Best Foods To Treat Seasonal Allergies
Seasonal allergies, also known as allergic rhinitis or hay fever, can be an exhausting drag. The various symptoms can come on at any time, and there is no way to completely prevent it. The symptoms include itchy eyes and skin, runny, congested nose and sneezing a lot.
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The symptoms strike when the immune system overreacts to certain allergens in the air and the surrounding environment, such as pollen. Pollen is released into the air by flowers and other plants in the spring and summer months. There are quite a few treatment options to help reduce your symptoms, such as prescription and over the counter antihistamines and certain allergy fighting foods. Many of these antihistamines may cause increased fatigue and drowsiness, or they may not mix well with other medications, so ask your doctor which one is best for you. Without treatment or removing yourself from the source of the allergy, seasonal allergy symptoms are not likely to improve on their own.
Listed below are some of the best allergy fighting superfoods, specifically for seasonal allergies.
Ginger
Many of the unpleasant and irritating allergy symptoms come from inflammatory issues, like swelling in the nasal passages, eyes, and throat. Luckily, ginger can help reduce these symptoms naturally .Many people are not aware of this interesting health fact- For thousands of years, ginger has been used as a natural remedy for a number of health problems, like nausea and joint pain. But it’s also been proven to contain antioxidative, anti-inflammatory phytochemical compounds. Now, experts are exploring how these compounds may be useful for combating seasonal allergies. In a 2016 animal study, ginger suppressed the production of inflammatory proteins in the blood of mice, which led to reduced histamine production and overall allergy symptoms.
Plus, there doesn’t appear to be a difference in the anti-inflammatory capacity between fresh ginger and dried ginger. So, this means that you can add either variety to stir fries, curries, and baked goods. Ginger tea is also an excellent and soothing choice.
Turmeric
Turmeric is well-known as an anti-inflammatory powerhouse for a good reason. Its active ingredient, curcumin, has been linked to reduced symptoms of many inflammation-driven diseases, and could help minimize the swelling and irritation caused by allergic rhinitis. Although turmeric’s effects on seasonal allergies haven’t been studied extensively in humans, animal studies have been promising. One study showed that treating mice with turmeric reduced their allergic response.
Turmeric can be taken in pills, tinctures, or teas — or, of course, eaten in foods. Whether you take turmeric as a supplement or use it in your cooking, be sure to choose a product with black pepper or piperine, or combine turmeric with black pepper in your recipe. Black pepper increases the beneficial punch of curcumin by up to 2,000 percent.
Onions
Believe it or not, onions are an excellent natural source of quercetin, which is a bioflavonoid you may have seen sold on its own as a dietary supplement.
Some research suggests that quercetin acts as a natural antihistamine, reducing the symptoms of seasonal allergies. Even better, they are also cheap to buy and keep stocked in your kitchen. So you’ll save a lot of money by adding onions to your diet instead of buying pharmaceutical antihistamines.
Since onions also contain a number of other anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds, you can’t go wrong including them in your diet during allergy season. You just might want to freshen your breath afterwards though.
Raw red onions have the highest concentration of quercetin, followed by white onions and scallions. Cooking reduces the quercetin content of onions, so try to eat them raw as much as possible. Try them in salads, in dips (like guacamole), or as sandwich toppings. Onions are also prebiotic-rich foods which nourish healthy gut bacteria and further support immunity and health.
Citrus Fruits
While it’s a long believed old wives’ tale that vitamin C can prevent the common cold, it certainly does strengthen the immune system, thus shortening the duration of a cold or a flu. However, citrus fruits also offer benefits for allergy sufferers as well. Eating foods high in vitamin C has been shown to decrease allergic rhinitis symptoms, according to research studies. So during allergy season, feel free to load up your shopping wagon with high-vitamin C citrus fruits, such as oranges, grapefruit, lemons, limes, sweet peppers, and berries.
Salmon And Other Oily Fish
There’s some growing evidence that the omega-3 fatty acids from fish could boost your allergy resistance and even improve asthma, which is another common allergy symptom. A recent study showed that fatty acids helped decrease the narrowing of airways that occurs in asthma and some cases of seasonal allergies. These benefits likely come from omega-3s’ anti-inflammatory properties.
Chocolate
If you love chocolate and have a sweet tooth, then you’re in luck. Besides for the feel-good hormones, the cocoa in chocolate also harbors a surprisingly rich amount of an anti-allergenic substance called polyphenols. So give a great happy cheer, and don’t deprive yourself of such a beneficial and delicious treat. However, it is often high in sugar, so it’s best to eat lower sugar dark chocolate.
Final Thoughts
If you see many used tissues lying around your house, and your nose is all red and sore, then it may be time to give some of the foods mentioned above a try. You don’t have to let those pesky seasonal allergies or tissue companies get the better of you.
Before adding or removing any foods to your diet or trying any new medications, always consult with your doctor to make sure that it’s safe for you.
