Whilst the idea of summer heralds the joyful prospect of sunshine and long summer evenings, for many it is a reminder of the misery of sore eyes, sneezing and blocked nose symptoms that accompany the seasonal condition known as hay fever.
Hay fever, or seasonal allergic rhinitis, is an acute allergy related condition, which is affecting increasingly more and more people.
Here’s what’s going on inside you...
The immune system responds to the inhaled allergens released by grasses, flowers and trees as the new season begins and produces inflammation in the eyes, nose and throat – leading to the all familiar symptoms of hay fever.
Histamine (a compound which is released by cells in response to injury and in allergic and inflammatory reactions, causing contraction of smooth muscle and dilation of capillaries) causes widening of the blood vessels which in turn leads to swelling and inflammation.
The reaction histamine creates is rather like raising the alarm at the fire station - that there is a fire to be put out - it sends a message to the immune system to tell it to remove these foreign invaders. It is this action that the immune system takes, that results in the miserable symptoms that those who suffer know only too well.
Many people turn to antihistamine drugs to deal with this problem, but not only are many of these partially or totally ineffective, they also create a plethora of immediate and longer term side effects but most if not all leave you feeling sleepy, parched and drained.
So here’s a natural way to tackle things from a nutrition point of view:
Hydration
It is vitally important to keep yourself hydrated. Drink plenty of water! One of the roles of histamine in the body is as a water regulator. If you don’t have enough fluid in your body, more histamine will be produced to help provide a solution to you not drinking.
Diet
Avoid foods which are naturally high in histamine, notably shellfish, mature cheese, red wine, spinach, strawberries and chocolate.
Dairy foods encourage mucous production, and are known to be pro-inflammatory, so I recommend avoiding them so as to hugely help your body at this time.
Processed foods and food colourants are thought to increase the release of histamine, so ensure that you eat a diet free from unprocessed foods. In particular, eat vegetables and foods as prepared from scratch as possible, so that you know what has gone into the food you are eating. Needless to say that highly refined, white carbohydrate foods will add to the load your body has to deal with and further increase the chance of symptoms or make worse the ones you already have!
Supplements
Quercetin is a substance found in foods such as onions, leeks, garlic and eggs. It is thought that quercetin works by stablising the hyperactivity of the mast cells. It is best taken as a nutritional supplement as you are unlikely to be able to obtain sufficient from food alone to deal with the symptoms. Click here to order.
Vitamin C is thought to be helpful because it appears from research done to date, that people with low levels of Vitamin C produce higher levels of histamine. Foods really rich in Vitamin C are papaya, bell peppers, kale, cauliflower and broccoli. However it is my view that supplementing at least 1,000mg daily is vital for most people in view of the farming and processing methods of foods these days. Ensure that the Vitamin C you buy contains bioflavanoids for increased absorption. Click here for our highly recommended product.
Vitamin B Complex (ie all the B vitamins) are excellent to keep mucous membranes healthy and is essential for nervous system. The roles of the various B vitamins are so massively varied and complex in the body and in my view most people are quite seriously deficient on a day to day basis and should supplement. The different B vitamins are found in many different foods, so eating a whole food balanced diet is vital.
Beta Glucans 1/3, 1/6 have been shown to support immune function and has the added benefit of being helpful in reducing the elevation in blood sugar levels that typically follow a meal. Beta glucans reduce the elevation of blood sugar by delaying gastric emptying so that dietary sugar is absorbed more gradually. This is an added bonus from a weight management perspective. Click here to order our best option recommendation.
Foods naturally containing anti-inflammatory properties include nuts, seeds, olive oil (drizzled on salads), red, blue and purple fruit and vegetables, oily fish, cayenne pepper, ginger, turmeric. They may also help to tone down an inflammatory response. Eating adequate essential fats is difficult to do, unless you are an eskimo! Adding a food supplement will help keep your intake high. Click here to order a top quality fishy option.
Essential Oils
If you prefer you can use essential oils designed to give immediate symptomatic relief and we have a convenient handy pack of all three. Try a beginners trio of peppermint, lavender and lemon, using one drop of each rubbed into the soles of your feet and all around your neck and shoulders, either neat or in a carrier oil such as fractionated coconut oil. Click here to order.
Wishing you a sneeze and itch free spring into summer!