Red Onions
There is more to the pungent red onion than its ability to add tastiness to stir-fries. Each bulb is rich in quercetin, an antioxidant with anti-inflammatory benefits to blast late summer allergies. Red onion is also a natural antihistamine, so rather than popping pills containing chemical histamines that may damage DNA, quercetin naturally combats our reaction to pollen and dust. One red onion contains roughly 40-milligrams of quercetin.

Garlic
A popular cold-fighter and immune-boosting remedy, garlic is also a decongestant super power that can reduce runny nose, nasal congestion, and all of those sneezes. Like red onion, this bulb also contains quercetin, a potent anti-inflammatory and one of Mother Nature’s natural antihistamines.

Astragalus
A popular, medicinal herb used in Chinese medicine, astragalus is a triple threat when it comes to fighting allergies. The herb is antiviral, antibacterial, and it has anti-inflammatory properties that lessen allergic reactions over time if you take it dried, in capsule form.

Hot Peppers
If you like your food spicy, you may be soothing allergies with every chop, sprinkle, and strip of red pepper or chili pepper in your food. The capsaicin found in both red and chili peppers is an active natural decongestant that relieves inflammation and frees up congestion in the nasal passages.

Julie Ching, MS, RDN, CDE
Julie Ching is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator in Los Angeles. She decided to become a Dietitian after traveling through Europe, South America, and Asia and discovered a passion for food. She now works with people of all ages and varying disease states to improve their health. She is passionate about teaching people about nutrition so they can live their best life while still considering their cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.