VIVA NOLA APRIL-MAY 2021

wellness
Addressing Spring
Allergies Naturally
By Lia Threat @wellnesswithlia
Lia Threat is certified wellness coach based in
New Orleans. She holds individual and group
sessions and works with schools in the
metropolitan area. You can contact her at
wellnesswithlia@gmail.com
Spring is here. Now is time
to enjoy the beautiful,
breezy weather minus the
humidity, but what about those
with allergies? Time outside can
be far from enjoyable for those
with a susceptibility to seasonal
allergies, especially when pollen is
abundant. If that sounds like you,
below are a few natural ways to
counteract a flare-up.
Antihistamines are effective
because they calm our body’s
inflammatory histamine response.
If one encounters an allergen
such as pollen, it will cause the
body to trigger the release of
immune cells known as mast
cells. Mast cells are responsible
for initiating an inflammatory
response and triggering the
release of histamine. Sinus-related
issues like itching, runny nose,
sneezing, mucous secretions, and
headaches will soon follow.
Thankfully, there are multiple ways
to lower histamine levels in the
body. A few are related to food
and easy to incorporate into your
daily routine.
1Lower the number of
histamine-rich foods that
you are consuming daily. Often,
histamine-rich foods are also
aged or fermented. Think alcohol,
pickled foods, sauerkraut, aged
cheeses, cured meats, and highly
processed foods. As these foods
age, histamine levels increase.
Also, different levels of naturally
occurring molds are present,
which can also cause similar
inflammatory responses in the
body. Instead, opt for fresh fruits,
meats, cheese, and be cautious
of alcohol intake during periods
when pollen counts are high.
If you are taking probiotics,
2 consider one that does not
contain histamine-producing
bacteria, adding to your body’s
histamine levels. Check out
your probiotic label for strains
such as Lactobacillus gasseri,
Bifidobacterium bifidum, and
Bifidobacterium longum. Recent
studies have shown these strains
to help those with seasonal
allergies.
Help screen what is getting in.
3 Opt for a natural saline rinse
to loosen mucous in the nasal
passages. It is generally safe for
adults and children to use without
side-effects and may even assist
in preventing the adhesion of
bacteria and viral pathogens.
Most weather stations issue
4 high pollen counts, so check
these out before venturing
outdoors!
* As always, check with your
doctor before adding anything to
your routine, especially if you are
taking medication.
10 ~ VIVA NOLA APRIL / MAY 2021