Foods Influence Springtime Sneezing
By Nancy Adler
They’re here! Allergies everywhere and and can get them, at any age. You could develop them as a child, or you might not have any symptoms until you’re an adult. While your problem may seem to start in the nose or the eyes, allergies actually come from an immune system run wild or even the foods we eat .
Asthma attacks (worsening of asthma symptoms) can be triggered by allergies, which can temporarily increase the inflammation of the airways in a susceptible person. Sinusitis is an inflammation or swelling of the tissue lining the sinuses. Allergies can trigger sinusitis. This can make for some really miserable people this time of year.
How can we avoid year after year of annoying allergies ? Congestion and other allergy symptoms is nothing to sneeze at for many seasonal sufferers. However, it may be more than just the spring air that’s making you miserable. It could be the food you’re eating.
Believe it or not, tomatoes, among other fruits and vegetables, may trigger reactions in grass pollen-sensitive individuals. In the spring (and fall) in particular, your body’s immune system recognizes and essentially mistakes a plant protein in the food for pollen.
What has often been referred to as earth’s “perfect food” may not be so perfect if you have weed allergies. Some fruits such as bananas can adversely affect weed pollen-sensitive people, especially those who suffer from ragweed allergies.
Excess mucus is often a problem that comes with seasonal allergies, and dairy foods like yogurt can make the problem even worse. Yogurt can cause the mucus in your system to thicken, impeding its journey from your body. When mucus, which is meant to clear your body of foreign substances, is slowed, it doesn’t remove allergens from your system as quickly or effectively as it should.
You night be reading the word “antihistamine” on every box of allergy medication, and are wondering what the heck it actually means. Histamines are produced by your body and are also present in foods, and they can trigger certain allergic responses, especially if you have mold sensitivity.
Mushrooms (themselves a fungus) can promote histamine growth, leading to sneezing fits and general misery. Maybe skip the mushrooms in your favorite foods allergy time of the year.
Everyone loves spicy foods including myself! Try to stay away from spicy-hot foods when pollen season is in full swing. The spicy foods encourage an “outpouring of histamine” that combine with histamine from your seasonal allergies for the perfect storm of symptoms.
This is not to say that all allergy sufferers must avoid spicy foods. You may be able to get away with that extra spicy burrito, for example. However, if you already notice a bit of a sniffle, it’s probably best to ask for the mild versions of your favorite foods for a while.
If you’re an allergy sufferer, you may want to eliminate uncooked foods as they have worse allergy triggers than cooked foods, due to pesticides and other food impurities. This goes for snacks as well. You may not want to just grab an apple and go, unless you thoroughly wash it or make it into something else like applesauce or apple pie that requires heat. The suffering may outweigh any benefits you get from the diet.
If you’re finding it hard to eat a lot of your favorite foods in the springtime or fall , don’t despair. You don’t have to go completely without your fruits, veggies, spices, and nuts during allergy season. In many cases, cooking, baking, or microwaving these triggering foods can help to break down the food proteins that are responsible for the mouth and throat itchiness. Additionally, peeling the skin of your fruits (like apples and pears) can help reduce exposure to these proteins and decrease allergic reactions.
Nancy Adler is a certified nutritionist and practitioner in Linwood. Her office is located in Cornerstone Commerce Center, 1201 New Rd. Learn about her practice at www.nancyadlernutrition.com (609)653-4900
You may listen to Nancy every Sunday at 2 pm Nancy Adler Nutrition LIVE! NewsTalk 1400 WOND
