Millions of people spend billions of dollars on antioxidant vitamin supplements each year.

Guess what? They don't work.

Sneezing, sniffling, swollen, itchy-eyes got you down this month? If so, you're far from alone. Mid-august marks the beginning of ragweed season, which lasts through October and causes a whopping 36 million Americans to suffer the symptoms of "hay fever" or allergic rhinitis.

Technically this column is devoted to food allergy sufferers, but with seasonal allergies (not to mention mold!) in full swing, we've got a total of 50 million people suffering some kind of torment, four of them in my very own household. So instead of writing about foods to avoid this month, I've focused on foods to include in your diet that can help reduce allergies. Food allergy sufferers, take note: I have not forsaken you! As seasonal allergies are said to exacerbate existing food allergies, this information should be helpful to you as well.

Years ago, I remember grimacing in distaste when a friend, who grew up in the Southern Appalachian Mountains, told me he sprinkles salt on his watermelon before he eats it. Now this friend isn't necessarily known for his culinary prowess (on another occasion he shared with me that his family used to fry leftover Krispy Kreme donuts in butter and serve them with ice cream), but he might have been ahead of his time when it comes to the salty watermelon.

Parsley is traditionally relegated to a mere garnish, but the herb has so much more to offer. Firstly, the leafy green is an excellent natural breath freshener. While mints and gum simply cover potent breath, parsley treats halitosis (or the aftermath of a garlicy dinner) from the inside out.

Parsley comes in several varieties - Italian and flat leaf are the most popular - and is also an excellent source of calcium, iron, and Vitamins A and C. Parsley is also known for its volatile oils - myristicin, limonene, eugenol, and alpha-thujene - which may be linked to a the prevention of several cancers and also give the herb the title of "chemoprotective" food. Parsely can neutralize certain carcinogens ike the benzopyrenes that are part of cigarette smoke, charcoal grill smoke (see The Side Effects of BBQ), and the smoke produced by trash incinerators.

It's easy to pop a vitamin every day. It's one of the less labor intensive steps in taking care of your health. But do you know what's going on inside that pill? All vitamins are definitely not created equal. This means that there's a decent chance that the $4 bottle I bought from Trader Joe's might not stand up to a $30 bottle from a health food store, but it may also mean that the more expensive brand is all hype and no substance.