate and other alkali forms of calcium, DimaCal does not cause the formation of gas when subjected to stomach acid.

With malic acid acting as a natural buffering agent, DimaCal does not give rise to the acid rebound that can result from the use of other forms of calcium.

DIRECTIONS: Dissolve one scoop in 6 oz of cool, pure water. Drink once daily, or use as directed by your healthcare practitioner. Consult a healthcare practitioner prior to use. Individuals taking medication should discuss potential interactions with their healthcare practitioner. Do not use if the tamper seal is damaged.

DOES NOT CONTAIN: Wheat, gluten, yeast, soy, animal or dairy products, fish, shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, ingredients derived from genetically modified organisms (GMOs), artificial colors, artificial sweeteners, or artificial preservatives.

STORAGE: Keep closed in a cool, dry place out of reach of children.