If you feel a tingling in your mouth, break out in hives or feel a sudden stomachache coming on after eating a certain food, chances are you’re suffering from an allergic reaction.

Food allergies occur because your immune system sees certain foods as harmful invaders that can cause health issues, much like bacteria and viruses.

Fortunately, allergic reactions to foods can be easily treated using natural remedies.

Natural remedies for food allergies

Try these simple and cost-effective remedies for quick relief from food allergies.

1. Ginger – Ginger is an excellent remedy for treating gastrointestinal discomfort brought on by an allergic reaction. This is because ginger contains antioxidants that help stamp out inflammation. To treat an allergic reaction, drink up to three cups of fresh ginger tea daily until the reaction subsides.
2. Probiotics – Probiotics, the beneficial bacteria found in fermented foods, are great for treating peanut allergy. In fact, recent studies found that regular consumption of probiotics can increase tolerance to peanuts in children allergic to them.
3. Citrus fruits – Vitamin C from citrus fruits can help reduce the severity of allergic reactions. Getting your daily dose of vitamin C during allergy season can also reduce your body’s natural production of histamine, the chemical that makes you sneeze, tear up and itch.
4. Stinging nettle – Stinging nettle has a long history of use as a medicinal herb. It may be useful in reducing symptoms of hay fever and allergic reactions to food because of its anti-inflammatory properties.
5. Green tea – Green tea is hailed for its potent anti-inflammatory and antihistamine properties. These properties are especially beneficial for relieving digestive discomfort related to food allergies. To ease allergies, drink up to three cups of green tea daily.
6. Carrot and cucumber juice – Carrot and cucumber combined are great for treating allergic reactions to foods. The antioxidants in carrots help detoxify your blood and reduce inflammation. Cucumber, on the other hand, gives you healthy skin from the inside. This remedy is great if you’re breaking out in rashes due to a food allergy.
7. Apple cider vinegar (ACV) – Keep ACV close by to hold off food allergies. This kitchen staple boasts anti-inflammatory and antihistamine properties, a perfect combination for treating adverse reactions to food. Just dilute a teaspoon of ACV in a glass of warm water and drink as often as needed.

Tips for managing food allergies

Food allergies can make mealtimes miserable. But they don’t have to be. Given ample precautions, you can easily manage your food allergies and avoid triggering a reaction. These five tips can help you do just that.

1. Read food labels – Food labels today often include important allergy information. They should tell you right off the bat if the product contains milk, grains, nuts or byproducts of those foods.
2. Be a careful cook – Having a food allergy doesn’t mean the kitchen is off-limits to you. It just means you need to be more careful cooking, especially if not everyone in the household is on an allergen-free diet. Here are some extra tips for safe cooking:
   • Use one cutting board for each food group. This is especially useful for avoiding cross-contamination of food allergens in your kitchen if other people in the house cook, too.
   • Practice personal hygiene in the kitchen. You can use gloves if you’ll be handling hazardous foods. Don’t forget to rinse your hands after coughing, sneezing, going to the bathroom and before touching food containers.
   • Don’t cook foods side-by-side. Doing so raises the risk of an allergen being transferred from a food containing an allergen to a food that does not contain the allergen. Cooking doesn’t reduce or eliminate your chances of having an allergic reaction, so it’s better to cook foods separately.
   • Store foods individually. Cross-contamination of food allergens can also occur if you store foods together. If you’re allergic to peanuts, for example, store those in a separate, airtight container.
   • Properly sanitize dishes. If you or a family member is allergic to certain foods, designate specific dishes to be used only by you or that family member.
   • Clean kitchen equipment thoroughly. Properly clean and dry all pots, pans and kitchen utensils that you used during cooking.
   • Clean kitchen surfaces after use. Don’t forget to clean the countertops, cupboard handles and other surfaces you may have touched or handled in the kitchen.
3. Inform the chef or restaurant manager – When dining out with friends, come prepared. You can call the restaurant ahead of time and inquire about allergen-free dishes. You can also ask the chef or restaurant manager on the spot and ask them for their allergen-free food recommendations.
4. Carry remedies – Don’t forget to bring a handful of remedies for immediate relief in case you eat something you’re allergic to.

There are many natural remedies you can use to treat an allergic reaction to certain foods. Most of them can be found easily in your kitchen, too. Keep these remedies on hand for fast-acting relief from food allergies.

Sources:

Recipe.TimesOfIndia.com

MedicalNewsToday.com

Health.Harvard.edu

NationalJewish.org