Treat Allergies with Probiotic Bacteria

Could something a little sinister-sounding, like bacteria, actually be a boon to allergy sufferers?

Seems so. Eating foods laced with "good" bacteria -- probiotic milk or yogurt drinks -- could help clamp down on sniffling and sneezing.

It's That Old Bacteria Magic
When people with seasonal allergies drank a daily probiotic beverage as part of a research study, good things happened. Their immune systems produced less of the substances that set off allergy symptoms and more of the ones that control them. And that, of course, could translate into much-hoped-for allergy relief.

2 More Allergy Stuffers
Along with getting more healthy bacteria into your diet (from yogurt and other fermented milk products, for example), here are a couple of other off-the-beaten-path options for sneezing less:

• Flush out your schnoz. Find out how a simple saline solution may stop the sniffles.
• Ask about herbs. The science isn't conclusive yet, but butterbur shows promise. Ask your doctor about this recent butterbur study.

For really reliable relief, go with tried-and-true symptom soothers like allergy meds and avoiding your triggers. Get a personalized allergy-control plan from RealAge.

Oral delivery of Lactobacillus casei Shirota modifies allergen-induced immune responses in allergic rhinitis. Ivory, K. et al., Clinical and Experimental Allergy 2008 May 28.