Bryce Wylde, Canada’s most popular alternative medicine expert, says that sufferers of allergies to airborne pollens may also be affected by eating certain foods. We know there is a cross-over of pollen within botanical families, and that sometimes being sensitive to one member of the family also means loss of tolerance to other members of the same plant family. If you know you are sensitive to these pollens, it may be helpful to avoid the related foods as well. Here’s the list:
Alder pollen: almonds, apples, celery, cherries, hazel nuts, peaches, pears, parsley, strawberry, raspberry
Birch pollen: almonds, apples, apricots, avocados, bananas, carrots, celery, cherries, chicory, coriander, fennel, fig, hazel nuts, kiwifruit, nectarines, parsley, parsnips, peaches, pears, peppers, plums, potatoes, prunes, soy, strawberries, wheat; Potential: walnuts
Grass pollen: fig, melons, tomatoes, oranges
Mugwort pollen: carrots, celery, coriander, fennel, parsley, peppers, sunflower
Ragweed pollen: banana, cantaloupe, cucumber, green pepper, paprika, sunflower seeds/oil, honeydew, watermelon, zucchini, echinacea, artichoke, dandelions, honey (if bees pollinate from wild flowers), hibiscus or chamomile tea
If the flowering trees and grasses have been making you miserable this spring, you might want to try a homeopathic hayfever remedy. It’s safe for all ages, won’t interact with any medicines, and doesn’t have side effects. Usually one to three doses per season are all that’s required for relief from itchy eyes, foggy head, sneezing and constant runny nose.
