Allergies to grasses: symptoms, foods to avoid and natural remedies to combat them
Do you also suffer from grass allergies and are looking for natural remedies and useful advice on foods to avoid? First of all it will be necessary to clarify this particular type of pollen allergy, which mainly affects in the spring period. Below we will try to understand the symptoms and causes of grass allergies and then move on to the most useful remedies for counter them, with a focus on foods to avoid to prevent and fight them.
Allergies to grasses: the most critical period and the triggering causes
Allergies to grasses are part of the immune system. Those who suffer from allergies to grasses, in fact, manifest a "hypersensitivity of the immune system which believes it has to defend itself against substances it considers dangerous: the pollen of grasses, in fact.
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What are the symptoms of grass allergies?
The main symptoms of grass allergies are related to the respiratory system. These allergies cause itchy nose, abundant light colored nasal discharge, congestion of the mucous membranes, sneezing attacks, breathing difficulties, reduced sense of smell. In severe cases, it can cause asthma.
Equally frequent symptoms related to grass allergies are tearing with irritation, itching or swelling of the eyes, itchy throat and palate and itchy ears with possible temporary obstruction.
Allergies to grasses can also lead to a widespread sense of tiredness, fatigue, malaise, creating sleep problems and accentuating nervousness.
Symptoms vary in intensity from person to person and can have different duration. Grass allergy usually occurs outdoors, but can also suffer from it indoors.
Little help against puffy eyes and bags: aloe vera
And if allergies cause you redness and bags under your eyes, you can take advantage of the soothing and refreshing power of aloe vera. Here is explained in detail how to proceed to intervene in the best way and give well-being to your eyes.
What are the foods to avoid for those with grass allergies?
Diet is of fundamental importance in preventing grass allergy, so it is essential to know which foods to avoid if you suffer from it. It is scientifically proven, in fact, that many of the symptoms of this allergy manifest themselves when certain foods are eaten, which trigger an "oral allergic syndrome" due to the phenomenon of the so-called "cross reactivity": the foods you must avoid have proteins with a structure similar to allergens, which then trigger the immune system.
As we said, grasses are a particular type of pollen, therefore the diet to be followed to avoid problems if you suffer from allergy is almost identical to that which must be followed in the case of a generic pollen allergy. The main foods to avoid for those suffering from allergies to grasses and pollen are first of all those based on cereals, belonging to the same family of grasses, such as oats, spelled, wheat, kamut, corn, rice, bear, rye . All foods prepared with these flours, from bread to biscuits, must also be excluded.
Other foods to avoid, due to the "cross reactivity", are dairy products and derivatives, fried, sausages, beets and tomatoes, fruits such as melons, citrus fruits, peaches, plums, watermelons, kiwis, cherries, apricots, and dried fruit such as almonds and peanuts.
Browse our gallery to discover all the foods to avoid if you suffer from grass allergies.
See also: Grass allergies: foods to avoid against pollen and grasses
Allergies to grasses: the most effective natural remedies to combat them
To alleviate the symptoms of allergies to grasses there are several natural remedies, to be combined or not with the drugs used by traditional medicine, based on cortisone, antihistamines and decongestants.
The natural remedies that are used most often are homeopathic ones that do not cause the side effects of antihistamines, drowsiness in the first place. It is advisable to start taking homeopathic medicines one month before the period in which the allergy will break out. The most used, among these natural remedies, are the euphrasia, if you suffer from allergic conjunctivitis; l "allium cepa, in case of stuffy nose, sneezing, nasal discharge and tearing; l" arsenicum album against more liquid nasal secretions and asthma.
Another very useful natural remedy is vitamin C. Among the other recommended plants are dog rose and echinacea, both of which can combat the symptoms of allergies to grasses.
Acupuncture is also to be counted among the natural remedies against allergies to grasses: it can help to strengthen the immune system and reduce the most annoying symptoms.
Some precautions can also be considered as natural remedies, such as:
- avoid the consumption of alcohol
- Take more Omega-3 and carotene
- avoid as much as possible outdoor areas and especially parks and lawns, limiting direct contact with the grass as much as possible.
For more information on grass allergy, you can visit the Humanitas hospital website.
