Anti-pollen procedures
When those first warm spring breezes start to blow, I know the urge is there to open the windows wide to welcome them, but when it’s very windy or the pollen count is high (check www.aaaai.org/global/nab-pollen-counts.aspx or download a smart phone app like WebMD Allergy for updates), stay inside more if you can, with the windows closed. In the car set the ventilation system to recirculate instead of venting from the outside.
Taking a shower, even washing your hair, as soon as you come back inside after time outdoors, or at least before bed, helps keep any too-cozy pollen from taking up residence in your home.
Reducing the amount of drapes and carpeting in your decorating scheme helps too, as do air purifiers with regularly changed filters. Wash your sheets every week or two in hot water. Vacuum regularly, including any cloth-upholstered furniture; a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter helps.
Dietary changes can fight allergies as well. Certain nutrients are known for helping, so watch for them and try to incorporate them into your daily meals and snacks. Foods high in vitamins C and D, folic acid, antioxidants, carotenoids and omega-3 fatty acids may ease symptoms by cutting down on the inflammation of immune response.
Citrus fruits are good sources of vitamin C. Cruciferous veggies like broccoli, collards and kale may help clear blocked sinuses. Apples, parsley, garlic and onions are called natural antihistamines. Eat leafy greens, potatoes, tomatoes, seeds, nuts, salmon and other fish.
Clear soups, broths and warm beverages like tea can help thin mucus and clear your nasal congestion, as can horseradish, mustard, hot sauce and chilies.
