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For millions of people allergies are something they think they have to live with. Similarly many people believe the only way to treat allergies is with medication. For some people that may be true, however for many people vitamins are a solid alternative to medication. In either case, vitamins can provide a great benefit to the allergy sufferer and should be considered and discussed with your physician. Although they may not completely cure your allergies they may allow you to reduce the amount of medication you take, or in some cases may allow you to stop taking medication altogether.

Bear in mind that changes in medication dosing should only be made under direct supervision of your physician and all changes to diet, even addition of vitamins, should be discussed with and approved by your physician. There can be dangerous interactions between certain medications and vitamins, minerals and supplements.

While there are many, many different vitamins, minerals, supplements and herbs that have been shown to have some degree of benefit to allergy sufferers, the vitamins on the list below were carefully chosen for optimum benefit and the ease with which they can be found.

Below is a list of some of the most common and most beneficial vitamins used to treat and manage symptoms suffered by those with allergies.

* Copper (Amino Acid Chelate): Crucial to the formation of T-cells and is an essential component of Super Oxide Dismutase, an antioxidant that fights free radial damage to the mitochondria, which are the energy producing portion of the cells in your body.

* Vitamin C (Ascorbate): Is shown to decrease production of histamine, reducing immediate allergy potential, also helps to relieve allergic symptoms and prevent inflammatory reactions, provides an effect like that of an antihistamine and assists in production of adrenal hormones needed to combat the stress that the body suffers which is imposed by allergic reactions.

* Magnesium (Citrate): Considered the anti-stress mineral. Buffers the acidic stage of an allergic reaction. Required in many of the body's detoxification pathways. May reduce the broncho-constrictor in asthma by relaxing the muscles around the bronchial tubes.

* Selenium (Amino Acid Chelate): Protects cell membranes and stimulates immune function, enhances function of Vitamin C within the body, increases the B-cell antibody response and is essential in the body's production of Coenzyme Q10.

* Vitamin B15: Helps to increase endurance and decrease muscle fatigue.

* Molybdenum (Amino Acid Chelate): Enhances the body's use of sulfur amino acids, also enhances the cells' ability to utilize Vitamin C and detoxifies sulfites and aldehydes.

* Calcium (Citrate): Helps the body regulate its acid/alkaline balance in tissues, helps to buffer the acidic stage of an allergic reaction and reduces histamine production.

The vitamins listed above do not necessarily all need to be taken by each and every allergy sufferer. You'll want to make a list of the vitamins listed above and discuss with your physician which of them would be the most beneficial given the allergies that you have.

Although adding vitamins to your diet may not completely alleviate your allergy suffering, a healthy body is the best defense against allergies, and many other conditions. Taking vitamins such as those listed above in conjunction with a healthy diet and exercise routine will undoubtedly make a positive impact on your life.