Stop a sniffling nose and itchy eyes with these hay fever halting tips
1 Pet free sleep
We love them like family, but if your beloved cat or dog goes outside, don’t let them sleep with you.
‘Pollen can get lodged in your pet’s fur so it’s best to keep them off the bed and preferably out of the bedroom altogether,’ says airborne allergens expert Max Wiseberg*. ‘Washing pets regularly also helps.’
2 Don’t bringpollen home
To avoid pollen entering your living space, put dirty clothes straight in the laundry and shower after being outside.
‘Remove shoes at the door to prevent pollen being brought inside,’ adds Max. Adapt your cleaning routine, too. ‘Vacuum and damp dust regularly. Damp dusting helps prevent pollen being dispersed back into the air.’
3 Watch what you eat
Some of the things we consume can make allergies worse. ‘Avoid alcohol, dairy drinks and chocolate,’ says Max. ‘Beer, wine and spirits contain histamine, as does chocolate, while dairy drinks are mucus-producing – and you don’t need excess mucus if you suffer from hay fever.’
Instead, Max recommends eating apples, blueberries, cherry tomatoes, kale, broccoli and red onions, which contain the natural antihistamine quercetin.
4 Plan ahead
If you know which pollen sets you off, give certain places a wide berth. For example, if you’re allergic to hazel or birch pollen, avoid areas where these trees grow, says Max.
If you don’t want allergies to stop your woodland walks, plan ahead. ‘If you’re goin
