Foods To Keep Seasonal Allergies At Bay

The enchanting Amaltas is in bloom, painting #OurCity yellow; the imposing Silk-Cotton, aka Semal, tree spreads its shade; and the Gulmohar’s red carpet adorns pathways. Amidst these sights, the season of allergies makes a comeback too. We follow Hippocrates’ wisdom — let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food — and it works like a charm. Take the doctor’s word sprinkled with a generous dose of age-old wisdom, which has proven time and again that certain foods aid recovery from particular ailments. Get back on your feet the natural way as #DSSCRecommends foods that will make you smile your way through this allergy season.

Hay Fever

Seasonal snuffles, repeated and endless sneezing, blocked or running nose, puffy and itchy eyes, wheezing, coughs, headaches — all have us reaching out for them trusted pills. Whilst one waits for the medicines to work their magic, take help of the following foods to be back on your toes faster than Usain Bolt sprints.  

• Toss farm fresh onions (or the freshest you could lay hands on) into salads or make some soul-pleasing onion soup. Quercetin, a natural antihistamine and anti-inflammatory found in onions alleviates hay fever symptoms. Do remember, the older the onion, the lower its quercetin content, and its correspondingly reduced benefits.
• Tuck into some oily fish like tuna, mackerel, or salmon. They contain omega-3 fatty acids that counter inflammation. They make light and delicious summer meals.
• Add a big slice of ginger to your vegetable juice to reap its powerful anti-inflammatory benefits. It helps bring down nasal swelling and other hay fever symptoms.
• Turmeric has curcumin, which with its anti-allergy properties, benefits those suffering from hay fever. If available, grate the fresh turmeric root into soups, or stir fries, or a ginger-turmeric tea. The powder should do the trick if the root is not available.

There are plenty more foods that you could use like probiotics, kefir, and yoghurt that promote healthy gut microbiomes. Additionally, hydration, intake of Vitamin C, use of masks to avoid contact with allergens help prevent allergies.

Nasal Allergies

They bother to wits’ end, and take their own sweet time before waning away. Nasal allergies can squeeze all the strength out of a healthy person, leaving one helpless and languid. Drop all worry as food comes to rescue, once again.

• Warm soups help ease up congestion by clearing the airways, allowing mucus to clear up. Besides, soups energise, and there is no dearth of recipes. Hearty soups can be prepared with basic ingredients at hand, and tweaked to your liking in times when nothing pleases the taste buds. Can there be a more delicious way to regain health?
• Nettle tea is beneficial for those suffering from inflammation of the upper respiratory tract. It helps ease nasal congestion and reduces sneezing. Licorice tea made from the licorice root also soothes irritation and helps in restoring normality of the respiratory system.
• Sea vegetables with exceptions of kelp and hijiki, dark green leafy vegetables, flax seeds, and miso all appear to lower the prevalence of allergic rhinitis. Mix sea vegetables, with greens like kale, toss in spoonfuls of miso dressing and top with flaxseeds to feel better.

Don’t forget to top these with warm compresses, steam, exercise, saline nasal sprays, and dab a few drops of essential oil such as eucalyptus, lemon, or lavender, on your handkerchief and pillow.

#DSSCTopTip: Beware of food allergens like artificial food additives, milk, and peanuts that can sometimes make nasal allergies worse.

Steer Clear of Trigger Foods

Be forewarned, there are a gamut of foods that may be proving as catalysts to these allergies. This is simply because pollen found on the surfaces of these foods causes the immune system to believe them to be harmful leading it to produce the antibody immunoglobulin E.

• Avoid spicy foods when pollen counts are high and allergy season is on.
• Cut down on raw foods and switch to cooked foods. Swap apples for applesauce.
• Freshly picked oranges, tomatoes, melons, and figs should be avoided. Orange juice and tomato paste may not be as harmful as the fresh fruit.
• Those allergic to weed pollens must avoid bananas, cucumbers, melons, zucchini, chamomile tea, and hibiscus tea.

Eat away to good health.

Featured Image Courtesy : healthmart.com