Foods that clean the sinuses, which will throw mucus out of you

Ah, spring. Pink fluffy flowers decorate the trees, daffodils open their flowers with butter in the sun and – what is this? Sorry, I was too busy sneezing to finish my thought.

If your nose is flowing so much that the most notable spring accessory is the tissue that is always tucked into the sleeve of your shirt sleeve, you probably need relief from seasonal allergies. While you should see an allergist to diagnose and treat you properly, a few remedies in your own kitchen can help you breathe easier (and are approved by your doctor).

You probably already know that spicy foods like jalapenos and wasabi can make your nose run. But have you ever wondered why? And are spicy foods actually useful in the long run? If you’re not a fan of a good burn? Are there also foods and drinks that can’t help you? I talked to experts to get the answers and to discuss some myths you probably bought (ahem, expensive expensive).

Before you assume you have seasonal allergies, remember what U and ME are supposed to do. Dr. Morris Nejat, allergist and immunologist at Allergy and Sinus Centers in New York, explained HuffPost that “often, people can’t diagnose themselves correctly, so you have to identify what you react to, whether it’s pollen, animals, dust, etc.”

Nejat said that it is entirely possible that you do not suffer from allergies at all, but either a sinus infection, a deviated septum or each of those on top of allergies. “By seeing your allergist, you will be able to get proper tests and get an exam to make sure you are getting the right treatment,” whether it is medication or allergies, Nejat recommended.

If you do indeed, you have seasonal allergies and your sinuses produce mucus as if it were their job, consider it actually their work. When your body comes in contact with something you are allergic to, Nejat explained that your body says, “Hey, tree pollen is kind of weird, I better know what will happen next time” and forms immunoglobulin E (IgE Antibodies), which attack that tree pollen the next time your body meets it. These IgEs cause the body to release histamines, causing allergic symptoms such as congestion, itchy eyes, runny nose, mucus and redness. And without treatment, your body will do this every time it encounters tree pollen for the rest of your life.

You know the feeling after taking a bite of wasabi, ginger, horseradish or jalapeno – your nose constricts, your eyes burn and tears begin to flow down your face. Nejat explained that this is because certain foods trigger the body’s nervous system “to innervate different parts of the body, reversing some of the effects of histamines, which can be a natural relief of some of the symptoms of allergies.”

Jalapenos and other peppers, for example, contain a chemical compound called capcaisin, an active ingredient found in many nasal sprays. It helps to decongest and ensure the relief of the sinuses, stimulating certain nerves to weaken the mucus and help it run. Hot peppers are not the only foods that contain effective chemical compounds. Other spicy foods, such as wasabi, horseradish and ginger, each contain their own compounds that trigger a similar reaction.

But keep in mind that spicy foods bring short-term relief, as do many over-the-counter allergy medications. “It works, but I don’t see it as a good long-term treatment,” Nejat said. You don’t want to drop wasabi six times a day during the allergy season.

But eating spicy foods in moderation will not affect your sinuses either. Nejat said that spicy foods are “a natural alternative to going to the pharmacy and getting allergy medications, especially if you like these foods. If you like wasabi and it makes you feel better, go for it. ”

Paul Kempisty, a certified herbal medicine and founder of Peekay’s herbs, explained that many plants can wrap a fist even stronger than food. “Plants are incredible enough to deal with congestion, allergies and a lot of mucus problems,” he explained. “Herbs are like food that went to college. In general, they have a much more complex and stronger nutritional profile. So, while herbs do not really feed us the same level of macronutrients (fats, proteins, carbohydrates, etc.) that are found in food, their potency is much closer to the potent effects of certain drugs, but with far fewer effects. secondary and risks. ”

You can definitely try herbs with a single ingredient (Kempisty favorites are nettle, turmeric, shock and flower, shisho leaves, chrysanthemum flower, ginger root, cinnamon, cardamom and dried citrus peels). But combinations of ingredients, he said, they are stronger. “Instead of using massive doses of single ingredients or single drugs, a solid herbal approach would be to use moderate doses of several similar botanicals to get a well-rounded and beneficial result,” Kempistry explained.

Dr. Clifford Bassett, an allergist who is the founder and medical director of Allergy & Asthma Care in New York, said studies have shown that both curcumin (found in turmeric) and ginger are helpful in reducing the symptoms of seasonal allergies. Another study found that using curcumin may improve nasal breathing in patients with seasonal allergies.

You can add fresh herbs to cooking, but you can get more potency if you buy a liquid tincture or a granular extract concentrated in a capsule or tablet, which can be added to hot tea or water. (Examples of such recipes are from Peekay Clean like a whistle support for your allergy session Sinus solution nasal and throat support.) And yes, eating hot foods and soups really goes a long way toward weakening mucus and helping things move.

“Generally, when you try a new plant on your own, start going down and walking slowly,” Kempisty advised. “I mean, start any new grass with a small initial dose and then grow it after you’ve seen that your body tolerates it.”

The belief that honey can treat allergies is based on a hypothesis similar to the concept of allergic photos – by exposing someone to an allergen, the person becomes less sensitive to it over time. But allergy vaccines produce allergens in high doses. The amounts of pollen in honey are too small to be effective, and this treatment is purely anecdotal.

The other statement is that the antibacterial properties of honey can fight allergies, but Nejat reminds us of an important fact. “Allergies are not a bacterial problem.” So, if honey soothes your throat and tastes good, go ahead and put it in your tea. But don’t expect it to cure your allergies.

The big food group to avoid is dairy. Studies show that cow’s milk proteins stick to mucus, which can make allergy symptoms as unpleasant as reading this sentence. “If you have a lot of mucus due to allergies and then eat protein from cow’s milk in the form of cheese or milk, it makes the mucus thicker,” Nejat explained. “She is not comfortable. But even worse, it can block drainage pathways and lead to sinus infections. ”

There is also a small chance that you will experience an itchy mouth or throat when eating certain fruits and vegetables that cross-react with birch pollen – apples, peaches, plums, nectarines, cherries and even vegetables like carrots – because some people have very strong tree allergies to pollen, especially birch.

This is called food pollen allergy syndrome or FPAS. Although it is usually not dangerous, it will most likely affect you if you eat these foods raw. If you eat a raw apple, for example, your mouth can eat it. But if you eat a slice of apple pie, you won’t be affected. Seeing an allergist will help differentiate between food pollen syndrome and food allergy.

If you think you may have seasonal allergies or FPAS, consulting an allergist could relieve a lot of anxiety. “Part of an allergist’s job is to educate you and relieve your anxiety because you have control,” Nejat said. “Knowledge is power, really – understanding what you are allergic to, what it really means, what you need to do, what the risks are (if any) and how to control them.”