How going Primal fixed my hayfever - how you can fix it too in threeeasy steps!

Hay fever ruins Spring
Ahh I am writing this blog as some of my friends have lately posted on social media saying how their weekend has been ruined by the dreaded hay fever!  I remember the symptoms well!  On the one hand you were so glad to be having the first spring days and on the other hand wanted to remain inside with the windows closed!  Itchy eyes that you can't stop rubbing, sneezing, runny nose, maybe you blow your nose so much you get a blood nose (that was me), breathing through your mouth, scratchy throat, maybe even skin rashes.  Bloody awful that is for sure.  But it doesn't have to be that way and you are not alone!

Having had hay fever all my life - I no longer get it anymore
I managed to 'cure' my hay fever by going Primal, it was one of those many positive side effects that I experienced like not having such sore feet or not having as many headaches.  For those of you who don't know, I went Primal (or Paleo) to cure chronic nausea.  Changing the way I ate fixed my nausea and my hay fever too.  I want to write this blog to help create awareness that we don't need to suffer with hay fever year in year out and to provide some alternatives to dealing with it, in the hope that this information will empower you to make the changes you need to make in order to start feeling a million dollars!  So  please read on, share with friends who have hay fever and if something isn't clear then please ask me for clarification!

Sciencey bit
It helps to understand that your body (as always) isn't working against you but trying to protect you.  Hay fever is really called "allergic rhinitis" rhinitis means inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nose, caused by an allergic reaction. Basically your body is mistaking something harmless (pollen) as a threat and goes over board in it's reaction.  The reaction is inflammatory - think itchy nose, scratchy throat and sore itchy eyes.

The drugs don't work - they just make you worse
(Are you singing that Verve song now?) You can dose yourself up on antihistamines for the whole next six months.  I know I did!  Snort of Becanase every day and a Telfast or similar as well - I won't Google the potential side effects of such drug consumption! The drugs don't work - sure they relieve the symptoms but don't treat the root cause. Anti histamines basically work by tricking the body to misidentify the allergen as a threat.  So next year your hay fever will be back just as it is now.  What if you could treat the root cause and clear up your hay fever for good?  How cool would that be? I have to report that I would much choose to enjoy spring than to have another year with eyes like pee holes in the snow! So let me share with you what I did and how you can do it too - by the way it was easy and I didn't even know I was doing it! So is this the magic secret to potentially ridding yourself of hay fever?

Heal your gut
You gut is your first line of defence.  One way to modify how your gut reacts to things is to modify your gut!  Here is your three step gut healing protocol:

1. removing inflammatory foods
2. soothing the gut with gelatine, bone broth or L Glutamine
3. improving beneficial bacteria by including probiotics such as Kombucha, Kefir, fermented vegetables such as sauerkraut or by taking probiotic supplements

Going Paleo or Primal encompasses all of the three steps.  Even though there haven't been any studies of people on a Paleo diet and their allergic rhinitis there is much anecdotal evidence to show that going Primal can really relieve hay fever symptoms.  My suggestion would be to do your own N=1 and do your own science experiment on YOU!

Going Paleo includes removing seed oils, legumes, grains, gluten and dairy from your diet as well as reducing sugar and alcohol consumption.  Going Primal just means you can keep the dairy - if you can tolerate it, I would suggest an elimination period of at least 21 days before re introducing. Eating a standard Australian diet can cause chronic inflammation - your immune system is already on high alert before hay fever season even starts - it makes sense not to layer inflammation on top of inflammation right?

So there you have it folks, healing your gut can really help with hay fever - any much more too!  If you have kids be sure to let them get as much exposure to dirt as possible!  Studies show that our immune systems grow more robust over time and that farm kids - who have had much exposure to dirt and soil have less allergies than city kids in disinfected houses.

I am in my fourth hay fever season since going Primal and apart from the odd sneeze - it's nothing!  So why don't you give Primal a go?  Set yourself a 21 day challenge and see if you notice any changes? What do you have to lose?  I would love to hear how you go.  Be sure to let us know in the comments below or join our group on Facebook at The Primal Alternative.

Have a great start to your week! Love, H xx