Foods That May Help Alleviate Your Allergies
If you have allergies, you might focus on which foods to remove from your diet so you can avoid adverse reactions. You may be surprised to learn that there are some foods that can actually help, rather than hurt your allergies.
As long as you pair these foods with treatments such as medications, immunotherapy, and lifestyle modifications, you may be able to relieve common symptoms like a runny nose and itchy eyes. Here’s a list of several of the foods that you may want to consider.
Ginger
It’s not uncommon for allergy symptoms to stem from nasal passage irritation, swelling, and other inflammatory issues. The good news is ginger may naturally ease the symptoms. This isn’t shocking as the plant has been used to treat joint pain, nausea, and other common health for thousands of years. You can drink ginger in hot tea or eat it with soup, fish, stir fry, or even pie.
Citrus Fruits
Citrus fruits like oranges, tangerines, clementines, lemons, and grapefruit are known to shorten colds and improve allergic rhinitis. Therefore, it’s a good idea to incorporate them in your diet if you’re coping with allergies. They can boost your immune system and reduce the inflammation that often comes with allergic reactions.
Turmeric
Turmeric is a common, yellow-orange spice that’s derived from the turmeric plant. It’s often used in Asian dishes and can do wonders for your allergies. Due to curcumin, its primary ingredient, turmeric can reduce the swelling and irritation of allergic rhinitis. You can add the turmeric spice to your meals or take it in pill or tincture form.
Tofu
Made from soybean curds, tofu is a gluten free, low-calorie ingredient that’s packed with iron and magnesium. Since these nutrients have been proven to minimize allergic response in the body, tofu can help you fight allergies. It has little to no flavor in its raw form so you may want to marinate it and add it to salad, soup, and noodles.
Red Apples
An apple a day may keep your allergies at bay or even away. It contains quercetin, a compound that gives it a red color and servers as a natural antihistamine. Quercetin may calm the cells that are responsible for reacting to allergens.
Visit an Allergy Doctor
If you’re struggling with allergies and longing for relief, it’s in your best interest to see a doctor as soon as possible. While these foods may help, they are not a substitute for medical treatment options.