Do You Have Allergies or Could it be Something Else
Do you have allergies? Everyone you talk to seem’s to have allergies or someone they know has allergies.
What are allergies, allergies are a harmless substance such as dust, mold or pollen which is encountered by a person who is allergic to that substance the immune system may over react by producing antibodies that attach to the allergen. This can cause wheezing, itching, runny nose, watery or itchy eyes and other very serious symptoms. However, inflammation linked to allergies can also cause lingering symptoms that may affect your entire body, including fatique, joint pain and fever.
There is more to this picture than just allergies we have to look at why we have these allergies and is there more to the picture.
The reason I am writing this post about allergies is because I have been dealing with this for many years and after researching the subject have come up with why we are having so many problems with it. The problem is called Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) and it is also called Leaky Mast Cell where the mast cells are producing too much histamine so we call this histamine intolerance.
Mast cells which are white blood cells are responsible for releasing histamine. This is fine for your body but if you can’t break down the histamine properly or you are producing more histamine that your body needs you end up with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome.
This condition can affect people their whole life and because you have so many unusual symptoms it is hard to pinpoint what is really wrong with you.
I have only been dealing with this in my later life so it was easier to find the cause. As a naturopath when you are looking at lots of intolerance’s to food we straight away look to the gut to resolve the symptoms. As we have leaky gut we can have leaky mast cells and they can be healed.
The many duties of histamine receptors:
1. Histamine functions as a vasodilator (which dilates blood vessels).
2 Histamine controls the function of hydrochloric acid. (This breaks down your food).
3 Histamine acts as a neurotransmitter, sending messages for sleep, appetite and behaviour all over the brain.
4 Histamine receptors are also found in the colon, liver, lung, small intestine, spleen, testes, thymus, tonsils and trachea.
Histamine can be broken down by diamine oxidase (DOA) or by histamine N -methyltransferase (HNMT).
There are different enzymes and they are specific to different areas of the body that work to break down histamine. Histamine can be broken down by DOA in various areas of the digestive system DOA is a huge part of histamine metabolism and it helps balance histamine levels in the body. When in the spine, kidneys, liver, lungs and some other areas histamine is broken down by histamine N-methyltransferase (HNMT) HNMT can break down histamine only when the histamine is in the spaces between cells, but it helps mop up excess histamine very effectively wherever it is found.
When these enzymes aren’t present or when you are suffering from a metabolic issue this makes it hard to break down histamine, histamine builds up, leading to histamine intolerance and a range of symptoms.
As you can see histamine receptors are all over the body so you can see why we have so many problems with histamine.
The symptoms of histamine intolerance are quite similar to symptoms of seasonal allergies, but some symptoms can be much more severe. They include the following.
· Itchy skin, eyes, ears and nose.
· Eczema or other types of dermatitis.
· Red eyes.
· Hives
· Facial swelling or other tissue swelling
· Tightness in the throat.
· Difficulty regulating body temperature.
· A drop of blood pressure when standing up quickly.
· Vertigo or dizziness.
· Low blood pressure.
· Fast heart rate.
· Heart palpitations.
· Difficulty falling asleep.
· Confusion
· Irritability
· Anxiety or panic attacks.
· Seasonal allergies.
· Runny nose and congestion.
· Acid reflux or other digestive issues (like nausea and
vomiting.
· Abdominal menstrual cycle.
Risk Factors for Histamine Intolerance
You may be more likely than other people to have histamine intolerance for a range of reasons. IF you are suffering from chronic stress, sleep disturbances, anxiety, thyroid dysfunction or other conditions you could be at higher risk to developing histamine intolerance.
High stress levels can have a huge impact on histamine production in the body so reducing stress levels can be an important part of treatment.
Hormonal Imbalances especially estrogen dominance can lead to histamine intolerance. Estrogen can also interfere with how DOA and monoamine oxidase (MAO another enzyme that breaks down histamine) work, which are important for breaking down histamine.
Knowing this information, it makes sense why many women suffer from symptoms related to histamine intolerance right before ovulation.
The most common causes for histamine intolerance –
· Mast Cell Activation Syndrome
· Gluten Intolerance
· Leaky Gut
· Gut infections
· Inflammatory Digestive Diseases
· Nutrient Deficiencies
· Genetic Mutations
· Certain Medications
Common causes of Histamine Intolerance
Mast Cell Activation Syndrome can be the primary cause of histamine intolerance, but it may not be the cause for everyone. However in MCAS there can be a wide range of triggers and this can cause the mast cells to release inflammatory mediators and histamine.
Many of the symptoms can be similar to the symptoms I have previously mentioned.
Gluten Intolerance can be another cause especially as gluten is a very inflammatory substance and it can release a substance called zonulin which can open the tight junctions in the gut. This can cause leaky gut syndrome. Getting tested for this condition can be difficult and you need to see a Functional Doctor or Naturopath who works with allergies like myself.
The first step to see if you have issues with gluten is to take all gluten out of your diet for 2 weeks and then test it by putting something with gluten in your diet. Make sure it is only
Something with wheat and not much else like pasta because if you have bread it has yeast as well and you won’t get a good result.
Leaky Gut can be caused by food sensitivities, bacterial, viral or parasitic infections and over use of antibiotics or anti-inflammatory drugs. This can also be tested by a Functional Doctor or Naturopath.
Gut Infections like Helicobacter Pylori or Sibo (Small Intestinal bacterial overgrowth) and Gut Inflammatory Digestive Diseases like Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn’s Disease can also be the cause of Histamine Intolerance.
HOW TO HEAL THE BODY
The first step is to find a Doctor of Naturopath to help you get tested to see what you are dealing with.
If you are struggling with that and want to do this on your own that is ok.
Have a look at the symptoms I have listed and check them against what you are dealing with, do you have some of them or all of them depending on how bad you Histamine Intolerance is.
Remove High Histamine foods and Inflammatory foods for 1 – 3 months.
I will be adding a Food Diary for you to download this is very important and will make the diet easier to follow. This will help you see what foods are triggering your immediate symptoms.
One thing you need to understand is that when you eat triggering foods you might not get a symptom straight away it can build up that is why the dairy is important.
These are the foods you can eat, the foods you can’t and the maybe list -
YES FOODS
Protein - Beef, Chicken, Lamb, Duck, Eggs, Pork, Seafood
Turkey
Fruit - Apricots, Blueberries, Cherries, Grapes, Melon,
Exotic Fruit, Pears, Apples
Vegetables - Potato, Carrots, Cabbage, Cauliflour, Broccoli, Leeks
Celery, Cucumber, Garlic, Green Beans, Kale,
Lettuce, Parsnip, Sweet Potato, Turnip, Watercress
Zucchini -
Flours - Arrowroot, Cassava, Tapioco, Coconut Flour
Fats - Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Ghee, Grass Fed Butter
Coconut Oil
Sweetener - Blackstrap Molasses, Honey, Maple Syrup,
Coconut Sugar
Others - Celtic Himalayan Salt, Leafy Herbs, White Tea
and Herbal Teas
MAYBE FOODS
(Eat Moderately)
Fruits - Raspberries, Kiwi, Lemon, Mango, Nectarines, Papaya, Peach, Plum
Vegetables - Mushrooms, Peas, Pumpkin, Squash
Nuts - Soaked Almond, Pecans, Pistachio, Soaked
Brazil, Pine Nuts.
Other - Apple Cider Vinegar, Coconut Milk, Coconut
Milk, Coconut Butter, Shredded Coconut,
Dried Herbs/ Spices, White Vinegar, Yeast
Seed & Seed
Butters - Flax, Sesame, Sunflower, Pumpkin
Flours - Almond Flour
No Foods
(Do Not Eat)
Protein - Protein from the yes list must be fresh
Vegetables - Eggplant, Spinach
Fruits - Avocado, Citrus, Dried Fruit (Apricot, Dates, Raisins), Strawberries, Tomato, Banana
Additional Foods - Alcohol (Especially Red Wine), Chocolate,
Cinamon, Dairy, Fermented Foods, Gluten,
Grains, Peanuts, Soy
Vinegars - All Vinegars except Gluten Free, Apple
Cider Vinegar,
Spices - Nutmeg, Anise, Cinamon, Cloves, Curry
Powder, Paprika/Cayenne
Nuts - Walnuts, Cashews
Although not all these foods are high in histamine’s they are inflammatory foods.
The first phase of the diet you are best to eat only from the yes foods and occasionally have the maybe foods. This should be one month and then start the second phase of the diet, stay on the diet you have formed and remember to fill out your food journal.
Stage 3 you should be noticing the difference by keeping to the diet.
If you can see a doctor or naturopath to support you why you are going through this stage it will really help with the symptoms. By supporting the liver and healing the gut you will reduce symptoms majorly.
This diet seems really hard to stay on and I know there are a lot of your favorite foods which have been taken away from you but you will see the difference in how you feel and it is not forever. I am on this diet and it can be hard but you will get through it especially when you start to feel better.
If you need any support please contact me on my website, email or phone. If you want to do this on your own and you need supplements for your gut please contact me as well.
If you would like me to give you some recipe’s please contact me.
Good Luck!
DIET AND SYMPTOM DIARY ALLERGIES
(Download the Diet and Symptoms Form.)