The red burning puffy eyes. The constant stream of tears and mucous from your eyes and nose. The constant itching and sneezing.
If you know what I’m talking about, then you too are a seasonal allergy victim.
Some people go through the yearly discomfort in the spring, others in the summer. (Some even all year round — ouch!) The usual drugstore allergy medicine provides you with some relief but the season is long and the medicine is not cheap. Instead of only continuously returning to Shoppers for your weekly Claritin, why not fight the battle against allergies by tag teaming with some natural allergy remedies?
5 Steps Towards Winning the Allergy Battle
1) Understand your immune system.
Your immune system is your internal body guard. Most people know to keep it strong so they are less susceptible to colds and flues. You cannot forget that it takes care of your allergy symptoms as well! If your immune system is down then your defense against allergens will be weak.
2) Cut out allergy foods.
Some foods trigger allergies. These are not just those food allergies where schools ban lunchtime PBJ sandwiches or where you have to avoid all wheat products. These food allergy triggers weaken the immune system little by little without you knowing and make you more reactive to external allergens. Some common allergy trigger foods include sugar, wheat, most dairy and all junk food.
Yes, lovely timing with all the picnics you’re about to go on. Beware the pop, cake and candy and think twice before you bite into those Timbits.
3) A spoonful of pollen makes the allergies go down
Start with a couple grains first. Pollen is what you’re allergic to in the air and by ingesting it bit by bit you build an immunity towards the airborne pollens. Start small and work your way up to a spoonful a day. Beware, you are allergic to this stuff so you may feel a brief itching sensation in your mouth. If you’re not comfortable with that, try a spoonful of honey instead. When bees collect the nectar they also collect a little pollen that gets into the honey.
4) Set up an air purifier in your home.
Keeping your household air clean and free of floating allergens and other unwanted particles will reduce allergy and asthmatic symptoms. They range from $70 to $400.
5) Antioxidants, Vitamin C and Omega-3 fatty acids
Grape seed extract, apples, bananas and onions have anti-inflammatory properties and help build your immune system. Vitamin C stabilizes mast cells, cells that line the mucous membranes which release histamine when exposed to an allergen. Besides, you should be getting enough Vitamin C everyday for general good health! Omega-3 also boosts the body’s anti-inflammatory power so make sure you either get it through capsules or eat tuna or walnuts.
