Ice Cream and Sinus Infections: The Link to Artificial Flavorings

I have eaten certain brands of ice cream that brought on serious sinus infections. I use to eat Blizzards at DQ and had to stop it when I realized it was giving me sinus issues.

You want the connection, here it is: Balsam of Peru and Balsam of Tolu.

These two "ingredients" are basically tree saps from some South American trees and they are basically the same thing. They are commonly used to "naturally flavor" many foods and also widely used in perfumes. This probably explains it if you are allergic to perfumes and scents, and/or if ice cream bothers your sinuses. It contains compounds that are chemically the same or similar to cinnamon, clove, vanilla, citrus, etc and can be extracted and used much more cheaply than the real thing.

Looking over the chemical names listed above for the Burger King Strawberry Milkshake, I recognize many of those chemical compounds as easily derivable from Balsam of Peru and Balsam of Tolu. (http://www.rain-tree.com/balsam.htm)

They can put it in ANY food or beverage and label it simply as "natural flavor", so it can be in anything you eat that says "natural flavor" or even potentially "artificial flavor". It is also the number two contact dermatitis allergen at 15% of skin all tests showing "positive" results, just behind nickel. If 15% of people's skin is allergic to it, logic would dictate that the rest of their body probably would not like it either if ingested or inhaled, especially the delicate mucous membranes of sinuses and digestive tracts.

Research it yourself and see if avoiding "natural flavors" is worth it.

Also, petition your local government and tell them to make manufacturers label EVERYTHING that is in their foods and personal care products! If it is going in or on us, we have a right to know what is in it!

I can confirm Earth Clinic's findings. I had Haagen Daz ice cream on Tuesday and came down with flu like symptoms and sinus infection on Thursday. This happened in the past after having a Wendy's shake as well.

Hi Sara,

Earth Clinic has a page specifically about sinus infections and ice cream because it is fairly common :

https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/sinus-infection-ice-cream-chemical-link.html

Art

I just found your page while looking for home cures for sinus infection (which I have right now) and surprise! I did have ice cream just before I came down with this. I wanted to inform you that I do not eat any ice creams that contain any artificial additives. Most of what I buy I get from Wholefoods. I just thought that you might want to add this to your statistics for narrowing down the culprit.

Omg! I have the worst sinus infection ever after eating Haagen Daz too! I used to get them more frequently in the past but I haven't gotten one in a while and I haven't had Haagen Daz in a long time. Then my brother brought some over (one of my favorite flavors) and I had some and the next day I had body aches and then the day after that severe congestion which turned into the worst sinus infection. I'm on antibiotics and still feel horrible. Now I remember that I stopped eating Haagen Daz because I made the connection years ago that it was causing my sinus infections.

I have just Googled about this issue. I am affected from dunkin donuts creamer they use. I don't need to drink much in the coffee and I instantly have this reaction everytime. I always drank it black now with creamer and get instant sinus reactions than goes away the next day. I am interested in learning more and helping anyway I can. This is the only information I found online that can link to my issue.

We eat non GMO organic and perhaps ice cream maybe two times in ten years. One day at the supermarket they had big ice cream sale . Häagen-Dazs and Talenti, we bought both ate some . That night I noticed by eyes hurt so bad, hurt to move them. and I had insomnia my frontal sinuses were inflamed feeling . I did not link it to ice cream. My husband was sleeping he was not feeling so good. That night we ate more ice cream next day I felt like I had a mega sinus infection, I felt so weird I was forgetting things and I had migraine, we were going to go to the emergency dept, decided to wait to see my MD on Monday. I'm stunned that ice cream from my childhood days has turned into a dangerous poison with all sort of chemicals! No ice cream for us ever, unless I make it at home. end of story.

I am so happy to have been directed to your site. So much information. The ice cream/sinusitis connection is especially interesting, since I have several friends/family members that suffer terribly with sinus trouble.

I don't have any cures but I wanted to share some information that a nurse (7th Day Adventist) told me, during a discussion about nutrition. One of her statements was so simple as to render it mind-boggling. She said:

Everyone forgets that God made MILK for baby cows!

And we wonder why, even in raw form, we can't tolerate it??

Be calm and be healthy...

If you have problems with Sinusitis it is very important to avoid cold foods like ice cream, freezes, and ice chip drinks of any kind. Snow cones is also a no no for sinusitis suffers. AND KEEP YOUR HEAD WARM WITH A HAT OR KNIT CAP. DON'T ALLOW YOUR HEAD TO BECOME COLD ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. In fact it is probably best to keep your entire body warm.

I am mostly well from my Sinusitis but I bought a Vanilla Bean Cappuccino at Starbucks and this cold drink with ice chip (that is so delicious) started a Sinusitis attack on me. I now have to avoid them. Benadryl will usually help an attack! Warmth is a must!

3 days ago I celebrated a birthday with a friend here in my home all my life I delt with sinusitis since I was 16. I picked up a DQ icecream cake for her to share with her family. I had decent sized piece. Next day had pressure on my ears and face seen that my face was swollen. I just assumed it was allgeries by the next day I was in so much pain my ears were closed up like being on an air plane running 102 fever and really bad virtago. Have a netti but the water not going through did natural healing search found this Page and went holey #*+". I have reflected back on past events and realized I had ice cream every time I got sick. This is just mind blowing.

Nikki P, Ontario Canada

I haven't had a history of sickness, and I believe I have a fairly good immune system. A few weeks ago, ice-cream was on sale, so I bought two packs. After finishing the first (chocolate), I opened up the last pack last Saturday, this was some three flavour (I never really care what I buy, like I said I've never really had any major problems). The next morning I had what seemed like a cold. I ignored it, had some cold medications and went off to work, from there it was downhill. I thought it might just be the weather, I bought neo-citran to end the pain in my ears (sore throat). It helped me sleep, but my lungs were full of mucus the next morning. Its been a few days now (10 days). I haven't fully recovered, it is getting better. But atleast now I know, whats wrong, its a great relief, having read this post. I just wanted to post my experience here so that people realize this is not a fluke, it does and is happening.

Is this an allergy to artificial flavoring, artificial vanilla, or corn syrup? I read this information a couple of weeks ago and the ACV has been very helpful. I thought that perhaps my sinus flare up, which coincided with my period (sorry men), were somehow related but, could just be that I eat worse during this time. Anyway, I have put the ice cream to the test... One scoop of DQ cone with vanilla softserve ice cream caused my normal sinuses to violently react about 6 hours later. I had a completely stuffy nose but lots of mucous when I blow my nose, sinus pressure, and asthma. The same thing happened when I ate a Skinny Cow Ice Cream Sandwich, and also when I have had a McDonald's Sundae. All symptoms came raging back 6 hours to 12 hours later. It would be nice to know the specific ingredient to avoid.

I was ALWAYS having sinus infections after ice creams especially in the 80's and 90's... at some point, I read of sage helping with sinus infections... Worked great and I've not had as much of the sinus infections (of course,

I rarely eat ice cream and the chemically enhanced soft serve type "frozen desserts" either...). Even the kitchen spice bottle like you use for cooking Thanksgiving dinner - just plopped a teaspoon in hot tea water and let it steep 3-5 minutes or longer. At first I wanted it with stevia or honey to deal with the sage astringency/flavor - but now I can just shoot it straight. Be prepared to spend some time in the restroom bringing all the phlegm up - doesn't sound pretty, but the pain goes bye-bye with every glob that I spit up and out into the trash (I shouldn't have to tell you all to not "recycle" it by swallowing whatever you cough. It only buys you a little time until it comes back up so you still need to clear it out of your sinus passages!!).

We bought some ice cream. It was dairy substitute ice cream. Two days later, major sinus infection pain, major pain it hurt to open my eyes, could not sleep for two days. I decided to mixed coconut oil with few drop eucalyptus oil and two drops of peppermint oil and one drop of tea tree oil and few drops of DMSO. I mixed it all together and rubbed in over my sinus every hour wore soft hat on head and went to bed. I felt much better. Would of never guessed that ice cream is so toxic.

We bought some ice cream. It was dairy substitute ice cream. Two days later, major sinus infection pain, major pain it hurt to open my eyes, could not sleep for two days. I decided to mixed coconut oil with few drop eucalyptus oil and two drops of peppermint oil and one drop of tea tree oil and few drops of DMSO. I mixed it all together and rubbed in over my sinus every hour wore soft hat on head and went to bed. I felt much better. Would of never guessed that ice cream is so toxic.

Ice cream and sinus infection: Thanks for this info - interesting stuff. I had good quality ice cream from Waitrose last night and woke up with bad sore throat, and this morning my sinuses were blocked. Not sure its definitely the dairy connection though as I ate a whole baked camembert cheese the other day and nothing happened. Maybe it's the particular way ice cream is made - as one post had suggested. Would never have made this connection myself. Thanks Earth Clinic.

Look into the benefits of using oil of oregano for similar symptoms.

It's interesting to find this. I noticed several years ago that if I had a MacDonalds milkshake on my way home (a 45 min. trip) I would cough and have to clear my throat constantly. I concluded (after a couple of instances of this) that I must be alergic to something in their milkshakes. I didn't get the flu or anything, but I stopped drinking the milkshakes all the same. It was just too unpleasant, and I feel sure it was the shakes causing my problems.