Foods to Lose in Allergy Season!

As we are in allergy season, I have observed that dietary choices affect whether or not I suffer from seasonal allergies, or so it appears.... Now granted, for some this may not apply, but in my case, and that  of many others, I surmise, certain foods aggravate our health and ultimately increase our suffering.  In the animal product realm, dairy products are known to increase mucus in many, and so I would imagine that eliminating dairy would likely be helpful.  That I already do....  However, I admit that I love bread.  And my favorite bread is by Nashoba Brook Bakery http://www.slowrise.com/ourbreads/ourbreads.php.  My favorite varieties, are whole wheat, sourdough, rosemary garlic, and olive.... Yum!  Yet I notice when I eat bread which contains wheat, which my favorite brand and most do, I generally get a stuffy nose.  Sure enough, I had myself tested and had some of the markers for gluten sensitivity.  I seem to be on the line.  It does not always bother me equally, but quite often, my nose runs or is stuffy... and I do notice that if I eat bread and then clean around dust, my allergies are magnified.  

I once learned from a  natural practitioner that when we are exposed to too many  things, nearly simultaneously, to which we have sensitivity, the combined offenses can cause an overload and a much magnified reaction.   So, if you have seasonal allergies and an undiagnosed wheat sensitivity, wheat might aggravate your condition... Wheat tends to increase mucus production, so in  addition to cutting out dairy,  allergy sufferers should consider cutting out wheat, and possibly gluten, if wheat alone  does not do the trick (Gluten, if you recall, is a protein found in many grains,  including wheat, rye, spelt, barley,triticale, and  even sometimes oats)  Gluten free grains include quinoa,  brown rice, buckwheat, corn, amaranth, and millet.  Oats, when properly grown and processed, can be gluten-free, though for those who are sensitive, buy only those that are labeled as gluten-free, on the package.  Bob's Red Mill sells several gluten-free oat varieties http://www.bobsredmill.com/oats/

I also observe that sugar (and other sweeteners, even sometimes sweet dried fruits, such as dates,) increase my allergies.  When you google seasonal allergies and sugar, there is link after link suggesting cutting out sugar helped to eliminate or lessen symptoms.  Though in two pages of links, I did not find a doctor recommending this, cutting out sugar is not harmful, and likely it will be helpful for many reasons.  So if you are troubled by allergies, consider eliminating sugar, or lessening it to a great degree, and see what you observe.... Sugar increases our bodies' inflammatory response, so for many reasons, it is a good thing to lose!

So, if these dietary changes don't seem to be enough, check back tomorrow, when we will discuss some of the natural remedies that assist allergy sufferers!