One of the major problems with hives treatment is that it concentrates on curing the symptoms and not the underlying causes of hives. In curing this condition, a hives diet is essential. For most people, hives is a result of an overactive immune system, so keeping the body balanced is the best way to solve this problem.
Generally what is recommended first for a hives diet is drinking lots of water to keep toxins in the body low. Also, it is highly advised to have lots of vitamin C in your diet, as it helps your immune system function correctly. It also has been known to help reduce histamine release and make histamine break down faster. All fruits and vegetables have vitamin C; however, the darker green vegetables have the highest amount.
Foods that contain quercetin are also highly recommended. This is because it has antioxidant, anti-histmine, and anti-inflammatory properties. According to Healwithfood.com, you can find quercetin in apples, capers, lovage, red and yellow onions, broccoli, red grapes, cherries, citrus fruits, tea, red wine, and many berries.
Chronic Hives Diet
A chronic hives diet requires everything listed above and more. You should eat foots that are high in B12. These include eggs, poultry, and cold water fish like salmon. Whole grains such as in cereals and breads are also important.
It is also encouraged for people on a chronic hives diet to intake lots of anti-oxidants which can be found in foods like blue berries and drinks like green tea. They should also eat foods that are high in zinc, such as celery, figs, asparagus and potatoes. Finally, Healwithfood.com states that you should eat less food with Omega-6 fatty acids (vegetable oils, corn oil, and safflower oil) and more Omega-3 fatty acids (flaxseeds, soybean, walnuts, cod, and salmon).
Elimination Diet for Hives
In a condition such as this, avoidance can make a world of difference. Found on the Onlinelibrary.wiley.com, one study titled Most chronic urticaria is food-dependant, and not idiopathic states that it found that “in the majority of patients, food ingredients provoke the symptoms and sustain the disease.” It goes on to say that by avoiding preservatives, dyes, and natural pseudoallergens, 73% of patients experience remission (Henz BM, Zuberbier T., 1998).
One hives diet that is very good to try is the hives allergen elimination diet. You can find this diet described in more detail at Ehow.com. Basically, this diet excludes foods that often cause allergic reactions. Some foods to exclude are peanut products, dairy, shellfish, and soybeans. Mushroom, corn, tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplants should not be eaten either. Grapes and fruits from the citrus family should also be excluded, and so should refined sugar. Alcohol, caffeine, and soda should not be consumed either.
The foods that are okay on this diet include, but are not limited to, dairy substitutes like coconut of almond milks, breads made of a non-gluten supplement. Meats such as wild game, duck and organic chicken are allowed. So are water, herbal teas and fruit juices.
