There’s nothing more terrifying than seeing the yellow powder on your white car, realizing that you’re about to have a bad few months of endless sneezing, itchy eyes, sore throats, and runny noses. But don’t fret! There are a few things you can do to build your immune system to alleviate allergy symptoms. Because this blog is about what foods to avoid if you have pollen allergies, we’ll give you a shortlist of things you can do to help with your symptoms. Check it out here:
Clean – that means cleaning the house and your clothes incessantly. Make sure to take showers when you come inside.
Nasal irrigation – part of cleaning is shooting water and saline up your nose and watching it come out the other nostril. It’s gross but removes pollen and dust.
Allergy test/immunotherapy – probably the most effective method is to get an allergy test to see what you’re allergic to, then go through allergy immunotherapy. Watch the below videos to learn more:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3esn91apjjghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7zcCM5iexg
Now that we’re through that, we can get on to the foods to avoid if you have pollen allergies. Yes, there are foods you’ll want to steer clear of, even if you’re a fan of them.
Foods to avoid
Remember, most of the foods listed here are nuts and fruits and natural things found in the wild. According to the Asthma & Allergy Associates, “The foods that are typically responsible for causing pollen allergy symptoms to arise include a small percentage of nuts and seeds, fresh fruits, and raw or undercooked vegetables,” (Asthma & Allergy Associates, 2013). If these are common in your diet, then maybe it’s time to consider changing it up a bit. Asthma & Allergy continues with, “During the time of year that pollen is at its worst, the body begins to defend itself by creating a specific plant protein that is meant to fight off pollen allergy symptoms. This protein is good at fighting off pollen. However, it also creates what is referred to as a cross-reaction with pollen that comes in combination with certain foods.” Good to know! Now, let’s check out the list.
Fruits
Certain fruits such as melons, berries, and oranges have the ability to make allergic reactions worse. If these are some of your favorite fruits, it’s in the best interest of your health to wash them thoroughly before consuming. Maybe complete avoidance isn’t your forte; therefore, do your best to prevent a bad day.
Vegetables
This blog is confusing. First, the doctors tell you to eat your fruits and veggies to stay healthy and now we’re telling you to avoid certain fruits and veggies to remain healthy. The ones to avoid include zucchinis, artichokes, and celery. If you absolutely gotta have these, make sure to cook them thoroughly instead of eating them raw.
Dairy
This is a really bad one for allergies, sinus infections, and other things related to mucus. You see, dairy thickens that mucus, making drainage much, much worse. That’s no fun. If you’ve gotta have cereal, try almond or silk milk. If the cereal is good enough, it’ll go with any type of milk. Just sayin’.
Red wine
What?! Red wine? Sorry folks, it’s true. According to USA Today, “…cut back on that wine red wine…which can aggravate histamine pathways,” (Hafner, 2017).
Well there you have it. Avoid these foods and you’ll find dealing with allergy symptoms a little easier. It won’t cure you, but it will alleviate some of the pain. If you’re interested in an allergy test with The Ear, Nose and Throat Institute, call 770-740-1860 or fill out the form at the top of the page.
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