Three Tips to Combat Hay Fever Author: Kirsten Seale If you’ve been sneezing…

Three Tips to Combat Hay Fever

Author: Kirsten Seale

If you’ve been sneezing so violently you’ve almost fractured a rib, you may have fallen victim to an attack by seasonal allergens!

Waging a war against seasonal allergens
Described as a “complex and powerful defence mechanism” in The Journal of the American Medical Association in 2015, you can think of your immune system as your body’s military force. It’s made up of an army of soldiers (gut microbes, cells, tissues and organs) that launch an attack (immune response) on harmful substances invading the body.

This protection is useful when the body is fighting disease-causing compounds and viruses, like a cold or the flu, but not so much when it’s fighting something harmless – like pollen. John Hopkins Medicine explains that your body’s allergic reaction begins in your immune system.

When your immune system is out of balance, suppressed or sensitive, your army of soldiers is on ‘high alert’, overreacting to every substance ‘perceived’ to be dangerous – cue the sniffing, sneezing and itchy eyes.

Your army base is in your gut

80% of your body’s immune system sets up base camp in your gut. The gut microbiome, comprising of trillions of bacteria, influences the immune response
The good bacteria in the gut gets rid of the bad guys that make you sick, and help seal gaps in the gut barrier (intestinal wall) to protect the bloodstream from the external environment. When there are too few of the good guys, the immune system can’t distinguish friend from foe, causing an allergic reaction.

Although you may not know when the enemy will strike, you do have control over how prepared your gut army is for when they do.

3 Tips to get your allergies under control

1. Feed the good guys
Replenish your gut microbiome!
Eat more probiotic-rich foods such as sauerkraut, kimchi and kefir, and eliminate or avoid foods that contribute to a compromised microbiome (gluten, sugar, refined and processed foods). If necessary, start taking a probiotic supplement.

2.Support your immune system
Make sure you are managing your stress, getting enough sleep and doing regular exercise, all of which support healthy immune function.

3. Naturally beat your symptoms
Addressing the root cause of your allergies is first-prize, however, there are a few anti-allergies that may provide relief from symptoms:

Quercetin – an antioxidant found in foods (apples, peppers, leafy greens and citrus fruits) that acts as a ‘natural anti-allergy’
Bromelain – an enzyme found in pineapples that helps reduce nasal swelling and thins mucous
Vitamin C – a ‘natural anti-allergy’ found in fruits and vegetables
Please consult with your medical practitioner prior to taking any supplementation, especially if you are taking chronic medication.

While the connection between your allergies and gut might not seem obvious at first, prioritising your gut health is the first step you need to take to win the battle against your unwelcome allergies.

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