While many can’t wait for winter to be over, there are those of us who dread the spring bloom and the ensuing wave of hay fever it entails. BUT, and this is a big but, there may be hope in the form of everyone’s favourite drink – the gin and tonic.

Asthma UK has revealed that switching to drinking gin may help soothe sufferer’s symptoms, due to the spirit’s naturally low levels of histamine. It’s good news too for lovers of vodka and other clear spirits, which also are lower in histamine than traditional trigger alcohols like red wine and beer.

Those looking to minimise the effects of hay fever should avoid red wine in particular, which is known to contain both higher levels of histamine and sulphates. And it’s not just alcohol sufferers should avoid, foods such as smoked and cured meat and fish are also known to be high in histamine, as are some of the world’s most popular cheeses, namely camembert, parmesan and cheddar.

With hay fever season in full swing, we know what we’ll be reaching for this season.

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