Vitamin C for Allergies

How to Prevent Allergies

Allergy season or not, allergies are really a discomfort. You can do a lot to prevent these allergies or at least reduce the incidences if you understand them and take corrective actions. Most allergies are preventable and it is your inability to see it coming that puts you in sneezing and "ah-choo" mode.

Your home can become a factory of allergens, if you don’t take care of carpets, bed sheets and general cleanliness of every nook and corner in the house. If you have pets, then you have already added one more source of allergy.

Sometimes, chemical ingredients of the packaged food do not suit you and cause allergic reactions. Even a handful of natural foods (8-10 items) are responsible for 90% of the food allergy.

 

Allergies can attack you from many directions at any time. The environment in which we live can be full of pollutants such as fumes and smokes from industrial houses and other chemicals depending on where you live and or work. In addition, there are seasons such as spring when pollen allergy pervades.

So under these difficult conditions, if you don't take precautions you simply can't prevent allergies. With the above challenges plus some more specific to you (not mentioned here), life can’t be fun with runny noses and sneezing.

All allergies are an overreaction of the immune system to certain substances including dust mites, pollen or cat dander etc. You can prevent allergies if you take adequate measures ahead of the time you are likely to get exposed to these allergens.

Allergy prevention is easier than cure. However, we are all built differently and our immune systems respond differently. Immunity also keeps changing depending on overall personal health circumstances during different times. , therefore what works in one situation may not work in the other. So try different methods and adhere to what works best for you.

1. Increase Immunity to Prevent Allergies

Food can reduce or increase your body's resistance to fight diseases and conditions. Therefore, what you eat and what you avoid becomes very important to deal with any specific condition such as allergies. First, Let us understand what to consume and what not to eat.

  • Increase Your Immunity as a first defense against allergies. Take probiotics. Probiotics not only improve your digestive system by increasing healthy bacteria, but also improves your immunity. If you are prone to allergies then make yogurt as a regular item in your food throughout the year. Begin Now!
  • Add Vitamin C to your daily diet. It retards formation of histamine which is responsible for runny noses. Unlike over the counter drugs that work on histamine after they have built up. Vitamin C is truly preventative. Remember eating Oranges and other citrus fruits is more beneficial than their juices.
  • Drink more water.
  • Lots of food items on the grocery shelf contain allergens. Most of these products are natural products. In fact some 8 -10 food items are responsible for more than 90 % of allergic reactions. Read the food labels for these usual suspects.
  • They are milk, eggs, tree nuts (Almond, Cashew and Walnut etc.) , Fishes ( cod, flounder) Shellfish ( Crab, lobster, shrimp), soy and wheat. If you are allergic to any one or more of them then you should be more careful in buying your groceries.
  • Some chemical ingredients in cosmetics such as Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (hair products and toothpaste) cause skin allergies. Be watchful when you buy these products. Read labels to ensure your hair products and toothpaste are free of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate.
  • Eat simple foods when eating out. Check out the ingredients with the waiters if you are not sure.

Avoid These Foods to Prevent Allergies

In addition to increasing your immunity, you also need to be ready to deal with seasonal allergies in many different ways. Avoiding exposure to allergens is the best prevention method. You can do the following to prevent the ill effect of allergies during the season.

2. Take Precautions to Avoid Seasonal Allergies such as Pollen Allergy

Spring brings so much happiness that lots of it comes out from a runny nose. This is the side effect of spring. You simply can’t avoid getting in touch with the tree and grass pollen, but you certainly can reduce exposure by taking precautions.

Keep Windows Shut to Prevent Seasonal Allergies

  • Keep your windows and door closed. It is very important because once the breeze of pollen gets inside the house. It settles on the curtains, carpets, bed sheets and pillows to continually haunt you.
  • Use air conditioners in the house
  • Use special filter in your air conditioners and heaters and clean these filters regularly.
  • Wear masks when you go out.
  • Keep your car clean. Park it in the area where pollen breeze is shielded so that when you open the doors no pollen can settle on seats. Dust mites and allergens easily get collected in the interiors of cars.
  • When you come back home with an exposure of pollen, take immediate shower and send your cloths to the laundry.

3. Create Hygienic Environment to Prevent Allergies

Not maintaining proper hygiene around you can hit you with chronic allergies. With simple care you can make your house allergen free.

prevent allergy clean home

  • Keep your house clean. Regularly, remove dust from bed, bed sheets, and pillows. Clean the curtains regularly or use blinds which can be washed easily. Vacuum clean your carpets daily.
  • If you can afford to change the carpets to wooden flooring.
  • Ensure all corners are cleaned properly where dust mites can multiply easily.
  • Each time you enter home coming from outside, you are bringing tiny particles on your clothes, shoes and body. Keep your shoes outside the house. Wash your clothes and take shower to clean yourself.
  • Keep your pets clean all the time.

4. Other Precautions to Prevent Allergies

More than 90% of your allergy problems will be prevented you have already taken the above precautions. The rest can be easy.

  • Avoid smoking or passive smoking. Some people have an allergy to cigarette smoke. If you are one of them, then ensure that you don’t stay longer in any smoking area. Maintain a smoke-free environment.
  • Avoid animal dander. Animal dander is one of the very big causes of allergy. If you are allergic (most likely you are) then remove pets from home. You will feel relief within days. However, if you are not free of allergy after weeks of removing pets from home then it is likely that the animal dander may still be present in the furniture and carpets. Clean the house and fumigate.

Get more information on causes, types, symptoms and home remedies for allergies in the other related articles: