Lafayette LA Spring Allergies!

If you aren't one to experience the sneezing, sniffling, itchy-eyes and coughing due to pollen and a general change of season in Lafayette, chances are you know someone who does.

Did you know that allergies in Lafayette LA are the result of an immune system that is over-worked? An over-worked immune system needs a little support and believe it or not, by avoiding certain foods and consuming more of others, you can provide that support to yourself. While it may sound strange, certain foods, when digested, create inflammation and therefore leave us susceptible to further inflammation, making our allergic reactions to the outside worse! While some foods, when digested, literally work to combat inflammation internally, leaving you needing less tissues and less eye drops.

Below is a list of foods to avoid and foods to buy LOTs of for their benefits in fighting internal inflammation, naturally:

1. Ditch sugar (or at least replace it with Stevia).
We talked about sugar as last week's health topic and the reality is, if your immune system is "weak" and your allergies are going haywire, you have to keep gut bacteria balanced and intestinal yeast, like Candida, in-check. Start removing sugar from your diet now to boost your immune system and lower your allergic response. Add up the total sugar grams in your drinks, foods and snacks (you might surprise yourself!) and replace with Stevia where you can.

2. Ditch dairy (or at least limit it to one serving/day).
One of the biggest misconceptions is that dairy is a good source of calcium and we need it for strong bones. This is an antiquated dietary model. We now know there is more calcium in dark green leafy vegetables (kale, broccoli, spinach, etc.) than in a serving of cheese or a glass of milk. Consuming dairy products increases mucus production. An increase in mucus production creates congestion, making allergy symptoms worse. And let's not forget that Candida LOVES to live in a mucus/sugary environment (gross!) Lower your dairy consumption to just one serving per day with more beneficial sources of dairy like yogurt, kefir, farmer's cheese or paneer. These versions of dairy put more bacteria in the belly, since they are often produced through the process of fermentation.

3. Eat apples.
Can an apple a day keep allergies away? Apples contain Quercitin, a chemical with anti-inflammatory and anti-histamine properties. Quercitin has also been shown to lower amounts of inflammatory marker (found in the blood) that causes the immune dysfunction responsible for all of your sneezing, sniffling, itchy-eyes and coughing. Toss an apple into your morning smoothie or juice it together with other green vegetable for an easy and delicious allergy remedy.

4. Eat garlic.
While we don't like garlic breath, eating raw garlic can prevent allergies. Garlic contains a compound (allium satvum) that help to minimize the allergic response while boosting immune function. Try eating some raw garlic everyday in a salad dressing or add it to your favorite "dip."

5. Take a high quality Omega-3 EFA supplement
If you don't want to take a supplement you can eat a LOT of salmon, tuna, and anchovies which are fatty fishes with high levels of omega 3 fats. Omega-3 EFAs play a key role in managing both inflammation and the immune response, helping to lower histamine levels. For adults we recommend a minimum 1200 mg/day to assist in modulating systemic inflammation, therefore reducing your allergic response.