Can Foods Be Used as Medicine for Spring Allergies?

Oh the joys of spring!... or is it? As the snow begins to melt, the sun starts to shine and the flowers are in full bloom ─ pollen is also floating around us and our spring allergies are coming in full swing. Bless you!

Itch. Sneeze. Wipe nose. Repeat.

Stocking up on tissues, religiously taking our allergy medication and committing ourselves to our daily doses of eyes drops are commonly known for being great methods of treatment for spring allergies…but what if there was more to it? Over the years, with the growing appeal towards more natural remedies for personal care, people often tend to forget the positive impact that a proper diet can have on our overall health.

Let’s take a glance at what the latest research has to say about foods & spring allergy treatment.

Nutrition & Spring Allergy Treatment

Here are 5 foods that are claimed* to contribute to spring allergy treatment ─ or at least, are said to help reduce its symptoms.

Nettle

Nettle, an herb that can easily be found in the comfort of our own backyards, has been shown to have anti-inflammatory compounds with anti-allergenic properties.

According to some research, it has been observed that certain compounds found within nettle play a role in disrupting the allergic reaction process by inhibiting the body’s histamine production that often results in spring allergy inflammation (i.e. stuffy nose, puffy eyes, etc.)

However, in an RCT from 2017, researchers examined that both stinging nettle extract and a placebo pill had reduced symptom severity. The authors therefore concluded that more research was needed.

Nonetheless, here are some great ways to cook with the nettle herb:

To brew up a lovely afternoon tea;
For a fragrant addition to a hearty soup;
Or as a main ingredient to whip up a delicious homemade pesto.

2. Probiotic Foods

Over the years, fermented foods have gained an increasing amount of hype due to the ever growing research surrounding gut-friendly foods (i.e. probiotics & prebiotics) and their health benefits. Little did we know, certain studies suggest that it may also help to reduce our spring allergy symptoms! More specifically, in…

Lactobacillus foods: yogurt, sauerkraut, kefir, sourdough bread & kimchi;
Bifidobacterium foods : yogurt, kefir, seaweed & miso soup.

Overall, probiotic-rich foods make great additions to any kind of meal by adding a little bit of acidic zest!

3. Specific Types of Fruit & Vegetables

Many people with spring allergies also suffer from what is called “pollen allergy syndrome” (also known as oral allergy syndrome), a condition that involves the cross-reaction between the proteins that can be found in certain types of fruits, vegetables and (some) nuts in conjunction with their allergy-causing pollen. It is most common among people with grass allergies & birch tree allergies ─ whose symptoms include lips tingling and swelling, followed the mouth to itch when exposed.

With this in mind, those with specific allergies may have to play closer attention to the origin of their produce in order to determine which problematic produce is causing the symptoms. For instance, it is suggested to avoid these foods if you have…

A birch or alder allergy: celery, cherries & apples.
A grass allergy: tomatoes, potatoes & peaches.

However, there might be a possibility to eat it if it’s peeled, cooked or canned!

4. Quercertin-rich foods

Quercertin, a type of polyphenol found within certain kinds of foods has been claimed to help reduce spring allergy symptoms. It has been further suggested that the antioxidant properties of quercertin may play a role in inhibiting histamine release responsible for triggering our seasonal allergies, and is thought to help decrease inflammation.

It can be found in foods like teal citrus, onions, broccoli, citrus, berries, grapes and tomatoes.

However, actual research on quercertin & spring allergy symptoms is unclear. In fact, its absorption is low when ingested despite a more natural remedy. Nonetheless, histamines are the major culprit in allergic reactions, so the reduction of these compounds in the body is greatly beneficial.

*Please note that the current research regarding spring allergy symptoms is limited. In other words, it must be taken with a grain of salt as further research is needed.

Other Important Factors to Consider For Spring Allergy Treatment

While this type of information may sound like the solution to end all of our struggles, there are certain environmental factors that may play a big role in triggering spring allergy symptoms: