It’s the time of year that allergy sufferers know too well. As the trees start to bloom and the temperatures start to rise, so do seasonal allergies. An allergy can be defined as a symptomatic reaction to a normally harmless environmental antigen, such as pollen. Specific cells of your immune system respond by releasing a substance called histamine which makes your sneeze, sniffle and scratch. These responses are intended to rid the body of any potential harm. A new study in the American Society of Nutrition has shown that supplementing a combination probiotic for eight weeks during the allergy season improved the symptoms of allergy in otherwise healthy individuals. Cultured dairy like yogurt and kefir are the best dietary sources of probiotics, although choices like sauerkraut, miso, and kombucha are gaining increased attention for their potential probiotic content.
