By: Byron J. Richards,
Board Certified Clinical Nutritionist
During the past few weeks of spring, much of the country has seen quite a lot of rain. These wet conditions combined with leftover autumn leaves create higher levels of mold spores in the air, posing an immune system stressor for many people. You may notice more mental fogginess, irritability, lower energy, or congestion.
Mold spores enter the air and travel on water molecules directly into your sinuses, causing stuffiness. Such mold spores are not infectious in and of themselves. They are, however, cousins of Candida albicans. While dampness-related stress is not an issue for many people, it is for others. Those more likely to notice the issue have a history of Candida imbalance, are prone to sinus congestion in general, are sensitive to molds, hate the smell of a damp basement, etc.
In addition to mold, temperature fluctuations and pollen further aggravate the immune stress that many people experience in spring, putting pressure on optimal immune function. Every time a protective barrier surface of your body is challenged, it initiates an immune response to help resolve the issue. This is simply your immune system carrying out its natural and normal function. However, the more sneezing that is involved, the greater the irritation and histamine release. Like emotional stress, it’s just one more thing for your immune system to deal with.
To have optimal immune function available to deal with other issues, it is best to have clear sinuses as a baseline of healthy function. Clear sinuses also reflect better overall lymphatic function, as described in my article A Healthy Lymph System is Vital for Flu Fighting Immunity.
While this issue begins as sinus stuffiness and pressure, it can develop into extra sinus mucus and a drop in energy. It often leads to cravings for sugar – another factor that is highly stressful to healthy immune function.
The moral of the story is to do what you can to keep your sinuses clear during damper spring weather. Many nutrients can help. Plant extracts like oregano oil1 and noni offer popular nutritional support for sinus health. Quercetin helps stabilize immune cells that line your sinuses, helping your body cope with this type of stress. Arabinogalactan3 is a popular lymph support compound that assists with the sensation of pressure build up.
Just as you must eat well and get adequate sleep for optimal immune function, you also want to minimize any form of stress. Sinus stress is just one on a long list of possible stressors, but it is crucial for many people this time of year.
Read More: Immune Health News, Respiratory Health News, Sinus Health News
Tags: fall, Immune Plus, Lymphatic function, mold, Monolaurin, Noni, Oregano Oil, Quercetin, sinus, Vitamin C,
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