In a post on his website, Dr. Mark Hyman, MD discusses how people with seasonal allergies can find natural relief from their symptoms. Surprisingly, it’s not through a new drug or medication, but instead, comes from your own gut.

According to Dr. Hyman there is a connection between allergies and gut health. Sixty percent of the body’s immune system comes from the gut. When it is out of sync, due to inflammation, problems like allergies develop.

Dr. Hyman has four recommendations for people looking to fix their allergy and gut issues. These include:

Recommendation #1:  Switch Your Diet

Get rid of processed foods that have a lot of sugar and toxins like corn, wheat, soy, dairy, and alcohol. Instead, eat whole foods that have lots of fiber as well as healthy fats. For instance:

  • Nuts
  • Avocados
  • Extra-virgin olive-oil
  • Omega-3 fats from wild-caught salmon and other small fish.

Recommendation #2:  Use Probiotics

Probiotics contain “good” bacteria that help with reducing inflammation and contribute to a healthy gut. You can take a multivitamin that will contain other gut-friendly nutrients as well.  Dr. Hyman also suggests Quercetin which contains antihistamine and anti-inflammatories.

Recommendation #3:  Stress Management

Besides your gut, stress can have a big impact on your overall health, including allergies.  Consider mindfulness exercises such as meditation or yoga and incorporate them into your daily schedule.

Recommendation #4:  Getting Enough Sleep

Another factor contributing to allergies is lack of sleep. If you aren’t getting enough sleep you could be at risk for other problems, such as inflammation, diabetes, and even a shortening of your lifespan. Try to get at least eight hours of sleep a night.

Dr. Hyman notes that if you practice these recommendations but still have allergy issues, extra testing might be needed for things like chemicals or pesticides in the body, food additives, and environmental pollution.

Want to learn more about how your unhealthy gut could be affecting your allergies?

Read the full article here: 4 Steps to Getting Rid of Seasonal Allergies