What foods can relieve allergies?

First of all, I have to pour cold water on everyone. No food can directly "cure" allergies. At most, some foods that do not contain your allergens and are rich in anti-inflammatory/immune-modulating ingredients can help relieve the discomfort and reduce the frequency of allergic attacks. Don't believe the rumors that "eat these foods to combat allergies and you will no longer need to take medicine."

I just met a 20-year-old girl two weeks ago. She suffered from severe allergic rhinitis during the change of seasons. She posted a short video saying that eating local honey can desensitize her. She drank two large cups of it every day without much thought. It turned out that she was intolerant to the pollen impurities mixed in the bee products. After drinking it for three days, she not only sneezed a lot, but also developed a red rash on her arms. It was so itchy that she couldn't even sleep well. When she came for consultation, she was so aggrieved. She said that others had taken it and it was working, so she was wronged.

In fact, this situation of "what works for others but doesn't work for you" is too common in allergy diet preparation. After all, everyone's allergens are very different. No matter how good the anti-allergic food is, if you are allergic to it, eating it will only add fuel to the fire. Among the many allergic people I have come into contact with, many people have indeed improved a lot after adjusting their diet. For example, they eat deep-sea salmon and sardines two or three times a week, because the Omega3 unsaturated fatty acids in them have strong anti-inflammatory properties and can reduce redness, swelling and itching during allergic attacks. ； Also, if you regularly eat fresh fruits rich in flavonoids such as blueberries, mulberries, and dates, your histamine release will be lower, and the symptoms of sneezing and runny nose will be less severe. ； In addition, the active probiotics in plain Greek yogurt without added sugar can also help regulate intestinal flora. Many friends who are allergic to dust mites have been drinking it for three or four months and have said that the frequency of attacks has significantly decreased.

Of course, there are also many controversial "anti-allergy foods" spread online, such as vitamin C. Many people say that taking vitamin C effervescent tablets can prevent allergies. In fact, to achieve the effective dose of antihistamine, you need to consume at least 1000 mg of vitamin C a day. An ordinary effervescent tablet is only 100 mg. Eating enough can easily cause gastrointestinal diarrhea. It is better to eat two kiwis and half an orange every day. It can also supplement other nutrients. There is also the claim that honey is anti-allergenic. There is currently no clear evidence-based basis to support it. On the contrary, unpurified honey may be mixed with a large amount of pollen and dust mite impurities. People who are sensitive to inhaled allergens can easily induce more severe reactions. If you really want to try it, you must first choose a regular brand of purified honey. Dip a little at a time on the inside of your wrist to test sensitivity. When eating, start with half a spoonful. If there is no reaction, slowly increase the amount.

All in all, food is at best an auxiliary item for allergy control, just like a buff when playing games. If the allergy attacks are really severe and you sneeze until you can't open your eyes, have rashes all over your body, or even can't breathe, don't rely on eating to relieve the symptoms. Take antihistamines or go to the hospital quickly, otherwise it will cause laryngeal edema and anaphylactic shock.