When Spring rolls around, do you find yourself feeling a bit “blah”?
Are you sneezing, sniffling, and battling itchy eyes, all of which leaves you feeling irritated? Perhaps you’re one of those people who despise the spring season because of the pollens, the blooming flowers, and the seasonal winds.
This year, it seems Spring has arrived a little earlier for most of us. I’ve noticed an increase in allergy cases coming through my clinic already, so I thought it would be a good time to discuss this issue.
Did you know that your allergies can be causing more symptoms than just a runny nose, congestion, and itchy eyes?
If you’re feeling congested, struggling to breathe, and generally irritated on the inside, this could affect your sleep.
Think about it for a moment: when you’re trying to sleep and can’t breathe properly through your nose, you might resort to mouth breathing.
On top of that, the internal irritation caused by histamine within the white blood cells might be preventing you from getting a restful night’s sleep. You may wake up feeling like a zombie—tired and unrefreshed.
This was exactly how one of my clients, Lauren, was feeling. Despite her love for the warmer weather and longer days, Spring was a season of struggle for her. She woke up every day feeling like a zombie—exhausted and with a heavy head. In her own words, she felt “very zombified” throughout the day. Her allergies were not just a minor inconvenience; they were robbing her of quality sleep and preventing her from fully embracing each day. ?
When Lauren came to me, we focused on balancing her immune system. By addressing the root causes of her symptoms, we worked on reducing her body’s reactivity and supported her gut health, which played a crucial role in her overall wellbeing. Lauren began to experience a better quality of sleep.
She was incredibly thankful for this transformation. With improved sleep, she felt like she could get through each day with energy and ease.…….. No more struggling with sinus issues, a runny nose, congestion, or itchy eyes. Plus, she no longer felt self-conscious about sneezing in public places like the shopping centre.
So, your allergies might be affecting your sleep, but let me ask you this: do you also feel like struggling with brain fog? Are you struggling to think straight, focus, or concentrate?
Perhaps your head feels heavy, your eyes are weighed down, and you just can’t seem to stay
alert.
This could very well be due to your seasonal allergies. Histamine released during allergic reactions can create inflammation in your body, leading to these brain fog and inabililty to concentrate.
But it’s not about simply accepting these symptoms as your fate each Spring. Instead, it’s about addressing the root cause so you can reclaim your sanity and retake control.
A few years ago, a young boy came into my clinic. He was still in school and was literally going through boxes of tissues every week. He struggled to concentrate in class, and the constant sneezing, congestion, and runny nose were affecting his life.
I worked with him to reduce his reactivity and rebalance his immune system. As part of this process, I also addressed his digestive health, making some adjustments to his diet that were contributing to his symptoms.
The small changes implemented made a significant impact. His mother later shared with me that he was able to concentrate better at school, his grades improved, and he wasn’t falling asleep in class anymore. He was finally able to move through life with more ease and comfort. Now, years later, he’s still thriving without the symptoms that once held him back.
So, if you’re feeling overwhelmed by your allergies, remember that you don’t have to simply endure them. There are ways to address the underlying causes and live life to the fullest.
What can you do?
So, if you’re dealing with allergies—the runny nose, congestion, itchy eyes, irritability, difficulty concentrating, restless sleep, and low energy—you might be wondering what you can do about it.
After all, it’s impossible to avoid all the pollens in the air this time of year. And those spring winds that change the dynamic of the weather? They’re here to stay unless you plan on living in a bubble!
But it’s not about avoiding the environment but balancing your immune system.
This is where I work with my clients to help rebalance their immune response and reduce reactivity. I achieve this through a combination of diet, lifestyle changes, and medicinal herbs.
Two of my favourite herbs to use in the clinic are Baikal skullcap and perilla.
These herbs, when combined with others, work can help support the immune system and bring it back into balance.
The diet also plays a crucial role in managing allergies. Since histamine triggers an inflammatory response in the body, consuming anti-inflammatory foods can be key to reducing this inflammation. Turmeric, ginger, green tea, and berries are excellent choices to help soothe your system.
Another nutrient I often recommend is quercetin, found in foods like onions and apples. Quercetin can help reduce the body’s reactivity and inflammation, relieving allergy symptoms.
Take a look at your current eating habits. Are you focusing on plant-based foods that help support and reduce inflammation in your body? It’s also important to “eat the rainbow,” including a variety of colourful foods to ensure your body gets the essential nutrients that interact with your genes and support your immune function.
Another area I focus on with my clients is reducing the overall load on their immune system. While it’s impossible to avoid allergens entirely when you’re out and about, you can take steps to minimise exposure within your home. An air purifier can help reduce circulating pollen and dust that may trigger your symptoms, especially while you sleep.
Reminder
The key is to adopt an anti-inflammatory diet, filled with a rainbow of colours, to nourish your body and support its natural defences.
Aim to eat locally grown foods. Visiting your local farmer’s market and choosing produce grown in your area can provide nutrients that “speak” to your genetics, helping your white blood cells do their job more effectively.
If you’re ready to take control of your allergies and reclaim your wellbeing, let’s talk.
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This is how gut microbes can influence weight!
Probiotics can help you gain weight or lose weight by interacting with our genetics, food and metabolism.
And yes, I did say lose or gain weight……..
Firstly, let me explain that the trillions of microbes in the gut need to be varied, meaning that there should be a large variety of species. There are many different species (or breeds) of microbes, and they all have their place in aiding health — the more variety and balance, the better health results.
Back to the weight loss or weight gain issue….
Do you eat yogurt and berries for breakfast? Thinking that it’s helping you lose weight?
Well, Lactobacillus acidophilus (like the species found in yoghurt) has been connected to weight gain.
I am not saying throw your yoghurt and berries in the bin. Instead, I am suggesting looking at the overall picture. If Lactobacillus acidophilus is the predominant micro-organism of the gut, then weight gain can result.
It is about the variety of species of gut microbes. Imagine if we only have trained german shepherd guard dogs in the world. It may be a safe world, but I am sure that other breeds may be more suitable as a family pet.
While Lactobacillus acidophilus is associated with weight gain, other Lactobacillus species correlate with weight loss.
Species like Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus gasseri, and Bifidobacteria animalis have been found to support weight loss.
Want to lose weight?
Look at your gut flora to support your goal.
Tests can be performed to identify the predominant species of the gut, and specific species can be utilised to support weight changes.
Want more information about your gut health?
Or want to look at all the factors contributing to weight gain, I’d love to be able to help.
