OK I know this is going to sound totally crazy to some and I can’t believe it myself, but this “go insane every spring from seasonal allergies gal” has left this body. Yep it is now April and where I live all of the trees have bloomed, shed and now have leaves on them. People are out cutting their grass and flowers are popping up everywhere. Even the cherry blossoms came early. What am I doing? I’m out walking in the beautiful spring sunshine taking deep clear breaths and super excited.
Every year I have spent miserable in the Spring. I don’t bother to wear eye makeup because I’ll rub it off as I just about rub my eyes out of their sockets. My ears will itch. My throat will itch. My tongue will itch. My skin will itch. My nose would run in both directions. I couldn’t walk around the block without making sure I had something to drink for when I start gagging on the pollen. Once they changed the laws around my OTC allergy medicines like Claritin, I would be frantic that when I could go get my next box, only one per week, they would be out. Sometimes they were and I’d have to drive around to 5 different places looking for them.
So what is this magic cure?
I gave up sugar and started drinking different green smoothies. Yeah I know that sounds too easy or too impossible. So by now some of you are rolling your eyes and thinking, yeah like that is going to work. Well I say what do you have to lose except maybe saving your eyeballs from being rubbed out of your head and your poor nose from too many tissues.
This all started with my detox that I actually started 2 weeks before the one on my blog, and kept refining it as I went. Actually I feel so much better I’m really not ready to let in too many of the other foods again. You know that saying, nothing tastes as feeling good feels.
Remove this!
Here is what I removed:
- Sugar Cane
- Agave
- Stevia
- Coconut Nectar
- Palm Sugar
- Simple carbs that turn quickly into sugar in the body- grains, white potatoes
- no alcohol
- I also cut out beans and I do not eat dairy.
- No processed foods that contain sugars.
The only sugars I ate were from fruit for the first 3 weeks. The last week I added a tsp of Raw Manuka Honey to my hot tea.
Taking the sugar out of my body helped keep the inflammation down and not trigger that antihistamine reaction. Not eating the simple carbs and wine kept the body from converting that to the sugars that cause inflammation and weight gain.
Add this!
Then I did the second part of this equation, I added in antioxidant and anti-imflammatory foods. This helped the body fight off those horrible
allergic reactions to the pollen. Adding in green vegetables and whole foods makes this even more appealing. I like adding more than removing but both are key.
Here is what I added to my days:
- avocado
- blueberries
- bok choy
- cherry
- chia seeds
- cinnamon
- coconut oil
- cucumber
- exercise- walking and Zumba
- ginger
- green apples
- kale
- lemon
- parsley
- pumpkin seeds
- raspberries
- shiitake mushrooms
- swiss chard
- turmeric
- walnut oil
- wild caught salmon
Now obviously these were not all tossed into a smoothie. So I’ll share with you the recipe for two of my favorite smoothies.
Like how I snuck in exercise to the list. 🙂
Oh and before you get all mesmerized by the green smoothies, let me address your doubts. First feel free to google avoiding sugar to allevate seasonal allergies. I did this post experiment and found tons of articles. Wish I would have read some first.
Next there is one thing you need to know about me, I hate whining. If something is bothering me or you, then I say let’s do something about it. If your allergies are any way as close to annoying as mine where they interfere with your life, than what do you have to lose. Give this a try. Add in the good food and by all means get rid of that sugar. Try it just for 30 days. Give your body time to process all of the gunk out. I’ll warn you however, once your body realizes you are going to give it amazing foods it will start doing amazing things for you. Oh and it will ask you keep these on the menu.
Green Ginger Goodness Smoothie
Ingredients:
4 kale leaves ripped into pieces, I love the dino kale
1 organic green apple, cored and cut into chunks
1 organic rib of celery cut into chunks
3-4 inch piece of organic cucumber cut into chunks
1-2 inch piece of ginger peeled and cut into chunks
1 organic lemon, cut the rind off and if you can find the seeds grab them but not necessary
1-2 TB organic chia seeds
4 ice cubes
1/2-1 cup filtered water
Instructions:
toss all of the ingredients into you Vita Mix. If you don’t have a strong blender you can still make the smoothie you will just need to blend it longer to get that smooth texture. You may want to add the water slowly until you get the consistency you like.
Pour into a tall glass and grab a straw!
Green Good Morning Smoothie
Ingredients:
4 kale leaves ripped into pieces, I love the dino kale
1 organic kiwi, peeled and cut into chunks
3-4 inch piece of organic cucumber cut into chunks
1 organic green apple, cored and cut into chunks
1 organic lemon, cut the rind off and if you can find the seeds grab them but not necessary
1 grab of organic parsley
1/4- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, just shake it 4-6 times
1-2 TB organic chia seeds
4 ice cubes
1/2-1 cup filtered water
Instructions:
toss all of the ingredients into you Vita Mix. If you don’t have a strong blender you can still make the smoothie you will just need to blend it longer to get that smooth texture. You may want to add the water slowly until you get the consistency you like.
Pour into a tall glass and grab a straw!
Now I want to hear from you!
Has anyone else had the same experience? Do you think I’m totally off my rocker? Are you willing to give it a try? What’s your favorite green smoothie?
You know what, Diane? I noticed this spring that FINALLY I have managed to deal with my allergies without medication. I wasn't as bad as some people, but I got where I took a Zyrtec every day, and when I'd try to stop, my eyes would feel like sandpaper, and my ears would get stopped up so bad I couldn't hear. But I finally stopped late last summer (when it was SO hot and dry that everything was dead anyway) and haven't had to start back even when everything has been in full bloom this spring! Basically, it's because I've been doing many of the same things you've been doing! I just thought it was coincidence, because for me, adding healthier foods and removing unhealthy ones has been a gradual process, but when you posted this, I became convinced this was why! Woohoo for healthy living!
Not sure If I am sending this the correct way. About 30 years ago, I had given up all sugar except local honey. I remember I did not have allergies at that time. I had been wanting to discipline myself and go back to that way of eating. About a year ago I gave up the sugar again when I was deployed to Kosovo. I wanted to go back because I did not have allergies there. Now that I think of it my diet was better and no sugar and I exercised every day. I lost twenty pounds and felt great. I came home and gained 30 pounds and my allergies were bad again. I thought it was the area. Well, I found out about a month ago, I was pre-diabetic and I decided to exercise, quit sugar and started on green smoothies. I eat pretty much everything you have on your list to eat. I still eat beans but I don't eat them as much as I would like because my son is allergic to legumes. Well my allergies are almost gone and I run outside everyday for about 1/2-1 hour. After giving up sugar 3 different times in my life for health reasons, I realize now allergy-free was an added bonus.
Joann Hacker
Congrats, Diane! That is amazing news. Lucky you, to no longer have to deal with allergy issues! I would just like to post a caveat to readers, though, who may now think that such a lifestyle will automatically erase all allergies. I already eat a diet like the one you're now following (I actually don't even have most fruits, and no sweeteners except stevia for the most part) and have been doing so for about 10 years. And I still have allergies. That's not to say that things aren't MUCH better than they used to be, and I do feel like a different person–just not 100% allergy free. 😉
I would never go back to eating the way I used to (bye, bye, Cadbury Creme eggs at this time of year) and I adore my new 100% cacao, unsweetened organic chocolate, of course! But it may just take more time for some than for others. 🙂 It's well worth the effort, though!
I too got rid of my seasonal allergies by eliminating sugar and all processed foods. I had chronic allergies all my life. I was on a daily dose of pills year round and tons of asthma meds. It has truly been a miracle!
Totally not off your rocker…glad to hear you conquered your seasonal allergies. I haven't had any allergies since I quit smoking 11 years ago however I do have clients that suffer from them. Many have been vastly helped by Raw Local Honey but for the ones who haven't I will recommend this article to them.
Last night 60 Minutes had an excellent segment called "Is Sugar Toxic?" http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7403942n
Thank you for sharing the link to the show. Great info. What struck you the most?
Raw local honey helps me. Extra local as it is from the backyard. 🙂 Also I don't eat grains. That has helped tremendously.
Wow your back yard for honey. That's is so cool. I'd love to have that but I'm not too fond of being up close and personal with bees. I however always try to help them out when possible.
I was wondering ~ Why did you give up stevia along with all of the sugars? It seems that many turn to stevia when giving up sugar.
Kathy great question. First I was getting all forms of sugars out except fruit and even that was low. Stevia is usually purchased as a refined product. If you're lucky enough to have a stevia plant in you garden and toss that into your tea will then I would go for it. But as with so many processed sweeteners there can be problems. If you google it I'm sure you'll find articles that will give you more information. I myself do not know all of the problems that could arise, I just think if you can stay away from consuming processed products on a regular basis, your health will greatly improve. I'm finding that to be true for me and for my clients.
Can hardly wait to try the smoothie recipes. I started a daily regimen of local, raw honey several years ago, and it changed my life!
This raw honey for seasonal allergies is blowing me away. Really? Does it have to be any particular kind of Honey or just Raw?
Interesting. 🙂 I've not thought to turn to food to help my seasonal allergies (March to November, lol!) other than to use local honey. I've been on immunotherapy for almost 7 years (on and off due to holding the serum levels when I'm pregnant) and the difference is like night and day, but I'd rather treat them with food, when all is said and done, than something over the counter. I'm already cutting out sugars so we'll just have to see what else I can do!
This is fabulous Diane! Tony and I will give it a try. He was actually doing a ton better (no sugar), but while traveling, he HAD to get some Pepsi. It made him swell up and feel horrible and his allergies have been bad. hopefully we can swing that back the other way now!
Hey Diane! This is phenomenal! I usually have horrible seasonal allergies…Zyrtec or Flonase dependent…and I tried the Ayurvedic approach of loading up on greens and berries…(I already do not eat refined sugar or flours, but I do eat grain, but not a lot) Anyhoo…I thought I had Spring beat…cuz everything was blooming like crazy and I was fine. Then Whammmmo!!! Several days of sneezing, runny nose…had to break down disappointed and take some Zyrtec. But I hate it…so I only took it for two days. And then I thought I'd have to take more…and then now it has been over a week again and I'm fine. What up wid dat?! You know…now that I think about it…I did break down and eat some gluten-free 7 layer cake since it was in the store ..seasonal item. Hmmm….maybe just that bit of cake caused enough inflammation for my body not to handle the pollen? I'm definitely going to pay attention and see. Thanks for the encouragement. So happy for you!
Interesting. I'm still eating sugars, although I did cut out the refined ones for a while, but when I removed gluten from my diet, that's what instantly made my environmental allergies go away. I think having my body not on high alert all the time gave it the energy to deal with the allergens properly.
That smoothie actually looks tasty! Usually I'm pretty anti-veg-puree, but that looks good. Congrats on eliminating sugars, it's a challenge but worth it. The best part of the payoff is being able to taste other things more intensely. Well, if it helps your allergies then that's the payoff! Thanks for the recipe!
Thank you, thank you for this post! We live in Northern California where allergies are quite miserable. In fact, I'm sick with them right now. My weakness: trees. My husband and son fall victim too. My daughter, for some reason, is fine. But it happens ever year in April when they bloom. I dread it! I recently posted some holistic suggestions on my website, and I am going to add this post to the list. It's a very concrete outline, and I thank you. While I'm cane-sugar free, I do eat honey and coconut sugar (on occasion) so this is a good reminder to eliminate ALL sugars. Green drinks are great way to strengthen the immune system too, something I try and do around this time of year, but could do more. Thank you for these great recipes. So great!!! Never underestimate the healing power of food, right!!
Be Well,
–Amber
Amber I hope you have been able to get a handle on those allergies. I know how miserable they can make someone feel. I find that anything that causes inflammation in the body will trigger my allergies. You are so right about the healing power of real foods! Thank you for your comment.
how do you know when to start, we are weeks into allergy season and i think i missed the boat.
It's was a gradual change for me on adding in the foods and getting rid of the sugars. If you're just starting, start now!
I love your site! Just found it-has a lot of the information I have been learning and trying to share with friends. I too used to have allergies-not terrible, but interestingly, no issues since I started eating better. I have been eating poorly lately (work stress/schedules, etc) and I notice a huge difference.
I was making green smoothies (made a large batch on Sundays-portioned out into mason jars and stored in freezer for the week.) I get them out in the morning and by the time I need one, it has thawed (or sometimes I need to help it along in the microwave). I was putting in whatever I had on hand-romaine and spinach were mostly used, apple, carrots, tomatoes (sometimes left over dinner salad-without the dressing of course). I also added some whey protein and some coconut water. Belly bloating, aches and pains, and allergies all gone! Thanks for blogging and helping me get motivated to get back on track!
I also use dandelion leaves in my green smoothie. That has been my golden nugget for not needing a single Benadryl all year.
I am trying to get some help with my diet and aping disorder but I have oral allergy syndrome in.addition to seasonal allergies. I can have tomatoes, spinach, romaine, pineapple and blueberries but all other fruits and vegetables must be cooked–nothing raw or unprocessed., No tree nuts–only peanuts. No feverfew or chamomile due to birch allegies. Anyone have expertise in this area who can make some suggestions to me?
I just found your post/blog through Google and I'm right at the beginning of this transition right now. I have really bad allergies and just recently learned the wonders of diet sans dairy and sugar from a visit from my boyfriend's Vegan mother. It was life-changing, and with just a few small changes I feel better already. Thanks for the smoothie recipes, I'll certainly be trying these.
Emily congratulations! It's great to hear it's working for you too!
I'm a year late but just came across the site and thought I'd add my 2 cents. Something that has helped me immensely with my allergies (practically gone) was eliminating all chemical cleaning products (including laundry detergents & bleach) in the house. Pollution really enhances the symptoms of allergies and harsh chemicals in the house are no different (and totally unnecessary.) I started using plant-derived cleaners & vinegar after a particularly terrible spring and within the year I was "cured." The following year, I barely had any symptoms and 5-6 years later still not a problem.
Thank you for sharing this. It's never too late to get rid of allergies and I love your ideas here! We too did away with the chemicals. Oh happy day. Happy Spring!
Thank you for this idea Diane,I have been suffering with really bad allergies since moving upstate ny 6 yrs ago.i get allergy shots for the past year and a half,but this helps a but.i also get anxiety when my allergies start,which I hate!!i am going to try these smoothies,how many times a day do I drink these???
Lorraine once a day on the smoothie is good.
Totally understand the anxiety issue in regards to allergies! A doctor told me I was having panic attacks and wrote me a prescription for anxiety medication. I didn't fill it because I didn't want to experience the side effects and felt the root cause for me was allergy/sinus issues. Making changes in my lifestyle and diet has helped so much in this area as well.
Have had very similar experience! I've been working on healing my allergy and sinus issues for about two years now and following a similar regiment has given me the most relief so far. I've also noticed it helps me to watch how much coffee/caffeine I drink. I've been really surprised by how little antibiotics and steroids have helped in comparison to lifestyle changes. Thanks for the great article!
I have done everything you do for the past two years and I still have brutal allergies, why?