Allergies? Eat These Foods To Savour Spring Without A Sneeze
This food plan by F&B Strategist Chef Swasti Agarwal can get you through the allergy season
By Team Foodstories
5-Minute Read
Spring allergies triggered by pollen from blooming trees, flowers, and grass, can turn your sunny escapade into a tissue-filled adventure. Why, you ask? When our body detects something foreign in our body, like pollen, histamine is released to get it out of our system. Sometimes our body is too aggressive with the histamine release and then we end up with itchy eyes, a runny nose and sniffles for days.
Luckily, our resident F&B Strategist Chef Swasti Agarwal has all the pro tips and easy, allergy-free recipes!
For starters, “Eat abundant foods that naturally have antihistamines such as grapes, strawberry, garlic, and walnuts. The less inflammatory foods we consume, the better equipped we’ll be against allergies.”
Wave goodbye to the allergy troublemakers such as dairy because it can ramp up mucus production. Avoid that glass of wine as alcohol can intensify allergy symptoms. And sorry, spicy food enthusiasts, but capsaicin in spicy treats can trigger histamine production, making your allergies throw a spring fling of their own.
While it may feel like your food options are limited, there are plenty of foods that will become your allies in the battle against seasonal allergies.
Breakfast
Kickstart your day with a bowl of oats or quinoa. Packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, they're the breakfast superheroes you need. Chef Swasti recommends topping it off with a three-citrus juice, loaded with vitamin C, made with fresh oranges, amla and sweet lime and a pinch of rock salt.
Lunch
Dive into a salad featuring leafy greens such as spinach and kale. These leafy wonders are brimming with magnesium, known to relax those airways and ease allergy symptoms. According to chef Swasti, garlic and onions have great antioxidant properties so, sauté onion and garlic and mix them in with some roasted tomatoes for a perfect cup of soup. Add a sprinkle of black pepper for additional protection against allergies. Onions also contain quercetin, a superhero flavonoid that helps stabilise those wild immune reactions.
Afternoon pick-me-up
In the afternoon, swap out the chips for a handful of almonds. Packed with vitamin E, almonds can strengthen your immune system and act as a barrier against allergy attacks. Ditch the chai or black tea. Instead, chef Swasti recommends a cup of green tea with a hint of honey or ginger that’s packed with antioxidants and helps soothe inflammation.
Dinner
For dinner, chef Swasti suggests a warm cruciferous salad with charred broccoli, brussel sprouts, some fresh kale with a drizzle of hot honey and a handful of shredded parmesan cheese. This would help keep the refined carbohydrates to a minimum to keep your body calm and avoid inflammation.
Chef Swasti’s way of keeping your gut healthy in flu season is simple! Add probiotics and curcumin (from whole turmeric) to your daily diet and focus on food that keeps your stomach calm, reducing inflammation. Also, hydration is key to keep all ailments at bay.
Say goodbye to the allergy blues and hello to a season filled with culinary delights that'll help you brave the elements.
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