Allergy Relief Drinks
Itchy, runny, and stuffy nose…hives and skin rashes…yikes! I suffered from seasonal allergies, rhinitis, and recurring sinus infections for 30 years. So I know very well how miserable allergy season can be. It took a major detox in many areas of my life to heal my body and stop being so reactive to environmental allergens.
I learned the hard way that food sensitives and gut health were the keys to my healing process. Now I’m able to go through Spring with barely any symptoms and was able to cut down on the medications.
And I know that allergy meds don’t always cut it, that’s why I think it’s important to have some extra tools to ease symptoms. That’s why I wanted to share my go-to drinks for those bad days to bring some relief. I hope you give them a try and that they help you as they’ve helped me.
GOLDEN MILK LATTE
This is a delicious, nourishing, and satisfying beverage, especially at night. Add a tsp of ground turmeric, ground ginger, and a pinch of cinnamon, cardamom, and black pepper to a cup of warm dairy-free milk, mix well. You may add some stevia or monk fruit sweeteners too. Turmeric’s active ingredient, curcumin, is a natural anti-inflammatory that can minimize the swelling and irritation caused by allergic rhinitis. Tip: use a blender or a frother for better results. For convenience, you can also buy a ready-to-use golden milk blend.
GINGER & LEMON TEA
Add a teaspoon of sliced or grated fresh ginger and lemon to hot water and let it steep for 5-10 minutes. You can add your favorite herbal tea bag to the cup as well. Ginger helps reduce swelling and inflammation in the nose, eyes, and throat. It also has bronchodilation effects on the lungs, helping people with ashtma. Lemon adds vitamin C that supports the body’s immune function and detoxification pathways.
WATERMELON & LIME JUICE
Blend 16oz of fresh watermelon with the juice of 1/2 lime, and a handful of broccoli sprouts (no need to add water). The lycopene, vitamin C, and sulforaphane content in this blend help the body counteract the inflammatory allergic response. Broccoli sprouts contain 20 to 50 times the concentration of sulforaphane of mature broccoli without the pungent taste. I recommend consuming this juice first thing in the morning since watermelon is very easily digested and if combined with other foods can lead to indigestion.
NETTLE LEAF TEA
Add leaves to boiling water. Have 1-3 cups on the days where symptoms get worse. You can get store-bought tea as well. Studies show that Stinging nettle leaf can be helpful to reduce hay fever, sneezing, runny nose, and itchy eyes because of its anti-inflammatory effect.