Dust Mites and how to avoid

Welcome back fellow allergy friends. Today I will be discussing dust mites and how to get rid of them.

What is dust allergy? Dust allergy is actually sensitivity to substances in the waste particles and body fragments of house dust mites.

Is everyone allergic to dust? While almost everyone is irritated by exposure to large amounts of dust, only some people have a true allergic reaction to house dust. This true allergic sensitivity is just as real and just as specific as an allergy to ragweed, tree pollen or cat dander. It may cause nasal symptoms eye inflammation, asthma or eczema.

Dustmites.org definition of a dust mite is: Dust mites are microscopic animals related to other mites, and ticks, in the class Arachnida, which also includes spiders, scorpions, harvestmen (daddy-longlegs), and similar eight-legged creatures. Classification of mites is always changing, but dust mites are currently placed in the order Astigmata, family Pyroglyphidae, and genus Dermatophagoides (translates to “skin-eater”). The two most common species are:
1. North American house dust mite, Dermatophagoides farinae
2. European house dust mite, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus
They both occur where human beings live, and where the humidity is optimal for their life cycle. Dust mites are known for causing allergies in millions of Americans and are treated by special mattress covers for dust mites.
Dust mites live in pillows, mattresses, blankets, carpets and other soft materials. Dust mites avoid the light, and require at least 50% relative humidity to survive. Live mites themselves are not inhaled. Rather, it is the waste particles that they produced, and the body fragments of dead dust mites, that become airborne, are inhaled and cause allergy symptoms. A mattress may contain over a million dust mites and each dust mite lives up to 80 days. A female dust might can lay up to 60 eggs in her lifetime.
The great thing is that there is a way to live as dust mite free in our homes as we possibly can. What can be done to decrease exposure to house dust mites? Efforts should focus on the bedroom, where mite numbers are highest, and where most people spend a third of their life.
Rules of the house:
If it is hard surface, Wipe it
If it is a washable fabric, hot water Wash it
If it cannot be wiped or washed, Encase it
If it cannot be wiped, washed, or encased, Remove it
If the indoor air is not dry, Dehumidify it
Dust mites unfortunately increase our chance to having other environmental allergies so if you think about it get rid of the mite and live hopefully as close to allergy free as we can. It takes about three months to get rid of mites in your home. You can find great deals on Ebay and Amazon on dust mite covers steamers and protectors.

Recipe of the day: By Suesson Vess

Roast Leg of Lamb with Garlic Herb Crust and Gravy
SERVES 6 TO 8
High in zinc and B vitamins, lamb is traditional Easter fare.
1 bone-in leg of lamb (about 6 pounds)
3 sprigs fresh rosemary
4-5 cloves garlic or 1 shallot
1 teaspoon olive oil
½ teaspoon each sea salt and pepper
4-6 cups beef or lamb broth,* for gravy
2-3 tablespoons arrowroot starch or cornstarch, for thickening gravy
1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Place lamb on roasting rack in roasting pan.
2. Remove leaves from rosemary stem. Add rosemary and garlic to food processor fitted with knife blade and blend.
3. Rub lamb with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Pat rosemary and garlic blend on all sides of lamb.
4. Pour 1 cup beef or lamb broth in the bottom of the roasting pan.
5. Place pan in preheated oven and cook for 30 minutes. Reduce heat to 325°F. Check internal temperature of roast after 1 hour and baste with pan drippings. Meat is done when meat thermometer registers 145° for medium rare, 155° to 160° for medium, 165° to 170° for well done.
6. Take lamb from oven, remove from pan and set aside while making gravy.
7. Use broth to deglaze roasting pan and loosen browned bits of meat. Strain liquid to remove tough bits. Make a slurry by combining ¼ cup cold water with arrowroot starch, stirring until dissolved. Pour slurry into pan with deglazed liquid and continue to stir over medium-low heat until desired thickness. Add additional arrowroot slurry if needed. Taste and adjust seasoning.
8. Allow lamb to rest for 10 to 15 minutes. Then slice and serve with hot gravy.
Each 3-ounce serving contains 155 calories, 5g total fat, 2g saturated fat, 0g trans fat, 78mg cholesterol, 231mg sodium, 2g carbohydrate, 0g fiber, 23g protein.
*TIP The key to delicious gravy is a flavorful broth. Prepare homemade beef or lamb broth up to 3 months in advance and freeze until ready to use. If using store-bought broth, enhance flavor by simmering it with a diced onion and carrots while lamb roasts. Read the label carefully to be sure the broth gluten free.