The spring allergy season is upon us, and each year seems to be outdoing the prior one in terms of severity.
Milder winters have created very healthy root systems in trees…so these root systems are pumped and ready to release pollen earlier.
Plus climate change is causing more carbon dioxide in our environment, which signals plants to produce more pollen. Also, the pollen itself is more supercharged and powerful.
But the good news is there are ways that you can safely and naturally get relief from your allergy symptoms!
Here are 10 ways to feel much better NOW:
1- Probiotic supplementation
Probiotics like Super Shield can be very helpful in combatting both seasonal and year-round allergies for two reasons—they can manufacture enzymes to help your body break down allergens, plus they can support your immune system function and help tame the “over-reaction” that occurs with allergies.
2- Eat 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 control allergy symptoms.
3- Spice it up
Don’t be shy with spices in your cooking. Spicy foods like chili peppers, Dijon mustard, cumin, fresh garlic, onions, and horseradish can have a decongestant effect.
4- Wear cotton clothing
If you’ve got seasonal allergies that are kicking into gear, skip the synthetic fabrics and stick to cotton clothing. Synthetic fabrics (like polyester and nylon) can create an electrical charge which can attract pollen.
Same goes for your bed sheets--stick to cotton and launder them in hot water.
5- Apple cider vinegar
Drinking a glass of water with a teaspoon of ACV and a splash of fresh lemon juice is a great way to help flush out your system each day. Look for organic raw varieties that contain “the mother.”
6- Vitamin D
Vitamin D fights inflammatory immune responses like those seen in allergies and autoimmune diseases.
It’s no coincidence that while our rates of vitamin D deficiency are increasing, so are the frequency and severity of allergies and autoimmune conditions.
Supplementing with an outstanding product like Optimum DK Formula with FruiteX-B can help ensure your body has health-supporting levels of this crucial nutrient.
7- Reduce stress
Stress can destroy your friendly gut flora 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.
8- 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 hasn’t attested to the effectiveness of local honey for allergies, many people have sworn by it.
I think it makes perfect sense and it’s definitely worth a shot.
9- Neti pot
Using a neti pot helps to cleanse your sinuses of irritants and allergens. With a neti pot, you pour water into one nostril and allow it to flow out the other.
Be sure to avoid using tap water because of the chlorine, fluoride and numerous other contaminants. Stick to distilled water instead.
You can also put a few drops of eucalyptus oil (a natural antimicrobial) in your neti pot water, or add 25 drops of eucalyptus oil to each load of wash during allergy season.
10- Watch the wine and beer
Some people are very sensitive to the sulfites in red wine and beer—so if your allergies are worse in the morning when you’ve had alcohol the night before, that may be why.
Plus many wines are aged in oak barrels—so if you are sensitive to oak, look for wine varieties that are labeled “unoaked.”
Something new I learned today
According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), as of fall 2016, our Holistic Blends’ home of Syracuse, NY is among the five WORST cities in the US for allergy sufferers! I used to think our only claim to fame was record snowfall but I stand corrected.
Here is the top 5 list:
- Jackson, Mississippi
- Memphis, Tennessee
- Syracuse, New York
- Louisville, Kentucky
- McAllen, Texas
Put these natural allergy relief measures to work for you and see how much better you can feel!
Especially if you live in Syracuse!
To your health,
Sherry Brescia
