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Ultimate Throwdown: Allergies vs. Superfoods
You’re miserable. Seasonal allergies have hit, and while your friends are living it up in the backyard you’re stuck indoors, popping antihistamines like candy. You feel like you’re in a no-win situation: Step outside, and you’ll be fighting off a runny nose and itchy eyes for days. Stay inside, and you’ll be stuck on the couch watching hours of talk shows.
Believe it or not, allergy relief could come from your fridge. Noshing on nutrient-packed superfoods, such as strawberries, avocados, and apples, can help knock out those annoying allergens before your symptoms flare up. (They can even soothe sneezing attacks brought on by Kitty’s dander and Fido’s fur.)
What do you have to lose? Load up on these super-charged eats and you could have a happier, healthier spring free of allergies.
Summer’s most popular fruit can make you healthier. After all, the vitamin C in strawberries gives a powerful boost to your immune system, and the same properties that protect your body from harmful viruses and bacteria can also ward off allergens.
Additionally, Vitamin C works as a natural antihistamine and can help reduce inflammation associated with allergy attacks. (Other great sources of vitamin C include kiwi, red sweet peppers, and grapefruit.) For a sweet way to stock up on the good stuff, try our luscious Fresh Strawberry Bars recipe.
If you’re huffing, puffing and wheezing, you might have seasonal asthma. Although you should always have your meds on hand, loading up on magnesium-rich foods can help you feel better. After all, this chemical has been shown to help alleviate airway constriction and soothe muscles around the bronchial tubes, and some naturopaths believe it’s a natural histamine blocker.
For a delish way to get your magnesium, whip up some of our Chunky Guacamole.
Apples are the ultimate superfood. Quercetin, a natural phytochemical found in apples, can help prevent allergy symptoms by blocking the release of histamine. (Other sources of quercetin include grapes, spinach, and pears.)
Furthermore, a British study of 2,152 people showed those who ate five apples a week had significantly higher lung function than those who didn’t. Get your boost from something sweet: Cinnamon Candied Apples.
Onions can help thwart inflammation before it even begins. They’re packed with quercetin and diphenyl-thiosulfinate--chemicals that have anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce the symptoms of allergic asthma.
If you’re not up for eating raw onions, try a warming cup of French Onion Soup.
Eating fresh ginger can help you breathe better. In fact, some naturopaths recommend using ginger as a natural decongestant because it can help open your airways.
Top some sushi with fresh ginger, or soothe your sore throat with our Ginger Tea recipe.
This omega-3-packed fish is another great way to quash inflammation associated with seasonal allergies, according to a recent German study. Not a fan of salmon? You can also get high doses of omega-3 from tuna, walnuts, and flaxseed.
For a delish recipe with a sinus-clearing kick, try our Pepper Jelly and Soy-Glazed Salmon recipe.
A vegan diet can be tricky to follow, but it could pay off if you’re an allergy sufferer. For starters, it’s rich in superfoods. Research has also shown that by giving up meat and dairy, some people have seen a dramatic decrease in allergy symptoms. Why? The arachidonic acid found in meat and dairy enables the release of leukotrienes, which has been shown to cause intense restriction of airways.
Go vegan with our collection of delicious recipes.
