Nicer weather is upon us, but this also means that seasonal allergies are quickly approaching as well. If you are an allergy sufferer, then chances are, you dread the time of year where pollen is rampant, and you feel completely run down all day. The good news is that there’s no better time than now to start to prep your body for the allergy season ahead.
By preparing your body to fight off allergens, you may find you get through allergy season with far fewer symptoms than last year.
Here are four foods you can add to your diet to help prepare yourself for allergy season.
4 Foods to Prep Your Body For Allergy Season
#1 Raw Local Honey: Raw and local honey is one of the most popular, natural ways to help fight off seasonal allergies. But, how exactly does using local honey work? When you consume local honey, you are ingesting some local pollen. When you consume a little bit of honey each day, your body may become less sensitive to the outdoor pollen you are exposed to. The ultimate goal is to decrease the number of allergy symptoms you have, so it may be worth adding a small amount of local honey to your diet before allergy season kicks into high gear. You can add some honey to your morning cup of tea or coffee, or drizzle some over a bowl of oatmeal.
#2 Turmeric: Turmeric is a powerful anti-inflammatory spice that may also be able to help combat symptoms of seasonal allergies. The active ingredient curcumin found in turmeric may be able to help block mast cells in the body from releasing histamine which may help reduce allergy symptoms. Not only that, but the anti-inflammatory properties may help reduce any inflammation in the upper respiratory tract caused by seasonal allergies.
#3 Pineapple: Pineapple contains bromelain which is an enzyme that may be able to help reduce allergy symptoms. Try adding some pineapple to a smoothie, or enjoy with a handful of nuts and seeds for a healthy snack.
#4 Kefir: Kefir is rich in beneficial probiotics which are important for gut health. Gut health plays a role in overall health, and maintaining a healthy balance of bacteria in the gut may be able to help with allergy symptoms. Try adding some kefir to your diet by blending it in with your daily smoothie, or if you are avoiding dairy, try adding things like sauerkraut or kombucha to your diet.
Bonus Tip: Try an adaptogenic herb blend like Yinergy or Vigor to help support your body’s stress response and supporting your body with exactly the balance it needs. When you support homeostasis within your body, you will be better equipped to fight off seasonal allergies.
Don’t let seasonal allergies get the best of you this year. Get ahead of symptoms by adding some of these foods to your diet. The better you prepare your body, the less severe your symptoms may be. Enjoy the beautiful spring weather without the irritating allergies that often come along with it.