Up to 10% of the population have true food allergy, while 50-90% of people who believe they have food allergy may not. And food allergies can develop in adults.
Food allergy is frequently misunderstood. Here are some resources that can help you sort facts from fallacies about eating safely and avoiding allergic reactions to food.
Here is a fact about food allergy.
The greatest danger of any allergy is anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction that impairs breathing and heart function. Anyone who cares for a person with food allergy needs to know what to do in case of a reaction. Schools and workplaces should have a plan for dealing with such emergencies.
Up to 10% of the population have true food allergy, while 50-90% of people who believe they have food allergy may not. An accurate diagnosis is important so the condition can be managed properly when appropriate, but not needlessly..
The book “Food Without Fear” by Dr. Ruchi Gupta addresses food allergies, intolerances, and sensitivities. It covers topics such as the food reaction spectrum, the top food allergens, and managing food allergies in different settings. It also provides comprehensive resources and explores using epinephrine in allergy emergencies. The book aims to help individuals understand and manage their relationship with…
This post reviews Brian McAlister’s “Full Recovery” . It outlines a personal action plan for overcoming addiction through self-discovery and empowerment. Using personal anecdotes and principles from s successful figures, he emphasizes a moral foundation based on n a Higher Power. The book serves as a guide for transformation, encouraging positive life changes.
He is also the owner of MacSimum Publishing Co. , which published this book.
He has been sober since August 2, 1990.
The book starts with a disclaimer that it is “not intended as a substitute for any treatment program” and neither is this blog post.
GPS- Goals Produce Success
Brian McAlister
Note: readers may support this blog by using the affiliate links in this post, at no extra charge; the graphics in this post are not found in the book
Addiction is a disease of selfishness and isolation.
Brian’s addiction to alcohol and drugs started as a teenager in the 1960s and continued into early adulthood when he lived an “outlaw biker lifestyle”.
Despite having a loving wife and son, he wasted his days drinking and carousing, getting in trouble legally and financially, until a near-fatal motorcycle accident jarred him into realizing that he was going nowhere.
But he was not content with merely getting sober, he wanted a better life for his family. He wrote,
In hindsight, I was very lucky to have become an alcoholic because lessons learned in recovery have given me the tools to succeed in all areas of my life.”
credit- NIH, National Institute on Drug ABuse
Full Recovery Action Plan
Brian’s Full Recovery Action plan presents the same principles he used to turn his life from addict to entrepreneur to successful businessman.
To take full advantage of the plan, readers need a notebook he says will become “your roadmap to success.” He closes each chapter with a “Let’s Review” list of main points followed by Action Plan exercises to complete and record in the notebook.
His plan is simple and straightforward; it has three parts-
Exploration
Motivation
Perspiration
Into those three parts, he packs enormous resources – personal stories, history, addiction statistics, life lessons, psychology, time management, work and business tips, and individual resilience.
Besides his own journey to sobriety, he uses personal examples from other former addicts (with their permission and names changed to protect privacy). He also relates anecdotes from well known successful people, including Ford, Edison, Lincoln, Einstein, Columbus, Eric Clapton, Sam Walton, Bill Gates, and Jesus.
credit:NIH, National Institute on Drug Abuse
“A moral foundation”
Brian believes “full recovery” must be based on a “solid moral foundation”. Like with 12 Step addiction recovery programs, his is based on belief in a Higher Power.
Brian’s belief is based in Christianity, thus his frequent references to God and Jesus, and liberal use of scriptures from the Bible. But he does not insist those who use his program adhere to Christianity, but need to believe in someone higher than themselves.
“To be truly sober, and not just abstinent, I had to change my belief from one of self-reliance to reliance on God.”
He encourages addicts to cultivate attitudes of faith, hope, abundance, and gratitude, while also practicing practical skills of planning, listening, communicating, goal setting, and learning. These are all developed by completing the Action Plan exercises regularly.
My reaction to this book
I’ve never been addicted to anything, at least not drugs or alcohol, but I enjoyed Brian’s book and believe the program he outlines can help anyone wanting to change their life positively.
This version of Full Recovery was published in 2015. I read a complimentary digital version of this book for a NetGalley review. It was the 2010 edition titled Full Recovery: Creating a Personal Action Plan for Life Beyond Sobriety.
Resources on substance abuse, addiction, and sobriety
You probably know someone with some type of substance abuse problem. If that person is a spouse, child, parent, or sibling, it affects you too. You cannot change the other person but you can control the way you respond and manage the challenges in your own life.
Learn about addiction, how the brain works, and what does and doesn’t work for treatment.
Be aware of your emotions. You may feel sadness or anger. You may blame yourself or resent your relative. Understand your feelings rather than ignoring them.
Be vigilant with self-care. Sleep, exercise, eat regular healthy meals.
Look for support from friends, other affected families, and from activities you enjoy.
Manage expectations. Knowing there will be progress followed by setbacks helps you and your loved one not get too discouraged.
exploring the HEART of health and sobriety
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