9 plants to help fight hayfever - from a sufferer.
As the country heads into allergy season, this writer is as apprehensive. Not one for taking too much medication in everyday life hayfever season is an exception. I take it all: tablets, sprays, nasal drips, eyedrops - the lot!
This year, though, I want to hit the ground running and start a foundation of natural aids to see if I can help reduce the suffering. 'Suffering' not being an extreme word for it - if you know you know!
While buying medicine and staying indoors can help to avoid the sting of seasonal allergies, this advice feels too reclusive. I don't want to stay inside for my favourite season! I want sunshine, picnics in fields, walks across country, nights camping under the stars, and a glass of wine in the pub garden.
Experts at online healthy food retailer MuscleFood have identified nine spring superfoods to help Britons cope with seasonal allergies. The experts advise trying nine foods to help ease the symptoms during allergy season and avoid paying for expensive remedies.
Ashleigh Tosh from MuscleFood said: “We all hate feeling bunged up due to seasonal allergies and having to go through boxes of tissues simply due to pollen.
“Changes to a diet can have a big impact on allergy sufferers, especially for those who are hypersensitive to pollen, so they don’t have to worry about staying indoors and forking out for medication.
“We discovered foods such as red onion and seaweed can help to relieve the symptoms of allergens along with fruit which is rich in vitamin C like oranges and strawberries.”
Here are nine foods to help manage allergy season found by the team at MuscleFood:
1. Red onion
This spicy veggie is high in quercetin, which controls the amount of histamine produced in the body. If red onions are eaten enough they can help to calm allergy symptoms.
2. Seaweed
Classed as one of the most underrated superfoods, it’s a great source to manage allergy symptoms. While it’s a healthy food full of antioxidants like vitamins A, C and E, it also has anti-allergic properties which can help get you through allergy season.
3. Salmon
Oily fish like salmon is a tasty dish to eat during allergy season as it’s rich in omega 3 which has anti-inflammatory systems to help ease stuffiness, along with the bonus of improving brain health.
4. Oranges
Eating oranges is a great way to control allergies as they’re full of vitamin C - which works as a natural antihistamine.
5. Strawberries
Another fruit high in vitamin C and helpful in dealing with allergies is strawberries. They’re also a great source of fibre and potassium as well as a delicious treat to enjoy in the sunshine.
6. Garlic
Similar to red onions, the elements of quercetin in garlic have anti-inflammatory benefits. This can help to reduce mild hay fever symptoms and get rid of stubborn blocked noses.
7. Kale
Leafy greens like Kale are high in carotenoids which can help fight inflammation caused by seasonal allergies. They’re also praised for clearing out blocked noses caused by high pollen.
8. Baked beans
A tin of baked beans can do wonders and one of which is to help beat seasonal allergies. They’re high in magnesium which can help relieve airways due to their anti-histamine functions.
9. Pineapples
This exotic fruit is full of nutrients including vitamin C to help with allergy symptoms. It stands out from other fruits because it contains bromelain which tackles irritation caused by seasonal allergies.
