Around this time of year, I begin to do segments on the radio show about battling fall allergies. Although it seems we will be opening this fall by suffering from flash flooding before all other things, it won't be long before many of my friends will be dealing with red eyes and runny noses.
I am fortunate. I don't, in general, suffer from allergies. I say "in general" because I will sometimes enter a room and have an allergic reaction to SOMETHING in the air - my nostrils will burn, my eyes will get runny, and I get sneezy. But it's so occasional that I've never been able to identify the cause.
For my friends with seasonal allergies, Joy Bauer, nutritionist and dietary expert for the “Today” show, advises changing your diet. Her new book, “Joy’s Simple Food Remedies” includes science-backed culinary remedies for medical conditions, like allergies. Docs say these ingredients probably won’t replace your good old antihistamines, but Bauer points out that a healthier diet can’t hurt. Try these nutrient-rich foods to ease your allergies.
Extra-virgin olive oil - Allergies are basically the result of an overreactive immune system and there’s an antioxidant - hydroxytyrosol - in this pantry staple that helps calm the system.
Turmeric - It’s the curcumin in this spice that helps reduce inflammation, so it’s good for those puffy eyes and clogged nose allergy sufferers deal with.
Capers - Bauer says they have a “ridiculously high” concentration of quercetin, an antioxidant that’s been shown to block those pesky histamines that lead to itching and swelling from an allergic reaction. Other foods with lots of quercetin include asparagus, kale, and radicchio.
Question to my listeners with long-time seasonal allergies: what homemade remedy have YOU discovered that helps?