The best time to start preventing seasonal allergy problems is now before they start. Let's look at some ways to set yourself up for success this spring rather than waiting and treating issues when they start.
Gut Health:
A healthy gut contains a diverse community of bacteria that help break down food, produce vitamins, and protect against harmful pathogens. Research has shown that people who suffer from allergies have a different gut microbiome than people who don't suffer from allergies. The gut influences our entire immune system, so focusing on gut health is the first line of defense against allergies and other immune system issues.
To improve gut health, it's important to maintain a balanced diet rich in fiber, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Probiotic foods such as yogurt, kefir, raw sauerkraut, and kimchi also contain beneficial bacteria. It's important to consume foods with prebiotic inulin as well. Dandelion root, apples, burdock root, garlic, and bananas all contain inulin, which helps to increase "good" bacteria in the gut and decrease "bad" bacteria. Food dyes, acetaminophen use, and overly processed foods have been linked to allergies.
Herbs such as plantain, calendula, and marshmallow root can help soothe and heal inflamed intestinal tissue.
Natural Remedies:
Stinging nettle's histamine content may help reduce allergies by downregulating the immune system. Its use can also decrease C-reactive protein levels. Use nettle daily in a nourishing infusion to help decrease allergy symptoms. As an added bonus, nettle is high in iron, calcium, manganese, vitamin K, and a whole slew of vitamins and minerals to help you feel your best.
Local raw honey can also help to decrease symptoms when taken daily. Honey is anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. Make sure to look for honey that is collected within 25 miles of your home for best results and aim to take a tablespoon per day.
Quercetin, a plant pigment and flavonoid, is known for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antihistamine properties. It is found in several foods and herbs, including purple dead nettle, apples, elderberry, and dark cherries. Quercetin acts as an anti-histamine by inhibiting the release of histamine from mast cells and basophils. It can also help stabilize mast cells, which are involved in the inflammatory process.
This blog post emphasizes the significance of maintaining a whole-food diet to effectively manage a variety of health problems. Even if it's not possible to make multiple changes all at once, incorporating some of the foods and herbs discussed in this post can help improve your overall health and well-being.
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