It’s that time of year again: allergy season. Are you one of the millions of Canadians suffering from: • Itchy, watery eyes; • A runny nose; • Constant sneezing; or • A wheezy cough? Common springtime allergens like mold spores, pollen and grass can cause an array of symptoms. When allergy symptoms strike, many people automatically reach for antihistamines but do they really work? The truth: Allergy medications serve to temporarily relieve symptoms, but do nothing to address the underlying cause. Ever wonder why some people are affected by seasonal allergies while others aren’t? An allergy is not caused by the allergen itself, but by the immune system’s inability to fight off the adverse effects of the allergen. In other words, the immune system is too tired, stressed or weak to fight off the allergen. So, allergies = poor immune function. The good news is, there are natural ways to beat seasonal allergies and improve your immune function. So, before reaching for over the counter meds, try some of the natural strategies below! Natural Allergy Relief 1. Eat Right. A healthy diet is key to a healthy immune system. Eat more fresh, whole foods and do your best to avoid sugar and Read more…
Allergy Relief Made Simple It is that time of year again; the itchy eyes, runny nose, constant sneezing can really get in the way of you enjoying the beautiful weather. You’re not alone, millions of Canadians suffer from seasonal allergies year after year due to allergens such as mould spores, pollen, grass and many more. Allergy relief medication is booming as antihistamines, decongestants and nasal shots promise immediate relief from these irritating symptoms. It’s easy to simply reach for these quick fixes to relieve the symptoms, but is that really the only method of allergy relief? What is an allergy? Before we delve in, let’s understand what an allergy is and how it is developed. An allergy is your body’s natural reaction to particles that it considers foreign; these could be airborne particles or even compounds in food. The immune system releases antibodies to that specific allergen that causes an inflammatory response. This response results in the release of many important chemical mediators, such as leukotrienes, prostaglandins, and histamine. Histamine can cause airways to constrict and blood vessels to become more permeable, potentially leading to fluid leakage or hives, and leukotrienes causes increased production of mucus which can cause phlegm Read more…