Allergy season at my house

Well, this isn't a recipe, but is a topic important to health!

As a chronic allergy sufferer, I have tried my share of allergy remedies: decongestants, antihistamines, teas, cayenne pepper snuff, saline nose rinses, etc. Today I'm enjoying a stuffy nose and sore throat, compliments of the furniture-moving, cleaning, and flying dust that went on yesterday (bi-products of a fruitless attempt to find a lost library book). Anyway, obviously avoiding allergens is key to avoiding allergies. But when you're deathly allergic to dust, yet too lazy to routinely clean house, allergies happen. So here is some advice if you ever find yourself starting to get that "plugged up, post-nasal drip sore throat, on my way to a sinus infection" feeling:

*Drinking lots of fluid is key. If you let your body dry out, your mucus will gum up in your sinuses, and become lodged and prone to infection (so gross).

*If you've been taking antihistamines, stop! Doctors that I've talked to have told me that antihistamines like diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or loratadine (Claritin) will make it harder for your body to clear out the infected mucus (they cause the vessels to constrict, and dry out mucus, so again with the gummed-up effect).

*Take a plain decongestant, something with pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine. Many of these drugs are controlled now (darn meth-heads), so you have to buy them at the pharmacy counter, but it's well worth it.

*Also take an expectorant called guaifenesin (generically marketed at "mucus relief"). This will help thin the mucus and help you to cough it up (again, gross but effective). You might be able to find something that has both a decongestant and expectorant in it. Just make sure there's nothing else thrown in there (my personal favorites are the cough syrups that have both an expectorant AND cough suppressant...sooo, it's supposed to help you cough up the junk but suppress your cough at the same time...stay away from these, they're a waste of money).

*Try other things that will help clear out the sinuses, like hot/warm drinks or soup, spicy food, steam, and nasal flushes (like using a neti pot).

*Do the above, take it easy, obviously try to avoid the allergen, and wait it out. I know for me and many others, if you don't catch the symptoms early, full-blown sinus infections are frequent visitors. Good luck, and stay healthy!

5 Layer Dip Anyone?

So we had an Enrichment Night a few weeks ago and I decided to take some dip. Sometimes I make it for dinner and Adam and I eat about 1/2 of it one night, the other half the next. I also make the same amount, spread between a few smaller containers, and take it to school for lunch. It tastes good cold or hot. It's super easy and fairly healthy. A lot of the ingredients can be substituted for fresh or low/no fat ingredients. I also eliminated the guacamole (because I haven't been able to find any really good stuff) and because avacados are SUPER high in calories.

1 can refried beans (low/no fat available)
½ lb. browned hamburger (drained)
¾ cup water
¼ cup taco seasoning (or lightly cover surface of browned hamburger in skillet)
½ cup salsa (of your choice)
½ cup sour cream (low/nonfat available)
Shredded cheddar cheese
1 tomato, chopped
¼ yellow onion, chopped (or about 3 tbsp.)
Tortilla chips

In a skillet, brown 1/2 lb. hamburger. Drain grease. When it is browned, add 3/4 cup water to skillet and ¼ cup taco seasoning. I just sprinkle it right on top of the beef to cover it. Cover with lid and simmer for 5-10 minutes, until water is absorbed. Stir occasionally.
In a 9.5" glass pie dish, spread one can refried beans. Place in microwave and heat for 2 minutes, or until warm. *(You can also add Olive Oil to the beans to make them thinner and more dip-able, and you get your required daily amount of olive oil.)
Spread seasoned hamburger over beans in pie dish.
Lightly cover hamburger with shredded cheese. Wait a few minutes until the cheese has melted a little bit. DO NOT heat the cheese to melt it! This will make it more difficult to spread the sour cream.
Cover cheese with ½ cup sour cream. *(This may get messy, but it all tastes the same. Just make sure the beef and cheese are completely covered.)
Spread ½ cup salsa over sour cream.
Sprinkle shredded or grated cheddar cheese over the top to cover.
Add chopped tomatoes and onions.

If you want to include more fresh ingredients, you can add olives, cilantro, guacamole, etc. to taste. To make it more filling, add 1 cup cooked rice on top of beans, before the hamburger.

Enjoy with tortilla chips! (Sounds silly, but choose strong tortilla chips that are made for scooping. Others break really easily.)

This may be a little less healthy than some other dishes on here, but it can be healthified! And it's yummy and quick. I don't know where to find calorie counters for food dishes since I'm pretty new at this. Any recommendations are welcome!