SUBSCRIBE
Sunday, December 10, 2023
Health For Mzansi
  • Trending
  • My Health
  • Conversations
    • Podcast
  • Grow It
  • Recipes
  • Choices
No Result
View All Result
  • Trending
  • My Health
  • Conversations
    • Podcast
  • Grow It
  • Recipes
  • Choices
No Result
View All Result
Health For Mzansi

What to eat to fight those dreaded allergies

by Dona van Eeden
22nd September 2021
in Conversations, My Health
Reading Time: 6 mins read
A A
Seasonal allergies: What foods to eat to ease the symptoms.

The treatment of seasonal allergies usually entails some over-the-counter meds, but a little diet change here and there could also do you a world of good. Photo: Supplied/Health For Mzansi

Mzansi’s flowers are in full bloom. Unfortunately this is no cause for celebration for allergy sufferers. But did you know little changes in your diet could bring some relief? Dietician Jandrí Barnard has some tips to help you get through this agonising season.

Registered dietician Jandri Barnard. Photo: Supplied/Health For Mzansi

Little lifestyle changes, including reducing your exposure to allergy triggers like pollen and avoiding certain foods, can alleviate seasonal allergies, says Barnard.

Barnard is a registered dietician and a spokesperson for the Association for Dietetics in South Africa.

She shares five quick tips for braving it through allergy season:

  • Rather go outside after a good rain (clearing pollen from the air) and stay indoors on dry, windy days.
  • Delegate lawnmowing, weed pulling and gardening chores that can stir up your allergens further.
  • Remove clothes that you have worn outside and shower to rinse pollen from your skin and hair.
  • Avoid hanging laundry outside as pollen can stick to sheets and towels.
  • Wear a pollen mask outside if you do chores – easy in our mask-wearing era!

Foods to eat to prevent allergies

The treatment of allergies usually involves over-the-counter medication like antihistamines, but lifestyle changes can also assist to relieve symptoms like nose dripping and eye watering.

“When one thinks about food and allergies, your first thought might be to keep certain foods out of your diet to avoid an adverse reaction.”

“But the connection between seasonal allergies and food is limited to a few groups of foods known as cross-reactive foods.”

Barnard recommends adding the following food to your diet to help relieve seasonal allergies:

  • Ginger: Relieves inflammatory symptoms like swelling and irritation in the nasal passages, eyes and throat naturally. It contains antioxidative, anti-inflammatory phytochemical compounds.
  • Citrus fruits: Oranges, grapefruit, lemons and limes, high in vitamin C, has been shown to decrease allergic rhinitis and the irritation of the upper respiratory tract caused by pollen from blooming plants.
  • Turmeric: An anti-inflammatory source containing curcumin, which is linked to reducing the symptoms of inflammation-driven diseases and help to minimise the swelling and irritation caused by allergic rhinitis. It can be taken in food, teas or even pills.
  • Tomatoes: Another excellent source of vitamin C – 1 medium-sized tomato contains about 26% of your recommended daily value of vitamin C. Additionally, it also contains another antioxidant compound called lycopene, which is more easily absorbed in the body when it’s cooked. Rather use canned or cooked tomatoes for an extra boost.
  • Oily fish like salmon: Omega-3 fatty acids from fish can improve allergy resistance and asthma. A study in Germany found that the more eicosapentaenoic (EPA) fatty acids people had in their bloodstream, the less their risk of allergic sensitivity or hay fever. The American Heart Association recommends 230g of salmon, mackerel, sardines or tuna per week for adults to also increase their chance of allergy relief.
Helping with seasonal allergies
While it’s an old wives’ tale that vitamin C prevents the common cold, it may help shorten the duration of a cold as well as offer benefits for allergy sufferers. Photo: Supplied/Health For Mzansi

Remember that any of these foods are not meant to replace any treatment for seasonal allergies, but rather to assist your overall lifestyle.

“Adjusting dietary choices may allow your body to reduce inflammation and allergic response to savour this beautiful flowering season and not only sneeze your way through,” says Barnard.

It is recommend that adults get at least 200g of fish per week, especially low-mercury “fatty” fish like sardines. Photo: Supplied/Health For Mzansi

Some other dietary changes that may assist hay fever sufferers:

  • Drink a cup of unsweetened green tea each morning: This beverage contains antihistamines that have been proven to reduce allergic reactions.
  • Adopt a Mediterranean diet plan: Eat fresh, unprocessed foods including fruits, vegetables, beans, whole grains, oily fish and olive oil, which may reduce respiratory allergies.
  • Follow a healthy, sustainable diet to also decrease any unwanted weight, as obesity can make asthmatics more prone to attacks.
  • Avoid foods high in spices during pollen season, as these spices can cause and exacerbate the symptoms of runny eyes and a runny nose.
  • Use less salt, as consuming less salt regularly can improve lung function. Salt in processed foods should also be avoided. Rather use fresh herbs to season dishes.
Don't eat too much salt if you have allergies.
Experts recommend you watch your salt intake to stave off the effects of allergies. Photo: Supplied/Health For Mzansi

Recipe: Allergy-lowering booster juice

INGREDIENTS

2 oranges, quartered and peeled

1 large carrot, chopped

5 – 8cm piece of fresh ginger, peeled

1 teaspoon turmeric powder

1 cup ice cubes

METHOD:

Add all the ingredients in a high-power blender and blend on high until all the ingredients are smooth and mixed. A cup of water can be added optionally for a more juice-like smoothie.

Recipe: Calming chamomile face wash

Chamomile can leave irritated, itchy skin feeling calm and soothed. Photo: Supplied/Health For Mzansi

Some foods can even help if applied topically, or to serve as a rinsing aid for itchy skin around the eyes. Sounds unusual, but see if this works for you.

Chamomile has anti-inflammatory and soothing effects, not only when ingested as a tea, but also when applied topically to the skin.

Try this chamomile face wash. Apart from rinsing the pollen particles out of your eyelids and face, the calming effects of chamomile will help soothe the irritated skin and can help reduce the itching sensation.

INGREDIENTS AND METHOD

Take 2 teabags of chamomile tea. Steep in 200ml boiling water for 3 minutes. Allow to cool or add an additional 100 ml of cold water to speed up the cooling.

Use the tea to:

  • Rinse your face.
  • Wash out the area around your eyes.
  • Wipe your eyelids and face with a cotton bud dipped into the tea.
  • You can even place the teabags on your eyes for additional relief after washing your face.

Why washing your face works

It is often said that rubbing your eyes will just worsen the itching sensation – this is indeed true. Pollen particles when viewed under a microscope have hundreds of hook-like hairy extensions designed to hook onto surfaces to maximise their chances of being caught on the reproductive areas of plants to ensure the next generation. Washing one’s face when struck with itchy eyes is often recommended as it helps remove the pollen molecules that may get stuck in one’s eyelids.

ALSO READ: Food allergy and intolerance: Five myths explained

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • WhatsApp
Tags: ADSAallergy seasonAssociation for Dietetics South AfricaJandri Barnardspring
Dona van Eeden

Dona van Eeden

Related Articles

Conversations

Podcast: Don’t let the festivities derail your fitness routine

by Jo-ann Prinsloo
7th December 2023
0

While it's acceptable to enjoy the festive season surrounded by friends and family, fitness coach Anele Mpela urges everyone to not deviate off the path too much by incorporating physcial activity into...

Read more
Looking out for others is second nature to Kelebogile Mojanaga who used this gift to help shape her career. And for those considering clinical pyschology as a career, she advises: always put your own mental health first before taking care of other people.

Clinical psychologist Mojanaga champions self-care

4th December 2023

Podcast: Prostate cancer, a silent killer waiting to strike

30th November 2023
Paramedic Adams relishes role as emergency go-to guy

Paramedic Adams relishes role as emergency go-to guy

4th December 2023

Stories

Clinical psychologist Mojanaga champions self-care
Ukuthwalwa kwentombi: Girls have the right to be happy
Cutting through the complexities of circumcision in the EC
From baking to healing, bicarbonate of soda is all that and more!
Paramedic Adams relishes role as emergency go-to guy
Peeved protesters demand a new hospital in Gugulethu
Podcast: Take a step into the world of living with a disability
Mealie meal: Mmmm … More than just a much-loved staple
No Result
View All Result

Categories

  • Advertorial (3)
  • Choices (66)
  • Conversations (239)
  • Grow It (89)
  • Liewe Lulu (34)
  • My Health (190)
  • Nutrition (6)
  • Podcast (102)
  • Recipes (75)
  • Remedies (13)
  • Trending (436)

Recent

Proposed cuts to HIV funding is the last thing SA can afford

8th December 2023

Podcast: Don’t let the festivities derail your fitness routine

7th December 2023
The evolution of ukuthwalwa kwentombi: Girls have a right to be happy

Ukuthwalwa kwentombi: Girls have the right to be happy

6th December 2023
Health For Mzansi

Contact us
Office: +27 21 879 1824

News: hello@healthformzansi.co.za
Advertising: sales@foodformzansi.co.za

Privacy Policy
Cookie Policy

Looking out for others is second nature to Kelebogile Mojanaga who used this gift to help shape her career. And for those considering clinical pyschology as a career, she advises: always put your own mental health first before taking care of other people.

Clinical psychologist Mojanaga champions self-care

The evolution of ukuthwalwa kwentombi: Girls have a right to be happy

Ukuthwalwa kwentombi: Girls have the right to be happy

Cutting through the complexities of circumcision in the EC

Cutting through the complexities of circumcision in the EC

Proposed cuts to HIV funding is the last thing SA can afford

Podcast: Don’t let the festivities derail your fitness routine

Ukuthwalwa kwentombi: Girls have the right to be happy

How early exposure to violence can cripple kids later on

Clinical psychologist Mojanaga champions self-care

HIV/Aids/TB: Turbo charge your immune system with nutrition

No Result
View All Result
  • Trending
  • My Health
  • Conversations
    • Podcast
  • Grow It
  • Recipes
  • Choices

© 2021 Health For Mzansi | Farmers For Change Pty (Ltd)

By continuing the use of our Website, you are explicitly and actively consenting to our processing of your personal information as per our Privacy Policy.
Cookie SettingsACCEPT
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
Clinical psychologist Mojanaga champions self-care Ukuthwalwa kwentombi: Girls have the right to be happy Cutting through the complexities of circumcision in the EC From baking to healing, bicarbonate of soda is all that and more! Paramedic Adams relishes role as emergency go-to guy Peeved protesters demand a new hospital in Gugulethu Podcast: Take a step into the world of living with a disability Mealie meal: Mmmm … More than just a much-loved staple