She wanted natural relief without that drowsy, dopey feeling and other side effects medications often created.
Numerous environmental suspects, like dust, dust mites, and pet dander, create or exacerbate allergies.
Certain foods can trigger or make you more prone to developing allergic symptoms as well.
As Brenda knew all too well, environmental factors including pollen were her nemesis.
But many health care professionals overlook a common culprit for seasonal allergies: your foundation of healththe gut.
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Its as if the gut controls a dimmer switch on immune reactivity, even to the outside world.
Pollen release happens in waves, so this can go on for several weeks at its worst.
When your microbiome becomes unbalanced, all sorts of havoc ensues, including seasonal allergies.
When I tell patients that everything starts in your gut, Im not kidding.
To eliminate her allergies and all their miserable symptoms, we had to start with her gut.
The immune system does not recognize these, so it attacks, which results in food sensitivities.
Food allergies differ from food sensitivities.
Food allergies create animmediateresponse that can begin within seconds to minutes after contact with the protein substance.
Food sensitivities, on the other hand, involve a prolonged or delayed reaction to food.
A nasty forward-feeding cycle develops as food sensitivities keep your immune system revved up.
Heres how I approached that healing process.
How to heal your gut and eliminate your allergies.
Cow dairy was also a big problem, even in the form of cheese.
It was fueling her overreaction to the outside world.
Brenda pulled these offenders for four weeks, and her symptoms dramatically improved.
Eat an anti-inflammatory diet.
Those include wild-caught seafood, freshly ground flaxseed, walnuts, chia seeds, and plenty of nonstarchy vegetables.
She also added freshly ground flaxseed into her morning smoothie.
Focus on gut-healing foods.
Brenda upped her leafy greens and snacked on sprouted nuts and seeds.
Fermented and cultured foods supported the growth and proliferation of her “good” gut bacteria.
She also added prebiotic-rich foods like chopped raw scallions and sauteed Jerusalem artichokes into her salads.
Get the right exercise.
And remember, outdoor pollen counts are always going to be less after a fresh rain.
Thats a great time to go for a run.
Take the right nutrients.
A number of nutrients can help minimize or eliminate seasonal allergies and their miserable symptoms.
Andstudies4endorse vitamin D to support various immune-related conditions including allergy-related sinus infections.
Be mindful of seasonal allergies and cross-reactive foods.
Get a head start.
Cut out all dairy completely in preparation for allergy season.
You could also try sipping onthis tea, which really helps with itchy eyes and throats!
