Fit For Life: Ah-choo! What Can I do?

Fit For Life: Ah-choo! What Can I do?

Summer is just around the corner and we are all chomping at the bit to get outside. Fresh air, warmer temperatures, sunlight, vitamin D, elevated moods – all wonderful. And then we have - pollen and allergies. Not so wonderful. I have heard it many times this week, and it seems like an unavoidable problem to some people. But before you reach for the costly OTC meds, try these simple methods to lessen symptoms.  One thing I know – if you’re not feeling good, you can’t work out properly – so let’s clear up that head and nose, and do some preventive care while we’re at it. 

Eliminate dairy. Due to the mass production and poor quality of animals from which most of our common dairy products come from, and heat pasteurization and homogenization, commercial dairy products fall under the category of processed foods. Because all bacteria (good and bad) is destroyed during the "process", it lacks enzymes needed to help our bodies break it down and properly digest it causing a person to become lactose intolerant. It also causes a histamine or inflammatory effect to the respiratory system. Notice when a kid eats ice cream, their noses start running. That's respiratory inflammation, and not good for sensitive people with allergies. 

Wheat products are also better off being avoided, due to inflammation caused in the intentional tract. They cause the villi in the intestines to lay flat, not absorbing any nutrients, thus leaving foods intact and undigested, causing a condition called leaky gut syndrome. This also comprises your immune system, making it more difficult to combat allergies and fight off foreign invaders. 

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Netti-Pot? The infamous “netti pot” will help relieve symptoms by flushing the mucus in your nasal cavity. It comes with a saline solution, and you need to use distilled or previously boiled water, at room temperature. You flush one side at a time following the instructions on the box. Feels weird but works great. 

Local honey also helps clear some symptoms associated with allergies. Little known:  the honey should be purchased within a 3-mile radius of where you live, because the bees need to extract and make honey from the same flowers and plants that are irritating you for the anecdote to work. Your best bet is a local store or farmers market. 

Select supplements. There is a compound found in wasabi known as 6-MSITC, which suppresses chemicals that cause nose-closing inflammation, so pile it on and let the drainage begin. Another compound that can subside symptoms is spirulina. Take about 2000 mg a day and inflammation and symptoms should ease. If these remedies don't help you out, you may have to avoid outdoor activity or wear a mask during the worst part of the season.  But go ahead and do it because the outdoors are good for you.

 

Matt Espeut, GoLocal's Health & Lifestyle Contributor has been a personal trainer and health & fitnesss consultant for over 25 years. He is the owner of Fitness Profiles, a one on one, and small group personal training company, as well as Providence Fit Body Boot Camp, located at 1284 North Main St., on the Providence/Pawtucket line. You can reach Matt at (401) 453-3200; on Facebook at "Matt Espeut", and on Twitter at @MattEspeut. "We’re all in this life together – let’s make it a healthy one