Many of us suffer from seasonal allergies. They can easily put a damper on the otherwise beautiful weather and fun in the summer. Many people end up taking an antihistamine to experience relief from allergy symptoms, but this is only a band-aid solution. Toronto holistic nutritionist Evelina Hovich reveals some natural methods for reducing or relieving your allergy symptoms!

1. A Holistic Nutritionist’s Approach To Seasonal Allergies
Written by: Evelina Hovich on July 17th
2014
Before you reach for that box of antihistamines, try some of these natural allergy solutions from holistic nutritionist Evelina Hovich!
Many of us suffer from seasonal allergies, but Toronto is actually
one of the worst places in Canada to be for them! The most
common around here is ragweed, but there are many other
allergens which can make life miserable for those who are allergic
to them.
Why do our bodies produce allergic reactions?
Seasonal allergies are a result of environmental allergens like pollen and ragweed
coming into contact with the mucous membranes in our respiratory system. There
are many different particles that come in contact with our respiratory system though,
from the sweet smell of a freshly cooked loaf of bread to rotten fish, and thousands
more. Certain particles trigger allergic reactions within our bodies. But why do they
do this, and why only certain ones? Are they harmful?
No, the particles that trigger allergic reactions are usually a result of your immune
system overreacting.
Your immune system is your body’s best line of defense against foreign invaders. It
keeps you safe from all manner of diseases. But sometimes it has trouble telling
harmful invaders apart from benign ones. And the result is an allergic reaction.

2. What are the signs of an allergic reaction?
Allergic reactions often produce similar symptoms to asthma. Coughing, wheezing,
difficulty breathing, and a congested or runny nose are standard, as are itchy, watery
eyes. But you may also experience an itchy mouth or skin, dizziness & light
headedness, nosebleeds, swelling, nausea, irritability, and more.
For a full list of allergy symptoms, visit my allergy solutions page.
What Can I Do About It?
If you’ve sat in front of a television or been to the pharmacy lately, you’re probably
familiar with over the counter allergy medications. These medications are called
antihistamines, and they’re designed to chemically block the histamine’s action on
your body, bringing you relief from your allergy symptoms. These are effective, but
only for a short time, and only help to clear your symptoms for the duration of taking
the medication.
And while it’s certainly a better business model to have people continuously taking
your pills for the rest of their lives in order to experience relief from their allergy
symptoms, this band-aid approach will do nothing to help you address the reason
why your body is producing such a reaction in the first place.
They also often come with unwanted and potentially harmful side effects. For
example, the potential “common” side effects for Claritin, a popular over-the-counter
antihistamine, taken from Web MD, are as follows: head pain, pink eye, and
drowsiness. “Rare” side effects include much more severe issues, including giant
hives, hyperactive bladder, blurred vision, bronchitis, confusion & disorientation, and
many more.
While these drugs have been approved as safe by Health Canada, the FDA, and the
various other drug safety agencies worldwide, they do come with side effects which
can be avoided.
So What Do I Do?
If antihistamines have a potential for harm, what should you do about your allergies?
After all, you don’t want to just ignore them. Seasonal allergies can make your life
miserable!
The best approach to any health issue is always to address the root cause rather
than symptoms. In this case, you may be surprised at the source.
The foods we eat may be partially to blame for many seasonal stress reactions.
Many raw fruits and vegetables have proteins similar to those found in trees, grass
and weed pollens, so our body responds to them in the same way. The following

3. measures are all related to what you eat, and are natural solutions to allergy
symptoms from a holistic nutritionist’s perspective.
- Watch what you eat!
o If you react to tree pollens, avoid almonds, apples, celery, cherries,
hazelnuts, parsley and pears.
o If you react to grass pollens, avoid melons, oranges, and tomatoes.
o If you react to weed pollens, avoid bell peppers, carrots, celery,
coriander, fennel, parsley, and sunflower seeds.
o If you react to ragweed pollens, avoid: bananas, cantaloupe,
chamomile tea, cucumber, honeydew, watermelon, and zucchini.
- Stay hydrated! Dehydration is the number one cause of histamine release,
which triggers your reaction.
- Get enough vitamin C! That will reduce your histamine response
- Get enough Omega-3! These essential fatty acids are the most potent anti-
inflammatory nature has to offer.
- Get enough MSM! MSM is a compound which helps your cells release toxins,
which can help cope with allergens.
- Take Quercetin! This organic compound is a naturally occurring bioflavonoid
which can stabilize the cells which carry histamines and prevent them from
being released.
Following these basic holistic nutrition tips can help you minimize your allergy
symptoms. You can also talk to a practitioner who can help you recognize your
symptoms and help you address your imbalances and alleviate the suffering which
your allergies can cause!
Thanks for reading! Yours in holistic health and wellness, this is Toronto
nutritionist Evelina Hovich.
Evelina Hovich is a certified holistic nutritionist and BIE practitioner in Toronto, Canada.
She has helped her clients optimize their health, and manage a variety of health issues
including digestive problems, weight loss, food and environmental allergies, and more.
To discover more about Evelina's services, read more of her articles, and find out how
she can help you, visit her online: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Google Plus