Foods and Allergies

Everyone knows that allergies cause constant sneezing, breakouts or other uncomfortable reactions to occur. In order to stop these substances from wreaking havoc on our bodies, here’s a look at some common foods that may help alleviate some of the symptoms.

Fruits and Veggies

Studies have shown that a healthy intake of fruits and vegetables has been helpful in reducing allergy symptoms. They are also rich in antioxidants and nutrients that help the body fend off infections and diseases. Doctors say, the more colorful the fruit or vegetable the better it is for allergy prevention.

Yogurt and Kefir

While most people think of bacteria as a bad thing, the body requires a stable amount of “good” bacteria in order to promote digestive health and overall well-being. Yogurt and kefir, in particular, are two products that contain probiotics—healthy bacteria connected with improved digestive health and reduced risk for infections caused by harmful bacteria. According to "The Harvard Medical School Guide to Healthy Eating During Pregnancy" by W. Allan Walker and Courtney Humphries, infants whose mother consumed probiotics during pregnancy were seen to exhibit half the allergic symptoms than those whose mother did not consume probiotics.

Fatty Fish

Fatty fish that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids are essential fats associated with brain function and heart-health. They also play a significant role in reducing inflammation that is associated with allergies.
Various fatty fish options, include:

• salmon
• albacore tuna
• lake trout
• flounder
• halibut and sardines

Whole Grains

When it comes to choosing what grains you and your family use, pick whole grains over refined grains. All the nutrients of the original grain remain in whole grain products, which offers greater dietary and health benefits. Try to stay away from processed pasta, breads and other sweets as it may help alleviate nutrient deficiencies linked to allergies as well as symptoms associated with food allergies. A few examples of whole grain foods include whole wheat pasta, 100% whole grain breads, steel-cut oatmeal, long-grain brown rice, pearled barley and quinoa.

This article was written by Northeast Georgia Diagnostic clinic, a multi-specialty clinic that has been providing nutritional services to patients in the area for over 50 years. Located in Gainesville, Georgia, NGDC is less than an hour drive from Atlanta.