Main Dishes for Preventing Nasal Polyps (Recipes)

Are you looking for flavorful recipes that are particularly good for people who tend to get nasal polyps? In this section, you'll find plenty of recipes that combine foods like asparagus, watercress, romaine lettuce, and carrots which are known to provide hefty doses of anti-polyp nutrients.

But before you let loose the culinary guru in you and explore the recipes below, make sure you have already checked out the section Nasal Polyps & Diet and the section Foods That Help Prevent Nasal Polyps for more general information about nasal polyposis and nutrition.

Steamed Asparagus with Ginger and Pecans

Turbo-charge your diet by eating asparagus, a highly nutritious vegetable that is loaded with glutathione, a 'master antioxidant' that has been in the headlines in recent years. Antioxidants are important to people with nasal polyposis because of their ability to scavenge free radicals. Also pecans are rich in antioxidants. In addition, pecans are low in salicylates compared to most other nuts. Salicylates are a common trigger for nasal polyps.
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Apple and Onion Soup

This soup combines apples and onions, two of the best natural sources of quercetin. Quercetin is a bioflavonoid that has been shown to effectively protect against allergic reactions. Quercetin works its protective magic by stabilizing the cell membranes of mast cells and basophils, thereby inhibiting histamine release.
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Wholesome Winter Pea and Watercress Soup

This beautiful green soup with a wonderful creamy texture provides a truckload of vitamin C. Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant which provides protection against free radical damage in nasal polyposis. Studies have also shown high levels of vitamin C help reduce histamine release in the body and make histamine break down faster. Histamine, a chemical produced by the body, is involved in many allergic reactions and can increase inflammation.
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Curried Sweet Potato Soup

Sweet potatoes are one of the most nutritious vegetables and loaded with nutrients that help fight nasal polyps. The pink, orange, and yellow varieties—which this recipe calls for—are one of the most concentrated food sources of beta-carotene (the more intense the color, the more beta-carotene). They also contain plenty of vitamin C. In addition, sweet potatoes one of the foods that are least likely to cause allergic reactions, which is great news since most nasal polyps are linked to allergies.
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Broccoli and Barley Soup

Provided that you're not allergic or sensitive to gluten, this dish can make a great addition to your diet. The broccoli in this soup is loaded with vitamin C and beta-carotene, both of which play an important role in any diet designed to prevent nasal polyps. The thyme and marjoram, which add flavor to this dish, contain ursolic acid which has been shown alleviate allergies by inhibiting histamine release from mast cells. Ursolic acid also possesses antioxidant properties.
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Chicken Soup with Rice and Broccoli

This scrumptious soup combines chicken and rice which rarely cause allergic reactions, making this dish great for those who suffer from nasal polyposis. The broccoli in this soup delivers plenty of beta-carotene which has properties that can help prevent nasal polyps.
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Chicken and Apple Salad

This recipe pairs meaty chicken with lush grapes and crunchy apples to create a wonderful culinary sensation. Chicken, apples, and grapes rarely cause allergic reactions, so this salad is also well suited for most people with nasal polyposis. In addition, apples are crammed with quercetin—a bioflavonoid that has been shown to effectively protect against allergic reactions. Quercetin works its protective magic by stabilizing the cell membranes of mast cells and basophils, thereby preventing them from releasing a load of histamine.
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Super-Nutritious Broccoli Salad

This super nutritious salad is made of ingredients that provide substantial amounts of polyp-fighting nutrients such as beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, and quercetin. What's more, this salad also contains some omega-3 fatty acids (provided by the broccoli). Note: this recipe contains dairy.
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Romaine and Smoked Salmon Salad

Romaine lettuce and carrots provide a very good source of pro-vitamin A and vitamin C, two important vitamins for maintaining nasal health. Salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids which have anti-inflammatory effects. Salmon also contains astaxanthin, a carotenoid that gives salmon its pink color and that can act as a potent antioxidant.
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Anti-Inflammatory Salmon Salad

Salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids which have anti-inflammatory effects. Salmon also contains astaxanthin, a carotenoid that gives salmon its pink color and that can act as a potent antioxidant. The polyp-fighting properties of this salad are further strengthened by red onions and capers, both of which are among the best dietary sources of quercetin. Quercetin is a flavonoid that can act as an antioxidant and scavenge free radicals and therefore contribute to the prevention of nasal polyps.
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Carrot Fennel Cucumber Salad

Provided that you're not allergic to citrus fruits, this summery salad works like magic to soothe your soul—and nasal passages. The beneficial effects on your nasal passages are due to the wide range of nasal polyposis fighting nutrients found in this salad, including beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, and omega-3 fatty acids.
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Beet and Carrot Salad with Ginger

This recipe pairs beets with carrots to create an excellent natural remedy for fighting nasal polyps. Several studies have found betacyanin, a phytochemical compound responsible for beets' purple color, to be highly effective at scavenging free radicals, unstable molecules that can contribute to the formation of nasal polyps. Carrots are packed with nutrients that help combat chronic inflammation associated with nasal polyps.
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Omega-3 Omelet with Red Onions and Capers

Provided that you are not allergic or sensitive to eggs, this omelet may be of great help if you are prone to getting nasal polyps. Onions, particularly red onions, as well as capers are among the best natural sources of quercetin. Quercetin is well known for its ability to scavenge free radicals that can contribute to the development of polyps. What's more, this omelet provides plenty of omega-3 fatty acids which are known to have anti-inflammatory effects.
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Stir-Fried Asparagus with Quinoa Noodles

Asparagus tops the list of the foods with the highest concentration of glutathione, a 'master antioxidant' that has been in the headlines in recent years. Antioxidants are important to people with nasal polyposis because of their ability to scavenge free radicals.
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Green Pea and Mushroom Risotto

Here's a simple recipe for making risotto that's chock-full of both flavor and nutrients. What's more, the mushrooms it boasts may help alleviate allergies, which are often associated with nasal polyps. The beneficial effects of mushrooms on allergies are believed to be linked to their high selenium content.
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Green Pea and Fennel Risotto

Here's a simple recipe for making risotto that's full of flavor and nutrients. What's more, unlike most risotto recipes, this recipe does not call for cheese or wine and is therefore a good choice for those whose polyps are linked to an allergy to dairy or wine.
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For more recipes that can help you prevent nasal polyps, visit the main recipe directory of HealWithFood.org's Guide to Preventing Nasal Polyps.