7 Supplements your child needs to reduce seasonal allergies

by Tara Gregorio | Mar 9, 2021 | Allergy-Free Kids, Herbs for Kids

Let me guess.. your little one has allergies.

• Have you ever noticed the dark circles under their eyes?
• Skin flare-ups?
• Constipation or headaches?

It’s worrisome, I know.

Imagine if you could clear up these symptoms with diet and supplements.

I know, I’m not a fan of supplements either, and sometimes they feel like too much! But the truth is – these supplements fill the nutrient gaps.

Read that again 👆

If our diet, digestion, and gut health were “ideal”, we wouldn’t need so many supplements. This means, including herbs into our diet every single day.

But don’t forget, we can reverse these allergic symptoms and even “asthma-like” breathing – when we address their gut health. ¹

My son began his life with milk intolerance and as he grew, I noticed he had a gluten intolerance as well. When we addressed his gut health – his symptoms changed.

• his energy increased
• his skin cleared up
• stomach pains went away
• the nagging cough stopped

So what can you do about it?

Here’s my promise to you. By the end of this post, you’ll understand how to reduce your child’s allergic response – naturally.

But wait! Always check with your doctor before adding any supplements to your child’s diet.

What is an allergy anyway?

When your child’s immune system reacts to a foreign substance – like an insect bite, pets dander, or cockroaches, their immune system produces a substance called Immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies. These antibodies travel to cells that release chemicals, causing an allergic reaction or inflammation.

This inflammation can be as little as red, rosy cheeks, or as severe as anaphylaxis – a potentially life-threatening emergency.

Why allergies are bad right now

*While most food allergies cannot be cured, you will see an enormous change in your child’s health and symptoms when you address these 7 things:

1. Your child’s gut health – heal their gut with the 4R approach
2. Reducing inflammation naturally with herbs, diet & supplements
3. Boosting their immunity with herbs & supplements
4. Removing any food sensitivities to reduce inflammation*
5. Promoting healthy digestion and elimination {no more constipation}
6. Avoid medications and antibiotics – this affects their gut health
7. Reducing toxins in their environment and food

What are the 6 types of allergies?

1. Insect sting
2. Pet dander
3. Drug
4. Mold
5. Cockroach droppings- This is the #1 cause of breathing trouble with children in the city
6. Hay fever

What are the top food allergies in children?

A food allergy produces an increase in IgE and possible anaphylactic shock. **You would NEVER re-introduce these foods into your child’s diet if they have a true food allergy to them.

Food Sensitivity is when your child’s digestive system is triggered. An elimination diet is the gold standard way to discover which foods bother your child and may even be causing behavioral problems. But, it will not “fix” the symptoms.

>>A good way to test your child’s food sensitivities is with EverlyWell:https://www.everlywell.com/products/food-sensitivity/

By integrating the 4R approach to reduce inflammation, you may notice fewer allergic responses and asthma attacks. If your child has a food sensitivity (not a food allergy!), you could re-introduce the food into their diet again or may keep it out for good. == I teach this method within my course: Allergy-Free Kids

What are the top food allergens & food sensitivities?

1. Wheat
2. Dairy
3. Eggs
4. Soy
5. Crustaceans
6. Fish
7. Tree Nuts
8. Peanuts

Food Allergy Symptoms

• Tingling in the mouth
• Swelling of the lips, tongue, face, or throat
• Hives
• Anaphylaxis²

Food Sensitivity Symptoms

• behavioral problems (dairy, wheat)
• chronic belly aches, gas, bloating
• dark circles under their eyes (dairy)
• acne on the back of their arms (gluten)
• bed-wetting
• chronic sinus and ear infections (dairy)
• hearing problems (occasionally accidentally diagnosed as ADHD)
• headaches
• sniffles
• swollen lymph nodes & more
• colic
• chronic cough (gluten)

Hay fever, also called allergic rhinitis, can cause:

• Sneezing
• Itching of the nose, eyes, or roof of the mouth
• Runny, stuffy nose
• Watery, red, or swollen eyes (conjunctivitis)

The top 9 foods to add to your child’s diet to reduce inflammation include:

• green leafy vegetables
• organic purple fruits
• fiber
• probiotics
• Tumeric
• B vitamins: eggs, poultry, and lentils
• Chlorella: sea vegetables
• Culinary herbs to support detox: garlic and onion
• Quercetin: Cherries, strawberries, and broccoli

7 Supplements To Reduce The Allergic Response

• >>Pro tip: Keep in mind, that when kids are young and cannot swallow pills – you’ll want to open the capsules and pour the powder into a juice or smoothie and stir well.
• You’re making a sort of “concoction” for them. Try one herb at a time, to see if there are any adverse reactions, then add a second botanical.
• Little DaVinci products and Herb Pharm for kids are great choices for young children.

#1 Freeze-Dried Stinging Nettles

• Better than Claritin!
• Stinging nettles, are a prickly green herb you’ll find outside on the outskirts of your yard in the summertime.
• They have a mean bite, but this bite, these hairs are known as a natural antihistamine – helping to reduce allergies naturally.
• And the sting? That goes away when the greens are cooked or dried.
• IMPORTANT: When you purchase nettles, it has to be the “freeze-dried” version because this is where the antihistamine is located – with the sting!
• For children 4 or older: you can break open one of the freeze-dried stinging nettle capsules and add it to a shake or drink.
• We like Planetary herbals freeze-dried stinging nettles: https://amzn.to/31T5xiF
• Pro tip: Open the capsule for young children who cannot swallow the pills

#2 Quercetin

• Quercetin is a plant pigment (flavonoid). It is found in many plants and foods, such as red wine, onions, green tea, apples, berries, Ginkgo biloba, St. John’s wort, American elder, and others.
• Quercetin has been shown to reduce inflammation and inhibit histamine release; reducing allergic response. ³
• Add quercetin foods or supplements to your diet to reduce inflammation.
• We like pure encapsulation: https://amzn.to/2HIl65V
• Pro tip: Look for liquid quercetin supplements if your child cannot swallow pills.

#3 Curcumin

• Curcumin was reported to have an anti-allergic property with an inhibitory effect on histamine release from the mast cells. Naturally found in Turmeric, you can add this orange spice to your little one’s hot chocolate or orange juice or add a supplement.
• Gaia is a great company: https://amzn.to/35WVH0D

So there is a gut-allergy connection when you struggle with seasonal allergies. By “healing your gut”, you can reduce these symptoms.

#4 Digestive Enzyme

• Digestive enzymes help break down protease, amylase, and lipase – aiding digestion and breaking down proteins, a common irritant.
• In this post, Enzymedica explains how digestive enzymes can help reduce the allergic response.
• My son loves kids digest by Enzymedica: https://amzn.to/34B8dDr

#5 Probiotics

• Probiotics can help heal the gut, which can be the source of many inflammatory diseases – including allergies.
• Look for ones with Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species for healthy immunity.
• Download the FREE gut health questionnaire to see if your child is experiencing the symptoms associated with Leaky Gut Syndrome – in order to know if they need to heal their gut.
• My clients and I have noticed quality matters when purchasing a probiotic. Klaire probiotics is a company I love.

#6 Butterbur

• Butterbur is known to reduce migraines and seasonal allergies.
• When purchasing Butterbur, choose one that is PA-free.
• Here is the one we used with my son.
  

# 7 Grapefruit Seed Extract- Xlear

• Nasal rinses have been used for years to clean out the pollen in your nasal passages.
• As the neti pot is challenging for little kids, Xlear has worked well for us.
• This is a great alternative to any nasal sprays your doctor has suggested.
• This blend uses grapefruit seed extract, which is also known as a natural antibacterial to treat and prevent infections.

Conclusion:

When your child is struggling with allergies, you’ll want to address their gut health. Often, they’re not eating enough vitamins and minerals, or they’re consuming a food that they are sensitive to; causing an inflammatory response. Typically, gluten and dairy – are the top two foods kids love!

By reducing inflammation and the inflammatory response, you can reduce the seasonal allergy symptoms your child is experiencing and boost their health for years to come.

Need more help? Book a health consultation with me today.

xo

Tara

*Remember, you would never re-introduce a true food allergy to your child’s diet.

References:

• ¹https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6056614/
• ²https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/allergies/symptoms-causes/syc-20351497
• ³https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27187333
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18398870
• https://enzymedica.com/blogs/get-better/natural-remedies-for-spring-allergies
• https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323276.php
• Probiotics & Allergic Rhinitis https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25899251