It’s allergy season!
Spring brings a feeling of relief and renewal for many people. Naturally, we feel an urge to clean out all the junk we’ve collected over with winter months in our homes. Springtime is one of the best times for our bodies to do the same. But, spring is also a time where we see people coming in to treat allergies.
Benefits of a healthy cleanse
A cleanse can help many health concerns.
- Improve energy
- Aid in stubborn weight loss
- Improve energy
- Reduce constipation
- Reduce persistent headaches, muscle aches and fatigue
- Improve skin
- Reduce allergies: both food and environmental
- Rebalance our hormones: decrease PMS, reduce acne, planning a pregnancy
Our emunctories are organs that give off waste products. Our primary are the lungs, kidneys, digestive tract and liver, and skin.
You can support your emunctories by:
- Eating small, regular meals of homemade clean foods. Choose organic when possible.
Dirty dozen (purchase these organic): Apples, celery, bell peppers, peaches, strawberries, nectarines, grapes, spinach, lettuce, cucumbers, blueberries, potatoes.
Clean fifteen (less contaminated): Onions, sweet corn, pineapples, avocado, cabbage, sweet peas, asparagus, mangoes, eggplant, kiwi, cantaloupe, sweet potatoes, grapefruit, watermelon, mushrooms.
- Drinking lots of water and adding lemon to your morning water.
- Consuming an antioxidant rich diet. Fresh berries, dark coloured fruits and veggies are typically antioxidant rich.
- Ensuring you are eliminating properly. Daily bowel movements are essential prior to starting any cleanse. Incorporate a good probiotic and high quality fish oil.
- Getting at least 30 minutes of cardio, five times per week.
- Eliminating/reducing caffeine, alcohol and refined sugars. Consider eliminating gluten and dairy during this time.
- Asking your naturopathic doctor which supplements, detox program and length are best for you.
Reduce Allergies Naturally
- Consider the above detoxification recommendations
- Consume quercetin. It reduces histamine and acts as a natural antioxidant. Citrus fruits, onions, apples, parsley, tea, tomatoes, broccoli, lettuce and wine are naturally high in quercetin. Often those suffering from allergies require 1,000mg/day so supplements may be required.
- Supplements: Fish oils, probiotics, vitamin C with bioflavonoids and grape seed extract can all help.
- Herbs: Stinging nettle, butterbur, euphrasia, turmeric and oregano oil are particularly good at reducing allergic symptoms.
- Consider using a neti pot to clean out your sinuses.
