15 Simple Ways to Keep Seasonal Allergies at Bay

The air is crisp, the leaves are turning to vibrant reds, oranges and yellows and the weather is getting cooler. There is no doubt that fall is in the air. Unfortunately, as many of us know, September flower, tree, and weed blooms may bring October and November sniffles. That’s right, it’s seasonal allergy season yet again and if you’ve ever been affected by seasonal allergies you know just how uncomfortable it can be. 

Personally, I get very excited when the weather starts to cool off. It’s a beautiful time to spend outdoors, hiking, camping, playing with the kids, you name it, I just want to be outdoors. However, my itchy watery eyes, scratchy throat and sneezy nose tend to disagree with me at times. Can you relate? 

Below are 15 natural, simple and seemingly obvious things you can do to keep healthy during the season change: You can also listen in to the Visibly Fit Podcast episode 23 on this very topic.

1.   Leave your shoes at the front door

We carry pollen, dirt, dust and germs on the bottom of your shoes, so if we don’t leave the shoes at the door, all that is coming into our home as well. Yuck. Try having some cosy indoor slippers waiting for you at the door. This is a great way you can minimize bringing in the pollen and exasperating your seasonal allergies.

2.   Vacuum 

This one seems obvious but vacuuming the carpet and the upholstery is key to eliminating the dust mites and pollen from your linens in your home. I always try to vacuum 2-3 times per week or more if I feel it’s needed. It will make all the difference in your overall health. 

3.   Bathe your pets 

Do you have pets? Guess what, when your pet is outside, it inevitably gets all that pollen, dirt and other allergens all over its paws and coat only to bring it all inside and wait for you to hug all over him (or her). So be sure to bathe your pet regularly (maybe once per week/every two weeks) during the season change, particularly if you suffer from seasonal allergies. 

4.   Try late morning or afternoon walks instead

Pollen tends to be most active in the mornings so try to hold off on your morning walk/jog for the afternoon or evening. It’s okay to give yourself permission to change your schedule a little bit. The decrease in seasonal allergy symptoms will be worth it. 

5.   Put your piles of leaves in a bag 

We all know how fun it is to rake all your leaves and then dive into them like a pool of colorful leaves. This, however, is a no go for people who suffer from allergies. Unfortunately health must sometimes trump fun. If you’re like us, your kids love to jump in them but then they will also bring in all that pollen, so just be aware. Perhaps you have your kiddos hose off in the yard before coming back in or even better, just bag those leaves up and get rid of them. Better safe than sneezy I always say. 

6.   Dust your home 

Dust mites are nasty microscopic arthropods that feed on shed human flesh – EWW! The thought of that sure makes you want to itch, right? Just imagine the dust in your home is covered with those dust mites. Once a week dust your home and your sheets because those little suckers can get in your bed too. 

7.   Start using a dehumidifier in your home 

Now is the time to crank up that dehumidifier. The weather is getting a little more rainy and cool so it’s important to keep mold and other moisture-loving allergens away. For me, mold is a big one so the dehumidifier is non-negotiable. 

8.   Change your air filters in your home 

This is so important! I always try to change out my air filters every season because it’s really important to be breathing clean, properly filtered air. It’s super simple to do and takes almost no time. Your lungs and your family’s lungs will thank you. 

9.   Consider using a nasal saline irrigation device 

Neti-pots is a brand I like to use but there are many out there. This is just really helpful for hydrating and clearing your nasal canal and encouraging healthier breathing. It can also decrease coughing or any kind of sinus congestion because pollen tends to really stick to mucus membranes. Doing this simple saline flush can really make a big difference in the reduction of seasonal allergies. 

10.  Drink apple cider vinegar 

First thing in the morning, make yourself a cup of warm to hot water, add 1-2 tbsp of apple cider vinegar, a squeeze of lemon and a bit of cayenne pepper (however much you can stand). This helps to detoxify the body and increase the functionality of your immune system. Please note that apple cider vinegar is not so good for the enamel on your teeth, so be sure to swish around some water or brush your teeth after your ACV shot. 

11.  Try my Visibly Fit Green Drink 

 My infamous green drink works to help detox the body and reduce inflammation in the body. Remember, we are always looking to make sure our body is not overwhelmed with inflammation so whatever we can do to help bring the immune system up is going to help our body respond to any kind of attack rapidly. If you do not have my green drink recipe, you can get it for free here. Some people have said they don’t love the initial bitter taste, so if this is you, you can add 1 strawberry to the drink (just one) and that will help break through that bitterness. 

12.  Cook with herbs and spices 

Use more anti-inflammatory spices like turmeric, cayenne pepper, holy basil, cinnamon, cumin, and garlic. If you want more information on anti-inflammatory foods, check out my Visibly Fit podcast episode on Anti-inflammatory foods. 

13.  Bring in more natural antihistamine foods 

Foods like cherries, broccoli, red onion, apples, red cabbage, and fennel. These are natural antihistamines. God knew what he was doing when he made our crops. Everything we need to keep healthy and well is already made naturally for us. Incorporating these foods into your fall diet is a great idea to keep those seasonal allergies at bay.

14.  Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate 

 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. That’s a LOT, guys! Water is the single most important drink we should be consuming daily. Our bodies are mostly made of water so when we don’t replenish our bodies with fresh, filtered water, our organs have a more difficult time doing their job and our immune system suffers immensely. Women should drink 11.5 cups or 2.7 liters per day and men should be drinking 15.5 cups or 3.7 liters per day.

15.  Stop Eating Dairy

This is probably one that you never would have thought of and also one you maybe don’t want to think about. Cheesy = yum! But, dairy is a huge culprit of inflammation. Not only that, but it has a protein called casein which can cause the immune system to weaken. I know that eliminating dairy is maybe not something you want to do, so I challenge you to this: try to eliminate dairy for 4-6 weeks and see if you notice a difference. You may even notice you dropped a few pounds as well.

These are all simple and easy solutions to easing through the season without experiencing as much seasonal allergy symptoms. You don’t need to do all of them at once, but I highly encourage you to give these all a try and see how you feel after a month. These are good for each season, but especially for Fall and Spring as they are where most of us experience these awful seasonal allergies.