Seasonal Allergies? Breathe through Spring!

As spring approaches, so do seasonal allergies.  When our body is exposed to airborne allergens that it is sensitive or allergic to, a cascade of responses may occur in the body including the release of a chemical called histamine from cells in the respiratory system, nose, eyes and mouth. Histamine stimulates inflammatory symptoms including redness, swelling, itching and even pain. Increased mucous production provides a barrier against invaders. Histamines and other inflammatory mediators can be kept in check by diet, lifestyle and environmental factors.

One of the main underlying factors to environmental allergies is diet.  An unbalanced diet may result in an accumulation of toxins that burden the immune system and may leave the body depleted in life-enhancing nutrients including vitamin C, D3, magnesium and zinc. So what does this have to do with allergy season? Well, if the immune system is constantly under attack, and the body is not fully nourished, any foreign invader, including pollen and dust, is too much for the body to handle. Overtime, if the body is not replenished with protective compounds and essential nutrients which help to maintain a healthy allergic response, it may be more susceptible to producing a response including: runny/itchy nose, itchy skin, watery/red and puffy eyes. Furthermore, since most diets do not provide enough servings of flavonoid–rich foods including deep colored berries, colorful vegetables and citrus fruits, our bodies may not have the complete spectrum required to maintain a healthy immune response to common allergens.  

MegaFood has a collection of premium whole food supplements to help you breathe through the blooms of Spring!