Natural Antihistamines: Your New Best Friends.

Snow comes and goes, but unfortunately, our allergies are likely here to stay (insert thumbs down emoji here!) With the change in season, the wind picking up and the common allergens (tree and grass pollens, even dust) being stirred up, it's only a matter of time until some of start to experience the discomfort of nasal congestion and itchy, watery eyes, nose and throat. Allergies can hit you hard, and in the least convenient of times. This year we are making sure to be fully prepared with natural solutions to combat all things that come with allergies. Learn more about some of nature's antihistamines, and let this be the year of the clear nose that you can breathe through, an even skin tone and a head that is clear for thinking, dreaming and doing!

Saline Nose Rinses

• Using a saline solution regularly can help to thin mucus, reduce postnatal drip and free your nostrils of bacteria. This helps to wash out the allergens after inhalation and keep your allergies at bay. Use a diluted saline solution, draw the water into the bulb and tilt your head downward so the outflow will land in the sink. Gently squeeze the water upwards and into your nasal passage, breathe normally through your mouth, and allow the solution to cycle through.

 Essential Oils

• Essential oils are one of the trendiest health products on the market. They can help with stress relief, digestion, joint pain, energy levels and combating allergens. Peppermint, spearmint and eucalyptus oils are three that are natural bronchodilators that help to relax the airway and increase lung capacity while clearing our airways. If you’re ever been congested and then smelled some really strong peppermint, you’d know the “WOAH” experience in terms of how effective it is at doing its job! Simply place 1-2 drops of the oil of your choice into the palm of your hands, cup your nose and take 10 deep breaths. Voila!

 Close Your Windows

• This one is a straightforward. If you’re allergic to environmental allergens, close the windows before they can get in! Either turn on the heat or the air conditioning to ensure your home is as cozy or cold as you like. Yes, this might cost you a bit more than usual on your next utility bill, but if it helps avoid the discomfort of seasonal allergies and the side effects of some over-the-counter antihistamines, it might be worth it!

Clean Your Home Frequently

• Everyone’s favourite task: cleaning (for some of us at least)! Cleaning your home and workspace prevents dust and dirt, two common allergens, from building up and causing you to have an allergic reaction. It also motivates you to keep your space clean, clear of junk and organized! Say hello to improved productivity! After cleaning, try diffusing essential oils such as peppermint, lemon and orange to help kill bacteria or germs in the air, open your airways and create a relaxed environment.

 Hydrate!

• This is extremely important for not only reducing allergens, but for your health in general. Our bodies are composed of mainly water, therefore we should drink plenty of it! Studies have shown that when we are dehydrated our bodies produce higher histamine levels that drive allergies. That’s the opposite of what we want! Keep yourself hydrated with your Ener-C Multivitamin or Sport Electrolytes packets. Simply add to water, drink and repeat often! Not only will you boost your hydration levels, you'll increase your vitamin C intake, strengthening your immune system and increasing your energy levels as lethargy is often confused with dehydration. Yes, water can do all that!

 Pro-pro-probiotics

• The good bacteria that we always need more of! Our gut is composed of trillions of bacteria. Our guts are responsible for helping with the metabolization of food, nutrient absorption, energy production, hormonal balance, removing toxins and your immune system. It is crucial that when our bodies feel like they are being attacked from an external source, such as ragweed, pollen, dust...etc, that we ensure that it is equipped for the battle! Boosting our immune system ensures that we have a plethora of good bacteria to fight off the bad that we are about to be exposed to.

Quercetin

• Quercetin is a powerful antioxidant that is found naturally in various foods such as grapes, broccoli, black tea, apples, berries, peppers, red onions and red wine. We have also added it to our Orange and Lemon-Lime Ener-C flavours! The antioxidant prevents our immune cells from releasing histamines, this is what causes allergic reactions, and reduces overall symptoms of allergies such as a runny nose, watery eyes and swelling. Not only will quercetin help to fight against common seasonal allergies, it also helps to improve exercise performance, reduce blood pressure and blood sugar levels and is a brain boosting supplement!

Vitamin C

• The ultimate immune boosting powerhouse. Vitamin C single-handedly protects our cells from damage from external threats. It can reduce the severity of our allergies while simultaneously combating infections. Vitamin C acts as a natural antihistamine, a powerful anti-inflammatory and naturally helps to repair tissue damage. Boost your levels by taking your Ener-C Vitamin C packets regularly to keep your allergies at bay and your immune system year round! If you want to take it up a level, juice the core of a pineapple and mix it in with your Ener-C shot. Pineapple contains and antioxidant called bromelain that is a natural antihistamine.

 Apple Cider Vinegar Shots

• Sorry, these aren’t the ones you are used to from your college days. These are the "adult" allergy shots that help to combat inflammation, allergies and support digestion. Boring. We know. All jokes aside, apple cider vinegar is a powerful immune booster that helps to break up mucus and reduce inflammation. The symptoms that one experiences with inflammation can be similar to those of allergies, so its important to ensure that inflammation levels are at a low so your body can focus on freeing your airways and allergies!

There you have it! The ultimate allergy reducing list of natural combative strategies to keep your body healthy, well and strong year-round! Don’t wait until you have your first sneeze or feeling of a headache brewing. Get on top of your allergies this year and stock up on the supplies you might be short on.