Food choice and home practices can help alleviate your child’s allergies.

Food choices, home practices can help ease your child’s symptoms

Awarm winter like this one means allergy season is hovering. About 50 million Americans fight seasonal allergies, which is essentially the immune system reacting, or overreacting, to a trigger — such as mold or pollen or a food such as peanuts or eggs.

According to the The Allergy Solution by Leo Galland and Jonathan Galland, factors that contribute to the immune system’s sensitivity to allergens can include environmental toxins in the air, the overuse of antibiotics, an overly sterile early childhood and a changing food system that can cause internal inflammation and nutrient deficiencies.

Certain people’s immune systems may be triggered more easily because of a genetic predisposition. According to Kenneth Bock in his book Healing the New Childhood Epidemics, our immune system is like “a kettle that can hold only a certain amount of water. If you keep filling it, the kettle will eventually overflow.”

Over time, allergies can lead to many other health issues, such as fatigue, muscle aches, sleep issues and inflammation, so it is wise to handle them when they present themselves.

Certain food choices can help alleviate allergies:

Vitamin C is a natural antihistamine, so load up on berries, lemons and other citrus fruits, broccoli, leafy greens and chiles.

Chlorophyll-rich spring greens such as watercress, arugula, kale, Swiss chard, spinach and mustard greens, and the bitter spring vegetables such as radishes, asparagus and artichokes all help clear allergies, and because they detoxify the liver, helping the body to process any immune triggers that may have entered the system.

Quercetin is a potent flavonoid that prevents allergies and is found in onions, the cabbage family and apples.

Probiotics can help normalize immune function and kill allergens and unhealthy bacteria in the gut.

Ginger, nettle and dandelion teas are natural antihistamines and are detoxifying.

Avoid inflammatory foods such as dairy, wheat, refined carbohydrates and sugars, and increase intake of Omega-3 fatty acids found in fatty fish, flax seeds, chia seeds and walnuts.

Habits at home that can help prevent allergies: Remove shoes when in the house. Shower immediately after being outside. Buy a HEPA-filter air cleaner, and vacuum frequently.

Irrigate the sinuses with a saline solution or Neti-pot to remove pollen from nasal passages. Buy products made from natural fibers. Skip synthetic cleaners, and use a wet mop and a microfiber cloth that will cling to particles. Seal cracks in your house. Change air conditioner and heater filters. Limit exposure to pesticides.