Lots of folks are dealing with allergy symptoms this time of year - itchy watery eyes, runny nose and sinus congestion that may progress to a sinus headache.
Did you know which plant is to blame for these seasonal allergies commonly known as “hayfever”?
Goldenrod or Ragweed
If you guessed Goldenrod, it’s the popular assumption due to the conspicuous yellow flower that blooms this time of year. Goldenrod is insect pollinated, so little pollen is released into the wind. It is a an abundant food source for bees, butterflies and beetles. Ragweed is actually the culprit since it is wind pollinated, although it can be trickier to spot with it’s insignificant looking green flowers.
Did you learn something new? I never used to know this, but my husband is very attached to the Goldenrod in our yard for the pollinators
If you’re struggling this time of year, we carry D-Hist from Orthomolecular. This stuff is amazing at reducing allergy symptoms. It mellows out your body’s histamine response and helps to clear your sinus passages without leaving you feeling brain-foggy like a decongestant can. We have it in the office for your next visit!
New Product Offering for Allergy Season
Why do we get allergies?
The body creates a histamine response to objects perceived as foreign (pollen, dust, pet dander). Mast cells secrete histamine, which is a chemical message to initiate the allergic/inflammatory reaction.
D-Hist from @orthomolecular can help mediate this histamine response so that your body doesn’t have such a strong allergic reaction to the seasonal pollen.
The good stuff:
✅ Quercetin ⬇️ the release of histamine
✅ Bromelain (also found in ) helps absorb quercetin
✅ N-Acetyl Cysteine helps keep mucous free flowing
✅Vitamin C is an essential vitamin for immune support
The bottom line - less allergic reaction and less congestion so you can breathe easier!
Spring is in the air!
Do you have seasonal allergies? Here are some tips to make this season a little easier:
Spring’s warm weather is always a welcome change after the long months of our Buffalo winter. But for those with seasonal allergies and sensitivities to pollen in the air, changes can be miserable. Over-the-counter allergy-relieving products often have unpleasant side effects like drowsiness and feeling groggy and often only provide minimal relief. So what else can be done to relieve seasonal allergies?
Did you know that 70-80 percent of your immune system lives in your gut? More specifically, your immune system is regulated by the trillions of "good" gut bacteria that live along the mucosal lining of your digestive system. One of their most important jobs is keeping your immune system informed of potential invaders (allergens, viruses, bacteria) trying to gain access to your body via the eyes, nose, or mouth. These good bacteria keep your immune system well-tuned and functioning well, prepared to deal with anything perceived as a threat.
But, when your gut becomes inflamed due to infection, poor diet, or an imbalance in the gut bacteria, the immune system can sometimes go into overdrive, causing the immediate symptoms of seasonal allergies, including sneezing, a stuffy head, and a runny nose.
What you can do about it:
Keep a food diary. Does what you eat negatively impact how you feel?
Include plenty of gut-healing foods in your diet such as fiber, pro- and prebiotics, leafy greens, nuts and seeds, sprouts, and fermented or cultured foods.
Exercise just after it rains when pollen counts are the lowest.
Take the right nutrients, including whole-food vitamin C, foods rich in zinc (shellfish, beans and pumpkins seeds for example), probiotics, turmeric, and good quality fish oils to name a few.
Restoring healthy gut bacteria by reducing and removing inflammation can make allergy season so much more enjoyable!