The natural world has a lot to offer, especially when it comes to the flare of seasonal allergies.
Conventional drug based treatments involve antihistamines that come with a host of side effects, so in this article we are going to discuss FIVE natural, side effects free alternatives.
Let me introduce you to Flavonoids.
Flavonoids are a diverse group of plant nutrients found in almost all fruits and vegetables. They are one of the compounds responsible for the vivid colours found in fruits and vegetables. More than 6,000 flavonoids exist in the plant world!
The science shows flavonoids, which are abundant in fruits and vegetables, inhibit the release of histamine and reduce the body's allergic response. If you do suffer from hay fever and histamine related allergies, a decision to increase the diversity of your fruit and vegetable consumption is backed by the evidence.
Here are the FIVE -
Broccoli Sprouts are famous for their super, secret ingredient, sulforaphane! Sulforaphane is a miraculous anti-inflammatory, helps reduce nasal inflammation and assists your detoxification pathway.
Studies have demonstrated that high concentrations of sulforaphane can reduce nasal inflammation in those individuals exposed to highway petroleum exhaust particles. If broccoli sprouts can make a difference with something as toxic as gas, imagine how well it could support your hay fever.
Turmeric is one of my all time favourite tools to use in the kitchen, and recommend to my clients. The reason being is it is one of the most researched natural foods in the world! It has so much evidence proving its healing capabilities.
The active flavonoid in Turmeric is curcumin, and it is clinically proven to support your immune system when seasonal allergies begin to flare. Curcumin acts as a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory that can improve the symptoms of allergic rhinitis by affecting the nasal mucosa, and by reducing blood levels of histamines.
Bee Propolis, related to bee pollen, is a popular supplement used by bees to construct their hives. Amazingly, propolis has been studied to aid in respiratory infections, colds, flus and hay fever.
Bee Propolis is jam packed with healthy bioactive compounds that can act quickly at the onset of allergic symptoms.
Be sure to check out your local farmers market, there is always an amazing person selling local bee products!
Onions contain another well-known plant flavonoid, quercetin. This plant pigment is also found in many fruits, cruciferous vegetables and tea. Onions and other veggies in the same family are considered the most important sources of quercetin because they are available year round.
Quercetin uses its antioxidant and anti-allergic powers to stimulate your immune system. Most anti-allergy drugs and supplements have quercetin at its base. If you're not a fan of onions, shallots, etc, then you can easily pick up quercetin as a supplement.
Finally, we have Kimchi. As one of the most beneficial probiotic foods, kimchi is effective at reducing a hyper-allergic response in the airways.
Probiotics have shown their allergy reducing potential time and again, and we are blessed to have so many available in the grocery store. Not only are you aiding your immune system to deal with allergic flares, but you can add beneficial bacteria to your microbiome, further improving your ability to modulate your immune system.
The natural world is stacked with allergy relieving medicine, and remember that for most of our human existence, we used the natural world to medicate and heal.
Simon Brazier. Dip HN, NNCP
simon@truehope.com
