Spring is here, and allergy season is in full effect. If you’re one of the millions living with bothersome allergy symptoms like congestion, sneezing, and a runny nose, you’re looking for ways to settle your symptoms. Luckily, there’s an easy way to curb your symptoms: change your diet.
Keep reading to discover ways to reduce allergy triggers, four common foods to avoid during allergy season, and foods to add to your diet to minimize congestion and uncomfortable allergy symptoms.
Reduce Exposure to Allergy Triggers
There are several easy ways to reduce exposure to allergy triggers and minimize your symptoms:
- Remove the clothes you have worn outside and put them in the laundry. Then, shower to remove pollen from your skin and hair.
- Stay indoors on dry days. The best time to go outdoors is after rainfall because the pollen is clear from the air.
- Clean your home once a week to remove any allergen triggers.
It’s important to treat your allergy symptoms at all levels of severity before they worsen. Take precautions to reduce your congestion and other allergens symptoms before we get into the peak of allergy season.
Foods To Avoid During Allergy Season
Congestion can make you feel miserable because it inhibits normal breathing. When battling seasonal allergies, it’s best to avoid consuming foods that cause congestion. Here are four common foods to avoid during allergy season.
Refined Sugars
Sugar is inflammatory; therefore, it increases mucus production. Irritation caused by refined sugar prompts your body to create more mucus as a “shield.” Don’t worry; a small amount of sugar won’t produce much mucus, but you will feel stuffy if you indulge.
Cow’s Milk
Some dairy products thicken mucus, resulting in allergens staying in your system longer. If you’re tired of feeling congested from mucus buildup, you should skip the glass of milk or bowl of cereal and use dairy-free substitutes.
Gluten Rich Foods
People with gluten sensitivity already know that eliminating glutenous foods helps clear congestion. Gluten encourages mucus buildup, so you can either consume low-gluten or gluten-free foods, or cut it off altogether.
Red Meat
Red meat can contribute to congestion while battling seasonal allergies. Red meats like beef, lamb, and pork are high in protein, stimulating excessive mucus production. This could make your sinuses flare, causing headaches and facial swelling.
Foods To Add to Your Diet During Allergy Season
While over-the-counter medicines are the typical treatment for curbing allergens, adding certain foods to your diet could help relieve symptoms like congestion and a runny nose, and reduce inflammation. These foods include:
- Ginger
- Citrus Fruits
- Turmeric
- Onions
- Salmon
Treating your allergies is a multifaceted approach. As allergy season looms over us, be mindful of the foods you eat to prevent prolonged symptoms and congestion. While taking your treatments, consider simplifying your diet to further relieve allergy symptoms.
