As the seasonal winds of change blow from hot and humid to cool and crisp, allergy sufferers don’t get the break that they deserve. Even though flowers and trees are no longer in bloom, one of the biggest offenders doesn’t begin to pollinate until late August. Even though it may not grow anywhere near where you live or work, ragweed pollen can be spread over one hundred miles through the air. Another of fall’s notable culprits is mold, which grows in cool and damp areas. It can develop in the air ducts of your home, and especially in piles of wet leaves and the like.

Though the weather may be cooling off, it may still be a good idea to keep windows closed. Especially between 10 am and 3 pm, this is when pollen counts are usually at their peak. It’s also a good practice to have all the vents and air ducts in your home cleaned out prior to firing up the furnace for the first time of the season. Mold and dust mites that can build up in them over the summer will easily get stirred up and spread around the home.

Eating more foods like citrus, apples, onions, tomatoes, lettuce and broccoli can help supply your body with a natural antihistamine, quercetin. It stabilizes cells to prevent histamine release, and is also a natural antioxidant. Most people will not be able to obtain the recommended daily value of it from food sources though, so a supplement may also be necessary. However, people who have liver disease shouldn’t take quercetin, so be sure to consult your doctor or allergist first.