Hay fever can spoil the warm months. Pretty nasty: While most are looking forward to the first days of spring, are you getting itchy noses again? What can be done about it? Proper nutrition! We’ll tell you which foods you should avoid and which ones will help you survive the downside of spring.
Constant sneezing and itchy eyes – are the most common symptoms of hay fever. We’ll tell you which foods you can use to combat the annoying.
The snow hasn’t even completely disappeared, and yet the first of us are already suffering from hay fever. No wonder the warm temperatures of the last few days caused the first spring awakening in nature. What is the most immeasurable time of the year for some is a real nuisance for others.
Sprays, medication or acupuncture are just a few ways to counteract the constant runny nose or the biting of the throat. The influence of our diet is also not to be underestimated. Because micronutrients, in particular, play an essential role in hay fever. They form the basis for maintaining all functions of a healthy organism, control the production and release of hormones and messenger substances and are also involved in their breakdown.
Hasta la vista Histamine!
With certain foods, you can influence your hay fever. The aim is to lower the natural substance histamine, which acts as a tissue hormone and neurotransmitter in humans or animals. This is because this plays a central role in allergic reactions and is involved in the defence against foreign substances. For example, vitamin C is a natural antihistamine that is said to accelerate the breakdown of histamine.
Vitamin B3 and D, calcium, omega-3 fatty acids and zinc are also said to slow down histamine release in the body. Therefore, our diet should be anti-inflammatory and varied and consist of many antioxidants, secondary plant substances, omega-3 fatty acids, and many other micronutrients. We do not recommend any cow’s milk products, pickled and canned foods, smoked fish and meat, yeast-containing ready meals, wheat products or chocolate. As they either contain a lot of histamines themselves or can release the substance in the body.
Other products can help you relieve hay fever:
Ginger
The hot tuber inhibits the release of histamine and has an antimicrobial effect. This does not help directly against hay fever, but it still supports our stressed immune system.
Linseed oil or Fish
As mentioned earlier, omega-3 fatty acids can help against hay fever. Good sources for this are, for example, linseed oil or fresh fish such as salmon or tuna. You can mix linseed oil perfectly in your green smoothie or a salad sauce.
Lemon
Lemons contain lots of vitamin C. As is well known, this strengthens our immune system and binds histamine and converts it into compounds in which it no longer has any allergenic effects. An additional plus: The citrus fruit also contains bioflavonoids, which are anti-allergenic. A lemon-ginger water is an excellent household remedy for hay fever.
Spinach
Spinach contains not only a lot of vitamin C, but also magnesium. This regulates the so-called calcium ions, which cause the release of histamine and lead to itchy eyes and a runny nose.
Honey
Honey, which is mostly made from flowers, is supposed to help against hay fever sounds a bit contradictory. Licking a tablespoon of honey a day is by no means a bad idea – unless you use a local product because honey from the region contains the pollen from our immediate environment and can naturally desensitize us.
Drinking Water
Finally, the miracle cure for all problems: Drink lots of water. Because a sufficient supply of fluids keeps your mucous membranes moist, this makes it difficult for the pollen to establish itself. Some mineral waters also contain more magnesium than others. For our project, it is worthwhile to rely on the water with the nutrient.