7 WAYS to BEAT the ALLERGY (and sinus) BLUES

As I sit here feeling an onset of my first allergy attack of the season, I decided to share my secrets with you to curb MASSIVE ALLERGY (and sinus) ATTACKS.

Allergies can be debilitating; physically draining, emotionally exhausting and expensive (allergy meds, trips to the grocery store looking for ANY kind of relief...)

There is hope!

Here are 7 ideas that have worked well for me and several of my clients in the past:

1. Avoid added sugar in foods and beverages- this is a cure-all for many diseases and disorders. Added sugar increases inflammation in your body, making it harder to fight off allergens. With the exception of fruit, vegetables and dairy, practice keeping your grams of added sugar to less than 5 at every meal and snack (ZERO GRAMS OF ADDED SUGAR IS A GREAT GOAL TOO- this is my best tip for fast weight loss, if that is another goal). Instead of foods and beverages with added sugar, look for whole foods like organic fruits and vegetables, organic dairy, non-antibiotic fed meat, healthy fats and 100% whole grains (sprouted when available).

2. Consume foods rich in magnesium every day- Magnesium is an essential mineral BUT in most of our diets, we do NOT get enough. Your body burns through magnesium when you eat sugar and perform exercise. Getting enough magnesium is a vital part of keeping your seasonal allergies under control. A few sources of magnesium include:
*Bran- Wheat, rice or oat- be sure to purchase sprouted bran products so your body can absorb the magnesium. Ezekiel brand offers sprouted products. Food for Life is another brand that offers high quality sprouted products.
*Flax and sesame seeds- cook with them for a great flavor or sprinkle them on your next salad or steamed veggies
*Almonds- raw
*Fish
*Beans- soaked at least 12 hours before cooked

3. Magnesium supplement- avoid magnesium citrate, which has a very LOW rate of absorption for most people, but something like magnesium chelate or magnesium orotate. Epsom salt baths are another great way to get adequate magnesium as it soaks through your skin in the bath!
Additional benefits of magnesium include:
*Muscle building
*Maintaining nerve function
*Keeping a healthy heartbeat and
*Sustaining optimal immune system function

4. Nasal rinse- Neti Pots are the best but a saline spray will also work. The nasal rinse helps to remove the allergy irritants from the very sensitive tissue in your nose before they can attack your body!

5. Exercise - As a personal trainer, this may be my solution to everything, but I hate to tell you, it works. Exercise increases your circulation and your immune system. If you are feeling drained from an allergy attack, take a 10 minute walk or bike ride- that is when you need it the most- if you are still feeling drained after 10 minutes, at least you tried and hopefully you got some fresh air. If you feel start feeling a little better after 10 minutes of exercise, KEEP GOING! In most cases, more exercise is better than none. You know your body best- if you need to rest, rest, but please do not use allergy fatigue as a reason to keep you from exercise.

6. WATER- Hydration helps to flush out all the gunk in your body. When you have an allergy attack, your body creates a lot of gunk. You know well it because it flies out your eyes, nose and mouth! You should drink 1/2 your body weight in ounces of water every day plus an extra 20oz for every hour of intense exercise. Caffeinated beverages do not count as water.

7. Local honey- if you know a bee farmer (is that the right term?), become friends! Local honey helps to decrease the response from local allergens. Local honey is delicious on plain yogurt, fresh, grilled chicken (with avocado) or drizzled in your hot or cold tea.


I would love to hear what natural remedies work for you!! 

Ashley Darkenwald, owner inFIT and Anytime Fitness | CPT, PES
ashley@inFITtraining.com

Contact me to speak at your next event!:
events@inFITtraining.com  

*The content of this article is not meant to replace any medical advice. Check with your physician before beginning any exercise, supplemental or nutritional routine.