5 Allergy-relieving secrets for every season

Allergies are my bane in life. I don’t just suffer from seasonal allergies, instead, I suffer from allergies in every season…

A runny nose, itchy, watery eyes, sneezing and a sore throat and cough, thanks to all the drainage, has been a regular part of my life far too long to remember.

If you suffer from the constant onslaught of allergens, too, you’ll be glad to know there is hope.

In fact, according to a recent study, overcoming seasonal allergies could be as simple as adding a few extra foods to your diet.

Here’s why…

Probiotics and your body’s immune system

Scientists at the University of Florida already knew that the probiotic combination of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria helps maintain digestive health and parts of your immune system.

That’s why they decided to see if the same probiotics might work to increase the body’s percentage of regulatory T-cells, which in turn might increase tolerance to hay fever symptoms.

To do that, they enrolled 173 healthy adults at the height of allergy season, who said they suffered from seasonal allergies and randomly split them into two groups: Some took the combination probiotic; others took a placebo.

Each week during the eight-week experiment, participants responded to an online survey to convey their discomfort level.

Participants who took the probiotic reported improvements in their quality of life, compared to those taking the placebo. For example, participants suffered fewer allergy-related nose symptoms, like sneezing or an itchy or runny nose, so they were able to get through their days more easily.

Beating the allergy trap

So, what can you do to beat your allergies and feel better?

First, take a probiotic that combines lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, like in the study.

These probiotics are easy to find both online and in your natural health store. You can also get them from adding a few foods to your diet that are probiotic-rich, like kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut and natto.

Other ways to improve your allergy symptoms include:

1. Eat some of the sweet stuff – One study found that patients taking honey reported a 60 percent lower total symptom score, twice as many asymptomatic days, and 70 percent fewer days with severe symptoms. And they used 50 percent less antihistamines compared to the control group that took conventional meds. Take one tablespoon of raw honey per day for best results.
2. Take quercetin – A scientific study found that quercetin was even effective at controlling peanut allergies because it calms hyperactivity of the airways. If you’re prone to seasonal allergies, you should start taking it a few weeks before your allergies typically kick in to allow it to begin working.
3. Use the power of Golden Oil – The oil pressed from organic black Nigella Sativa seeds can help support a healthy allergic response and your immune system.
4. Clean your living environment – Eliminate allergy-causing pollen and mites from the air by investing in an air purification system that has UV & negative ion filter. And, since carpet harbors pet dander, dust and pollen from the outdoors, which can exacerbate allergy symptoms, you should replace carpet with non-toxic wool, non-toxic hardwood or cork flooring if possible.