• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Amy Hoogervorst

Integrative Health and Wellness Coach

  • WHAT IS HEALTH COACHING?
  • ABOUT AMY
  • SERVICES
  • BLOG
    • FAITH AND SPIRITUALITY
    • MIND-BODY CONNECTION
    • MOVEMENT, EXERCISE AND REST
    • NUTRITION
    • PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
    • PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
    • RELATIONSHIPS AND COMMUNICATION
  • GET STARTED
    • SCHEDULE A FREE CALL
    • ACCESS FREE RESOURCES
    • VIEW ARCHIVED VIDEOS

Mar 25, 2016
NUTRITION

Overcoming Lifelong Allergies Naturally

A fine, yellow-green dust coats cars, porches, sidewalks and everything else outside my home right now. The trees and flowers are blooming, and pollen dust storms are visible in the distance.

This is spring in the southeastern U.S.

And I used to loathe going outside this time of year. Plagued by itchy, watery eyes, and a sneezing, runny nose, I used prescription and over-the-counter medicines not only in the spring, but year-round, to help me get through.

But then I stumbled upon something that changed my life, and I haven’t used any medications since.

I’ve been overcoming allergies naturally.

As a child, I had classic “hay fever,” which meant I sneezed at anything outside spring, summer and fall. I grew up on a farm, which was a problem since I discovered I also was allergic to cats, horses, mildew and mold. I had used over-the-counter and prescription medications my entire life.

As long as I took them and didn’t miss a day, I stood a decent chance of not suffering too much. But if I missed a few days and got behind on them, I felt miserable for several days until the drugs got into my system.

How I Stumbled Upon Overcoming My Allergies

I had been in direct sales for 15 years. I joined a different digital scrapbooking company, Heritage Makers, in 2014. The company had been purchased by a nutrition and healthy lifestyles company called Youngevity.

But I had no interest in nutritional supplements. I only took a multi-vitamin sporadically because my doctor said I should. But I didn’t feel any different because of it. One I found at a big-box store had artificial ingredients in it. No thanks.

But with this new company, I learned a bit about its core product. I skeptically agreed to give it a try for 90 days. I never expected to notice much of a difference.

But about 3 1/2 months later, I realized that I hadn’t taken my allergy medicine for a few days. And I didn’t feel crummy without it. Since it was July, I decided to not get the prescription filled right away, to see how I would fare without it. I survived ragweed season in late summer without any problems, only taking my supplements and my steroid nasal spray. When I used up the last of that spray in September, I decided to wait on getting it refilled.

I also started changing what I eat. As suggested, I had been avoiding inflammatory foods such as oils, wheat, barley, rye and oats, but I wasn’t following it strictly. I did eventually start to follow a gluten-free lifestyle, and I now limit my dairy intake because of the sinus congestion and mucus it seems to cause.

All of that together, I think, help reduce the inflammation that fed my allergies.

How it Affected My Other Allergies

I entered a second spring pollen season wondering if I could get through without prescription or over-the-counter medications. I did, and it still amazes me. It also amazed me when I spent 90 minutes in the home of friends who have cats, and I didn’t wheeze and sneeze.

With these results, I’ve become a believer in the importance of giving our bodies what they need to support themselves. I hope I never have to take allergy medications again.

As another round of the yellow-green dust invades our area, I wanted to share my story, and I hope it gives someone else hope and courage that they don’t have to suffer, either. Pay attention to what you’re putting in your body, and your body will serve you well.

Welcome! I’m Amy Hoogervorst, an integrative health coach and a healthy lifestyles educator, offering grace and space for a healthier you. If you’d like to get my newsletters and updates, please click HERE to subscribe. Thanks for visiting!

 

Tweet
Share
Pin

Don’t Miss out

Join our newsletter to get all the latest!

Previous Post: « GIVEAWAY! Who Deserves a Completed Album, and Why?
Next Post: Instead of an April Fools Prank, How About Acts of Kindness? »

Primary Sidebar

MEET AMY

Hi! I'm Amy Hoogervorst, a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, integrative health coach, and creative entrepreneur offering grace and space for a healthier you. Read More…

Latest on the Blog

Coaching is a partnership between a trained, professional coach and a client who wants or needs to reach particular goals or boost their personal and professional potential. Image is of two people shaking hands in partnership

People typically have questions about health coaching, whenever I introduce myself as a coach. And often, depending on the time someone has to talk, the questions start out general and then move to the specific and personal. Perhaps you have a few questions yourself. So today, let’s take a look at some of these frequently […]

Let’s Connect

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Latest on Instagram

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefo "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit." - Aristotle

#mondaymotivation #habits #excellence #healthyhabits #quotes #consistency #doyourbest #dontworryabouttherest #backontrack #graceandspaceforahealthieryou #integrativehealthcoach
How have you been wanting to challenge yourself ph How have you been wanting to challenge yourself physically? 

Being physically active can improve your brain health, help manage weight, reduce the risk of disease, strengthen bones and muscles, and improve your ability to do everyday activities.

But it's important to build in rest days, too. Taking regular breaks allows your body to recover and repair. Otherwise, you may risk overtraining and injury, or burnout. Rest days could mean chilling on the sofa or engaging in more active rest - taking a gentle walk, foam rolling, or practicing yoga.

What's your schedule of exercise, physical activity, and rest look like this week? What positive effects will that have in other areas of your life?

#letsmove #nctraildays2022 #run #walk #hike #rest #healthyaging #runningofthebulls8k #weekend #graceandspaceforahealthieryou #physicalactivity #letsgo #integrativehealthcoach
These English peas were so good, they're getting t These English peas were so good, they're getting their own post. 

First, shelling them took me back more than a few years to when I would shell butter beans and black-eyed peas alongside my grandmother and look forward to our supper together. 💚 We all have memories and associations attached to different foods. What are some of yours? How do they show up in the choices you make around eating?

Second, these peas were delicious and simple, boiled for one minute and seasoned with real butter and salt. What a gift! It's garden season, y'all. What are you most looking forward to preparing for yourself this summer?

#gardentreasures #eatyourveggies #communitysupportedagriculture #nourish #nutrition #connections #peasinapod #integrativehealthcoach #graceandspaceforahealthieryou #shellingpeas #eattherainbow
A tiny slice of May, worth a pause, before we rush A tiny slice of May, worth a pause, before we rush ahead to June. What's something you want to remember and take with you from May? What's something you want to do differently in June? What will it take to start?

#graceandspaceforahealthieryou #pause #reflect #celebrate #beginagain #nature #nurture #nurtureyourself #letsmove #letseat #letssleep #letsrelax #letsdothis #springinnorthcarolina #integrativehealthcoach
Follow on Instagram

Tags

accountability anxiety best self books challenge choices coaching dreams exercise faith faith and sweat fitness friends goals habits health health coaching healthy eating healthy food healthy lifestyle holidays inflammation memories mindful mindfulness mindset movement nutrition perseverance personal growth PhotoOrganize Me photos recipes resources rest self-care sleep social media stewardship stories stress sugar wellness what i learned Youngevity
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • DISCLOSURES
  • CONTACT
© 2022 Amy Hoogervorst - All Rights Reserved

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings.

Amy Hoogervorst
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.