Getting Ready for Allergy Season

How to reduce allergy symptoms

Spring is the peak allergy season of the year for many allergy sufferers. With the arrival of warmer weather, plants start growing, flowers bloom everywhere, and pollen counts become elevated nationwide. Have you started getting ready to deal with allergy symptoms?

If you’re one of the 50 million people in the U.S. with allergies, there is much you can do to combat allergies. The key is to treat the underlying inflammation. Here are some tips:

• Eat an anti-inflammatory diet. This diet is rich in vegetables, fruits, nuts and other plant foods. Many plants are rich in flavonoids, natural substances that have anti-inflammatory effects. Foods rich in vitamin C like bell peppers, citrus, broccoli and tomatoes may have an anti-allergy effect.

• Get enough omega-3 fatty acids. Eat low-mercury fish twice a week or talk to your health care provider about taking a fish oil supplement. If you are vegetarian, look to vegetable sources of omega-3 fats such as flaxseeds, walnuts, hemp seeds, soy and canola oil. Omega-3 supplements derived from algae are also available on the market.

• Exercise regularly. Physical activity has anti-inflammatory effects. Pick activities you enjoy and build up gradually with your health care provider’s approval.

• Get a handle on stress. Excess stress in your life triggers your body’s stress hormones and inflammatory mediators. To calm stress, learn a relaxation technique like meditation, yoga, deep breathing, or progressive muscle relaxation.

• Consider medications or supplements. Antihistamine drugs, anti-allergy herbs, or supplements like quercetin are just a few of the many examples. Quercetin prevents the release of histamine and is found in berries, red grapes, red onions, red wine and black tea. Turmeric and bromelain can reduce inflammation and swelling of the nasal passages and sinus tissues. Turmeric is a spice found in mustard and curries, and bromelain can be found in pineapple.

For a complete rundown on your options, see Allergy Guide: Alternative & Conventional Solutions by Elizabeth Smoots, MD. It’s found online wherever books are sold.

Even making small changes in what you do can have big results. Here’s hoping you have a lovely spring with fewer allergy symptoms this year!

This newsletter is for educational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for medical advice or treatment; before adhering to any recommendations in this newsletter consult your healthcare provider.