Numerous factors can affect the health of your sinuses, from hydration to infections to the food you eat. To keep your body as healthy as possible, it’s best to take care of your sinuses by being aware of what you eat when issues start popping up. Here are foods to avoid if you have sinus issues.
Dairy Products
A lot of sinus issues come from thickening mucus, which can be quite irritating. Dairy products naturally create thicker mucus, which can exacerbate any issues in your sinuses. It’s best to limit your dairy intake to prevent this from happening.
Refined Sugar
Sugar, specifically refined sugar, is an inflammatory product and may increase swelling when consumed. When your sinuses are swollen, sugar can worsen the symptoms and increase your suffering.
Any Kind of Chocolate
While many foods contain natural sugar that’s safe for consumption, chocolate and many other candies contain refined sugar. You need to be careful of eating sweet foods when experiencing sinus issues, as they may contain ingredients that worsen your symptoms.
Foods Containing Histamine
Many popular foods, like cheese and processed meats, contain safe levels of histamine. Your sinuses are sensitive parts of your body, and histamines can cause issues if you’re already struggling. This is because your body responds to histamine like you’re having a very mild allergic reaction.
Glutenous Foods
Many people can eat gluten without issue, but they should think about avoiding this food when having sinus problems. Gluten can cause a stuffy or runny nose, which is exactly what you want to stay away from if you have a sinus issue. That’s why gluten is one of those foods to avoid when your sinuses start acting up.
Following this guide shouldn’t limit your diet too much, as you only need to worry about these things when you have sinus issues. However, frequent sinus issues may point to a bigger problem that needs balloon sinuplasty surgery. Then, you may no longer need to avoid these foods as your sinus issues resolve.
