Sneezy, Grumpy, and Sleepy - Dealing with Seasonal Allergies

Dealing with seasonal allergies is no fairy tale, and we are definitely not whistling while we work with the runny nose, sinus pressure, and sneezing that comes along with the spring season. There are things we can do to make the season change about enjoying the flowers rather than hiding inside and waiting for it to be over.

Before I give you the five top ways to keep your sneezes at bay, let’s make sure we are on the same page about seasonal allergies. As the name implies, seasonal allergies occur when the seasons are changing, new flowers, trees, and grasses are growing and pollen is making all of our windshields yellow. If your allergies last year-round, your allergies may be due to pets, mold, dust, or another culprit. Both can be addressed by your care team, but knowing the difference can help your nutritionist devise an individualized plan for you. 

1. Keep your home and car windows closed to prevent pollen from coming inside. A single ragweed plant can produce 1 billion pollen grains that can fly up to 100 miles! This crazy weed superpower can make it difficult to keep the pollen out of your home. Use a hypoallergenic air filter for your home’s heating and cooling systems to filter out the sneaky stuff that gets in.

2. Shower before going to bed, especially if you have been outside during the day. Keeping your bedding and pillows free from allergens is crucial. Be sure to wash weekly in hot water. Bath time goes for the pets too, make sure to keep animals that go outside well bathed to ensure they aren’t bringing pollen inside and making the situation worse.

3. Add quercetin to your daily food choices. Quercetin is a flavonoid and antioxidant (aka nutritional spark plug). Studies have shown quercetin inhibits histamine production (the stuff causing your allergy symptoms) and has anti-inflammatory effects. Foods that are high in quercetin include dark chocolate, elderberry, capers, raw red onion, red wine, cloves, orange juice, and black tea. While you can find quercetin supplements over-the-counter, we recommend working with your nutritionist to find a quality supplement at the correct dosage for you. 

4. Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) is a plant that grows throughout the world. Be careful, because as the name implies, this plant doesn’t play well with others. The dried herb is not stingy and is used in many supplements and teas for its anti-inflammatory, histamine reducing, and immune balancing properties. Stinging nettle is also a great source of many vitamins and minerals. 

5. Increasing your intake of fatty fish and omega 3s can be an effective approach to dealing with seasonal allergies. Higher intakes of omega-3s are associated with a reduction of seasonal allergies. Sources of omega-3s include fatty fish (salmon, tuna, sardines, mackerel), chia seeds, flax seeds, and walnuts. 

Seasonal allergies don’t have to be a lone battle. Reach out to one of our nutritionists to create an effective plan that is right for you. Now is the time to take action on seasonal allergies, don’t wait until you are stuck in the seasonal sneezy cycle.