The stuffy nose, the runny eyes, the lack of sleep, coughing, sneezing, and fatigue; all of these symptoms are familiar if you suffer from allergies. While fall is one of my favorite times of the year, it is also one of the worst times for allergies. Add these symptoms to going to school or taking online courses and you’ve got the recipe for a miserable fall and winter.

Try natural foods, not medicine

While looking for ways to ease my own allergy symptoms I found a great article by Organic Gardening. This article outlines healthy foods you can add to your diet to help allergy symptoms and prevent them from slowing you down. If you’ve got allergies or asthma, try adding these nine foods to your diet and see if they help. You’ve got nothing to lose except your runny nose, weepy eyes, sneezing…you get the picture.

Number one on the list is broccoli. While not a favorite with George H. Bush, broccoli is one of the healthiest foods you can eat. It contains 80 mg. of Vitamin C in each one cup serving. Doctors recommend 500 mg. of Vitamin C each day to help allergy symptoms. Broccoli is a member of the cruciferous family. Cabbage and cauliflower are also powerhouse members of this family, and you can also benefit from adding them to your diet for even more allergy relief.

Number two is kale. This is another member of the cruciferous family and is packed with important nutrients. Kale is very high in Vitamin A. Researchers believe Vitamin A can help asthma and allergy symptoms. Kale can be used in salads, steamed, or sautéed. It is a delicious green that not only packs a Vitamin A punch, but also has Vitamin C, fiber and phytochemicals.

Yum!

A Southern favorite comes in at number three, collard greens. If you’ve never had a pot of collards, you don’t know what you’re missing. I’d never had them until I moved south and married my native Floridian husband, but one plate and I was hooked. Be sure to cook them at least 20 minutes to break down the plant fibers enough that your body can absorb the nutrients easily. Many cooks let them simmer for up to an hour. Add some bacon or pork, whip up some corn bread or rice and you’ve got a complete meal. Save the liquid as a base for soups since it contains a high amount of nutrients and tastes great. Collard greens contain Vitamins A and C, fiber and are packed with phytochemicals.

Onions and garlic round out the fourth and fifth spots with good reason; both are loaded with quercetin. Quercetin acts as a natural antihistamine. An antihistamine blocks reaction of your body to the allergens present in the environment. The quercetin in onions and garlic also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent eases the stuffiness and swelling caused by allergies.

Not just for pies and Jack-O-Lanterns

Pumpkins, carrots, and celery – numbers six, seven and eight – all contain carotinoids, a form of Vitamin A as well as Vitamin C. Roasted pumpkin is a warm and comforting alternative to using it only in pies. Toss boiled and drained carrots with a bit or butter, maple syrup and nutmeg for a tasty treat. Don’t throw away celery leaves, use the in soups, stews and as flavoring for any dish. Celery acts as an anti-inflammatory and pain killing food, and is loaded with fiber.

Stinging nettle is an herb which has been used for allergy and asthma for many centuries. You can find freeze dried stinging nettle capsules in health food stores. It acts as a natural anti-histamine and can be taken three times a day. Just don’t stay on it for too long or you’ll deplete the potassium in your body.

Incorporate these foods into your diet as many times a week as you can and you may see improvement with your fall and winter allergies. Experiment with recipes and see how creative you can get. Your entire family will benefit not only from the relief of allergy symptoms, but you’ll be giving them important vitamins and minerals as well.

Are fall allergies the worst for you? Have you found any natural ways to fight them? What is your favorite fall food? Share with us and let us know what you think.