• Vitamins & Supplements
  • Food & Drink
  • Sports Nutrition
  • Free From
  • Natural Beauty
  • Weight Management
  • Offers
  • Summer Shop
  • The Health Hub
  • Learn more Healthbox
  • Account
Track your order Delivery & Returns Help Centre My subscriptions

Customer Service

  • Contact us
  • Site map
  • Site map
  • Store locator

About us

  • Who are we
  • Working at Holland & Barrett
  • Press releases
  • Privacy & cookie policy
  • Terms & conditions
  • Holland & Barrett More
  • Holland & Barrett International
  • Corporate Social Responsibility
  • Modern Slavery Statement

Connect with us

Store
0370 606 6606
My account
Rewards
  • Sign in
  • How do I join?
  • What are the benefits?
  • FAQs
Holland & Barrett :: the good life
  • Menu
  • Account
  • Store
  • Basket
    Search for
    • Vitamins & Supplements
    • Food & Drink
    • Sports Nutrition
    • Free From
    • Natural Beauty
    • Weight Management
    • Offers
    • The Health Hub
    • Healthbox

    Home / Conditions / Allergies / Hayfever / Foods that can ease your hay fever symptoms

    Foods that can ease your hay fever symptoms

    If you’re one of the 18 million adults in the UK who has hay fever, you’ll probably be willing to try most things in an attempt to relieve some of your symptoms and make your day-to-day life that little bit better.  

    In this article, we want to explore the foods that could help you fight back against your hay fever and suggest ways you might introduce them into your diet.  

    As you’ll probably be aware, hay fever can make life unbearable during the spring and summer as you battle a runny nose, blocked nose, watery eyes, itchy eyes and uncontrollable sneezing attacks.

    Green tea and citrus fruits reduce your histamine levels

    If you’re partial to a cup of coffee and have several cups a day, maybe now is the time to cut down and swap your caffeine fix for a cup of green tea?

    Excess caffeine is thought to lead to a congested liver and increase your histamine levels, making your symptoms more pronounced. Having a cup of peppermint tea can offer relief if your nose is congested or your sinuses are blocked.

    If you eat citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons and grapefruit, you’ll help to reduce your histamine levels as they contain vitamin C which is a natural antihistamine.

    Other foods that are rich in vitamin c include strawberries, red peppers, broccoli, brussels sprouts, blackcurrants and berries. Try snacking on these (either fresh or dried) rather than sugary snacks.

    Soya products as a replacement for catarrh-inducing dairy products

    Many hay fever sufferers and those with other allergies find that replacing dairy products with soya products can reduce catarrh.

    Dairy products are often mucus-forming and Patrick Holford, of the Institute for Optimum Nutrition, told the Daily Mail: “It is interesting to note that the three most common substances reacted to [pollen, wheat and milk] are all originally grass products. It may be that some hay fever sufferers become sensitised to proteins that are common to grains, grasses and possibly milk.”

    Probiotic yoghurts are thought to reduce tolerance and reduce hay fever symptoms

    Further research is needed but if you already enjoy eating a yoghurt as part of your lunch, why not switch to a probiotic yoghurt or consider taking a probiotic supplement?

    Doing so may increase your tolerance and reduce your allergy symptoms.

    Immune system-boosting carrots and sweet potatoes

    When you’re deciding what to have for your evening meals, try to have some foods that are rich in beta-carotene which your body uses to make vitamin A.  

    This can help keep your mucous membranes healthy rather than dry and irritated, as well as boosting your immune system. Aside from carrots and sweet potatoes, other foods that are rich in beta-carotene include apricots, spinach and kale.

    If you prefer, you could decide to take a daily vitamin A supplement instead.

    Click here to view our full range of hay fever vitamins and supplements.

    Tweet
    Follow on Instagram
    Hayfever Seasonal Allergies

    You may also like

    Signs of hay fever: How to tell if you have an allergy to pollen

    Article

    Signs of hay fever: How to tell if you have an allergy to pollen

    Has the seasonal influx of pollen got you wondering if your sneezing and runny nose..

    READ MORE...
    Hay fever in children: How do I know if my baby or child has hay fever?

    Article

    Hay fever in children: How do I know if my baby or child has hay fever?

    There’s nothing fun about itchy eyes and a blocked nose. Especially for children. Here we..

    READ MORE...
    Allergies: What’s giving me hay fever symptoms?

    Article

    Allergies: What’s giving me hay fever symptoms?

    Are you bracing yourself to cope with the seasonal inconvenience of hay fever symptoms? Or is it..

    READ MORE...

    Connect with us

    • Log in Register
    • rewards for life

    Customer service

    • Store locator
    • Contact us
    • Site feedback
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Delivery & returns
    • Site map
    • My account

    About us

    • Who we are
    • Working at Holland & Barrett
    • Press room
    • Privacy & cookie policy
    • Terms & conditions
    • Holland & Barrett More
    • Holland & Barrett International

    Brands

    • Holland & Barrett
    • Bootea
    • Dr Organic
    • Precision Engineered
    • Manuka Doctor
    • Good n Natural
    • Miaroma
    Register
    Click to verify if this website is operating legally

    Copyright © Holland & Barrett Retail Limited, 2017. All rights reserved. hollandandbarrett.com is a trading name of Holland & Barrett Retail Limited,. Registered office: Samuel Ryder House, Barling Way, Nuneaton, Warwickshire CV10 7RH. Registered in England: company no. 2758955. Registered VAT no. 211727395.