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Survival Tactics for 2023’s Double Whammy: Extended Allergy Season & Smoke-Filled Air
July 21, 2023
This year has been particularly tough on allergy sufferers. Not only are some of us still dealing with unusually high pollen counts, but the smoky air from all the wildfires may be adding to your misery. There’s a lot of sneezing going on, as well as red, itchy eyes and scratchy throats.
You may not realize that some plants and trees don’t start producing pollen until later in the year. Spring allergy season can extend well into summer. Changing what you eat, the smart use of some time-tested plant-based ingredients, and taking other natural precautions, may help you better manage those annoying allergy symptoms.
Persistent Allergy Symptoms
Pollen can cause immune cells, called mast cells, to release histamine. Histamine is a chemical whose job is to get rid of bothersome allergens. But in doing so, they often cause their own havoc because they are associated with common allergy symptoms. That’s why many people reach for antihistamines this time of year.
Dust and pet dander can also trigger histamine release. If you have pets, your symptoms may last all year long!
Natural Remedies for Managing Allergy Symptoms
If you prefer a natural approach to managing seasonal allergy symptoms, it’s often helpful to use a combination of strategies:
- These include limiting your exposure. If it’s smoky outside, keep your windows and doors closed as much as possible.
- Once you get inside the house, one of the first things you may want to do is shower to wash away microscopic pollen or particles from your hair and skin.
- Use a neti pot to irrigate your sinuses and get rid of irritants stuck within the nasal cavity.
- Change your home’s air filters every three months, and opt for HEPA when possible.
- Vacuum carpets and rugs frequently.
Plant-Based Solutions
It may seem somewhat counterintuitive because seasonal allergies are created by plants, but certain plants can also be natural remedies and amplify the effectiveness of a healthy lifestyle.
One example relates to itchy eyes. Consider a powerful plant-based homeopathic solution made with Eyebright flower and Sabadilla Lily instead of the stinging medications or harsh chemicals that take control over your life because of their rebound effect.
Homeopathic preparations that contain natural active ingredients — no dyes, chemical vasoconstrictors, decongestants or steroids, such as Similasan Allergy Eye Relief — can be used regularly without that annoying rebound effect. Moreover, they help to activate your body’s own defense mechanisms to address the underlying problem.
How to Eat
Another way to start regaining control over your life is by minimizing the use of vegetable oils, sugar and micronutrient-deficient refined carbohydrates in your diet. These can contribute to the body’s inflammatory response. When inflammation is higher, your allergy symptoms are likely to be worse.
Other ways to use food to help calm your seasonal symptoms include:
1. Eat like our ancestors did
Allergies are a modern-day phenomenon. To eat like our ancestors, dial back your intake of processed foods in favor of brightly colored fruits and vegetables, as well as healthy nuts and seeds, organic grass-fed beef and organic chicken. Foods high in plant sterols, flavonols and other healthy plant-based compounds can be an allergy sufferer’s best allies.
There’s a ton of research showing that the quercetin found in such common foods such as apples and onions helps stabilize the mast cells before they start releasing histamines. You can even supplement with quercetin (look for the IsoQ form on the label for the highest density and bioavailability).
2. Eat more purple foods
Eating the entire rainbow of colors is of course solid advice. It turns out that purple is probably the most important to keep down inflammation. Include blueberries, red cabbage and plums on your grocery list.
3. Avoid foods containing high levels of histamines
Some people are surprised to learn that many otherwise good, healthy foods may contribute to seasonal allergies. These foods are known as histamine upregulators.
Note: This is entirely different from a full-blown peanut or shellfish allergy that may send someone to the emergency room.
Examples of histamine upregulators include:
- Fermented and pickled foods
- Aged cheeses
- Eggplant
- Spinach
- Avocado
- Tomatoes
- Olives
- Beans
- Citrus fruits
- Dried fruits
- Processed meats
- Alcohol
- Foods with red or yellow dyes
4. Skip foods that may cause allergy cross reactivity
When you’re an allergy sufferer, you have to know about crossovers. Some foods contain proteins similar to the proteins found in pollen. Eating these foods may worsen your seasonal allergy symptoms. It’s important to note that some are also listed in the Paleo ‘eat like your ancestors’ diet.
For example, if you are allergic to tree pollen (especially Birch), then you likely have a cross reactivity to apples, plums, kiwis, carrots, celery, potatoes, hazelnuts, almonds, sunflower seeds, and even herbs and spices such as oregano, basil and dill. These need to be avoided.
If your allergy stems from grass pollen you need to avoid citrus fruit including oranges, melons, kiwi, tomatoes and peanuts, among others. Those who suffer in the fall from ragweed allergy (mainly in the northeast of the continent) can get itchy mouths and an upset GI from bananas, melons, zucchini and cucumbers.
5. Prepare your meals a little differently
After reviewing the food lists above, it may seem like there’s not much left to eat! Here’s the good news. You may still be able to eat these otherwise healthy foods if you stew (yes, stovetop or microwave) the vegetables and prepare the fruits in something like a warm compote.
These cooking methods help to break down the proteins so they are less likely to cause an allergic response. But this doesn’t work for all crossover foods.
6. Swallow some bugs
It may be beneficial to add probiotics to your daily routine. Some strains are associated with supporting seasonal allergy relief. They include: Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Bifidobacterium infantis and Bifidobacterium longum.
It’s a beautiful time of year to get outside and enjoy nature. These strategies may help your seasonal allergy symptoms much easier to tolerate.
Bryce Wylde BSc (hons), DHMHS is a leading health expert in functional medicine specializing in clinical nutrition and supplementation. Practicing at VennMed in Toronto, he blends the latest in science and technology with traditional and ancient remedies. Wylde is also co-founder of The DNA Company, and founder of Mymmunity — a startup dedicated to optimizing immune health through personalized nutrition. Wylde is the author of four national best seller books, previous host of CTV’s Wylde on Health, and is a frequent guest health expert on U.S. and Canadian TV.
