‘Tis the season! Cherry blossoms are filling your Instagram feed, and brunches are back on patios. But then there’s a tickle in your throat, a scratch in your eye, and a big ol’ sneeze. Your old nemesis has returned. Curse you, Pollen! Hello, seasonal allergies.
But all is not lost! This year, we’ve rounded up our best tips to help you fight those dastardly seasonal allergies, naturally.
Seasonal Allergy Fighter #1 – Local Honey
Lucky for you, our Dutchmans Gold honey is from right here in southern Ontario. How does this help with your allergies? Well, eating a spoonful of local honey every day can act as a sort of immunization. It introduces trace amounts of local pollen into your system, helping your body acclimate to them before the big dose of airborne pollen hits. It’s best if you start this practice early in the year, but it can prove beneficial no matter when you start.
Seasonal Allergy Fighter #2 – Nettle Leaf Tea
While a plant with a name like Stinging Nettle sounds anything but helpful, it actually has many health benefits. Nettle Leaf, as found in our Traditional Medicinals Tea of the same name, can help reduce symptoms of seasonal allergies, possibly by reducing histamine response. Drinking a few cups of the tea daily may help drastically reduce allergy symptoms. Just use caution – nettle can also act as a diuretic.
Seasonal Allergy Fighter #3 – Fish Oil
Fish oils are a fantastic anti-inflammatory in general, but they have a larger role in the prevention of allergy-induced asthma. The specific fatty acids found in fish oil (DHA and EPA) limit the synthesis of inflammatory leukotrienes. Leukotrines are indicated in many inflammatory conditions, especially allergic asthma. Try the Progressive OmegEssential line for a high-quality dose of fish oils in your day.
Seasonal Allergy Fighter #4 – Onions!
Okay, so not JUST onions, but onions are high in a bioflavonoid called Quercetin. Quercetin is also found in red grapes, dark berries (especially elderberries), some leafy greens, and apples. Quercetin blocks substances involved in allergies, and helps suppress certain forms of inflammation. If you eat a lot of raw, or lightly steamed veggies, chances are you’ll be getting a lot of quercetin in your diet naturally. You can also take it in supplement form, if that’s more your jam.
Seasonal Allergy Fighter #5 – Bone Broth
We’ve talked about the benefits of bone broth before, but we didn’t talk about its role in fighting allergies. More and more, the natural health community and medical researchers alike are looking at the importance of digestive health in a variety of conditions. Allergies are no exception. With bone broth’s fantastic gut-healing properties, it won’t block histamine, but it just might help lessen your allergic reactions and inflammation in the long run. Come in and try our Stock Exchange Bone Broth. It may look small, but it is mighty. You can use it to make up to 4 litres of gut-healing broth!
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We want you to be able to get outside and ENJOY this lovely weather. It’s hard to do that with watery eyes, runny nose, and non-stop sneezing. Let’s get you in your best allergy-fighting form, naturally!
About The Author:
Kelly Boaz, CNP
Kelly is a holistic nutritionist, specializing in eating disorder recovery and food freedom. She is also a public speaker (TEDx King St. West, TDSB) and a writer. Learn more about Kelly, and about booking private consultations at kellyboaz.com Twitter: @kelly_boaz Facebook: /KellyBoazDotCom