Survive fall allergies with these 10 foods

Fall allergies can drive us to do crazy things. I can vividly recall the September mornings before school when my dad would fill the neti pot full of salt water and pour it directly into my tilted-up nostrils as I leaned helplessly over the kitchen sink. This messy attempt to unclog my sinuses would result in coughing, sneezing, and a whole lot of mucus, but it never relieved my allergies.

Allergies are just our body’s physical response to foreign matter, according to the Mayo Clinic. Most fall allergies are linked to either ragweed, which starts to release pollen in late August, or mold, which flourishes in the humid summer heat. Though some allergic reactions can be severe, seasonal allergies only trigger comparatively minor reactions within the immune system. These chronic histamine responses result in the traditional symptoms that make seasonal allergies such a nuisance: sneezing, wheezing, coughing, itchy throat, and nasal congestion. However, the worst part of seasonal allergies is that there’s no reliable over-the-counter cure. Pharmacies generally only carry two kinds of allergy medications: antihistamines, which need to be taken in anticipation of an allergic reaction; and decongestants, which reduce the fluid in the lining of your nose.

Thankfully, you won’t need to keep popping pills this fall. There are plenty of foods that naturally contain the compounds necessary to relieve your allergy symptoms. Here are 10 foods that help fight fall allergies.

More from The Daily Meal:
Getting around food allergies
8 foods and drinks that will sooth fall allergies
Foods to avoid if you have seasonal allergies

Cauliflower

Cauliflower is useful in relieving allergy symptoms because it contains quercetin, a natural antihistamine. Quercetin prevents the immune system cells from releasing the histamines that cause allergy symptoms.

Celery

Celery is a healthy vegetable that’s low in calories, high in fiber, and full of vitamin C. Celery is an effective allergy-fighter because of its non-starch polysaccharides that protect the body against inflammation and overblown histamine reactions.

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