Hay fever sufferers should eat more curry – and 7 other foods to ease symptoms
YOUR hay fever might be taking a little break today thanks to all that rain over the weekend but that doesn't mean it's gone for good.
Hay fever lingers around until the summer's over so it's always worth finding solutions.
If you're sick of taking antihistamines and showering every verse end, you'll be happy to know that there are tweaks you can make to your diet to help.
Some foods can make an already irritated system even more inflamed, so taking away any more irritants is important.
We reveal the eight foods to start chowing down on to beat the sneeze:
1. Hot curry
Good news, Vindaloo lovers.
A super hot curry may help to blow those symptoms away.
Capsicin, the stuff that gives chilies their heat, is known to help open up the nasal passages and relieve that bunged up feeling.
Turmeric is often used to colour curries and is also believed to be an anti-inflammatory.
So go heavy on the heat and spice - just make sure that you've got a box of tissues close by!
2. Carrots and sweet potatoes
Stock up on vitamin A-rich foods like carrots and sweet tatties.
That'll help to keep your mucous membranes nice and healthy rather than dry and irritated.
Stocking up on brightly coloured veg is also great for boosting your immune system.
3. Oat milk
Dairy products can aggravate allergies so switching to plant-based alternatives may help to reduce catarrh.
Things like milk and cheese are often mucus-forming.
Nutritional Therapist, , says: "Dairy products like milk and cheese stimulate the body to produce more mucus, making blocked noses or ears much worse.
";Matured cheeses also tend to contain high levels of histamine.
"And sugar, which causes your body to produce more histamine, can further exacerbate your symptoms.
The three most common substances people react badly to - milk, pollen and wheat - were all originally grass products.
So it could be that hay fever sufferers are actually sensitive to proteins common to anything linked to grass.
Looking for a good cow's milk substitute for your tea? Try Oatly - it doesn't separate and comes in skimmed, semi-skimmed and barista foam-able versions.
£1.39,
4. Yoghurt
Yoghurt is packed full of friendly bacteria, which is thought to reduce hay fever symptoms and increase your tolerance to irritants.
A looked at 23 trials investigating the effect of probiotics on hay fever symptoms.
It found some evidence to suggest taking probiotic yoghurts could improve the quality of life of people with hay fever.
5. Red grapes
Dark coloured berries all contain high levels of antioxidents, but red grapes are a cut above the rest.
The skins contain resveratrol - a chemical that reduces inflammation in the body.
Marcelle recommends eating anti-histamine foods which help to reduce allergy symptoms.
She says that they tend to include the natural compound quercetin and beta carotene.
Red grapes, plums and peppers are all high in quercetin.
6. Herbal tea
It might be time to ditch the coffee and switch to herbal tea instead.
Caffeine can increase your histamine levels, making your symptoms even worse.
Have a cup of peppermint tea to decongest your nasal passages (menthol is great for that) and go for a cup of green tea if you want a little pick-me-up.
Nettle tea is also great because it can relieve inflammation and ease nasal congestion, sneezing and itching.
7. Fish
Oily fish is rich in omega 3 fatty acids and these are great anti-inflammatories.
A showed that fatty acids helped to stop the narrowing of airways that can happen when you're mega bunged up, while a found that the more fatty acid people had in their bloodstream, the lower their risk of hay fever.
Salmon, mackerel, tuna and sardines are all great sources.
Don't like fish? Try taking fish oil capsules instead.
8. Citrus fruits
Oranges and lemons are so, so good for you.
Dr Sarah Brewer previously told The Sun: "Citrus fruits contain antioxidant polyphenols and vitamin C which protect cells from the damaging effects of free radicals."
As well as helping with wrinkles, heart disease, cholesterol and potentially cancer, citrus fruits can also help make hay fever symptoms more manageable.
Vitamin C is a natural antihistamine, so they can help to reduce your allergy output.
MORE ON HAY FEVER
So, there are lots of things you can add into your diet to make sure that it's more hayfever-friendly.
Don't stop taking your medication just because you're eating more oranges, though.
Stick with your meds and coping mechanisms and just add these foods in where you can.
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