4 foods and condiments that help ease allergies
Seasonal allergies and chronic breathing disorders that trigger inflammation or irritation are a recurring nuisance. However, they are treatable, and medications help control the symptoms to some extent. But besides medicines, you can also manage these conditions using several home remedies prepared with the following foods and condiments.
Ginger
Since inflammation is the number one symptom of most allergies, ginger is the perfect choice to counter the discomfort. It has anti-inflammatory pain-relief properties and can be used in various beverages and everyday meals. Having ginger tea or adding its extracts to your daily foods can help alleviate the symptoms significantly. The spice is readily available and has a long shelf life when refrigerated.
Turmeric
Turmeric is a popular ingredient used to prepare home remedies in many cultures. Its active ingredient is curcumin, a compound rich in anti-inflammatory properties. Turmeric helps alleviate the discomforts associated with different nasal allergies that trigger inflammation of the airways. It also has anti-allergic properties that counter the irritation and swelling associated with allergic rhinitis.
Spicy condiments
Spices are natural allergy medicines. They help break up congestion, allowing the thick mucus to flow freely. This helps clear your sinuses and nasal passage for better breathing and sense of smell. Hot mustard, anise, fennel, and horseradish are some of the best spicy foods that help clear the stuffiness.
But what gives spices this property? Most spicy condiments contain capsaicin, the active ingredient that stimulates decongestion. You can observe this effect after tasting a bit of wasabi or horseradish. Your eyes would start watering, and the liquid from the nasal passage would get cleared. Thus, including a bit of heat or spice can help with congestion and pain relief.
Tomatoes
Citrus-rich fruits like tomatoes (yes, tomato is a fruit!) are loaded with both vitamin C and allergy-fighting compounds. Tomatoes are also rich in lycopene, another antioxidant compound that counters inflammation and provides relief from congestion. However, note that this fruit is a viable option only if you do not already have a tomato allergy. Other citrus-rich options include lemons, tangerines, and oranges that you can include in your daily diet.