Many people don’t realise that the foods you eat can have a huge impact on your overall health and can even affect your allergies. By eating right, you can avoid triggers and use natural remedies for seasonal allergies. In this blog, we break down everything you need to know about the different foods that can benefit you this time of year and how.
Seasonal allergies explained
Allergies occur when your immune system reacts to a foreign substance, such as pollen, dust, or dander, in the air. Symptoms can be mild, but for some people, the severity can vary depending on their immune system. The main cause of seasonal allergies is the pollen coming into contact with your eyes. Pollen causes the blood vessels in your eyes to swell, making your body react by creating histamine. This sets off reactions in your body such as watering eyes, itchy nose and throat and sneezing.
How to cure pollen allergies naturally
When it comes to your diet, there are some foods you can include that can benefit your eye health and alleviate seasonal allergy symptoms.
Vitamin C can act as a natural antihistamine, so foods high in this are good to eat. It not only inhibits the inflammatory cells that release histamine but also breaks down the histamine, relieving allergy symptoms such as watery and itchy eyes. Foods such as bell peppers, strawberries, tomatoes, and Brussels sprouts are all high in vitamin C.
Next up is Turmeric, with its active ingredient of curcumin, which is an excellent anti-inflammatory spice. This phytochemical has anti-allergenic properties, meaning it can reduce symptoms such as inflamed eyes. Be sure to add a dash of black pepper with your turmeric powder, as this helps to increase the absorption of curcumin.
Lastly, another anti-inflammatory food is ginger. Add a few slices to a cup of hot water with a slice of lemon and a drizzle of honey for a tea. Ginger is a histamine blocker, so it can help prevent symptoms and soothe any irritation.
Foods to avoid
Some foods can exacerbate symptoms by increasing inflammation. While avoiding them won’t directly prevent symptoms, it can stop them from getting worse.
Dairy products such as milk and cheese contain a protein called casein. When this interacts with histamine as a protein trigger, it can cause itchy eyes and other symptoms. Instead, consider switching these out with alternatives like oat, almond and soy milk.
Unfortunately, if you’ve got a sweet tooth, sugar could be making your allergy symptoms worse. Processed sugar in cakes, sweets, and fizzy drinks is an inflammatory, so when your symptoms peak, avoid these types of food. To satisfy your sugar fix, try using natural sweeteners like honey, agave, and xylitol.
Get in touch
We hope you find our advice on how to cure pollen allergies naturally useful. We encourage you to contact us, your eye doctor in Nassau, Bahamas, for more advice on managing seasonal allergies that affect your eyes.