Hippocrates (Missouri) on 07/12/2016
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!
Ice Cream Triggers Bronchitis A Day Later Audrey (Wawrung) on 11/07/2015
I have had my suspicions for some time now about my reaction to chocolate chip mint ice cream. I seem to always get sick with bronchitis that lasts months. I have been a skeptic of this connection since I grew up eating ice cream ( this flavor always a favorite) with no problems. I did it again last Friday night and it started Saturday and I have been stick with bronchial asthma for a week. I also get sick eating cold cereals with bht that didn't bother me as a kid. This site puts it together for me. I'm done with ice cream. Is it the corn in cereals (the rare treat of Lucky Charms)? Or the BHT?
Ice Cream Caused Sinus Attack Jules (Kyabram Victoria Australia) on 11/03/2014
Thank you so much, I am in the throws of a megga sinus attack with no other reason for it than a new brand of icecream which states its the Smooth icecream with the worlds finest vanilla flavour! Sourced from Madagascan vanilla..........Now I am informed and will go back to making my own with homegrown strawberries and NO artificial flavours.. Its such a relief to learn its not the icecream as such but once again its the Ad-ins.....
Cider vinegar massage and steaming are finally providing me relief thanks to sites like yours who care enough to help.
Comments on Milk/Sinusitis Connection Em (Fl, US) on 10/28/2014
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...
Re: Ice Cream and Sinus Infection Link Belle (Pembroke Pines, Fl) on 03/06/2014
I knew it!!! I should have looked this up years ago! Thank you. I get horribly sick every single time after eating my favorite ice cream, Hagendaz vanilla Swiss almond. I am sick today, sinus and all. Had homemade papaya shake with carnation evaporated milk last night. So was it the milk? Was it the brown sugar? Was it that it was too cold? Or all of the above? I would really appreciate your feedback. thanks again to everyone.
Re: Ice Cream and Sinus Infection Link Amy (Los Angeles California) on 01/10/2014
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!
Re: Ice Cream and Sinus Infection Link Nikki P (Ontario Canada) on 01/09/2014
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
Ice Cream and Sinus Infections Anonymous (Orlando, Fl) on 06/26/2013
Thank you for your article on ice cream and sinus infections, Saturday I went to my local market they had Klondike bars buy one get one free, I been waking up everyday since with a horrible headache and clogged nasal passages, like it says in the article I do not have a runny nose. I just wanted to share my experience so anyone reading this knows it is true, from now on I will be staying away from ice cream.
Ice Cream and Sinus Infections Aditya (Waterloo, Ontario, Canada) on 06/26/2013
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.
Ice Cream and Sinus Infections Premsukhi (Brighton, Uk) on 04/10/2013
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.
Re: Ice Cream and Sinus Infections Rod (Philly, Pa) on 03/30/2013
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.
Ice Cream and Sinus Infections Reader Feedback Cindy (Rapid City, Sd) on 01/04/2013
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.
Marie (Middle Tn, Tn) on 11/29/2012
I also do not drink milk or eat ice cream anymore. I used to LIVE on it, and I had around the clock sinus infections. I have had two sinus surgeries that didn't seem to help. But recently we started a very WHOLE FOODS diet, we are hardly eating anything that isn't completely fresh. We were drinking raw milk until we couldn't drive to get it anymore and it didn't seem to cause any problems for us. I haven't had any sinus infections.
Then recently I made potato soup with the main ingredient being heavy cream. I had it 3 times in two days because it was so good! It didn't have too many artificials in it, I checked. I have a RAGING sinus infection, and both my kids are sick, and it happened the day after eating this cream based soup. I just looked up a similar heavy cream and here are contents: Heavy Cream, Contains Less than 1% of Each of the Following: Mono and Diglycerides, Polysorbate 80 and Carrageenan.
I eat Carageenan in my almond milk so I know that isn't the culprit. I really believe it is the actual CREAM itself not the artificial flavors. Now organic yoghurt does not give me this problem, so I'm wondering it is something with the hormones they give cows? Or maybe its the way that cream is produced. I don't know. I just know that the cream seems to have promoted this infection in all of us.
I could feel the sinus infection coming on, why oh why didnt' I start the ACV protocol right away? I know that would have helped keep it from developing. Oh well. I'm sipping ACV now.
Re: Connection Between Certain Brands of Ice Cream and Sinus Infections
