By David Blyweiss, M.D., Advanced Natural Wellness

March 08, 2013

• Don’t reach for that antihistamine yet!
• The pills that don’t work… but leave you fat and tired
• 6 ways to nip spring allergies in the bud

The weather is warming up. Trees and shrubs are starting to bloom and release pollen into the air. And you know what that means. Spring allergy season has officially arrived in some parts of the U.S.

If you’re the one suffering from allergies, that’s not good news. Nobody likes to spend their days sneezing and dealing with a runny nose or itchy, watering eyes.

You may not realize it but your spring allergies are likely symptoms of an overactive immune response. You see, your immune system is on guard, 24/7, to protect you against invaders like bacteria and viruses.

But when you have allergies your body may overreact. Harmless substances like pollen or mold are seen as enemies. Your system launches into attack mode. It releases antibodies to protect itself. Histamine production goes into overdrive. And that’s when your allergy symptoms start.

When that happens, it’s easy to reach for an over-the-counter antihistamine. And if it that doesn’t work, you can always ask your doctor for one of prescription strength.

But after today you might want to rethink the use of this sort of allergy medication.

Why? Because it turns out that while some antihistamines might make you drowsy, almost all of them can make you fat!

If you tend to count on allergy pills to keep your allergy symptoms under control, you may be getting an unintended side effect. Those pills could be causing your waistline to expand.

Not long ago, researchers at Yale discovered antihistamine use and weight gain go hand in hand. The researchers examined body weight and antihistamine use in 867 adults. The most common drugs used by the subjects were Zyrtec and Allegra. What they learned was this…

The people who regularly used antihistamines were 55% more likely to be overweight than people who didn’t take them. Not only did they have significantly higher weight, they also had higher body mass index, waist circumference and insulin levels.

Part of the problem could be that people who are overweight have higher levels of inflammation in their bodies. This, in turn, could potentially increase the risk of allergic reactions.

However there’s another factor at play here. There’s a histamine receptor in your body called H-1. It acts as an appetite suppressant. And that’s where the problem may occur.

That’s because most antihistamine drugs are H-1 histamine blockers. And you now what happens when H-1 is blocked? Your appetite suppressing signal becomes impaired. You end up feeling hungrier than you normally would, so you to eat more.

While the study didn’t specifically identify this as the singular cause of weight gain, the science behind histamine, H-1 blocking and appetite signaling is a solid correlation.

But that’s not the only reason I don’t like antihistamine drugs. They have plenty of other faults…

While many of them come in “non-drowsy” formulas these days, they still slow you down. Memory gets sluggish and your level of alertness becomes reduced. This can affect your work performance, your driving safety and your ability to perform day-to-day tasks. It can also leave you feeling lazy, which makes it easy to forego your regular exercise routines and physical activities. (This, too, could be a factor in weight gain!)

And here’s one of the biggest reasons of all…

Research shows that antihistamines don’t really work much better than placebo! In cases where they were used as a single dose – or over the course of 4 to 5 days – there was no significant difference when compared to placebo.

So forget about those allergy pills that make you fat and tired… and don’t work anyway. Here are some natural solutions that can stop allergy symptoms in a much healthier way.

If you want to nip allergies in the bud, there are two things you need to do right off the bat. Build your immune response and reduce histamine production. And there are plenty of healthy ways to do this…

Super Immune Boosters:

1. N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC.) Research indicates allergy sufferers tend to have lower antioxidant levels and higher levels of damaging oxidative stress. NAC boosts your body’s natural production of a powerful antioxidant called glutathione. Glutathione is absolutely essential for your immune health and your number one defender against oxidative stress. Try 600 mg. twice daily.
2. Spirulina is a form of algae that’s filled with protein, phytonutrients, antioxidants and B-vitamins. It’s a proven immune booster and can also reduce allergy symptoms. During allergy season it can help reduce nasal discharge, sneezing, nasal congestion and itching. I suggest 2,000 mg. daily.
3. Vitamin C has potent antioxidant activity. It can strengthen your immune system and protect your cells from free oxidative stress when your allergies kick up. Take 2,000 to 3,000 mg. twice daily.

Natural Antihistamines:

1. Stinging Nettle contains anti-allergenic and antihistamine compounds. These compounds enhance the body’s resistance to pollens and molds. Dose: 870 mg. when symptoms arise. Choose freeze-dried extracts for maximum effectiveness.
2. Butterbur is a must-have during allergy season. Research shows it’s just as effective as Zyrtec and Allegra, but without any drowsy side effects. 50 to 100 mg. twice a day should do the trick.
3. Quercetin inhibits the release of histamine in response to allergies. You can find it in foods like onions and garlic. But you can’t really get the amount you need in these foods. So add a supplement of 200 to 500 mg. twice a day with meals. Look for supplements that also contain bromelain to improve absorption.

It’s best to start taking these supplements sooner, rather than later, so your system has time to build-up defenses before the allergy season gets into full swing.

Resources:

Ratliff JC, Barber JA, Palmese LB, Reutenauer EL, Tek C. Association of prescription H1 antihistamine use with obesity: results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2010 Dec;18(12):2398-400.

Montoro J, Sastre J, Bartra J, del Cuvillo A, et al. Effect of H1 antihistamines upon the central nervous system. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol. 2006;16 Suppl 1:24-8.

Cingi C, Conk-Dalay M, Cakli H, Bal C. The effects of spirulina on allergic rhinitis. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2008 Oct;265(10):1219-23.

Bucca C. Effect of vitamin C on histamine bronchial responsiveness of patients with allergic rhinitis. Annals of Allergy. 1990;65:311-314.

Roschek B Jr. Nettle extract (Urtica dioica) affects key receptors and enzymes associated with allergic rhinitis. Phytotherapy Research. 2009;23:920-926.

Schapowal A. Treating intermittent allergic rhinitis: a prospective, randomized, placebo and antihistamine-controlled study of Butterbur extract Ze 339. Phytotherapy Research. 2005;19:530-537.

Schapowal A; Petasites Study Group. Randomised controlled trial of butterbur and cetirizine for treating seasonal allergic rhinitis. BMJ. 2002 Jan 19;324(7330):144-6