With all this sunshine, it’s easy to think that everyone is enjoying the fabulous weather, the smell of fresh cut grass and the flowers in bloom. For some though, all this pollen is just a source of misery, as hayfever kicks in with a vengeance. This needn’t be the case if you prepare a little in advance. Ideally, you should start the Autumn before to make your immune system more resilient to the pollens that induce hayfever. But even if you haven’t thought this far ahead, you can still take certain steps to alleviate the symptoms.
Allergies
Allergies of any sort usually come about when the immune system is over-reacting to otherwise innocuous substances. This can be in the form of pollen, animal dander, cigarette smoke or a potent perfume. But why this strong reaction? The immune system is trained in the gut, so it’s important to ensure this is in good working order. Conditions such as leaky gut, Candida overgrowth or constipation can all increase the likelihood of developing allergies.
Testing for an allergy to common foods can be helpful, particularly with obvious triggers like wheat and dairy. If you suspect you are reacting to a particular food though, you could try eliminating it for a couple of weeks to see how your system responds. Often what we consider to be allergies are actually just intolerances.
Intolerances
Intolerances come about when we simply eat too much of the same narrow band of foods all the time, hence the reaction to wheat and dairy, as so many people seem to live on these foods, in one form or another. Leave these out for a couple of weeks and introduce easier to digest foods like goats milk, also a natural immune booster and alternative grains like rice, amaranth, spelt etc just to see if you feel any difference. In general though, even if you don’t choose to go on an elimination diet, a diet based on unprocessed, whole, organic foods is a good starting point.
This way, you are minimising your exposure to additives, preservatives, pesticides and hormones, all of which can interfere with the smooth running of your immune system. Emphasise sulphur-rich foods like garlic, onions, leeks etc too as they have a powerful effect on the immune system and also provide a source of quercetin. This natural substance helps offset the inflammation, redness and itching so often associated with allergies such as hayfever.
In contrast, cheap oils like cooking oils or those found in fast food and ready meals can increase your likelihood of inflammatory reactions, so they are best avoided.
Vegetables
Brightly-coloured vegetables provide antioxidants to mop up any toxins in the system. Choose seasonal, organic varieties for the best effect but make it as diverse as you can. Try adding in sprouted seeds for their excellent nutritional value too. The more colours you can include, the better. Try beetroot, red onions, peppers, carrots, pumpkins, green leaves, such as chard and cabbage as well as salad leaves and fresh herbs and a few bitter plants too, like chicory to stimulate your liver.
Fibre
To keep the bowel regular and prevent fermentation, include foods rich in soluble fibre. This is gentler on the gut but still provide a stimulating effect, while helping to absorb toxins. It also provides the prebiotic rich environment required for good bacteria to thrive. Consider options like oats, spelt, apples, pears, prunes, walnuts, figs, grated carrot and psyllium husks, along with plenty of water, as fibre rich foods utilise a lot of water.
Refined foods provide little or no fibre and so they linger in the gut for longer than they should. Minimise or avoid these foods, at least 80% of the time. Just have them as treats on the odd occasion.
Taking some form of probiotic is also a good idea to help look after the gut. Either take live organic yoghurt, kefir or Molkosan (one teaspoon diluted in water to start) each day to encourage good bowel flora. You could take a good probiotic instead if you are avoiding dairy e.g. Super 8 capsules, available in healthfood shops but food sources are very digestible.
Don’t forget how you eat matters too. Chew your food thoroughly as this takes a lot of pressure off the digestive system and means you absorb a lot more nutrients. Eat small, regular meals earlier in the day rather than big meals later in the day, when the digestive system is winding down.
Bee Pollen
A very handy substance where hayfever is concerned is bee pollen. It comes in pellet form and is one of the most complete foods. Test one pellet on its own first to see if it triggers your allergy, as it can for some people. If not, take about a teaspoon a day in your porridge or muesli or in a spoon of live yoghurt.
Spirulina, the microalgae, which is usually found in powdered form, helps to support the correct functioning of the immune system. Take it in juice or yoghurt, starting with a quarter teaspoon for five days, then half a teaspoon and so on. Increase to a teaspoon a day. This can have quite a detoxifying effect so you may notice headaches, skin breakout or tiredness for the first couple of days. Hence the importance of introducing it gradually.
Local Honey
This helps to ‘train’ the immune system not to react to local pollens. Start taking this at least six weeks before the pollen season starts but ideally right through the Winter. Just a spoon a day is enough. If symptoms still persist, take thirty drops of Echinacea tincture three times a day. This naturally supports the immune system and is a safe broad-spectrum antibiotic.
So you don’t have to suffer your way through the Spring and Summer as long as you take a few of these precautions in time.
This information is intended as a guideline only. Always consult your healthcare practitioner prior to engaging in any new treatments. Contact Jennifer Allen on 0863378046 or at [email protected] if you have a specific health concern.
