Spicy food isn’t for everyone but adding a hint of chili, ginger or garlic to your meals can be beneficial in ways you might not expect.

The heat from certain spices can help to provide relief from unpleasant hay fever symptoms, including congestion and stuffiness, as it helps to open up the airways and break up mucus, making breathing much easier. Spicy foods can act as natural decongestants by stimulating the cilia (hair-like structures that move mucus) to offer some much needed relief to blocked noses and sinuses, while some spices also have anti-inflammatory properties that can help minimise the body’s response to allergens.

There is no cure for hay fever and while it can be managed by taking an antihistamine or using a nasal spray, experts say the best way to manage symptoms is often through preventative measures - so eating spicy food is a good option to try.

Push Doctor, an online consultation service working in partnership with the NHS, says: “Add a generous portion of garlic, ginger and chilli to your food – they’ve been shown to ease the symptoms of congestion and are tasty to boot.”

The Center for Allergy & Asthma of Georgia adds: “After eating spicy food, you may notice your skin begin to warm up, a runny nose, and your body beginning to sweat. Spicy food clearly has an effect on the body from the inside and out. 

“You can add spice to your meal by using hot sauce. Other ways you can add spice to your food is to include chili peppers, cayenne pepper, garlic, or wasabi. It can naturally decongest a stuffy nose, and you can have a tasty meal to go right along with it.”

If you can't stomach a spicy meal then another option you can try is brewing a spice-infused tea. Experts say ginger and turmeric is a good option, as these spices are known for their anti-inflammatory properties, but other good options with a slightly milder flavor include green, peppermint, nettle, liquorice and chamomile tea.

Push Doctor adds: “Brew up: Green tea is a fantastic drink in and of itself, but it can also be a boon for hay fever sufferers. Research suggests green tea can have an anti-histamine effect, serving as an effective hay fever remedy – in the short term at least. 

“Camomile also comes recommended and you might want to try using the teabag as a cold compress to soothe those swollen eyes.”