Allergies can be largely triggered by a lack of healthy gut bacteria and a great cheap and easy remedy for this is probiotics. A great source for this is the many kinds of yogurts with a great blend of different bacteria. You can now combat a runny nose, itchy eyes, indigestion, and other allergies by supplementing with a rich yogurt. It's a simple and enjoyable way to improve your immune system and target the symptoms caused by allergies.

Science of Seasonal Allergies

Whenever you suddenly develop allergies the result can be bothersome, and if left untreated can increase your risk for a sinus infection. What happens when allergies begin to affect you is that histamine production is increased. This directly triggers all the noticeable symptoms. A common strain of bacteria in yogurt I l.casei, which can help improve the immune system and reduce the symptoms which trigger allergic reactions.

A great study in the Clinical and Experimental Allergy journal saw that people who took l.casei had a noticeably improved reduction of the antibodies which affected allergies. Another study performed on 173 adults who had seasonal allergies also took probiotics for an 8 week period. The study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition saw that people who took the probiotic improved their runny nose symptoms, while also supporting their day to day health. People who had mild allergy symptoms saw a major improvement in their symptoms. The mounting evidence is making it clear on what kind of benefits probiotics can offer for overall health. It's especially useful eating yogurt as soon as the symptoms become noticeable to reduce the likelihood of it becoming worse.

Pollen is also a major trigger in causing an overstimulation of allergies. So even if your immune system is strong, it may be overstimulated to the point where it reacts negatively to any pollen. Probiotics in yogurt can help ease the body's reaction, and make it easier for white blood cells to function properly when the immune system is affected.

Kinds of Yogurt and Strains

Even people with lactose intolerance can now enjoy alternative yogurt brands with almond, soy, or coconut milk. There's also many versions of each offered and some are sweetened with honey, sugar, alternative sweeteners, fruit, or they can be eaten plain.

Many markets typically carry the major brands of Greek and regular yogurt, some of which are thicker, higher in sugar, or with more added strains of bacteria. To mix it up you can also mix it in a fruit salad, shake, smoothie, or eat it plain as a substitute for milk based creams like sour cream. There are plenty of great free recipes you can find online, and some even take the extra step by teaching you how to make it at home.

Specific bacteria strains to look for include:

- Bifidobacterium Longum: Used to help support the immune system and can be used in young people to reduce their chances of developing allergies in the future.

- Lactobacillus Reuteri: Shows an improvement of respiratory function and the reduction of asthma and allergies.

- Lactobacillus Gasseri: Tested and shown to help potentially treat seasonal allergies according to a study by the Department of Pediatrics in Turkey.

- Bifidobacterium Lactis: Typical bacteria strain that is used to help improve overall health, especially when sick or when using antibiotics. This can also have preventative effects, reducing the loss of healthy bacteria which can be destroyed by bad bacteria.

Probiotics in general can also greatly benefit the immune system, thereby increasing the possibility of healthier functioning in the future. Some are more targeted for allergies like the kinds we mentioned above, and nearly all of them have a good amount of studies to support their use.

Conclusion

The live bacteria in yogurt can deliver health benefits which can ease and prevent the onset of seasonal allergies. It's fairly cheap to get and readily available, and it can be eaten in many different foods, or simply plain with fruit flavors and naturally sweetened varieties.