That being said, spring also carries with it an absurd proliferation of pollen. Pollen turns some of us into red-nosed, bloodshot eyed, shattering sneeze wonders. Immune responders are on full alert, looking to extricate invaders using whatever means possible.
And so we adjust.
Over the years I've had to learn the art of flexibility when it comes to food. And for this girl, flexibility ain't easy. Not so much a fan of irony either but it seems that all things edible provide me a good, hard lesson in both. It's funny to me that foods are so vibrantly colored when they live in the land of grey area. There's no black and white when it comes to eating as much as certain people attempting to sell certain foods (or food plans) want desperately for you and I to believe. Life presents us with new and different and changing every day and it only makes sense that the essentials of life would tend to follow.
Which leads me to berry-ade. This spring I've taken a vested interest in reducing foods that elevate histamine levels. My tastebuds, on the other hand, have taken a desperate interest in lemon/limeade. It could be the warmer days and elevated thirst or time spent digging in dirt but there's nothing like citrus on ice to quench a thirst. If you've googled histamine no-no's you'll find citrus there. On. Every. Single. List. Trust me I looked for the loophole. There's none.
With no bone to bite onto, we get creative.
Apple cider vinegar. Raw, unfiltered, and histamine...weeelllllll...it depends on where you look. Some reporters are purists and throw ACV right in the heap with all other vinegars (although some research shows it has antihistamine properties). Others set it on a pedestal as the one outlier (quoting said research). Which tells me this is the ideal case for personal exploration and experience.
And because I was desperate and thirsty, I strapped on my explorer suit and dove right in. If you deal with spring allergies you'll have to decide for yourself whether or not to give it a go, however if you're looking to add apple cider vinegar to your diet this is a really nice way to do it. You can google the benefits. That being said, ACV isn't for everyone and is, like everything else, not the cure-all. Taste, test, be curious and try. Learn to listen to your body by engaging in the conversation and taking time to notice. There's no quick-fix or short cut when it comes to understanding what keeps you tickin'. It takes attention, practice, patience and a good helping of go-with-the-flow. Challenges come with a gift though - immense growth. Now that's something to go a little nuts over.
Cheers!
[THE RECIPE]
1/2 cup of dried goji berries soaked in hot water
1/2 cup of blueberries, fresh or frozen
4 cups of water
3 - 5 tablespoons of raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar
1/4 - 1/3 cup of raw, unfiltered honey
Place all in high-speed blender and blend to smooth. Pour mixture through a fine mesh strainer and compost or discard the pulp. Drink at room temperature or over ice. Enjoy!