Diet

7 Ways to Avoid Seasonal Allergies for Good

Watery eyes, itchy throat, and a stuffy nose are all telltale signs of spring -- for allergy sufferers, that is. If you're one of 'em, this advice will help you never deal with seasonal allergies again

by Sharon J. Yi

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Get rid of gluten We are always looking for the next best health craze. The problem? Many of those diets turn out to be all hype and no meat, so to speak. But the gluten-free movement may be onto something -- particularly in regards to avoiding seasonal allergies.

Gluten is a protein found in wheat and rye that can be difficult to digest, causing inflammation in the body. And when the body is inflamed, the immune response kicks into overdrive, says Kate Brown, nutritionist at DailyBurn. "If your body is constantly inflamed and trying to fight off the gluten it perceives as an allergen, exposure to seasonal allergens will cause an even bigger allergic reaction," she says. Translation: Horrendous symptoms that'll keep you sequestered in your house just as the spring weather starts to get really beautiful.

So if you deal with seasonal allergies, try going gluten-free for a couple weeks to see if your symptoms go away. If they do, there's a chance you've got a gluten sensitivity, which could mean steering clear of the stuff would be a good thing for your overall health.

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Older comments

Worked for me! Ditched wheat products August 2012 due to other issues it was causing, this year no seasonal allergies!

by tisha_lasalle Monday, April 22, 2013 at 09:39AM Report as inappropriate

thanks for the tips

by LittleBunny Friday, January 4, 2013 at 07:27AM Report as inappropriate

Great tips. I only knew of one of the list,dairy. I am going to have to start paying closer attention!

by rachel_entzmingerlloyd Monday, August 20, 2012 at 08:23AM Report as inappropriate

I have some of the worst allergies. I kind of doubt that its because of some of the food that I eat. There's no way that i would ditch my sweets either. I gotta have those :)

by MHolland6 Saturday, August 18, 2012 at 03:55PM Report as inappropriate

I'm surprised honey isn't on this list because it really does make a difference, when I remember to take it regularly. I did eliminate milk, switching to coconut milk and almond milk, but cannot give up cheese. Believe it or not, giving up milk itself made a huge difference in my skin, but allergy wise, I do still suffer at times.

by MissPoison Tuesday, August 14, 2012 at 07:03AM Report as inappropriate

local honey is the way to go

by LittleBunny Sunday, August 5, 2012 at 10:41AM Report as inappropriate

I have terrible seasonal allergies, and I'm vegetarian, eat healthy, and already follow almost all of those guidelines year round, and yet my allergies are way worse than anyone else that I know. So I'm a little skeptical about this advice. :(

by LipglossandSpandex Monday, June 18, 2012 at 12:23PM Report as inappropriate

Interesting info. I suggest doing more research before concluding allergic to food.

by muellsrus Monday, June 4, 2012 at 04:47PM Report as inappropriate

Interesting, looks like I'll be stocking up on grapes..my fave!

by raquel_raygoza Sunday, May 27, 2012 at 12:40PM Report as inappropriate

really interesting but i don't want to give any of these foods up :(

by sportimonki13 Tuesday, May 15, 2012 at 01:19PM Report as inappropriate