Keep Spring Allergies at Bay with a Paleo Diet
It’s already April and spring is in full effect.
The days grow longer, the air feels warmer and this can set the stage for the perfect scenario to get outside and take advantage of the start of some really nice weather.
But for others, going outside is anything but fun.
Instead they’re plagued with allergies and a host of both OTC and prescription remedies. From histamine blockers to tablets to stop a runny nose to pills that may decrease the redness in your eyes, but make you drowsy enough to feel a nap is in order at 10 am, many people find this time of year nothing short of punitive.
I was shocked to see first hand what one client was taking for her symptoms. Seven medications, all prescribed by her MD to address sneezing, red eyes, runny nose and a mysterious redness on her elbows and ankles.
Does it have to be this way? Is the only option for allergy sufferers to avoid going outside and do their best to steer clear of pollen… and grass and trees and dogs and… you name it?
Not by a long shot.
If the scenario above describes you, have you thought what you’re eating could very well be at the root of all that ails you?
Chances are, since you’ve come to the Paleoista Blog, you’re at least a little bit familiar with a True Paleo diet regime and are aware of how many of the foods in the Standard American Diet (SAD) can cause mild to significant allergic reactions in all body systems.
Itchy skin, eczema even hives and false-positive allergy tests to foods that seem benign, not to mention a wide array of digestive disorders and mental fogginess, are just a few examples of the symptoms the human body can experience as a result of eating in the highly processed, refined manner that is all too common these days.
So, if you’re up to your eyeballs in nasal sprays, histamine blockers and tired of carrying around a box of tissues, consider this:
Cut the gluten, sugar and dairy from your diet!
If you’re not following the true Paleo diet, there’s a good chance your body is at least somewhat inflamed and, as a result, far more likely to be hypersensitive to pollen, dust, dog hair and cat dander.
As a refresher, a ‘true’ Paleo diet promotes eating a healthy balance of veggies at every meal, along with lean, wild protein and natural good fat from avocado, olive oil, or coconut, (and/or raw nuts on occasion). Do not fall victim to the ‘new versions’ of Paleo diets popping up left and right. These have been taken out of context and repositioned as modern Paleo diets on which we can subsist. A ‘true’ Paleo diet does not advocate creating processed concoctions made of derivatives of food that are, or used to be, Paleo.
In other words, if your daily Paleo diet regime looks like what I describe below, and you’re still dealing with seasonal allergies, things could be cleaned up just a tad in order to get some relief:
DOES MY PALEO DIET NEED SPRING CLEANING?
BREAKFAST
- “Paleo pancakes” made of almond flour, coconut flakes, honey and eggs
MID-MORNING SNACK
- Packaged nutrition bar advertised as Paleo approved, but isn’t compliant with Paleo compliant ingredients like whey among other additives.
LUNCH
- “Paleo Lasagna” with grass-fed cheese (reminder- dairy is not Paleo)
AFTERNOON SNACK
- Homemade Paleo brownie
DINNER
- Bacon burger
With barely any veggies eaten all day long, this daily scenario is missing the whole point of Paleo, which encourages us to mimic the way our hunter-gatherer ancestors ate.
Furthermore, while the menu above is certainly better than not paying any attention to what you’re putting in your body and winding up at a fast food joint, it falls short of Paleo’s true essence.
So, if you’re tired of having to rely on meds that make you sleepy every spring, give a true Paleo diet a try for 30 days and don’t be surprised if those life long allergies disappear!
Each meal should include plenty of fresh, local veggies (yes, even breakfast), some protein and a little fat.
Use this as your template for a small meal, several times each day, and save those aforementioned ‘treats’ for a special occasion.
Set yourself up for success and say ‘Bye-Bye Benadryl!’
