Looking for Natural Relief from Allergies?

Spring is around the corner! This means the cold weather is going away, but it also means springtime allergies are about to run rampant. ‘Resident Raw Foodie,’ Afke Zonderland shares natural remedies for seasonal allergies. Her strategies and recipes are sure to provide you with plenty of food for thought!

Afke Zonderland, Chef and Founder, Okanagan Rawsome

A shining star within the gluten-free and health conscious community in British Columbia and beyond, Afke is a Raw Food Chef and Co-Founder of Okanagan Rawsome. Her delicious whole-food philosophy is a wonderful encouragement for making the healthiest choices for yourself and your family.

Nearly 50 million Americans suffer the symptoms of these allergies, and they can start appearing as early as February. Even though a large portion of North Americans have springtime allergies, many don’t know a whole lot about them*.

Pollen isn’t the only culprit
It can happen at any age
When you medicate matters
There is no cure
Springtime allergies are genetic
Indoor pollution is worse than outdoor
Pollen levels matter
Allergy seasons are continually worsening

*8 Things You May not Know About Allergies, Victoria Advocate

View article on OkanaganRawsome.com

Are you looking for a natural aid for allergies?

A good helper for allergies is ginger tea because of its spiciness, which increases metabolism and helps remove toxins from the body. To prepare ginger tea, you need to take a 2-3 inch piece of ginger, grate it and put in a bowl. Then pour 1 quart of boiling water, cover it with towel and let it sit 5-7 minutes. Strain and drink your ginger tea throughout the day. You may mix it with green tea.

Double your regular consumption of a green smoothie. Stinging nettles are known to help with allergies, Add ginger or other spices to your smoothies whenever possible. Here are two sample recipes that may reduce the impact of a pollen allergy.

Stinging Nettle Smoothie

Sweet Allergy Aid

2 cups stinging nettles
1 cup spinach
2 apples
2 bananas
1 piece ginger (1-2 inches)
3 cups water

Stinging Nettle Soup

Spicy Allergy Aid (Soup)

2 cups stinging nettles
1 cup kale, stems removed
2 bell peppers
2 tomatoes
1 avocado, pit and skin removed
Juice of 1 lemon
3 cloves garlic
3 cups water

Also by Afke:

• Confused about Omegas?
• The Skinny on Fat
• Planting Gluten-Free Seeds for Your New Year’s Resolutions
• Almond Milk – Is it Everything It’s Cracked Up to Be?
• Is Kombucha Making a Comeback?
• View Afke’s Recipe Page

Afke Zonderland and Co-Founder/daughter Anna, have turned Okanagan apples and carrots into a made-in-BC success story. They’ve mastered mixing what farmer’s grow in the Interior with carefully sourced spices and sprouted seeds, nuts and fruit. The tincture of time + low temperature results in convenient, portable power-packed crisps in four flavors! Great gluten-free fuel for the health conscious, celiacs and athletes alike! Watch the video!