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Seasonal Allergies – Root Causes and Fixes

Not Just a Benign Nuisance

Seasonal allergies, also known as hay fever or allergic rhinitis, were first recognized in 1870.1 Its prevalence has steadily risen since the 1950s.2 According to CDC, more than one in four adults suffer from seasonal allergies.3

Seasonal allergies (causing runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, itchy eyes, nose, or throat, coughing, insomnia, and fatigue) are more than just a nuisance and should be taken seriously – they are canaries in the coal mine, telling the status of our immune system, which may be confused, losing tolerance, overreacting to benign things like pollen and even food. When the immune system, akin to the city’s police department, is in disarray, all kinds of disorders can manifest. In addition, studies call seasonal allergy an invisible killer because it along with medication side effects has been documented in many cases to cause accidents.4  

The Root Causes

What is the underlining cause(s) of seasonal allergy? Do not scapegoat pollen.  Studies have consistently found allergy prevalence is lower in rural areas with heavy pollen than in urban areas with less pollen. Furthermore, in developing countries such as China and India, season allergies were hardly heard of 40 years ago when there was more pollen. With rapid industrialization and urbanization, which comes with less pollen, developing countries are now catching up with and even surpassing the developed countries.

My personal experience may shed more light on this issue. I came to the United States in 1993. At the time, I had not heard of seasonal allergies in China. Within a couple weeks after the school started, a few Chinese students who came earlier told me “Seasonal allergy is a new and annoying problem, but you won’t get it if you don’t get it within the first five years.” Well, I got it in the fourth year. At the worst time, it vexed me three times each year – winter, spring, and fall. The worst part was the eyes – felt like they were being pricked by hundreds of needles, and the medications didn’t help much. Why were so many Chinese students, who were free of seasonal allergies while in China, developing allergies after living 3-5 years in the US? The prevailing theory maintains that there are more trees, grass, and thus more pollen here than in China. 

In fact, that is not true. Before 1993 when I came to the states there were more trees and grass and thus more pollen in China than there are now. But there were almost no seasonal allergies then – at least I had never heard of it. With rapid urbanization and thus fewer trees and other plants, now seasonal allergies have reached epidemic proportions in China.

It cannot be clearer that pollen is not the root cause of seasonal allergies, rather it’s a messenger.

Another smokescreen worth debunking is the so-called hygiene theory claiming seasonal allergies and other diseases arise from the overly clean environment lacking germs, as our immune system was not well trained. Well, do households with lower income have higher rates of seasonal allergies and other disorders because they are cleaner? And why did so many students coming to the US during the 1980s and 1990s from developing countries like China develop seasonal allergies in 4 or 5 years? Do not forget they grew up in an environment with little sanitation. The hygiene theory makes little sense.  

So, what is driving the rise in seasonal allergies? Clearly, it is not genes, and it is not aging. The only possible culprits are the environmental risk factors. A major problem is the toxic chemicals in the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe, and the personal care products and household items we use. This is not a red herring – studies have clearly shown toxic chemicals in the environment weaken our immune system and induce allergic disorders.5-10  

Apart from all the toxic chemicals sneaking into our bodies, anything detrimental to our immune system can contribute to seasonal allergies. For instance, studies have shown gut dysbiosis (overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria) and leaky gut can dysregulate the immune system and induce or exacerbate seasonal allergies.11-14 In particular, it is well established scientifically and empirically that gluten sensitivity can induce leaky gut which in turn confuses the immune system leading to seasonal allergies.15-18

Stress is another contributor. Stress damages our immune system and induces dysbiosis as well as leaky gut which in turn exacerbates seasonal allergy.19-24

Of course, we are what we eat – micronutrient deficiency weakens the immune system. In particular, vitamin D deficiency has been shown to contribute to immune-related disorders and seasonal allergies.25-27

The Fixes

Getting rid of seasonal allergies is much easier than healing most other chronic diseases. I fixed my severe three-times-a-year allergy eight years ago, and you can do it too. But keep in mind, no disorders will go away unless the underlying causes are addressed. Avoiding pollen (the messenger rather than the root cause) is not a fix and hardly feasible. And medications such as antihistamines, decongestants, and nasal corticosteroids masking the symptoms may have insidious long-term side effects. To address the root causes, take the following actions:

Clean out the Indoor Toxic Chemicals

  • Dump all non-essential synthetic materials including clothing and containers, which constantly emit VOC (volatile organic compounds). Take this seriously – over 5,000 tons of 33 potentially harmful VOCs were emitted in California alone in 2020.28
  • Replace chemical-based cleaning products with non-toxic alternatives – many options are available on the market, and you can make your own products by using white vinegar, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide. Studies have shown conventional cleaning products are very toxic.29,30
  • Minimize the use of personal care products containing toxic chemicals such as formaldehyde, lead and mercury.31,32 Again, there are non-toxic options available on the market and you just need to look for them.
  • Avoid using air fresheners and scented candles, as they can release harmful chemicals into the air.33-35
  • Keep an eye out for mold and dust mites, which can provoke your immune system and exacerbate your seasonal allergies.36,37
  • To keep indoor air clean and fresh, regularly open windows to allow fresh air to circulate, use a high-quality air filter, reduce humidity during wet seasons, and clean every room regularly.

Eat Organic Food

Regardless of all the misinformation pumped out by the special interest groups and the uninformed, it is a simple fact that organic food (meat, grains, vegetables, and fruits) contains much less synthetic pesticides/fertilizers and more nutrients. If you cannot afford it, consider growing your own. And keep in mind that no matter how well you eat, only about 10% of the vitamin D we need is from food. You need more sun exposure or take supplements to get your vitamin D to the optimal level.

And it is imperative to drink clean water – nowadays, our tap water is more like a chemical soup than anything else. Do not forget, we are not only what we eat but also what we drink.

Watch Out for Food Sensitivity

Food sensitivity, also known as food intolerance, is more insidious than food allergy. Unlike the latter, food sensitivity often triggers immune responses without apparent symptoms. Common food sensitivities include gluten, dairy, soy, and egg white. While food allergy affects 1-2% of adults and less than 10% of children, food sensitivity is estimated to affect up to 20% of the population.38 Food sensitivity can be detected by testing IgG antibodies in the blood.

The test of IgG antibodies is scientific and reliable and relatively inexpensive. For instance, Life Extension tests 96 foods for $196. However, not everyone with high levels of these antibodies has symptoms. The most reliable method to figure out if food sensitivity is an issue for you is through an elimination diet – excluding gluten, dairy, eggs, and other foods (e.g., nuts) that you suspect might be problematic from your diet for 4-8 weeks. If there is no improvement in symptoms, food sensitivity is likely not your problem. If your symptoms improve, you can identify the offending food by reintroducing the eliminated foods one at a time.  

If you decide to try an elimination diet, do it rigorously. Food contamination can confuse even the most meticulous minds. According to an FDA report, some individuals’ immune systems adversely react to an intake of 0.4 milligrams of gluten per day (about 0.008% of a teaspoon, or 1/9 of a sesame seed).39

Manage Your Stress

Stress is a real health killer – it affects every system in our body. Those who can manage it will survive and thrive, while those who don’t will be in jeopardy. We all experience stress from time to time, and managing it is easier said than done. However, learning how to better manage it can make a big difference. There is a wealth of information available online and in great books – we just need to take the time to learn.

Finally, bear in mind that addressing seasonal allergies is more than just saving the canary in the coal mine – it can prevent deadly explosions. Tackling these root causes will be the best investment you’ve ever made, as it reduces the risk of all other maladies. After all, health is our most valuable asset.

References

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