From Tansy Rodgers, FNTP (Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner), Health and Lifestyle Coach, Personal Trainer, Fitness Instructor, and Physical Therapist Assistant
Seasonal allergies can be miserable and cause even the best days to feel like a struggle. The good news is that there’s some natural remedies that may offer relief…so you don’t need to unnecessarily suffer through the sneezing, congestion, itchy and watery eyes, and more.
Why Allergies are Becoming More Common Place?
The number of people who suffer from allergies is growing, and there’s a good reason why. Not only are we becoming more flooded with exposure to pollutants and toxins, but our gut health and overall nutrition could be setting us up for experiencing greater allergy symptoms. Common allergen triggers include pollen from grass and trees, the fecal particles of dust mites, animal dander, certain foods, air pollution, beauty product ingredients, or even insect bites.
Allergy Response & Your Immune System
Diet, strong gut health, and overall health can make a big difference when it comes to seasonal Allergies, because allergic response has everything to do with the immune system. And, approximately 65% of our immune system’s cells reside in the gut. The body is like a bathtub — every time something enters the body (food, water, air, etc.), the body reacts to keep itself in a state of homeostasis. If too much goes into the bathtub, it’s going to overflow. This is the same with the immune system. Instead of overflowing, it gets overloaded and overstimulated and the immune system responds to what would normally be harmless substances as if it is a harmful foreign invader. This is why your gut health and your immune system strength needs to be addressed to find relief from seasonal allergies.
As prime allergy season is amongst us (at least in our area), I’m sharing some natural remedies and food choices that help to greatly lessen seasonal allergies. Not all of them may be as immediately effective as a medication, but over the long-term, they are quite effective.
- Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) – This is an age-old food that has been used for so many ailments, my favorite being for better digestion and heart burn relief. For allergies, the belief is its ability to reduce mucous production and cleanse the lymphatic system.
- Cleanse Your Nostrils – This is effective because it helps to prevent the offending allergen (or at least as much of it) from entering your airways. You can use a Neti Pot or a saline spray to get the job done.
- Consume Quercetin – Quercetin has been shown to prevent immune cells from releasing histamines, which are chemicals that cause allergic reactions. As a result, researchers think that quercetin may help reduce symptoms of allergies, including runny nose, watery eyes, hives, and swelling of the face and lips. It also helps to decrease inflammation. You can find it naturally in citrus and broccoli, but it is hard to get the dose you need. You may need to take a supplement to gain the benefits.
- Consume Nettle Leaf – Nettle leaf is another natural antihistamine that can be very effective as it naturally blocks the body’s ability to produce histamine. You can use a tincture or a tea, but it may be more convenient to take nettle leaf in capsule form. Nettle leaf is also great for decreasing inflammation and joint health.
- Eat More Anti-inflammatory Foods – Foods, teas, and spices with known anti-inflammatory benefits may play a role in reducing unpleasant allergy symptoms. Ginger and green tea have been shown to block a key cell receptor involved in producing an allergic response.
- Take A Probiotic – Allergies are the result of an imbalance in the immune system that causes the body to react too strongly to a stimuli. Many studies link the presence of beneficial bacteria in the gut with reduced incidence of allergies.
- Alter Your Diet – Sometimes dietary changes can be the answer to allergy problems. Try consuming more healing bone broth and eliminating foods that cause you sensitivity. Also, decreasing sugar and processed foods can bring you relief, since they both cause more systemic inflammation and compromise gut health. If allergies are severe, you may need some gut healing/rebalancing.
Interested in learning more about wellness from Tansy? Visit her website at www.tansyrodgers.com.