Nutritional protection for hay fever sufferers.

Allergies of all kinds can be unpleasant and result in symptoms that affect different people in different ways. Hay fever – more formerly known as Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis – is no exception. It can be more than ‘just’ an irritating part of summer. Some people suffer from a severe form affecting their quality of life. There are various ways to tackle the symptoms. One of the most overlooked is making changes to your nutrition.

What is Hay Fever?

Like all allergies, hay fever has a trigger, pollen. It’s possible to be sensitive to a particular type, such as pollen from trees, weeds, grass….and yes, hay! Though it tends to be worse from March to September, it can happen at other times.

The symptoms include the stereotypical sneezing and coughing, and red, itchy and watering eyes. However, it can also create a blocked or constantly running nose, loss of smell, head or face pain and earache. You can also feel tired with hay fever.

It sometimes feels like a bad cold, but they go after a few days and hay fever can last for months.

If you suffer from a respiratory problem like asthma, it can be particularly challenging and could cause breathing difficulties.

Common Ways to Treat Hay Fever

Though you can avoid peanuts, lactose and similar allergic triggers, keeping away from airborne allergens is difficult.

Your GP is likely to suggest Antihistamines as a treatment for hay fever. You can buy these over the counter too. They come in various forms, including tablets and nasal sprays.

The prescribed treatment for severe hay fever is often a combination of Antihistamines and steroids.

How do antihistamines work?

Your body has natural defence mechanisms when you’re ‘under attack’. This includes producing a substance called histamine, an important part of your immune response to infections.

When pollen enters your nose, mouth and eyes your body mistakes this for a threat and starts to fight it off – with excessive sneezing for example. By taking antihistamine you counterbalance the effect of histamines, overriding your body’s natural defence system.

To be properly effective, you need to take them in advance of exposure to pollen, or for multiple days when the pollen count is high.

Natural hay fever treatments

Not everyone wants to tinker with their immune response by taking hay fever medications. Or, you may want to find natural ways to treat hay fever to support medication.

Washing your nose out gently with a saline solution (available at pharmacies) is a common and effective option.

Other natural remedies for hay fever include:

? Showering and washing your clothes more often when the pollen count is high

? Drying clothes indoors, so they don’t pick up pollen

? Wearing a hat and wrap-around sunglasses, as a barrier to pollen

? Keeping windows and doors shut when your symptoms worsen

? Using a nasal barrier balm.

Nutrition and hay fever

An important natural way to treat hay fever symptoms is to manage what you eat.

? Find foods that offer anti-inflammatory benefits.

? Caffeine has been linked to heightened histamine, so find an alternative.

? Dairy products may worsen allergies and create excessive mucus, so limit or swap those.

? Reduce sugar, as it’s associated with histamine production.

? Vitamin C can counteract histamine and builds the cells in your nose lining.

? Some foods contain forms of histamines! Including tomatoes, aubergines and fermented foods such as sourdough bread and yoghurt.

? Lastly, Vitamin D is important as immunity-boosting nutrition.

Other naturopathic remedies are:?

Supergreens -?Alkalising and antioxidant

Krill oil 500mg-1000mg per day???????Anti-inflammatory effects of omega-3 oils

High-strength multi-strain Probiotic As indicated??To help repopulate the gut with “friendly” bacteria which regulate the immune system

Quercetin?–?500mg daily, dose divided

Downregulates the enzyme that converts the protein histidine to histamine—histidine decarboxylase

Inhibits the release of histamine, prostaglandins and leukotrienes— three of the most common inflammatory mediators found in MCAS

Decreases the production and release of inflammatory cytokines—the inflammatory mediators responsible for many of the symptoms of inflammation related to MCAS

Bromelain – 500mg daily

Similar action to quercetin

Green tea - 500 mg twice daily

EGCG is the most common polyphenol found in green tea

Inhibits calcium influx into mast cells, thus preventing their degranulation

Inhibits mast cell production of inflammatory mediator leukotriene C4.

Curcumin – 1 to 4 g daily, dose divided

Has antiallergic activity—inhibits the degranulation of mast cells in a dose-dependent manner

Anti-inflammatory - Inhibits inflammatory molecules—interleukin-4 and tumour necrosis factor

Resveratrol – 20 mg twice daily

Reduces the expression of inflammatory markers IL-6 and IL-8

Inhibits IgE allergy reactions

Vitamin C?– 1 to 3 g daily

Research has shown that when Vitamin C levels fall in the blood, histamine levels increase exponentially. When Vitamin C is reintroduced, histamine levels fall exponentially.?If not given in divided doses need to consider the form to avoid digestive disturbance – (rose hip extract?)

Modulates cellular defence and repair mechanisms.?Modulates viral-induced pathological cellular processes.

NAC – 600-900mg daily

neutralize oxidative stress which promotes mitochondrial dysfunction – the combination of which?is linked to inflammation, immune dysfunction, endothelial dysfunction.???

Ashwagandha

an Ayurvedic remedy known as an adaptogenic herb that modulates the body’s response to stress. Withaferin A is a compound found in ashwagandha that has been shown to prevent mast cells from releasing histamine and other inflammatory mediators

Vitamin D

Immune support, antioxidant - obviously tested levels and supplementing accordingly is best here so you couldn’t include at a very high dose in a multi, but perhaps at 1000iu’s daily, a good maintenance dose.

Omega-3

anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory, decreases inflammation in the lungs.?Also supports brain and nervous system / brain fog, which can be a symptom of long COVID.

Magnesium

Deficiency has been shown to induce the emergence of mast cells, particularly in the liver.

Combined with calcium, potassium and vit D may help with muscle aches associated with long COVID

Zinc citrate????15mg per day Immune support, antioxidant

B Vitamins

B2, B5, and B6 in particular, but may be worth adding a complex as they work synergistically.

Garlic

Anti-inflammatory and may help support respiratory symptoms

https://www.allergyuk.org/about/latest-news/648-top-tips-for-managing-your-hay-fever?

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/antihistamines/

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hay-fever/

https://www.netdoctor.co.uk/healthy-eating/a26424/6-nutrition-tips-to-help-with-hay-fever/