Simple & Sustainable
Your Monthly Wellness Newsletter from Kiss Your Food
Hi friends!
Happy spring! Or is it?
Depending on where you live, allergies may have already hit and around here, this year is one for the record books!!
Pollen levels are crazy high, but what's even more perturbing to me is the sheer number of people who have never had allergies before suddenly finding themselves feeling miserable.
Are you one of them?
If you’ve been walking around feeling like a human pollen magnet lately . . . you’re definitely not alone.
The itchy eyes.
The never-ending sneezing.
The brain fog that makes you wonder if you accidentally took a nap inside a flower.
Yep, it’s allergy season, and Mother Nature is out there serving up misery like an all-you-can-breathe pollen buffet.
Before you resign yourself to another month of feeling like a snotty, congested mess, let’s talk about what’s actually happening in your body - and what you can do to feel better.
Why Do Seasonal Allergies Wreck You?
When you breathe in allergens (like pollen, mold, or dust), your immune system overreacts like an overprotective bodyguard.
⬇️ Like this guy ⬇️
It sees these harmless particles and says, "NOPE! NOT ON MY WATCH!"
And it releases histamines . . . which are chemical signals that tell the body to go into “emergency mode.”
Histamines are your body’s first responders.
They work to protect you, but they also cause some really annoying symptoms:
- Sneezing - because your body is trying to expel the invaders as quickly as possible.
- Itchy, watery eyes - your body’s way of attempting to flush out allergens.
- Congestion - mucus is your body’s shield against irritants, trapping them so they don’t make it further into your body.
- Brain fog - your immune system is fighting an invisible battle inside your body, using up your energy and focus, which leaves you feeling sluggish and mentally cloudy.
In everyday life, histamines are important for defending you against real threats (like bacteria or viruses), but in the case of allergies, they just get a little too enthusiastic.
It’s like your immune system is setting off fire alarms over a burnt piece of toast.
Annoying, right?
And more importantly, WHAT can we DO about it????
Natural Ways to Reduce Allergy Symptoms
Some people swear by different anti-histamine meds or nasal sprays. Those probably work well for those people, which is super great for them.
I am not going to get into any of that, it's out of my league for sure.
But before you spend a bunch of money at Walgreens, here are some other ways to help your body handle allergy season without feeling like a zombie.
You can use these instead of OR in addition to your allegra+nasacort or whatever.
Your call!
Here are 6 ideas to try:
Rinse the pollen away - Wash your face and hands after being outside, and if it’s really bad, change clothes when you come indoors. Pollen sticks to literally everything.
Shower before bed - Unless you want to snuggle up with pollen all night, rinse off before hitting the sheets.
Support your gut - Believe it or not, your gut health plays a big role in immune reactions! Load up on probiotic-rich foods like yogurt, kefir, and sauerkraut to help balance your immune response.
Anti-inflammatory foods for the win - Eat more foods rich in quercetin (like apples, onions, and berries) and omega-3s (found in salmon, flaxseeds, and walnuts) to help calm inflammation.
Stay hydrated - Dehydration can make allergy symptoms much worse. Drink plenty of water to keep mucus moving (yes, I know . . . gross, but necessary info in case you didn't know).
Local honey (maybe?) – Some people eat a small spoonful of local honey every day to help their body adjust to pollen. The science is iffy, but if you love honey, it’s worth a shot!
Your Challenge This Week
Take one of the tips above and try it out!
If allergies are hitting you hard, start with the basics:
- Hydrate
- Rinse off after being outside
- Add some gut-friendly foods to your diet
And hey, if you have a tried-and-true allergy hack, hit reply and tell me! I love hearing what works for you.
Hang in there, my fellow sneeze warriors!
Pssst . . .
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