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Throughout the last 61 years, I have been grateful to NOT be among the one out of four Americans that suffers from seasonal allergies. 

Well, guess what? That’s all changed. 

Because apparently my Upstate NY immune system does not get along well with Florida pollen. 

Although I moved to Florida from New York in September 2021, I didn’t notice any issues…until now. 

It’s funny because I thought I just had a cold, with the typical congestion, cough and runny nose, but it wouldn’t go away. After getting checked out just to make sure it was nothing serious, the doctor explained to me that Florida pollen is a whole different animal than what my body is used to, and it can be very inflammatory, especially this year. 

So I checked into this further and it appears the doctor was right. 

Although allergens are all over the US, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) has released a list of the WORST cities for pollen counts and seasonal allergies for 2024.

Here are the top 20: 

1. Wichita, KS
2. Virginia Beach, VA
3. Greenville, SC 
4. Dallas, TX 
5. Oklahoma City, OK 
6. Tulsa, OK 
7. Richmond, VA 
8. Des Moines, IA 
9. Raleigh, NC 
10. Fayetteville, AR 
11. Allentown, PA 
12. Baton Rouge, LA 
13. Sarasota, FL 
14. Houston, TX 
15. Columbia, SC 
16. Orlando, FL 
17. Little Rock, AR 
18. Chattanooga, TN 
19. Greensboro, NC 
20. Kansas City, MO 

I highlighted Orlando, FL because guess who lives 50 miles from there? Yours truly.

OK, that explains a lot, but now what do I do? 

Follow my own advice, that’s what. 

While antihistamines, nasal sprays and decongestants do provide relief (especially when trying to sleep at night!), the fact remains they’re merely suppressing your symptoms, and they’re opening you up for side effects to boot! 

Plus they don’t address what’s really going on behind the scenes with allergies… 

A hyper immune response! 

But when you instead take measures to combat those overzealous immune responses, a whole new world free of allergy symptoms (and allergy medications!) can open up for you. 

Here are 9 highly effective measures you can try: 

1- Probiotic supplementation 

Nothing beats probiotics when it comes to a healthy, properly functioning immune system. Eighty percent of your immune system resides in your gut, so it’s crucial to ensure that your gut microbiome is in a healthy balance. 

Having a diet of wholesome real foods is a good start, but your gut faces an onslaught of factors that can negate the best diet and upset your delicate microbiome balance--including stress, sugars and refined carbs, medications (especially antibiotics, antacids and birth control pills), tap water, smoking and glyphosate exposure. 

That’s why probiotics like Super Shield and Super Shield Plus can be extraordinarily helpful in combatting allergies for three reasons: 

• They repopulate your supply of healthy intestinal bacteria; 
• They can manufacture enzymes to help your body break down allergens; and 
• They can support proper immune function and help counteract the hyper response seen with allergies! 

If you have relatively mild allergies, original Super Shield can help support proper immune responses and ease symptoms. For more severe allergies, we recommend Super Shield PLUS.

(Note: Super Shield PLUS has been a Godsend to me!) 

2- Eat the right foods (and stay away from the wrong ones!) 

Foods that help with allergies include probiotic-rich foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, and yogurt; lots of fresh vegetables; wild-caught fish; organic beef and chicken; spicy foods (they help clear mucus) and bone broths. 

At the same time, avoid dairy (it can be mucus-forming), processed foods, artificial sweeteners, grains, sugars, soy (90 percent of the soy processed in the US is genetically engineered), vegetable oils and margarine. 

3- Get sources of quercetin 

Quercetin, a bioflavonoid naturally found in cruciferous vegetables, onions, shallots, green teas and citrus fruit, stabilizes the release of histamine and helps to naturally curb allergy symptoms. 

(I have been eating oranges and tangerines like crazy.) 

4- Try turmeric 

Curcumin (the polyphenolic phytochemical in turmeric) can modulate your immune system and prevent the release of histamine (a compound that triggers inflammatory response and itching). 

Turmeric can also help alleviate nasal congestion, sneezing, and other symptoms of allergic rhinitis.

If you want to use the impressive power of turmeric to combat allergies, look no farther than our Optimal Turmeric Blend. 

It provides a soothing 750 mg of organic turmeric, plus black pepper fruit extract, which enhances absorption of the turmeric. 

(Optimal Turmeric Blend has also been a part of my regimen.) 

5- Reduce stress 

Stress can cause harmful changes to your microbiome and ignite inflammatory responses in your body. 

That’s why when you’re under stress you find yourself getting sick over and over or suffering digestive problems or having headaches. Your immune system is challenged and inflammation is on the warpath inside of you. 

It’s also why many people have allergy flare-ups during times of stress. 

Do whatever it takes to curb stress in your life. Measures like regular exercise (with your doctor’s OK), meditation, massage, acupuncture, infrared sauna, prayer, and even adopting a pet can be a tremendous help! 

(No matter what’s going on in my life, nothing de-stresses me like cuddling my three cats.) 

6- Eat local raw honey 

If you have pollen allergies, the idea behind this is that eating honey produced by bees in your local area can help relieve allergies because the bees transfer pollen from the local plants to their honey…so you can become “desensitized” by eating a little of the honey every day.

While mainstream medicine poo-poo’s the use of local honey for allergies, many people have sworn by it, and it makes perfect sense.

(I was fortunate enough to locate a local beehive business and obtained some of their honey! I just started using it, but I’m confident it will help.) 

7- Use eucalyptus oil 

Eucalyptus oil can be soothing and healing to your mucus membranes. You can place a drop on a cotton ball and sniff it several times during the day, or you can put it in a diffuser.

8- Try acupuncture 

Acupuncture has been shown to be tremendously helpful with allergy symptoms, without the dangerous side effects of medications and shots! 

9- Download an allergy app 

There are several apps you can download to see what allergens are peaking in your area each day. This can help you to be proactive and take preventive measures to help minimize their effect on you.

I am now happy to report that my symptoms have decreased dramatically, so not only can I suggest these natural answers to you, but I can personally attest to their effectiveness! 

Put these allergy-curbing measures to work for you and see how much better you can feel. 

To your health, 

Sherry Brescia