Natural Remedies for Allergies - Green Tea and Coconut Water
89© Copyright 2011 Patrice Walker All rights reserved
In December of 2010, I began suffering from the worse allergies I’ve had in a long time. The minor sneezing that began back then turned into terrible bouts of sneezing, watery and horribly itchy eyes, and a runny nose that rivaled Niagara Falls. I hadn’t had an allergy attack since the last of my beloved cats passed away back in 2004, so I couldn’t understand why they were starting up again.
It was critical for me to discover the cause of these allergy attacks because I simply didn’t want to continue taking over-the-counter allergy drugs that, despite claims they don’t make you drowsy, knocked me out for a solid 24 hours and left my tired and despondent for another 24 hours.
Fortunately, I discovered that a slight change in my diet was all it took to jump-start the allergy attacks, and that all I needed to do was make some minor dietary adjustments to make them all but disappear.
Allergies and the Body’s pH Balance
I had a sneaking suspicion that the resumption of coffee drinking might have something to do with the reappearance of the allergies. So I decided to quit the coffee habit (yet again) and switch back to green tea, which I had been drinking for several years. As soon as I took my first sip of a delicious, organic green tea made by Hawaiian Island Tea Company, I knew I was onto something. It was like taking a breath of fresh air.
I had also started drinking coconut water, at first out of curiosity. But I began noticing that when I drank it, the allergy attacks would abate somewhat. That got me to wondering what green tea and coconut water have in common that would cause this effect. The answer is that they are both alkaline, whereas coffee (with non-dairy creamer added) is acidic.
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The body’s pH level is a measure of how alkaline or acidic it is. In order to maintain its health, the body’s environment needs to be alkaline. pH is measured on a scale of 0 to 14, where 0 to 6.9 is acidic, 7 is neutral, and 7.1 to 14 is alkaline. All of the body’s fluids, including sweat, saliva, blood, fluids involved in digestion, and intra- and extra-cellular fluids have a pH level. The pH level of a healthy body is about 7.4, making it slightly alkaline.
A number of sources contend that an overly acidic body leads to a variety of medical problems, including allergies, because this acidic environment encourages the growth of yeast, fungus, and “bad” bacteria, causing a build-up of acids in the cells. Foods that promote an acidic environment include meats, dairy products, sugar, refined (i.e., white) grains, alcohol, junk food (of course!), and soft drinks.
Alkalizing the Body with Green Tea and Coconut Water
The best way to alkalize the body is to consume “alkaline foods.” These are primarily raw fruits and vegetables, but also include wheat and alfalfa grasses, olive oil, almonds, seeds, and tofu. Adding coconut water to my diet lessened the symptoms somewhat, but a simple switch from coffee to alkalizing green tea caused an observable decrease in the allergy symptoms I was experiencing, allowing me to reduce dramatically the number of over-the-counter allergy pills I had been taking. That’s proof enough for me!
Why are green tea and coconut water so effective in reducing allergy symptoms? In addition to the fact that green tea is an alkaline food, it is chock full of antioxidants and contains a compound called methylated epigallocatechin gallate or EGCG that has been shown to block a key cell receptor that is responsible for generating an allergic response, according to studies conducted by researchers in Japan.
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The other alkaline food, coconut water, which is the clear liquid found inside immature coconuts, was used by both sides of the conflict during World War II in place of often scarce blood plasma because it has the same level of minerals (aka electrolytes) as human blood. It is extremely hydrating, and has a mild, slightly sweet taste that is absolutely invigorating when consumed cold.
But I think the component, EGCG, in green tea makes it slightly more effective than coconut water in reducing allergy symptoms, at least based on my personal experience.
So I’m back to drinking at least a cup of green tea and around eight ounces of coconut water every day. I’m also adding a lot more raw fruits and veggies to my diet and cutting back on trips to Micky D's. I've also cut way back on dairy products (I'd been drinking milk to help me sleep at night) because they are so mucous forming which aggravated the allergies.I’m convinced that, in time, with these simple modifications, allergy attacks will be a thing of the past.
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Oops, thanks for the reminder to get back into drinking green tea!
Yes, RTalloni, it's amazing; I don't know why I stopped drinking it.
Ruby H Rose, you're welcome. I'm really glad to be drinking it again. I guess not drinking it for a while helped me remember why it's so good for you.
Hey, I have heard of this before. Never tried it myself but I think I will do so.
Let me know how it works for you, vinsanity. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
I've heard of it's health benefits, but never it's remedy for allergies. That's really interesting, thank you for sharing.
I'm totally convinced because I am a believer in both. I never ever have allergies - and this is one of the worst seasons here in NYC - many are suffering.
Summers are made for coconut water because nothing is better for hydration. If I must run around a lot - then coconut water it is. Yum.
Great hub and rated way up. Yay!
Green tea is an effective detoxicant so it helps against allergies, too. Alkaline foods are a savior when it comes to allergies and gastritis. Gastritis often comes as a result of food intolerances and allergies. Great hub :)
You're welcome, CartoonGirl. It's the 5th day since I took an antihistamine and I'm still doing well. A few minor sneezes this morning but that's it. I had been popping those pills every 3 days. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Good for you, BkCreative. I knew you'd be up on this stuff. It's been pretty bad here in Hawaii too - very wet rainy season led to lots of mold where I am. It's been driving me crazy. But now with the green tea and coconut water, I'm good to go. Thanks for commenting and for the positive feedback!!
Hey Jasmine! Hope you're having a ball on your vacation. Are you a "Mrs." yet??
I definitely have my share of food intolerances - yeast and dairy for sure, and cashews I recently discovered. So they are out of my diet. I'm still amazed at how simple the alkaline-green-tea-coconut-water solution has been. Just had to listen to my body.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting, Jasmine!
Wow- this is great information. I will definitely try this. I bought my first coconut water last week and liked it, so I am going to use it more often. Thanks!
It's that time of year where these are bugging me again. I am going to try this green tea and coconut water and see if it helps. Next time I do groceries i'll see if i can pick some up. Great article. :] Voted up and rated useful.
My pleasure, Gracie. I'm juggling how to get the tea, coconut water, and plain water into me during the day. I can only drink one cup of tea in the morning because of the caffeine, so drink the coconut water and plain water the rest of the day. Glad you found the hub helpful, and thanks so much for your positive feedback.
Thanks, Jared. Letting go of the coffee and milk and adding green tea and coconut water have made a huge difference. I'm going on 6 days without needing an antihistamine. My eyes have been itching a bit but that's it. The weather has been dry though, so the real test will come when it rains again. Thanks so much for your positive feedback!
Hi :)
I have a lot of allergies ~ plus other health problems ~ and I have decided to really get on top of my diet ~ lots of fruit and veg; coconut oil and coconut milk.
I was told yesterday, that it's a bad time for hay fever sufferers ~ but I'm ok! So I must be doing something right! I think that I shall try to find some coconut water.
Interesting hub!
I kicked the coffee habit and made the switch to green tea 10 days ago, and the allergies I was suffering from are GONE!. I've also added a raw salad as a meal and continue to drink coconut water, so it's really about "alkalizing" your body, and coconut water will definitely get you on the right track, Trish_M. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Let us know how it goes for you.
Hi :)
I do have some green tea, but I don't like the taste. I take a green tea (capsule) supplement, though. :)
I do believe that food is like medicine.
Hi Trish_M, I've found that all green teas are not created equally. If you can get your hands on some Japanese green tea, you might give it a try. The Hawaii Islands organic green tea I mention in the article is the best I've ever tasted - it has a sort of citrus-y flavor. I've never tried the capsules; let us know how they work.
Thanks for this useful information on natural remedies for allergies. I will book mark this article.
Thanks for the tips.
I'm going to give this a try, lately it seems like my allergies are getting worse than ever.
@coolmom - glad you found the article useful. Thanks so much for reading and commenting!
@Karen N - Let me know how the tea and coconut water work for you. I'm always interested in hearing how people respond to these remedies. Thanks so much for your comment.
Great article. I love coconut water. I also ferment green tea to drink. I think they are truly natures gift to the human race. I used to have allergies the whole time I was growing up. I moved out west and didn't get them any more. Can't tell you why this happened, but when I had them in Ohio, I had to get 3 shots a week for three years. They helped a little, but that was about it. Maybe it has something to do with the coconut water and green tea I drink, I would have never thought about it until I read this article. Thanks for the article.
Hi healthywholefoods! I'm no allergy expert and I base much of what I write on my personal experience (with some research to back it up), but perhaps there were certain elements in the environment in Ohio that you were allergic to that are absent out west. When my cats passed away from old age, for example, my allergies went with them. But they flared up again about a year ago when I moved to a new house. That's when I really had to start paying attention to what I ate so that I didn't give whatever is in this new environment a chance to wreak havoc on my body. Alkalizing my diet has been the BEST treatment I've found to date for allergies.
By the way, how do you ferment green tea? Sounds like a great topic for a hub (hint hint :-)) if you haven't already written it.
Thanks so much for stopping by and for your positive feedback.
If you would like to try fermenting green tea, do a google search for "kombucha tea". You can also buy it already fermented, in a bottle or can.
Oh yes, I've heard of kombucha tea. Didn't realize it was fermented green tea. Will have to check it out. Thanks healthywholefoods!
Thank you for the recommendations...!!! Guess we're even!!!
You're welcome, CrazyGata. I'm finding green tea to be EXTREMELY effective in managing allergies, but I also have to keep offending substances (e.g., yeast, dairy) out of my diet. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Fortunately, I don't have any allergies but can see where this might help those who do. Voting this Up and Useful.
Then consider yourself blessed, Aurelio. I'm glad I found these natural remedies for allergies and don't have to rely so heavily on prescription meds to keep myself allergy-free. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Hey Patrice, thanks for the awesome write up here, you know I know all about this thing.
I wrote some hubs a few months back all about the whole alkaline thing and you actually was the second person to comment on one of them, after I discovered such a truth on the web with me wife.
Your definitely on point with this, and its kind of you to try to help others out with such a useful hub as this for allergy sufferers. Nice one!
Hey Mike, yes I do remember your hub about the importance of pH balance in the body. I have been backsliding, and my diet has become a bit too acidic, with the expected consequences -- allergies! So I need to practice what I preach and get back on the alkaline bandwagon. Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting.
RTalloni Level 8 Commenter 10 months ago
I'm so glad to learn that green tea is an "alkaline food." Thanks much!