bee pollen

i've had horrible allergies for most of my life and i've always relied on claritin, benadryl, zyrtec, and, most recently, singulair to quell my symptoms. i've taken singulair everyday for the past few years and it's really helped me. BUT, i don't want to rely on a medication for the rest of my life if there are ways for me to naturally get my allergies under control. rather than just cover up the symptoms, i'd like to prevent from even happening in the first place (or at least make them a little less severe. enter bee pollen.

 

it may seem counter-intuitive, but bee pollen has been touted as a natural cure for allergies for a long time now. not only is it a superfood full of amino acids, zinc, and b vitamins, but it is also chock-full of a nutrient called quercetin.  quercetin is known for its ability to neutralize histamine response (histamine is what the body releases in response to allergens) and it may be the primary reason why bee pollen can help alleviate inflammation and allergies.

 

bee pollen has sort of a sweet taste and it mixes easily into smoothies, oatmeal, or yogurt. i've been making protein shakes recently with spirulina and bee pollen added. yum. i'll let you know if i notice my allergies getting any better!

*be careful, though. although most people are fine with bee pollen, every once in a while it can cause random allergic reactions in people, whether that be in the form of anaphylaxis or severe stomach pains and vomiting. my husband (who is allergic to bees, actually) cannot eat bee pollen. both times that i've tried to give it to him recently he's gotten severely ill and vomited. obviously the first time he got sick we didn't realize it was from the bee pollen. start off by eating an 1/8 of a teaspoon and work your way up to 1 tablespoon/day. if you ever feel like it doesn't agree with you, stop it immediately.