Folks with awful seasonal allergies dread the arrival of spring, as it always signals the arrival of the sneezing, coughing, itchy watery eyes, and scratchy throats that arrive along with it.

Those with regular spring allergies probably know their biggest triggers by now, and take steps to avoid them. Allergy medications and many natural allergy remedies also help make the sneezing stop. 

But, did you eating certain foods while avoiding others can also make a difference? What you eat can affect both your likelihood of getting seasonal allergies, as well as how severe your symptoms are when you get them.

Here are some of the best and worst food choices when dealing with seasonal allergies: 

Best Foods for Seasonal Allergies

• Fish - Studies have shown that omega 3 fatty acids can both lower the risk of developing allergies and reducing symptoms due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Fatty fish (like salmon) as well as nuts are rich in omega 3.
• Red Grapes - Resveratrol is the famed antioxidant found in the skin of these grapes, and its anti-inflammatory properties might also reduce allergy symptoms. 
• Apples - The correct daily dose of Vitamin C can protect against both allergies and asthma. The skins of apples also have the antioxidant quercetin, which helps with better lung function. Quercetin is also found in tomatoes and onions. For other Vitamin C-filled options, include oranges, red peppers, tomatoes, and strawberries in your diet.
• Warm Liquids - Steamy drinks (anything from soup to tea) can help thin out mucus (sorry) and ease congestion. Even just inhaling in a steam shower can help if you aren’t in the mood for chicken soup.

Worst Foods for Seasonal Allergies

• Celery - Certain fruits and vegetables (like celery) can cause Oral Allergy Syndrome, because they come from the same family of plants as various allergy triggers. Oral Allergy Syndrome is characterized by an itchy mouth or throat. 
• Spicy foods - If you’re already wheezing and coughing, maybe avoid hot peppers and spices that will only add a runny nose and watery eyes to the mix.
• Alcohol - Alcohol makes your blood vessels dilate. Because of this, in addition to the rosy cheeks after a couple drinks, your allergy symptoms might also feel worse.

 

For those who are allergic to grasses, celery, tomatoes, peaches, and melons might cause a problem. For those with a ragweed allergy, cucumbers, melons, zucchini and bananas could cause symptoms. Go through the list of families of plants with your allergist so you know what to avoid. 

Photo Credit: David Castillo Dominici | freedigitalphotos.net

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by Giselle Bello

Drastic diets where you cut back on everything and feel completely deprived are usually short-lived. Instead, try these little tricks. These simple tips will help you develop healthy habitsso you aren’t either obsessing over calories or mindlessly munching and snacking. You will feel fantastic and healthy, and drop pounds without even noticing!

Practice portion control, and serve yourself on a salad plate instead of a full-sized one. There won’t be room for extra food, and you can trick your brain by creating the illusion of a full plate.

Serve dinner from the counter and not from the table. You are much less likely to reach for that second helping if it’s not sitting directly in front of you.

Check out a restaurant’s menu online before heading out. Having a healthy-ish choice already picked out will make you less likely to impulsively jump for the burger and French fries. Most restaurants have massive portions as well, so try and save half for lunch tomorrow.

With your morning brew, opt for the double foam instead of cream. You still get that fluffy deliciousness on your coffee, but with 100 less calories.

Get some quick exercise in, even just a quick stroll around your neighborhood after work. Even just 10 minutes of exercising gets blood flowing and your heart rate up. A generally healthy habit, this will also help stifle those post-work snack attacks.

Before lunch and dinner, drink a glass of water.Staying hydrated and feeling full will help you to not overeat.

Keep serving sizes in mind. A food might be low-cal, but not if you eat four or more portions at once.

Apples are the ideal snack for when a hunger pang hits. Fruits that are rich in fiber leaving you feeling full and satisfied.

Get enough sleep each night, a full 8 hours! When you are well-rested, you won’t crave those midday sugary pick-me-ups.

Keep a small thing of yogurt in the freezer. When you want to treat yourself to something sweet, this will feel as indulgent as ice cream or froyo.

Right after dinner, go brush your teeth. The toothpaste flavor will likely kill any temptation for late-snacking.

Avoid Pinterest and food pics! If you’re going through brownie recipes at work, and that 3:30 mid-afternoon slump hits, you will be craving these the moment you get off work. 

Photo Credit: marin | freedigitalphotos.net

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Everyone knows that there are a lot of compelling reasons—considerations of health, the environment, animal rights— to go vegetarian or vegan. If you’ve ever seen those pictures of the production of meat, you know it’s a pretty heinous process, and the environmental affects of the industry are staggering. Plus, fruits and vegetables are so good for you!    

In California, there is certainly a broad and robust culture of vegetarianism and opportunities to eat your way to a better life and world abound. However, there is always this pressure to be “100%!” To NEVER eat ANYTHING that has meat or animal products, or else you aren’t “truly” a vegetarian or vegan.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s definitely something to that—it’s the basic idea that the more you do something good, the better.  

But there is this confessional attitude that can go with the lifestyle that can almost parallel that of AA meetings—“I was so bad, I ate a cheeseburger, shame on me! Now I’m not a real vegetarian anymore.” 

Unless you are really motivated by animal rights, I think that the point should really be to encourage eating less meat as much as possible and not worry too much about being so hardcore about it, because overall I think it scares people off.  

The idea is “vege-do-what-you-want,” as a friend of mine puts it. The more you eat like a vegetarian, with lots of fruits, veggies, nuts and whole grains, the better. If your body tells you that you need to supplement with some chicken, really, that’s okay too!  

I understand that the idea of being 100% is to encourage society to create more meat-free options, and that’s really great. But especially when just starting out, the more you learn about satisfying dishes that are made without animals, the more accessible the lifestyle becomes.  

So vege-do-what-you-want ladies!

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