52 weeks of good health....

every week I will share with you a tip to improve your eating habits or lifestyle to help you reach maximum energy levels and increase overall physical and emotional health.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Fighting Allergies with Nutrition


Since Spring appears to be upon us, I have already started hearing people complain about their allergies. I am lucky enough to not be bothered by them, but thought I would share some nutritional tips that can help, for those who are...

First of all, what is an allergy? Well, simply put; it's an exaggeration of the body's natural immune defenses. It's an abnormal reaction by a person's immune system, against a normally harmless substance. It's much easier to either avoid an allergen or treat the symptoms early, then to deal with them after they've gotten out of control.

So, what can you do?
  • Take Quercetin; it's a plant-derived flavanoid that helps reduce allergy symptoms. Apples contain quercetin, so follow the "apple a day" guideline.
  • avoid dairy foods; a lot of people have trouble digesting dairy and dairy can contribute to extra mucous.
  • take a high quality Probiotic daily...they provide good bacteria to your intestinal tract, which in turn boosts your immune system.
  • eat your veggies! Especially cruciferous vegetables; broccoli, cauliflower, kale...it is thought that a compound called sulforaphane might ease the inflammation that causes allergies.
  • eat avocados (cause they're yummy!) and because they help cleanse the liver and reduces the risk of allergenic inflammation.
  • eliminate processed foods from your diet, if you haven't already. They abuse our immune system, making it difficult to fight off allergies or illness.
Besides taking care of our bodies nutritionally, we can also turn to herbal remedies, homeopathic remedies or using a neti pot. Get outside and enjoy the sunshine...I know I am!

In good health,
Wendy

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