Seasonal sniffles and itches are common occurrences. But, there are certain foods and home remedies that help alleviate the discomfort caused by allergy symptoms. While home remedies can provide relief from allergy symptoms, nutrients present in foods strengthens the immune system and helps fight allergens. The following article lists some of the most effective home remedies and foods for seasonal allergies relief. However, consult a doctor before incorporating these in your lifestyle.

Foods to eat

• Ginger
  A natural way to alleviate allergy symptoms is to add ginger to your daily meals. Ginger is rich in antioxidative and anti-inflammatory phytochemical compounds. These compounds lower the effects of inflammation in the body, providing seasonal allergy relief.
• Onions
  Onions are rich in bioflavonoids. These are compounds that provide allergy relief by working as stabilizers. Onions contain a specific kind of bioflavonoids known as quercetin, which decreases the number of cells in the body that react to an allergen. Quercetin in onions also work as natural antihistamine that fights off the symptoms of seasonal allergies.
• Turmeric
  Rich in curcumin, turmeric helps beat inflammatory diseases. In addition, turmeric is packed with antioxidants, which help in alleviating the swelling and irritation caused by allergy symptoms. Turmeric can be added to food preparation to gain the best benefits. Adding turmeric along with fresh black pepper helps in increasing the potential benefits of curcumin.

Home remedies

• HEPA filters
  Allergies today are common because of the amount of air pollution in the environment. But this does not necessarily come from smoke. Dust, pollen, and spores allergies are also High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters have a mesh-like guard that purifies the air, capturing all the impurities in the air. It can be installed indoors, reducing the number of allergens in the air.
• Steam
  Nasal blockage is a common symptom of allergies, which can be alleviated via taking regular steam. It moistens the nasal passage and releases mucus, and is just as good for sinuses. There are different methods of inhaling steam; the best one is to inhale steam from hot water in a bowl. Place a towel or cloth on the head to prevent the steam from escaping.
• Eucalyptus oil
  Inhaling eucalyptus oil fumes provides seasonal allergy relief as it opens up the sinuses and nasal cavities, providing a soothing effect against breathing problems because of allergies.

Apart from foods and home remedies, it is important to be aware of alternate treatment options to manage seasonal allergy symptoms, Allegra® is one such option. Unlike other treatment options, Allegra® has a non-drowsy formula that provides relief from allergy symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, itchy, watery eyes, and sore throat. It is available over the counter in the form of tablets.