Published in Illinois Valley News, April 10th, 2013
Healthy U By: Lisa Rohde
Hay Fever Relief
Allergy season is upon us. Exposure to too many sensitivities tips the iceberg and brings on those uncomfortable hay fever seasonal symptoms. What if you could decrease your sensitivities and increase your tolerance for combatting hay fever?
Exposure to one environmental allergy may be tolerable, however, when you start piling different pollens on the stack, the immune system gets overwhelmed. What follows is a train wreck of runny and itchy noses, eyes, ears, throats, mouths, skin, headaches, you name it.
Further, the food you eat may exacerbate your allergies. As much as 70 percent of people with pollen allergies experience unpleasant reactions after eating certain raw foods. This is called crossover allergies or oral allergy syndrome.
When certain raw fruits, vegetables, seeds and nuts are eaten during allergy season, (spring and fall), the body can mistake the protein in the food for pollen, triggering and worsening allergic symptoms.
Depending what pollen allergy you have, you will want to avoid certain foods.. Because you have control over what foods you eat, you may consider getting a food allergy test. Clearly if your results indicate a food allergy you can easily eliminate that food..
Not all food sensitivities are allergies; some are intolerances and will not show up in an allergy test. The most thorough way to determine food sensitivity is to do an experimental elimination diet. You could keep a food diary noting what you ate, any symptoms you notice directly following consumption, how you feel two hours later, and how you feel over the next couple of days.
People with grass allergies may experience symptoms triggered from raw tomatoes, oranges, melons and figs. Those with weed pollen allergies may want to avoid melons, cucumber, cantaloupe, banana, artichoke and zucchini. They may find Echinacea, chamomile and hibiscus teas irritating too. Additionally apples, almonds, cherries, strawberries and celery may exacerbate more than one type of allergy.
It is also helpful to eliminate pro-inflammatory processed and refined foods, sugar and junk foods, artificial sweeteners and additives, pesticides and genetically modified foods. Look for GMO free labels on foods in particular corn and soy.
Everyone is bioindividual, so again, keeping a food journal will help you determine your own unique sensitivities.
Vegetables and fruits are necessary for human health and should make up the bulk of your diet. Consuming more cooked vegetables and eliminating raw fruits during allergy season is a good tip. Try cooked apples, fried bananas, and soaked or roasted nuts instead.
Boosting your immune system reduces cross-reaction allergies. Drinking plenty of water, exercising daily, and sleeping plenty, will also help to reduce your aggravating allergic symptoms.
You may find relief from stinging nettle tea, or quercatin a vegetable derived anti-histamine and anti-inflammatory. If you tolerate bee products, local and aged medicinal honey and bee pollen may be useful, however some suffer allergic reactions to bee products.
Finally, an anti-inflammatory diet in general is very beneficial.
“Healthy U” is presented by the staff and volunteers of Illinois Valley Counseling and Support as part of their mission to promote health in the Illinois Valley.
Healthy U By: Lisa Rohde
Hay Fever Relief
Allergy season is upon us. Exposure to too many sensitivities tips the iceberg and brings on those uncomfortable hay fever seasonal symptoms. What if you could decrease your sensitivities and increase your tolerance for combatting hay fever?
Exposure to one environmental allergy may be tolerable, however, when you start piling different pollens on the stack, the immune system gets overwhelmed. What follows is a train wreck of runny and itchy noses, eyes, ears, throats, mouths, skin, headaches, you name it.
Further, the food you eat may exacerbate your allergies. As much as 70 percent of people with pollen allergies experience unpleasant reactions after eating certain raw foods. This is called crossover allergies or oral allergy syndrome.
When certain raw fruits, vegetables, seeds and nuts are eaten during allergy season, (spring and fall), the body can mistake the protein in the food for pollen, triggering and worsening allergic symptoms.
Depending what pollen allergy you have, you will want to avoid certain foods.. Because you have control over what foods you eat, you may consider getting a food allergy test. Clearly if your results indicate a food allergy you can easily eliminate that food..
Not all food sensitivities are allergies; some are intolerances and will not show up in an allergy test. The most thorough way to determine food sensitivity is to do an experimental elimination diet. You could keep a food diary noting what you ate, any symptoms you notice directly following consumption, how you feel two hours later, and how you feel over the next couple of days.
People with grass allergies may experience symptoms triggered from raw tomatoes, oranges, melons and figs. Those with weed pollen allergies may want to avoid melons, cucumber, cantaloupe, banana, artichoke and zucchini. They may find Echinacea, chamomile and hibiscus teas irritating too. Additionally apples, almonds, cherries, strawberries and celery may exacerbate more than one type of allergy.
It is also helpful to eliminate pro-inflammatory processed and refined foods, sugar and junk foods, artificial sweeteners and additives, pesticides and genetically modified foods. Look for GMO free labels on foods in particular corn and soy.
Everyone is bioindividual, so again, keeping a food journal will help you determine your own unique sensitivities.
Vegetables and fruits are necessary for human health and should make up the bulk of your diet. Consuming more cooked vegetables and eliminating raw fruits during allergy season is a good tip. Try cooked apples, fried bananas, and soaked or roasted nuts instead.
Boosting your immune system reduces cross-reaction allergies. Drinking plenty of water, exercising daily, and sleeping plenty, will also help to reduce your aggravating allergic symptoms.
You may find relief from stinging nettle tea, or quercatin a vegetable derived anti-histamine and anti-inflammatory. If you tolerate bee products, local and aged medicinal honey and bee pollen may be useful, however some suffer allergic reactions to bee products.
Finally, an anti-inflammatory diet in general is very beneficial.
“Healthy U” is presented by the staff and volunteers of Illinois Valley Counseling and Support as part of their mission to promote health in the Illinois Valley.