Spring is sneaking up on us again! And for allergy sufferers, so is sneezing, runny noses, itchy eyes, and inflamed skin. Allergies are a disorder of the immune system caused by improper over activation of the immune response. The immune system is designed to protect our body from pathogens and must respond and eliminate threats. On the other hand, it isn’t supposed to attack our own body!
What does the GUT have to do with it?
Most interaction with foreign “threats” occurs in the gastrointestinal tract – hence why it is the largest immune organ in the body. If the immune system in the gut is activated inappropriately, it leads to a chain reaction and the release of histamine and other allergy-signals. Studies indicate that gut inflammation can make your seasonal allergies worse. If you are looking to get ahead of your seasonal allergies, the root cause may be in your digestive tract. From inflammatory foods, lack of fiber, or a bad "microflora", there are many triggers that start in your gut.
Biochemistry in Action
The pH of your body plays a role! The more "acidic" the body is, the more likely your immune cells will release histamine. So by changing your pH, you can change how strongly your body will react to allergens. How do you change your pH? It all comes back to your diet! The more vegetables you consume, the more likely you'll have an "alkaline" pH.
What Can you Do?
Eliminate food triggers (you may have to eliminate for 2-3 weeks before you notice a significant change), increase vegetables to change your pH, and consume foods that contain healthy "probiotics" to improve your microflora. Interested in more? Contact us for more information.