'For some, pollen is harmless, but if your body treats it like an invader it releases histamine, leading to classic allergy symptoms'
Author: Chandy Rodgers
Hooray, it's nearly spring and summer, the seasons of sunshine, flowers, and... relentless sneezing? If you are one of the millions who suffer from hay fever, you know exactly what we’re talking about. Instead of enjoying the fresh air, do you battle with itchy eyes, a runny nose, and brain fog which makes even the simplest tasks exhausting?
The good news is that you don’t have to rely solely on antihistamines. There are natural ways to help your body handle allergens, reduce symptoms, and even prevent flare-ups. This blog series will help you understand what hay fever is and suggest small tweaks that you can make now to your diet, lifestyle and daily habits, so you can reclaim your favourite seasons and breathe easily again.
Questions this blog series will answer include:
What is hay fever and why do I suffer more than my friends?
When your body detects something harmful, like an infection or injury, it releases histamine to increase blood flow and send immune cells to the affected area to help your body fight off the invaders and heal. However, histamine becomes a problem when your immune system mistakenly sees something harmless, like pollen, dust, or pet dander, as a threat. Hay fever (seasonal allergic rhinitis) is your immune system’s overreaction to the tiny grains released by trees, grasses, and flowers (pollen), leading to classic allergy symptoms like sneezing, a blocked nose, itchy eyes, and fatigue.
Sneezing is your body’s way of expelling allergens.
Runny or blocked nose is caused by inflammation which results in excess mucus production.
Itchy, watery eyes & scratchy throat are a direct result of histamine.
Brain fog and fatigue occur because your immune system is working overtime.
If you suffer from seasonal allergies, these symptoms can make daily life much harder to manage.
Why do I suffer with hay fever more than my friends?
Not everyone experiences hay fever the same way. Some people seem to breeze through allergy season while others are left feeling miserable. Several factors influence how severely you react to pollen:
1. Genetics & allergy sensitivity
If allergies run in your family (hay fever, asthma, eczema), you are more likely to experience hay fever symptoms.
2. Histamine sensitivity & breakdown issues
Histamine is an essential part of your immune system, but once it has done its job, it needs to be broken down and removed. Your body produces an enzyme called diamine oxidase (DAO) to do this job, but if you don’t produce enough DAO, histamine levels build up, making your symptoms worse.
There are several factors that reduce DAO production:
Genetics may mean you don't manufacture as much DAO as others.
What you eat and drink puts a greater demand on your DAO requirements, with processed foods and alcohol being the worst culprits.
Stress can lower DAO levels because it triggers inflammation in the body and shifts resources away from producing this enzyme.
Poor gut health can damage the intestinal lining which is one area where DAO is produced.
3. Environment & lifestyle factors in hay fever sufferers
City dwellers may suffer more due to pollution, while rural areas expose you to more pollen. Where you live and how much time you spend outdoors can therefore also impact your symptoms.
Two simple changes you can make are showering or changing your clothes when you re-enter the house and using an air purifier in your home or office. These steps help reduce airborne allergens, easing symptoms and giving your immune system time to recover. We will look at some more ways that you can look to support yourself before and during hay fever season over the next few Blog posts.
What can I do about it?
Some of these factors listed above can't easily be changed, but there is lots you can do to minimise your risk of suffering from seasonal allergies.
Find out how you can prepare before allergy season starts and read about natural ways to reduce or stop hay fever symptoms when they strike.
If hay fever, or other allergies really get you down every year, consider working with a nutritionist who can help you get to the root cause of your problems and create a tailored plan based on your personal needs. You can find our practitioner directory here.
Click on the button below to find out how you can prepare before allergy season starts.
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