Have you ever felt absolutely terrible and told, “oh, it’s just allergies?” Just brushed off like it’s no big deal! Meanwhile your head is throbbing, eyes are itchy and swollen, and can’t stop sneezing. With symptoms so bad we might as well be sick! At least then we’d know what to do about it.
But allergies are different than a cold or flu.
They’re hard to diagnose and even harder to treat. But by the time we’re through, you’ll have everything at your fingertips to manage allergies – yours, your kiddos, & the whole family. Let’s get this thing started!
Where do Allergies Come From?
Before we dive into the how of allergy relief, let’s wrap our heads around why. Where do allergies (also known as seasonal allergies or allergy rhinitis) come from anyway?
Well, our bodies have something called – The Immune Response. It’s how our bodies react to harmful invaders, like a bacteria or virus. Our immune system immediately attacks the invader to rid it from our bodies. And it usually works.
But sometimes our immune systems are too protective. They attack substances that aren’t harmful at all. Things like pet dander, dust, and pollen. And THAT is what causes all the sneezing, itchy and watery eyes. It’s our bodies trying to attack the invader.
Diagnosing Allergies
However, you may wonder, if our bodies are responding to a supposed invader, how do we know it’s not an actual harmful invader? How do we know it’s allergies and not a cold virus? And that’s a very good question! Differentiating between allergies, cold, flu, and even COVID can be very tricky. Here are a few signs and symptoms:
- sneezing
- itchy nose
- scratchy throat
- nasal congestion
- runny nose
- postnasal drip
Seeing that they’re almost identical to a variety of other diseases, it’s always smart to talk to your pediatrician! But here are a few things to keep in your back pocket:
1) Is it allergy season?
February - May is primetime for allergies.
2) Is your kiddo’s mucus clear & watery?
Clear, rather than thick & discolored, mucus is a sign that it may be allergies.
3) Are your kiddo’s symptoms staying the same?
Your kiddo’s symptoms with a cold or flu will worsen then get better over time. Whereas allergies tend to stick around until the allergen is gone.
How Vitamins Relieve Allergy Symptoms
Vitamins are a type of nutrient (a micronutrient to be exact) that help our body perform hundreds of important functions. They can fight off infection, heal scrapes and bruises, and are involved in every process of your kiddo’s growth and development.
But one thing they’re particularly known for is boosting immunity. The powerful antioxidants in certain vitamins have been shown to regulate the immune response and, in turn, decrease allergy symptoms. A great reason to get more nutrients into a picky eater’s diet!
Vitamin C, in particular, can be very beneficial. It’s natural antihistamine and antioxidant properties can reduce seasonal allergies, protect cells from damage, and help the body fight infections.
Another allergy relief wonder is probiotics. When taken during allergy season, probiotics have been shown to lower allergy symptoms and even prevent them! Although the exact science isn’t widely known, it may be because children’s probiotics help balance our kiddo’s tummies — which promotes better immunity!
At Renzo’s Vitamins, we believe in wholesome goodness without the sugar and junk. Our vitamins for kids are loved by picky eaters and approved by super parents! And this Spring, we have the perfect 3 vitamins to help win the fight against allergies:
- Picky Eater Multi: 18 essential vitamins and minerals — perfect vitamin for picky eaters
- Invincible Vitamin C: Vitamin C for kids made with Elderberry and Zinc for extra antioxidant power
- Yummy Tummy Probiotic: Daily Probiotic for kids that includes 4 of the BEST probiotic strains
With these 3 products, you’re supercharging your kiddo’s ability to fight off allergies & fill in any nutrition gaps – all at the same time.