As the days growth longer, the weather warms, and plants start to bloom, Spring time is finally here! Unfortunately, for some, this also means the appearance of the infamous seasonal allergies…
As flowers, trees, grasses and weeds bloom across town, they start to release pollen into the air that can then find its way into your eyes, nose, mouth, digestive tract and lungs. For those sensitive to pollen, this is when the immune system kicks into action. It triggers the release of histamine in the body, which then causes an inflammatory cascade.
Inflammatory signals are released cueing the arrival of more immune cells that further amplify the situation. In short, it's immune system overload – and it comes complete with an array of symptoms including; runny nose, sinus congestion, sneezing, coughing, red and watery eyes, itchy skin, nose, eyes, ears and mouth. Yuck!
For those who suffer year after year, over-the-counter and prescription medications like antihistamines, steroid sprays, and decongestants are often considered essential. But, what if we told you there was another way to find relief without reaching for pharmaceuticals or hiding inside until Spring is over?
While we all naturally focus our healing efforts on our head and chest when it comes to allergies, in truth, the real support needs to come from a little further down, in the gut!
In fact, about 70% of your immune system resides within your digestive system and one of it’s primary jobs is to protect the body from outside invaders, including pollen and other allergens. When unwanted offenders make their way into the body, the gut kicks into action using certain types of good bacteria, immune cells and enzymes to break down the histamine so it doesn’t wreak havoc on the body.
But in order to be fully effective, our digestive system needs to be functioning at its best. If the gut is already inflamed or irritable from underlying conditions, lifestyle habits, food choices or medication use, your immune system will already be operating on overdrive. This inevitably makes clearing out the histamine more difficult which can exacerbate the body’s reaction to seasonal allergies.
So, how can you support your gut health to make allergy season more bearable? There are a number of things you can do!
Food sensitivity testing. Identifying any triggers that may be causing inflammation in the body is always key.
Assessing for nutrient deficiencies. Ensuring your body is receiving the nutrients it needs to function optimally is essential. The better your diet, the healthier your gut!
Improve your gut microbiome. Good gut bacteria is essential to overall health. Improve it by eating a diverse range of foods including fiber rich foods, probiotic foods, fermented foods and, of course, lots of fruits and vegetables.
If you are tired of dealing with seasonal allergies year after year, visit your primary health care provider to talk about what other options may be available to you!
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