Hay Fever: The 5 food and drinks you need to cut out

The very common fever affects up to 37% of UK adults with 57% of those reporting experiencing sleep problems due to their allergy. 

And according to Scientists, Hay Fever is said to only get worst with climate change seeing more extreme symptoms.

But it isn't all doom and gloom, as there are a number of ways you can manage your reactions to hay fever season.

As experts at The Organic Pharmacy have revealed that some foods and drinks can actually make hay fever worst and should be avoided. 

Aged Cheese should be avoided. (Canva)

The 5 food and drinks you need to cut out if you have Hay Fever:

Aged Cheese:  

If you love cheese then it's not good news, as aged cheese is actually one of the worst foods you can have for your allergies.

This is because it often contains histamines as you can probably guess by the name, this is the stuff hay fever sufferers must try to avoid at all costs.

These histamines are created by bacterial microbes, which grow on the rind of aged cheese to help it ripen and protect it from harmful pathogens.

Dairy:

Aged cheese is not the only dairy product that should be avoided, with most types of dairy making symptoms of allergic reactions more severe.

Doing so by increasing the body's mucus production, which makes it even more difficult to get rid of the blocked nose that comes with hay fever.

However, there is a wide range of dairy-free products that are available on the market that make great substitutes. 

Alcohol:

Another great way to lessen the impact of hay fever is to cut back on alcohol as many types of booze contain histamines that make allergies even more severe.

The sulphites that are found in many types of alcohol are also bad news, as they can worsen symptoms too.

If you want to enjoy a drink without triggering your allergies, opt for gin and vodka, as these spirits have the lowest levels of histamines.

Melon's should be avoided. (Canva)

Melon:

As refreshing as this tasty fruit is, unfortunately, it can cause bad reactions in some hay fever sufferers.

Pollen-food syndrome (otherwise known as oral allergy syndrome) is a form of hay fever that is triggered by certain types of pollen, the three main ones being birch, grass, and ragweed.

And some foods contain protein that is similar to these types of pollen, leading to bodies mistaking the food for pollen which can cause a reaction,. 

Symptoms of this form of hay fever include swollen lips, an itchy mouth, and an itchy inner ear.

Coffee:

Hay fever sufferers will have to find another way to perk themselves up in the mornings, as coffee is another drink that must be avoided.

As well as triggering the release of the hay fever sufferer's enemy, histamine, it has been found to cause liver congestion, which makes symptoms even more severe

Swap your morning coffee for a cup of chamomile tea, as this clears the excess mucus that hay fever triggers, and keeps sinuses clear.