Foods to eat this hay fever season

There’s a lot to love about spring, from the sunshine, warm days to the beautiful blossoms. But for allergy sufferers, spring could mean something totally different; possibly something like a lot of sneezing, itchy nose that runs like a tap, and red, watery eyes.

Hay fever or allergic rhinitis is the allergic reaction to inhaled grass pollen, common during spring. Symptoms often include congested and runny nose, irritable eyes and itchy throat. The worse times vary depending on where you are in Australia; pollen season in Melbourne is usually short and peaks in late spring (October to November), while in Brisbane, the season extends throughout most of the year and peaks around summer (January to March).

The bad news is, no food you eat can cure the allergies. Some foods, however, can help relieve the symptoms. Here’s a list of some common foods you may want to eat more this season.

Ginger

Make yourself some ginger tea this season because ginger can help with inflammatory symptoms such as swelling and irritation of the nose passages, eyes and throat. A great natural remedy for your blocked sinus that also works for nausea and joint pain.

Salmon

The omega-3 fatty acid in salmon can help support allergy resistance and decrease the risk of hay fever. The same goes with other kinds of oily fish, such as tuna and mackerel, and foods high in omega-3 such as flaxseeds, chia seeds and walnut.

Turmeric

Curcumin in turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties and has long been used as a natural remedy for inflammation-driven symptoms. If you can’t think of any recipes to add turmeric to, go for turmeric supplements instead.

Citrus fruits

Vitamin C in citrus fruits not only can help prevent and shorten the duration of common cold, but can also decrease the irritation of the upper respiratory tract caused by seasonal allergy. Load up your vitamin C this season with citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, kiwis and berries.

Don’t forget to add the Y.V.Fresh berries to your allergy fighting remedies this hay fever season! Our Krimson Kiss berries will be the first variety available this November.