It’s time to tackle your spring allergies

Pollen. We here in South Mississippi know when we see that yellow thickness make its presence that it’s allergy time. In fact, Mississippi along with Tennessee, New York, Kentucky & Texas ranked as the top 5 worst states to live in when you suffer from Spring allergies; but we’re not alone. Approximately 50 million Americans suffer from allergies, with pollen being one of the most common types of allergens; but even with those statistics only about 10-30% of the population suffer from actual spring allergies.¹

If you are unaware of how it works, pollen is an airborne allergen that gets carried by the wind and then released by trees, grass and weeds. So, if you are one of the lucky 10-30% who suffer from spring or seasonal allergies, then the chances are good that you turn to whatever you can get your hands on for relief. Antihistamines, Nasal Sprays, Decongestants and/or Allergy Shots are most peoples go to for help, but these don’t address the underlying cause of your allergies and only provide short term relief; not to mention they can have some serious side effects. So, if you want to get through this allergy season like a champ you need to be addressing the symptoms and not masking them.

There are numerous options you will hear or read about designed to help reduce allergy symptoms but believe it or not the best way to start is by creating a healthy gut. If you haven’t heard us say it before then start counting now, because we will surely say it again, EVERYTHING starts in the gut. Close to 80% of your entire immune system is in your gut, so keeping it healthy should be a top priority for everyone to prevent disease. And yes, even allergies. A very common reason for an overly active immune system, which can trigger allergic reactions, is leaky gut syndrome. If you haven’t heard of this either then read carefully because it’s important, the foods that you are eating either create or prevent leaky gut syndrome. It’s as simple as this, every time you eat or drink you are either feeding disease or fighting it. So, one huge step towards helping your immune system fight off allergies is to avoid grains, sugar, glyphosate and genetically modified foods.

Another factor in helping reduce your allergy symptoms is to make sure that your Vitamin D is at an optimal level, which is 50-80 ng/mL, as this is also crucial to your immune system. Most people do receive a decent amount of this from just good ole sun exposure, but an oral supplement will make sure you are receiving the right amount. Of course, you can also reduce your exposure to what may be triggering your allergies. The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology suggests that you can do this by the following²:

Avoid clothing made of synthetic fabrics, and this can attract pollen and make it stick.
Exercise outdoors before dawn, in the late afternoon, or very early evening because pollen counts are the lowest during these times.
Always wear gloves & a mask when gardening.
If indoor allergies are your issue vacuum your home regularly, including your furniture. Also, leave your shoes at the door to avoid bringing dirt in the house and use a dehumidifier.
Neti Pots should be mentioned here as well, as they are an easy and cheap treatment to help reduce your symptoms by removing pollen from the sinus cavities. There are also numerous herbs & supplements that can offer allergy relief by supporting your immune system:

Quercetin – An antioxidant with antiviral³ and antiallergy⁴: properties, it is more effective when taken preventively before allergy season and then maintained during the season.
Bromelain – An enzyme also most effective when used preventively. This helps to reduce nasal swelling making it easier to breathe.
Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) – When you are insufficient in this your body will not adequately flush out foreign particles such as pollen.⁵
Vitamin C – This does occur naturally in fruits and vegetables but should also be taken in supplement form to prevent being insufficient in this⁶. Some people shy away from this oral vitamin in fear of experiencing loose stools, but our Liposomal C does not have this effect.
Green Tea – This has the ability to reduce symptoms of allergies to certain pollens.⁷
Allergena – This is designed to provide natural allergy relief based on where you live by building your immunity to what you are allergic to. This happens by exposing you in micro doses to what causes your allergies.

Don’t sit around and suffer spring fever, let us help you feel better and take control of your health!

1. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Allergy Statistics
2. American College of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology, Environmental Trigger Avoidance 
3. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Allergy Statistics
4. American College of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology, Environmental Trigger Avoidance 
5.  Viruses, 2016;8(1):6 
6.  Molecules, 2016;21(5):e623 
7. Nutriteam, MSM Sulfur