Allergies can be a real pain. You may feel as if you’ve had a mild flu for months due to an itchy nose, runny eyes, congestion, swelling, and inflammation. Could your diet be contributing to your symptoms?
They may. Homeostasis is the delicate balance that exists within your body. Allergies are caused when your immune system launches an over-reactive response in response to a foreign substance that is generally harmless. You can intensify your symptoms by consuming certain foods.
What foods should you avoid eating when pollen counts are high? Five foods can worsen seasonal allergy symptoms.
1. Dairy Products
Double trouble for allergy sufferers: dairy products. These products increase arachidonic acid, which increases leukotrienes. These inflammatory molecules cause your bronchial tube contracting, thereby inhibiting airflow. You will find it difficult to breathe.
Dairy products also contain lactose which is difficult for many people to digest. Your body is already alert during allergy season. Adding another substance that it cannot process can cause your immune system to respond more strongly.
You may also experience other symptoms, such as a runny or watery nose. In the U.S., excess mucus may contribute to swallowing disorders that affect approximately 18 million people each year. You may eat less and encourage malnutrition, which will only worsen your symptoms as your body is unable to balance your system.
2. Fermented Foods
Fermented foods have become popular. They offer many health benefits like dairy products, but they can also be a source of misery for people with seasonal allergies. These foods can be eaten after an antibiotic course to help rebuild the intestinal microbiome and replenish the beneficial bacteria needed for digestion.
These healthy foods also contain high levels of histamines – chemicals that cause inflammation and alert your immune system to attack.
Histamines dock at receptor sites within your body and cause similar symptoms, regardless of where or how the substances are ingested. If you have histamines already docked at receptors in the nose, then you will get runny or stuffy even if a flower is eaten instead of smelled.
You may have noticed that the word “histamine”, which is used in treating seasonal allergies, comes from “antihistamine”. Avoid fermented foods that contain allergens such as soy.
3. Certains Fruits and Vegetables
Science of histamine receptor docks explains also why some healthy fruits and vegetables may worsen seasonal allergies symptoms. The body reacts more strongly to foods that have similar chemical profiles as pollen. If you feel miserable after drinking a normally healthy green smoothie, you may need to change the ingredients.
Some common fruits and vegetables that can aggravate seasonal allergies are:
Birch Pollen
- Apple
- Almond
- Carrot
- Celery
- Cherry
- Hazelnut
- Kiwi
- Peach
- Pear
- Plum
Grass Pollen
- Celery
- Melon
- Oranges
- Peaches
- Tomato
Ragweed Pollen
- Bananas
- Cucumber
- Melon
- Sunflower seeds
- Zucchini
4. Sugar
Here are some foods that may worsen seasonal allergies. Sugar is bad for you. It is quickly absorbed, causing your blood sugar levels to spike, which your body has a hard time managing. This increases your risk of Type 2 diabetes.
This wide range of changes in blood sugar levels increases inflammation. If you suffer from seasonal allergies, your body already has too much sugar. Eating sweets such as cookies and candy will only fuel the fire. Avoid sugary foods and consume them in moderation if not at all.
5. Red Wine
Histamines are high in red wine because it is fermented. If you want to reduce your risk of heart disease, consider switching to nonalcoholic grape-juice. Alcohol, while it contains antioxidants, can also increase your blood pressure.
Some red wines may also contain allergens. Tannins can cause allergies in some people, while other fruits like those found in sangria may exacerbate symptoms.
Foods that can worsen seasonal allergies
Seasonal allergies can be miserable. Your food choices can aggravate the symptoms.
When pollen counts are high, avoid the five foods listed above. Reduce your symptoms to feel better quicker.
