Each week, holistic nutritionist Joy McCarthy tells us about a common health problem she's seen in her practice and how she came to a solution.

This Week's Client: Jenna, a small-business boutique owner and lover of all things dairy (especially cheese and milk).

The Problem: Winter, spring, summer or fall, Jenna has a stuffy nose. After a workout or a shower, she has to blow her nose right away. She has been congested for years and can't remember the last time she slept comfortably, with her mouth closed, breathing clearly through her nose.

If Jenna's problem sounds familiar, then you know all too well what it's like to wake up with a dry, scratchy throat because you slept with your mouth open.

There are various reasons -- from allergies and food intolerance, to indoor air pollution and the common cold -- for having a chronically congested nasal passageway. But I can assure you that taking antibiotic after antibiotic like Jenna has been doing for years is not going to do anything good for your body, other than strip your gut of good bacteria, which are essential for keeping your immune system strong.

Everyone's increasingly concerned about what we're eating and where it comes from, but even some seemingly healthy choices are filled with toxins. Dr. Janine Bowring, ND, explains how to avoid dangerous food.

Q: What commonly makes foods toxic?

A: Foods can be deemed toxic if they contain things such as pesticides, heavy metals and other environmental toxins such as PCB's and dioxins found within them. Unfortunately, our food is more toxic than we think. Even seemingly non-toxic organic food can be high in heavy metals, causing a number of health concerns.

Foods can also be considered toxic if they are difficult to digest by an individual. A common culprit is wheat products. Most people now have difficulty digesting wheat because this grain has been altered over the years to become more pest-resistant. For this reason, it can cause digestive ailments for many of people. Packaged food containing a number of preservatives is also toxic. We should focus on eating whole foods as much as possible to stay healthy and prevent disease.

Q: What affect can eating toxic foods have on our health?

Admittedly, artichokes are a food I haven't explored much. I've had artichoke hearts fairly often in various salads, but I could count on one hand the number of times I've actually sat down to a whole, steamed artichoke. I was served it once along with a delicious butter sauce when I went to dinner at a friend's house and really enjoyed it. Since we're smack dab in the middle of the second artichoke season right now (the biggest one being in the spring), I may just have a chance to give it another try -- and so do you.

Artichokes grow mainly in warmer climates, and their season begins in the fall, continuing through to the spring, unless interrupted by frost. While peak production happens in spring, when markets are filled with them and their prices drop, there is often a mini-season in the fall, depending on the weather.

Artichoke has traditionally been used as a treatment for digestive health disorders. They have also been found to lower blood cholesterol levels, have a preventative effect on heart disease and atherosclerosis, and a protective effect on the liver, enhancing its detoxification reactions.

More artichoke benefits after the jump...

Do you have a list of nagging symptoms that don't really seem to be helped by the over-the-counter (OTC) medications that are meant to clear them up? Is that list seemingly getting bigger by the day? Heartburn, indigestion, nausea, gas and bloating, frequent loose or watery stools -- these are all signs that our system is not as healthy as it could be. Yet we tend to overlook these symptoms as more nuisances than anything else -- certainly not an indication that something requires attention. But really these nagging symptoms aren't just something we need to live with. They point to a wearing down of the body and could all be the result of chronic exposure to food allergens.

What are the symptoms?
Headaches and migraines, chronic blood sugar imbalance, stuffy-nose or post nasal drip, asthma, skin rashes and joint pain are all common food allergy symptoms. Even more serious conditions like irritable bowel, ulcerative colitis or Crohn's Disease can be traced back to unknowingly ingesting foods you are allergic to on a regular basis.

When people think of food allergies, they generally tend to think of the acute response. Acute responses include deadly reactions to foods -- like peanuts, shellfish or eggs for example -- where immediate medical attention is vitally necessary. These reactions, called anaphylactic reactions, are often life-and-death situations which can cause inflammation of the breathing passage and cut off air supply.

Food sensitivities can be the culprit in all kinds of health problems -- from headaches to chronic tummy problems -- and they're more common than you might think. Naturopath Sara Celik explains what causes food sensitivities and how you can figure out if you're affected.

Q: What are food sensitivities?

A: Food sensitivities are conditions that can cause the individual suffering from them to have an immune reaction in response to eating certain foods. Your body's immune system, which is meant to protect you from pathogens and other harmful elements, ends up being activated by the particular food that you have a sensitivity to.

If you experience a severe allergic reaction immediately after being exposed to an allergen (offending food), you have experienced a Type I hypersensitivity reaction (IgE). However, if you feel subtle, uncomfortable symptoms hours or days after exposure, this may be a delayed hypersensitivity reaction, a Type III reaction (IgG), also referred to as a food sensitivity.

Q: Are they common?

Is your diet responsible for low or sporadic libido? Sex-pert Sue McGarvie says that food is a key factor when it comes to revving up your desire for sex.

Q: What impact can food have on libido?

A: Food (mainly "bad" foods) can have a huge impact on libido. Many of the patients I see have food allergies or sensitivities and it is one of the top characteristics of my low-libido women. Other factors include percentage of belly fat (size 6 or smaller, or size 18 or larger), use of birth control pills, and having a fair complexion. Foods that inflame your cells and stress out your body (i.e. junk food) can seriously decrease your libido health.

Each morning, we dish out a few links we love.

Having trouble in the bedroom lately? Your seasonal allergies could be to blame.

Not a fan of jogging? Walking works too -- walk your ass off with this workout.

Luminous Lauren Conrad thinks women of all sizes are beautiful, and wishes there were more short models on the runway.

Headed for a workout? Fitsugar lists the best foods to fuel your muscles.

Over at Shine they've listed some foods that should definitely be in your child's lunch box.

Each morning, we weigh in on the day's hottest headlines.

Maybe weight loss surgery does work -- recent studies show that stomach stapling reduces cancer risk by 42%

A recent study found that if you're having an affair, it's best to keep it low-tech by not texting or emailing from your cell. Um, thanks for that ultra helpful hint ...

Got the hiccups and need a fright? Check out these shocking recent photos of a truly emaciated and ill-looking Courtney Love.

Yes, Speidi's antics are pretty vomit-worthy but that's not what's making her throw up -- Stephanie Pratt recently revealed that she's bulimic.

Bizarrely, food allergies and obesity are linked -- though not being able to resist food is definitely not an allergy ...

Each morning, we weigh in on the day's hottest headlines.

Everyone knows you need to wear comfortable shoes when exploring Paris -- except Beyonce! She recently did some sightseeing in 6-inch transparent heels. Talk about inappropriate footwear choices.

If their overall health and well-being isn't reason enough to get your kid moving, consider this: obese kids are more likely to suffer from allergies than healthy-weight kids.

Ladies, let's go easy on the wine -- new studies show that us females are binge drinking wayyyy too much.

Just to confirm what we always expected, people who smoke burn fat more quickly than those of us who prefer not to puff on the cancer sticks. Short term gain, long term pain.

She's met the Queen, dined with celebs and travelled the world -- but Michelle Obama says the best thing about being the first lady thus far has been appearing on Sesame Street. Burn!

Perhaps the only thing people dread more than doing their taxes each spring is the return of those annoying seasonal allergies caused by pollens, trees and grasses. The coughing, itching and wheezing can take over people's lives, in some cases even leading to depression, poor sleeping habits and a loss of appetite. While it may be second nature for many allergy sufferers to reach for their antihistamine of choice, all-natural remedies are also a treatment option and they don't come with side-effects.

We spoke to Sheila Caporali-Crowe, a Toronto-based Homeopath, about the root of seasonal allergies, how we can help ward them off before they strike and what to use once they've begun their assault.

Each morning, we weigh in on today's hottest headlines.

Yikes -- apparently, Angelina Jolie collapsed on the set of her latest movie after a crazy crash diet. Girl, with six kids, a busy career and Brad Pitt in your bed, you need all the energy you can get, so eat up for crying out loud.

Speaking of big families, apparently babies conceived in spring are at a bigger risk for birth defects. The reason? Pesticides. So you could abstain ... or just eat organic.

And while we're talking spring fever, recent studies show that men can cure hay fever symptoms with sex. So which excuse will win out -- having sex to treat allergies or not having sex to treat to ever-present 'headache'?

Here's a statistic that's kind of alarming -- one in five 4-year-olds is considered obese. Seriously ... 4-year-olds?!

Tom and Gisele recently renewed their vows. Wait a sec ... didn't they just get married, like, yesterday?! It's a bit soon to be renewing vows, though I guess given the average length of Hollywood marriages, they've already been together for the real-life equivalent of 20 years.

Each morning, we weigh in on the day's hottest headlines.

Despite all the controversy, I didn't see this one coming -- Madonna's adoption of little Malawian orphan Mercy has been denied. Poor Mercy -- how awful would it be to always know that you were almost adopted by Madonna?!

Taking the same multivitamin as your hubby? According to the LA Times, you might want to consider investing in gender-specific ones.

When you've got a migraine, the last thing you want to do is lace up your sneakers and head for a run. But according to recent research, that might just be the thing to help you work through the pain.

Another side effect of global warming? Allergy season comes quicker and lasts longer. Awesome.

I have a hard time picturing bubbly Reese Witherspoon hating anything, but apparently she absolutely loathes the gym.

Each morning, we weigh in on the day's hottest headlines.

There is an upside to this whole recession thing -- if you're really, really counting change, you just might lose weight like this salon owner in Britain did. She was too poor to eat -- and, amazingly, it paid off.

Spring would be the perfect season -- if it wasn't for these pesky allergies. If you're dreading the 'Kleenex' season, check out Prevention Magazine's tips for, well, preventing allergies.

The key to getting pregnant? Not surprisingly, it's having good sex, according to recent research. Um, duh?

Creepiest love triangle ever -- apparently, Joe Simpson is jealous of daughter Jessica's boyfriend, Tony Romo. Ick.

Do dogs need sunglasses? Matthew McConaughey thinks so -- he recently bought a pair for his canine friend. Weird or no?

Dear Healthy Foodie,

Can you explain something to me about cravings? I've read some things that say that cravings are your body's way of asking for nutrients it needs, but I often get cravings for stuff that I know isn't good for me. Is my body really telling me it needs fries and gravy?

Sharon


Hi Sharon,

I doubt your body is telling you it "needs" fries and gravy. I'm not sure where you're getting your snacks from, but I'd be willing to bet your fries are cooked in hydrogenated oil, the salt on them is refined table salt and the gravy is probably a chemical concoction with MSG featured prominently on the ingredient list. Not exactly everything the body needs to thrive.