Pollen Allergy (Hay Fever)

Pollen allergy (seasonal allergic rhinitis) is caused by an overactive immune response to harmless pollen from trees, grasses, or weeds. In sensitive individuals, the immune system produces IgE antibodies that bind to mast cells. When pollen enters the body, these mast cells release histamine, leukotrienes, and inflammatory cytokines, leading to swelling and irritation of the nose, eyes, and airways.

• Histamine release: Causes sneezing, itching, runny nose, and watery eyes.
• Inflammation: Cytokines such as IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 drive chronic irritation and mucus overproduction.
• Immune hyperreactivity: The Th2-dominant response becomes exaggerated, making the body hypersensitive even to small amounts of pollen.

The severity of pollen allergy is strongly influenced by baseline inflammation and metabolic state. High carbohydrate intake and insulin spikes increase systemic cytokines, raise histamine levels, and elevate mast-cell activity—priming the immune system to overreact to pollen.

Ketosis (from fasting, ketogenic diet, or carnivore diet) can dramatically reduce or even eliminate pollen allergy symptoms because ketones powerfully lower inflammation and stabilize the immune response. Ketones reduce IgE activity, mast-cell activation, histamine release, and Th2-driven cytokines. When blood sugar is stable and insulin is low, mast cells become far less reactive, and the entire allergic response is muted.

As inflammation decreases and immune balance is restored, the body stops overreacting to pollen, often resulting in significantly reduced symptoms or complete remission during pollen season.