It’s the middle of spring and you feel miserable from your allergies. The itching, coughing, congestion and headaches have shown themselves, and you’re wondering what you can do to feel – even a little bit – better. Simple things like hydration and nutrition can play a big role in how you feel this allergy season.
Hydration
One easy thing you can do to feel better (in a lot of ways) is to stay hydrated. Hydration has a lot of roles in the body, and one is supporting immune and respiratory health. The main form is by keeping mucous membranes in the nose, throat, lungs, and airways moist and thin, to be able to trap and release allergens.
This also helps to reduce congestion, so sinus pressure and headaches are a bit more bearable, too. In general, having a hydrated body helps keep the immune system working at its best.
Nutrition
Beyond the basic benefits of having a nutritious diet, eating certain nutrient-dense foods can help your symptoms – but some can also hinder them.
A recent study showed that high total fat, saturated fatty acids and cholesterol can play a role in development and severity of allergies. Their properties can negatively impact inflammation and the gut microbiome and therefore cause more symptoms. Consuming monounsaturated fatty acids, instead, can actually be protective against allergic rhinitis, and are found in nuts and avocados.
Certain vitamins are known to help with allergy symptoms, specifically E, A and D. Boost your immune system with foods that contain those vitamins or ask your provider about adding in a supplement to feel your best.
Alternately, some foods can make your allergy symptoms worse, due to Oral Allergy Syndrome. The proteins on the surface of certain produce are like those on the surface of pollen, so when eating fresh produce, the body can mistakenly respond negatively – with symptoms like mouth and throat itching. Check out this list of allergens with cross-reactive foods to avoid adding extra symptoms to your allergy season.
Allergy Treatment
One of the most effective ways to improve how you feel is by addressing the underlying cause of your allergies. While staying hydrated, eating well, and using symptom relievers can help manage discomfort, they don’t get to the root cause of the issue. Allergychoices recommends treating the source of the allergy with allergy drop immunotherapy.
Allergy drops contain tiny amounts of allergens that cause your symptoms, and over time, the amount is slowly and safely increased. The body learns to tolerate more and more of the allergens so that when exposed naturally, the body doesn’t respond with symptoms.
Ready for relief? Find a provider near you that offers allergy testing and allergy drop treatment.
