Hay Fever-Proof Your Health

Enjoy time outdoors without snuffling this summer by following this expert advice

- Karen Evennett

An astonishing 30% of adults and 40% of children in the UK will have their summer blighted by hay fever – and the future’s not looking any brighter. In fact, allergy researchers have predicted that – due to climate change and pollution – the number of hay fever cases will double by 2030.

While this is a stark reminder that we all need to do our bit for the environment, it’s also the kind of fact that could fill your heart with despair. After all, there are only so many eco changes that any individual can make!

But don’t give up – even if you can’t save the planet, just tweaking your lifestyle can make a huge difference to your hay fever experience.

Everything you think of as being essential to healthy living – from your diet and exercise routines to the quality of your sleep – has also been proven to improve hay fever symptoms, according to a survey of 2,000 sufferers conducted by the National Pollen and Aerobiology Research Unit.

MORE APPLES

Your daily apple is full of the antioxidant quercetin, a natural antihistamine that will reduce itchy, sneezy symptoms when you come into contact with pollen.

How well are you coping with stress?

It’s no secret that many of us have been under more stress than usual over the past 12 months. Lockdowns and separation from our loved ones have taken their toll – and one surprising effect could be a hay fever season that’s even worse than usual for you.