Enjoy an Allergy-Free Home this Spring

Niskayuna has many great things to look forward to this spring: Girls Flag Football is having their opening season this year, the Drama club is putting on a show in May, and summer is just around the corner! However, there is one thing that can prevent us from participating in all these wonderful events: allergies. So let’s make sure we can take care of those at home before you embark on any of your endeavors this Spring. I hope that in this article you will find many home remedies that will help alleviate some of the seasonal allergies you may be experiencing.

There are many foods and substances that can be used to help fight seasonal allergies. One remedy that is widely used during the Spring is honey. Honey contains amounts of the same pollen that are found in allergies. This allows for the body to develop a tolerance for the allergy and helps the immune system not be overwhelmed by allergies when they appear in the body. It is recommended that honey is taken before you experience any seasonal allergies to help build a stronger resistance to the allergies.

Another remedy is Quercetin: a chemical compound that gives color to fruits, vegetables, flowers and can be used to combat seasonal allergies. Quercetin works by preventing the creation of Histamine (a chemical that causes allergic reactions). Quercetin can be found in foods such as apples, blueberries, citrus fruits, grapes, onions, broccoli, spinach, garlic, dill, coriander, and others. 

Probiotics are also proven to help the immune system and therefore help tackle seasonal allergies. Foods such as yogurt contain lots of probiotics.

If you are looking for an entire diet to help stay safe from seasonal allergies, you can try the anti-inflammatory diet. This diet avoids foods that will trigger inflammation such as sugar, trans fat, saturated fat, and processed foods. The diet consists of eating more plant based foods as well as healthy fats and phytonutrients.

Foods aren’t the only remedies that can help with seasonal allergies. One example is saline nasal sprays. This remedy uses a mixture of non-iodized salt and baking soda dissolved in water to reduce nasal congestion and inflammation caused by seasonal allergies.

Another remedy are HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filters. These filters are better when dealing with allergies because they are made to be able to absorb pollen-sized particles. It is recommended that a vacuum is also alongside the HEPA filter to ensure that the allergens don’t escape back into the air.

There are many preventive measures that can be taken to avoid catching allergies. One such measure is to avoid going outside when there is lots of pollen in the air. If you must go outside, it is recommended that you wear a dust mask in order to protect yourself.

It is important to keep your house pollen free while there are loads of pollen outside. It is advised to keep doors and windows shut during times when there are huge amounts of pollen outside. If you do go outside during periods with high pollen in the air, make sure to change clothes after entering the home and shower. These steps cannot guarantee that you will avoid suffering from seasonal allergies but they will reduce the chances.

All of the examples presented are just a couple of ways that we can avoid catching allergies and treat allergies should we catch them. In the end, we want allergies to not have an affect on our Spring this year. With Niska-Day just a month away and May music concerts coming up, this is a time of celebration before the summer break. I hope this article will give you ideas to breathe easy using home remedies!