Fiber Power: Baobab's Role in Allergy Relief

Say goodbye to allergies by cleaning up your gut!

Allergies occur when your immune system overreacts to foreign substances that generally seem harmless to most. A greater sensitivity to elements such as pollen, bee venom, pet dander, or food causes the immune system to produce more antibodies.

The intensity of the immune response varies with some experiencing a runny nose itchy eyes and sneezing with hay fever, others suffering from digestive distress and bloating, skin rashes and sometimes life-threatening anaphylaxis. Ongoing research shows that gut health may have a lot to do with the way people experience allergies and is proving to be an essential component to help reduce allergic reactions.

Why are allergies on the rise?

The increased incidence of allergies is directly related to changes in our environment and the Western diet. Environmental pollution and poor nutrition result in an imbalance in the microbiota that resides on the skin, in the gut, and in the lungs. A state called dysbiosis promotes the production of inflammatory metabolites that increase allergic reactions. By improving your gut health with prebiotics, there is an easy way to contribute to a healthy immune reaction.

How does gut health affect allergies?

With 70% of your immune system in and around the gut, an imbalance in the gut microbiome increases the production of inflammatory messengers which causes your immune system to be on alert to any intruding element from the diet or the environment. The gut and the lungs are connected through the gut-lung axis and when the gut is inflamed it affects lung function. For the skin, we see a similar pattern, in fact improving gut health has been shown to reduce the severity of eczema and itchy skin.

Prebiotic fiber supports gut health to reduce allergies

Strange as it may sound, adding fiber, especially prebiotic fiber can help calm your allergic reactions. Reducing allergic reactions can reduce digestive distress, bloating, itching, runny nose and skin irritation.

Why adding prebiotic fiber reduces allergies:

• A prebiotic is a non-digestible and through a process called fermentation stimulates the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut.
• Soluble fiber and polyphenols are both prebiotics  and work together to reduce inflammation.

Baobab, the super fiber that can help allergies. 

Baobab is rich in soluble fiber pectin, polyphenols, and vitamin C. The dietary fiber pectin found in Baobab alters the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes in the gut increasing the concentrations of beneficial short-chain fatty acids in the gut and the lungs reducing the development of airway inflammation.

Baobab polyphenols are bioactive compounds proven to benefit gut health. Flavonoids found in Baobab possess an anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic potential. 

Baobab with 6 times more vitamin C than an orange by weight helps decrease inflammation and acts as a natural antihistamine.

Other prebiotics such as inulin and resistant starch do not have the naturally occurring polyphenols and vitamin C of Baobab.

15 Amazing Benefits of Baobab Powder You'll Love

5 easy steps to preventing allergy symptoms

1. Avoid processed foods with additives, coloring, and preservatives.
2. Refresh indoor air with the use of a HEPA filter in your home.
3. Increase your intake of Vitamin C and flavonoids such as quercetin
4. Include Baobab prebiotic fiber, vitamin C, and polyphenols
5. Reduce exposure to potential environmental allergens

What is Baobab Fruit Powder?

The Baobab is an amazing tree that grows in the African Savanna. Once considered a lost crop, the magical Baobab tree produces a fruit powder with immense health benefits. Baobab super fiber is low glycemic, an immune-boosting superfood, an excellent source of prebiotic fiber, bioavailable vitamin C, antioxidant polyphenols and minerals including calcium, magnesium and potassium. 

How To Use Baobab?

Baobab Fruit Powder tastes sweet and tangy and can be added to smoothies, yogurt, oatmeal or granola. Baobab Powder is a raw ingredient, organic and wild harvested, gluten free and free of additives.   

In conclusion

The gut plays a central role in all aspects of our health including food and environmental allergies. While antihistamine medications are offered as the solution, to allergies —its actually improving your diet and adding a premium quality prebiotic fiber such as Baobab that can make a huge impact for gut health and the way your body relates to its surroundings!    

Blanco-Pérez F, Steigerwald H, Schülke S, Vieths S, Toda M, Scheurer S. The Dietary Fiber Pectin: Health Benefits and Potential for the Treatment of Allergies by Modulation of Gut Microbiota. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2021 Sep 10;21(10):43. doi: 10.1007/s11882-021-01020-z. PMID: 34505973; PMCID: PMC8433104.

Foltz M, Zahradnik AC, Van den Abbeele P, Ghyselinck J, Marzorati M. A Pectin-Rich, Baobab Fruit Pulp Powder Exerts Prebiotic Potential on the Human Gut Microbiome In Vitro. Microorganisms. 2021 Sep 17;9(9):1981. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms9091981. PMID: 34576876; PMCID: PMC8467054.

Jafarinia M, Sadat Hosseini M, Kasiri N, Fazel N, Fathi F, Ganjalikhani Hakemi M, Eskandari N. Quercetin with the potential effect on allergic diseases. Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2020 May 14;16:36. doi: 10.1186/s13223-020-00434-0. PMID: 32467711; PMCID: PMC7227109.