The anti-allergy diet

A shocking 30 per cent of us suffer from allergies, whether it's hay fever, eczema or food intolerances with resulting allergic reactions, such as bloating and rashes. So nutritionist Penny Rushton (who practises at The Hale Clinic, London) has devised an exclusive eating plan to curb your reactions and reduce symptoms, which will also leave you feeling healthier and more energised, plus you'll shed surplus pounds too.

‘Eating the right foods and, perhaps more importantly, eliminating the wrong ones, can prevent allergic reactions,' says Penny. Your allergy may be caused by a certain food - but whatever the culprit, it's your natural defence system that needs to be boosted if you're to overcome the allergy.

The allergic process

When your immune system works effectively, it protects you from invading micro-organisms - without going into overdrive. An allergic reaction takes place when your immune system misinterprets a normally harmless substance, such as grass, cat fur or shampoo, as an invader. It responds by producing antibodies, which stimulate the release of saliva and histamine, causing inflammation and constriction of the airways. In the case of a real infection (such as flu), histamine provides vital protection for your body. However, in a false allergic reaction (such as hay fever or a food allergy), the body overreacts to a non-toxic agent, causing unnecessary inflammation and discomfort. In this case, the liver usually comes to the rescue by metabolising the histamine - but if your liver is under stress, it won't be able to function efficiently and the allergic reaction will persist.

Tackling the problem

Allergic reactions are becoming more and more common, possibly due to an increase in environmental pollution - we're now each exposed to about 3,000 chemicals every year. These can cause a wide range of reactions in the form of asthma, eczema, hay fever, psoriasis, tonsillitis, sinusitis, mouth ulcers, irritable bowel symptoms, period problems, bloating, fluid retention, blood sugar fluctuations, weight gain, skin rashes, joint pain, poor concentration, depression and emotional disturbances. So what can do you about it?

The solution lies in following a diet that encourages healthy liver and bowel function and a strong defence system, as well as weight loss and increased vitality. Certain foods can support your body and help reduce inflammation, such as flax oil, hemp oil, rapeseed oil, tahini or pulped sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, garlic, red onions, ginger, turmeric, pineapple and low-fat bioactive plain yoghurt. However, other foods can actually trigger histamine release and should be avoided. These include the yeasts and moulds found in alcohol, bread, cheese, mushrooms, processed meats, soy sauce and vinegar.

This 14-day eating plan eliminates the foods that exacerbate the production of histamine and is rich in the foods that will boost your liver and natural defences, so helping to keep allergies at bay and leaving you feeling fresher, healthier and ready to face each day. And, as a bonus, it will help you shift up to half a stone!

Click here for the 14-day anti-allergy diet plan...

You might also like...

Our diets directory... all of our weight-loss eating plans in one place