Photo: Contributed
While warm weather has finally arrived in Kelowna, unfortunately so has allergy season.
Allergies can already be difficult to manage, but did you know that stress can also have an impact on your symptoms?
According to research, stress hormones can worsen allergy flare-ups due to an already exaggerated immune system response. With the pandemic, the stress has only been amplified, leaving many Canadians feeling more anxious than ever.
Fortunately, nutrition, in addition to over-the-counter allergy medications, can make all the difference when it comes to relieving allergy symptoms.
Maintaining an optimal anti-inflammatory diet is key to managing allergy symptoms. Although foods don’t have the power to cure allergies, they can provide our bodies with the necessary nutrients to help our immune systems fight off any lingering symptoms.
For allergy sufferers in our communities, I’m sharing some helpful nutrition and food tips to fight allergies for this upcoming allergy season.
Incorporating some of these vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients will not only help manage symptoms, but will also be great for your overall health.
Quercetin: Quercetin acts as an antioxidant and has anti-inflammatory and antihistamine properties. Foods such as berries, bell peppers, onions, apples, and green tea are high in this natural plant chemical and can help relieve sneezing, tearing, and itching caused by histamines.
Spices – Do you feel congestion? Spices, such as ginger and turmeric, can help alleviate some of the more common unpleasant inflammatory allergy symptoms, as the spices can act as a natural decongestant. Turmeric especially can help reduce allergy symptoms as it contains curcumin, an ingredient known for its anti-inflammatory properties.
Foods rich in vitamin C: Vitamin C is an antioxidant that is known to have antihistamine properties to help counteract the body’s inflammatory response to an allergic reaction. Incorporating more foods rich in vitamin C can help reduce symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, and congestion caused by histamines. Great sources of vitamin C include Brussels sprouts, broccoli, bell peppers, and citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruit.
Remember, making lifestyle or dietary changes can help manage allergies, but your local pharmacist is always there to help you through allergy season. A pharmacist can help you find the best treatment option for your specific allergy symptoms and provide over-the-counter medications for long-lasting relief if needed.
As a registered dietitian, I am also here to support you and can help you improve your overall wellness through personalized nutrition services.
To discuss your unique needs, please book an appointment with me at yourindependentgrocer.ca/dietitians.
Zahra Tromsness is a registered dietitian at Peter’s Your Independent Grocer in Kelowna.
