Eating Local Honey Can Prevent or Treat Seasonal Allergies
Sniffing or sneezing? Join the club: Seasonal allergies (aka allergic rhinitis) cause congestion, runny nose and itchy eyes for 35 million Americans from spring through fall. Learn the truth behind common allergy myths:
Truth: This myth probably originated because pollen causes allergies and there are miniscule amounts of pollen in honey; thus, people believe that eating honey can desensitize them to pollen over time. “The problem is that the pollens that cause allergies, which are primarily trees, grasses and weeds, are not the plants bees use for honey,” says Maeve O’Connor, M.D., of Carolina Asthma and Allergy Center in Charlotte, NC. “If you like honey, eat it. But there’s no proof it will alleviate or prevent seasonal allergies.”
