Tips to Tame Those Spring Allergies

Here are a few of my favorites for dealing with seasonal allergies! These tips can also be supportive for reducing environmental and pet allergies.

• Quercetin: this anti-inflammatory compound keeps your immune cells from releasing histamine, thereby reducing the inflammatory cascade that comes with it. Meaning less sneezing, sniffling, tearing, redness, mucus, etc.
  • Find it in red onions and apples, among other foods.
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• N-acetyl cysteine (NAC): this compound (cysteine is an amino acid!) can stop mucus in its tracks for many people. Meaning less nasal congestion, mucus, sniffling, and more. It also has anti-inflammatory properties and helps your body produce glutathione, a key antioxidant.
  • You can supplement this, but check with your own doc first. It’s generally safe, but rarely people can have headaches or other issues with it.
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• Avoid dairy: it had to be said. Dairy is excellent for triggering phlegm production! It’s also fantastic if you’re a baby animal needing hormones to grow. Most people are actually lactose-intolerant, but we are culturally-conditioned to see dairy as a necessary part of our diets. Also, did you know you can get calcium from other sources? You can!
  • If you’re suffering from allergies, try skipping all dairy for at least a few weeks and notice what happens. As always, talk with your doc before making a significant dietary change.
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• Anti-inflammatory spices: try garlic, ginger and turmeric. Mix them into veggie dishes, salads, hummus, etc. Add them to a little evoo and drizzle over your protein. You can even make them into a drink – a little wellness shot or a cup of wellness tea.
  • Add with healthy fats (like evoo) and/or black pepper (just a dash) to help your body use spices like turmeric better.
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• Clean your casa. Vacuum, dust, open windows, get air circulating and wash your bedding regularly. All of this reduces potential allergens in your home.
  • You can use one pillowcase “freshly” four times: flip over from side to side for two uses, then turn inside out and flip over for another two uses. Get two pillowcases, wash them once a week, and you’re using a fresh side each time.
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• Leave your shoes and jacket at the door. They carry potential allergens (not to mention germs and dirt). Avoid tracking that all into your (clean) home by stowing them by where you come in.
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• Drink water: at least half your body weight in ounces daily. This helps keep things in your body working well and helps prevent drier mucus membranes, which can leads to more itching, inflammation, coughing, etc.
  • Spread out your water throughout the day – guzzling it all at once isn’t quite so helpful.
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Start with one or two of the above that feel good to you. Be well!

This blog and website do not provide medical advice. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and should not be relied on to make decisions about your health. Always check with your own healthcare provider before taking a new supplement and before making any significant diet, lifestyle, exercise or other changes. Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of something you have read on this site. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your doctor or dial 911.