It’s allergy season! Although the transition from winter to spring comes with plenty of good things: longer, warmer days, and renewed plant life, this time of year can be a nightmare when hay fever strikes. 

As pollen is released into the air and finds its way into people’s bodies, seasonal allergy sufferers are left trying to reassure people that they’re not actually sick every time they sneeze. Then there’s trying to find the balance between hay fever relief and not falling prey to antihistamine-induced drowsiness. 

“According to 2020 research from Allergy UK, around 49% of UK residents report suffering from hay fever,” says Sonny Drinkwater co-founder of WellEasy, an online retailer that aims to make healthy living accessible and affordable for all. “Surprisingly, the cure we've all been looking for isn't necessarily in our medicine cabinets - but in our kitchen cupboards!” 

Combat hay fever naturally

In the heart of our kitchens lies a treasure trove of remedies capable of easing your allergy woes. Let's explore how these pantry staples, backed by the latest trends in holistic health and allergy-friendly recipes can be your allies against hay fever. Here are some of Sonny’s favourites: 

Garlic, the anti-inflammatory powerhouse 

Garlic does more than elevate your culinary creations; it's a potent anti-inflammatory agent and histamine inhibitor. “We should all be piling on the garlic. It isn’t just an essential addition to any good savoury dish, it also has a couple of tricks up its sleeve,” the WellEasy co-founder says. “Not only does it soothe inflammation, but it’s also been shown to inhibit histamine release, easing your symptoms.” 

Ginger, the histamine blocker 

There’s a reason ginger is at the heart of so many natural cold and flu remedies. Like garlic, it’s a histamine inhibitor, meaning that consuming it can ease your allergy symptoms. 

“You don’t have to spend ages prepping ginger shots to get a boost. Whether you’re adding it to your morning tea, drinking it with a couple of slices of lemon in hot water, or cooking it in a variety of savoury dishes, fresh ginger is one of those delicious, healing ingredients that everyone should have in their kitchen,” says Sonny. 

Turmeric, the golden healer 

No, turmeric isn’t just an essential ingredient on curry night. It actually has significant healing powers. Like ginger and garlic, it’s a histamine inhibitor. There’s also a growing scientific appreciation for this wonder spice, with at least one pilot study showing that just two months of turmeric treatments were enough to cause major symptom reductions in people with severe hay fever. 

“While most of us are familiar with turmeric as a cooking ingredient, today you can have it in your morning oat latte or as a supplement too,” says Sonny. “But you can also buy turmeric-infused teas, sodas, and juices to get your fix.” 

Dark chocolate, the delicious antioxidant 

If you’ve got a slab or two of dark chocolate in your pantry that you’ve been saving for a special occasion, allergy season may be the perfect time to break it out. It turns out that the polyphenols in chocolate act as an antioxidant and can also help counter allergies. 

“Of course, the fact that chocolate has these effects doesn’t mean you should scoff down large quantities of the stuff,” says Sonny. “Save yourself for high-quality dark chocolate brands that care as much about what’s in their product as what it tastes like.” 

Chilli peppers, the natural decongestant 

This one’s less about avoiding hay fever and more about dealing with some of the symptoms once it’s kicked in. If you’ve ever had a particularly spicy meal, you’ll have noticed that your nose started running pretty quickly. That’s a bit of a pain on an ordinary Saturday night, but when you’re bunged up with allergies, those decongesting qualities can be a significant relief.    

“While there are several spices that you can use to achieve the same effect, few things work as well as fresh chillis,” says Sonny. “If you’re feeling blocked up, you could make a delicious chilli bowl, a soup, or even put together a salad with a bit of zing.” 

Every little bit helps 

Ultimately, you’re unlikely to find a hay fever cure-all in a pharmacy or your local grocer, says Sonny. Consider allergy testing to identify specific allergens and tailor your approach to combat them effectively. “By combining pharmaceutical interventions with natural histamine inhibitors and decongestants, you can ensure that this year’s allergy season is a lot easier to deal with.” 

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Sonny Drinkwater is the co-founder of WellEasy, an e-commerce membership platform offering healthy groceries and products with a focus on affordability and accessibility. He is passionate about making healthy living accessible to everyone and believes the current food system is "broken".