The Connection Between Seasonal Allergies and the Food You Eat

22 Oct The Connection Between Seasonal Allergies and the Food You Eat

I just love fall! I love how crisp the air is, the bright colors of the autumn leaves and nothing beats sitting around a warm campfire on a cool September evening with a cup of pipping hot apple cider. With all the things I look forward to in this season there is certainly one thing I don’t…… and that is seasonal allergies!

I like to think of myself as an expert when it comes to seasonal allergies. Over the past 35 years I’ve tried it all, from allergy shots to nearly every over-the-counter allergy medicine I could get my hands on. Nothing ever seemed to work without coming at a price. There were medicines that helped ease the symptoms, but I could never really tell if they actually took the symptoms away or if they just made me sleep through them. It wasn’t until my early 30’s, when my diet changed, that I also noticed my allergy suffering became considerably less.

Although foods aren’t typically associated with ‘seasonal’ allergies, there are studies that show people who suffer from certain types of seasonal allergies may experience symptoms after eating particular foods. I for one can certainly say that once I eliminated my ‘trigger foods’, I almost forgot all together that I even had allergies. If you, or someone you know, suffers from seasonal allergies here’s a quick guide on what foods have been shown to HEAL and what foods may HARM.

HEALing foods:

• Add in omega 3’s – some reports show that if you increase your intake of fatty fish like, salmon, herring and anchovies, the omega 3’s may help to decrease inflammation in the sinuses.
• Try honey, but be careful – in some cases honey has been shown to help build up the immune system, while in others it’s been proven to be a trigger food. If you are unsure how your body reacts to honey, start off with a very small amount (1 tsp), observe your body to see if there is any kind of a reaction and if not, build up from there.  

HARMful foods for ragweed allergies:

• Artichokes
• Chamomile tea
• Endives
• Safflower
• Tarragon
• Dandelions
• Vegetable oils
• Margarine

HARMful foods for mold allergies:

• Fermented alcohol like, beer and wine
• Sourdough bread
• Cheese, especially blue cheese
• Dried fruits
• Mushrooms
• Processed meats
• Sauerkraut
• Soy Sauce
• Vinegar
• Ketchup

Symptoms of seasonal allergies:

• Sneezing
• Watery eyes
• Itchiness
• Runny noise 

If you think you may suffer from seasonal allergies, consult your physician.