Nutrition can give you Allergy Relief!

Today I have the privilege of a guest blogger, Marisa Wandeler of Body Interiors. She is a great personal trainer and guide to better nutrition. She has helped me in the past and the information she shares is always in your best interest. In Central Texas, if you don’t have bad allergies to cedar, ragweed, oak, elm, etc then you are a rare gem. Most people around here suffer from at least one of them and when their season hits, wooeeeee, get out the tissues! I am no exception. I was recently tested for various allergens and tested positive for all types of grasses, Class V for Cedar, Oak Pollen, American Elm, Dust Mites, some other outdoor stuff, and various others. Did I mention I have asthma? If you’ve ever been out to the studio, you know my property has plenty of all those trees. But, I do VERY well during all the seasons because I prepare my body, and I am VIGILANT to keep myself on the offensive instead of the defensive with my allergies. Here’s how to do it. Remember you’ve got to do these things before, during, and after for best control of the red-eyed, stuffy nosed, grouchy headed Allergy Monster. HERE ARE NUTRITIONAL APPROACHES TO ALLERGY RELIEF that will help the body deal with it’s reaction to allergens. Stay hydrated! Water, water, water… The body is always at it’s best when it’s properly hydrated. Avoid refined sugar! Sugar lowers the immune response and leaves us more vulnerable. Read labels and avoid it. This is especially important for kids who suffer with allergies. Watch out for those sugar cereals, soft drinks, energy drinks, desserts and flavored yogurts! No corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, etc. Eat Anti-inflammatory foods. Eat more fruits, vegetables, and fiber. Increase Omega 3s. Our inflammatory response is largely regulated by essential dietary fats. Eat more cold-water fish, such as salmon, at least once or twice a week. Wild Alaskan salmon has higher concentrations of omega-3s than farm-raised fish. Remember deep fried fish doesn’t count! Olive oil has the bonus of being rich in anti-inflammatory omega-9 fats. BUT!!!! Do NOT add olive oils to everything you eat, it’s still fat and you can get too much of a good thing. Increase fiber and anti-oxidants. This means eating plenty of high-fiber, non-starchy vegetables like dark leafy salad greens, spinach, tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, onions and garlic which all have powerful anti-inflammatory antioxidants. Non starchy, high-fiber berries and kiwi also pack a big antioxidants punch. Quercetin, which helps to reduce inflammation and stabilize mast cells involved in allergic reactions is found in apples and onions. Carotenoids like beta carotene and lycopene found in carrots, tomatoes, spinach, kale, collard greens, pink grapefruit, are also important nutrients. No thanks to Dairy foods. There are many reasons to avoid dairy, but as far as allergies go, dairy products are known to increase mucus production and increase asthmatic symptoms. Personally, this is the number ONE thing that helps me. That means no yogurt, cheese, milk, etc. More food for thought. Beef is a known “concomitant” allergen to cedar and juniper. It can exacerbate these allergies also. Bananas, citrus fruits, melons, chocolate, and caffeine can also exacerbate allergies in some people. Do your allergies get worse on the days you eat these fruits? If you have a ragweed allergy, avoid chamomile and canteloupe. In years past, I have suffered immensely during this season. I used to sneeze all day and then get so exhausted from the symptoms, I’d crash in the afternoons tired and cranky. While I still feel my body fighting the allergies, it’s MUCH less than in year’s past. I still sneeze when I walk outside and I have blown my nose a few times in the last couple of days, but my body is able to deal with it much better. I’m not tired, my eyes are not itchy, my throat is fine, and the sneezing and runny nose pass after about 10 minutes. In years past, I would do my best to achieve dietary excellence by eating to prevent my allergies with the tips mentioned above. I eat plenty of the right fruits and veggies for the fiber and essential nutrients. I eat only whole grains, no refined grains or sugar. I add flax to my smoothies in the morning. And, I drink plenty of clean water. So, what is the difference between this year and year’s past? Juice Plus+, which has powerful anti-oxidant fruits and veggies. It’s vine-ripened, pesticide-free whole fruits and veggies juiced and dehydrated in capsules. I still strive to keep by body prepared for allergy season with good eating, but now I give my allergies a second big punch of fight with Juice Plus. That’s another reason I’m a raving fan! It’s proven with clinical research to raise the levels of anti-oxidants in the blood. If you’re sniffling and rubbing your itchy eyes in the next few days, get to the grocery store to stock up on God’s healing produce, and try Juice Plus+ . Visit the website marketplace to read more about it and try it or call me 512-350-9177. www.bodyinteriors.com The longer you strive for dietary excellence, the better prepared your body is to deal with the allergy season. Start today and continue year round to get the best results!