Summer, most peoples favourite season. Unfortunately, not for hay fever sufferers. Hay fever is an environmental allergy, triggered mainly by pollen, dust and dander.
The immune system is constantly looking to protect us. It produces substances called antibodies, to protect us from disease and illness. In sufferers with allergies such as hay fever the immune system produces antibodies against things it shouldn’t. The body in particular the respiratory system then becomes inflamed and produces a substance called histamine from mast cells which triggers symptoms such as watery eyes, itchy and runny nose, a cough and sneezing.
There are many things that can help with hay fever such as:
Vitamin D
Vitamin D can help regulate the immune system and helps it to differentiate between what should be a problem or threat and what shouldn’t.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is the most important anti-allergy vitamin due to its effect on the immune system. It immediately can calm down allergic reactions and inflammation. It also helps to nourish the adrenal glands, which are responsible for the mast cells which produce histamine.
Probiotics
A lot of immune responses and allergies can stem from an unhealthy gut. The gut hosts up to 90 percent of our immune system and things like intestinal permeability can prevent proper immune function. Probiotics can help heal the lining of a damaged gut and regulate immune function.
Glutamine
Glutamine can also have a positive effect on allergies down to its ability to repair intestinal permeability.
Quercetin
Quercetin is a chemical compound found in some plant-based foods such as apples and onions. It has anti-inflammatory properties and can help the mast cells stabilise and stop releasing excess histamine.
Nettle
Nettle also works on histamine by blocking its activity. It also helps support the liver, the place where histamine is broken down.
Bromelain
Bromelain mostly found in pineapples can help with allergies. It is a proteolytic enzyme meaning it has the power to break down things that shouldn’t be there such as mucus and swelling which can impair breathing function. It is also a huge anti-inflammatory and blocking the effects of histamine. It has also shown to show improvements in respiratory distress.
These supplements can all be taken alone or are sometimes found in a complex meaning you can cover more areas. Also by incorporating as much foods that these nutrients have can show massive improvements to your hayfever.