Dr Oz

Allergy season is in full force. For many sufferers, this time of the year is marked by runny noses, watery, itchy eyes, sneezing, sinus pain, and headaches. An estimated 40 million to 50 million Americans suffer from seasonal allergies — so what can we do about them?

According to Dr. Oz, an allergic response to pollens is actually the sign of an active immune system, but before we go and toast to our runny noses, here are some natural solutions that often help conquer those pesky symptoms.

• Heat therapy. Warmer temperature is a great way to relieve congestion because it helps get the fluid and congestion in your face and chest moving by helping to think it out. Try exercising more or investing in a humidifier.
• Local honey. Many folks I know take a tablespoon of honey a day to combat allergies. The belief is that ingesting local pollen from honey builds resistance to the surrounding fauna. And while it may work for some people, remember that it's a home remedy that might not work for everyone, but is worth trying. If it doesn't help with your sniffles and sneezing, you're still getting vitamins B6, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, and minerals like calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc. Honey also contains antioxidants and vitamin C. All that and it tastes good, too!

Keep reading for more tips and helpful suggestions.

How can you add more years to your life? Have more sex! That's what Dr. Oz told me when I caught up with him at this week's Women's Conference. The TV doc explained the health benefits of getting busy and the differences between the needs of men and women, while his wife Lisa shared some of their secrets to a happy sex life. Check it out now!

When it comes to medical opinions, it's sometimes wise to get a second one, which is what I am asking of you, oh wise FitSugar readers. A fan of Dr. Oz, I watched his show the other day where he mapped out a 28-day plan to rid one of his audience members of her 12-sodas-a-day drinking habit. A cola junkie, she seemed excited about their plan to walk away from the bubbly drinks, but I'm just not sure I'm buying his month-long program.

Curious to see what it is?

As much as I love fresh flowers, and I do love fresh flowers, they are apparently not the best home décor decision for someone trying to lose a few pounds. Instead, Dr. Oz says that a fruit-filled centerpiece is the optimal choice. According to his ultimate slim-down plan, "Studies have indicated that people who smelled fruit before a meal lost an average of 30 pounds over the course of six months." The scent of fruit tricks our brains into thinking we've eaten so we feel full faster and eat less. And keeping a fruit bowl nearby may stop us dead in our tracks before we reach for a bag of chips in the kitchen cabinet.

I'm not saying I don't believe Dr. Oz, but I wonder if the mood boost I get from a vase full of hydrangea is worth giving up. Would you be willing to switch out flora for fruit in the name of dieting?