Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (or SIBO) is one of those hot topics in the alternative medical community that is often misunderstood, so I thought I would take. What is a low carb diet, really? When can a low carb diet be beneficial? Should everyone follow a low carb diet? Or, can a low carb diet ruin your health? How an Elimination Diet Cured my Daughter Could Your Histamine Intolerance Really Be Mast Cell Activation Disorder? Do you have trouble with histamine? Have you struggled to get a diagnosis? In Mast Cell Activation Disorder (MCAD), part of the innate immune system becomes hyperactive, releasing histamine and other chemicals that affect every organ system in the body. Read on to learn more about MCAD, and how you can address the root cause. Ugreen. Histamine intolerance has become a popular term in the natural health community. There are a number of factors that can contribute to, or cause, histamine intolerance, including excess histamine production, diamine oxidase (DAO) enzyme deficiency, HMNT mutation, and poor methylation in the liver; however, my experience has been that MCAD is responsible for a large number of cases of histamine intolerance. This article will serve as an introduction to MCAD . Though best known for their role in allergies, mast cells are also involved in the formation of new blood cells, wound healing, the development of immune tolerance, defense against pathogens, and the maintenance of blood- brain barrier function (1, 2). Mast cells are the sentinels of the innate immune system, on the lookout for environmental changes or insults to the body. They respond by releasing mediator molecules that influence the behavior of other cells and tissues in an effort to maintain normalcy, or . The key takeaway here is that we need mast cells and their mediators for normal body function.
The issue arises when these cells become overactive, as they do in individuals with MCAD. Mast cell activation disorder: the hidden diagnosis. Mast cell activation disorder is characterized by the accumulation of mast cells that are genetically altered (mastocytosis) and/or the abnormal release of mast cell mediators (Mast Cell Activation Syndrome). Because mast cells are found in all human tissues, and mast cell mediator receptors are found on almost every cell in the body, MCAD has the potential to affect every organ system (5). How Does an Elemental Diet Treat SIBO? Remember that bacteria are living things. Like all living things, bacteria have to eat something. The bacteria in our small. Histamine intolerance is a fairy common but under recognised and not fully understood problem linked with food sensitivities as well as gut and metabolic imbalances. MCAD presents clinically as a chronic, multisystem pathology of a generally allergic and inflammatory theme, and has been associated with obesity, diabetes, skin conditions, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), depression, and more (6). MCAD does have a genetic component, and tends to cluster in families (1. Trouble with histamines? Get to the root of the problem. MCAD is estimated to be more prevalent (7) than other diseases of mast cell dysfunction, but also more difficult to recognize. This is at least in part due to the fact that it often does not cause abnormalities in routine lab testing. MCAD was not named as a condition until 2. We still have a lot to learn about MCAD, but I believe it is likely the result of deeper pathologies, including: Heavy metal toxicity: Heavy metals like aluminum and mercury have been shown to destabilize mast cells. This makes sense, as the very purpose of using these as vaccine adjuvants is to elicit a heightened inflammatory immune response. Lead, cadmium, and bismuth have also been found to activate mast cells and cause mast cell mediator release (1. Infections or gut dysbiosis: The gut is home to 7. Parasitic infections, bacterial/viral infections, or bacterial/fungal overgrowth activate mast cells (1. Helminth parasites and Candida have been shown to be potent stimulators of mast cell activation (1. Mast cells regularly interact with microbes, and gut dysbiosis itself may lead to MCAD (1. CIRS: Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome could also play a role. Those who are particularly susceptible to mold and have a reduced ability to clear mycotoxins from the body, which leads to a constant activation of mast cells. Treatment for MCADConventional treatments for MCAD are pharmacological agents that block the action of mast cell mediators. While these may provide much- needed relief to patients, they are not a long- term solution and can have unwanted side effects. Safer short- term action steps that you can take to provide some relief include: Adopting a low- histamine diet: For some people with MCAD, a low- histamine diet provides significant relief. Supplemental diamine oxidase can also help by increasing histamine breakdown. Histamine is also only one of many mediators produced during mast cell degranulation. Focus on nutrients and foods known to stabilize mast cells: Many nutrients, including selenium (1. C (1. 9), have been shown to stabilize mast cells. A number of herbs and spices, like holy basil (2. I have also seen good results with supplemental forms of quercetin (2. Reducing stress: Corticotropin hormone, released in response to physical or psychological stress, destabilizes mast cells and causes them to release their mediators (2. Entraining circadian rhythms: Mast cell activity closely mirrors circadian rhythms (2. Ultimately though, we need to address the root cause: Remove heavy metals from your system: Chelating agents can help to remove heavy metals from your system. This is best done under the guidance of a healthcare practitioner. Removal of old mercury fillings by a trained professional can also reduce the burden of heavy metals in the body. Treat infections: A comprehensive stool test can help identify parasites and other infections that could be contributing to mast cell activation. Heal your gut: Remove inflammatory foods and focus on nutrient density. Include plenty of probiotic, prebiotic, and healing foods in your diet. Now I. Had you ever heard of Mast Cell Activation Disorder? Let us know in the comments! Like what you’ve read? Sign up for FREE updates delivered to your inbox. I hate spam too. Your email is safe with me. Could Histamine Be the Cause? Red wine. Even conventional doctors frequently recommend including many of these seemingly unrelated foods daily as part of a healthy diet. After all, even a raw vegan probably wouldn. You could be suffering from histamine intolerance. Never heard of histamine intolerance? This food intolerance is difficult to diagnose, has a multifaceted symptom profile, and is often confused with a variety of other conditions. Many doctors and nutritionists have never even heard of histamine intolerance, and often treat the symptoms without ever addressing the underlying cause. In my practice, I see it especially with headaches and migraines, skin problems and mental health issues. Common symptoms of histamine intolerance include: (3)Pruritus (itching especially of the skin, eyes, ears, and nose)Urticaria (hives) (sometimes diagnosed as . Imagine it like a cup of water. When the cup is very full (high amounts of histamine in the diet), even a drop of additional water will cause the cup to overflow (symptoms activated). But when the cup is less full, it would take more water (histamine) to cause a response. This makes histamine intolerance tricky to recognize. In addition, histamine intolerance is closely related to SIBO and dysbiosis, which suggests that curing the latter may alleviate the former. Many integrative practitioners, including myself, believe that a primary cause of histamine intolerance is an overgrowth of certain types of bacteria that make histamine from undigested food, leading to a buildup of histamine in the gut and overwhelming the body. This causes a heightened sensitivity to histamine- containing foods and an increase in symptoms that are commonly associated with allergies. For more detailed information on histamine intolerance, including causes, symptoms, and treatment, check out this article by Dr. Janice Joneja, a Ph. D. Fermented foods are some of the biggest culprits, since even beneficial bacteria produce histamine during fermentation. In fact, reacting to fermented foods is a classic sign of histamine intolerance, especially if probiotic supplements are well- tolerated. After that, smaller amounts of histamine may be tolerated depending on the person. Individual sensitivity varies tremendously. I have one or two patients that cannot tolerate any amount of histamine in food, and others that are only sensitive to the foods highest in histamine. In order to improve your tolerance to histamine- containing foods, it is crucial to heal the gut and address any dysbiosis or SIBO issues that may exist. I recommend working with a qualified practitioner who can help you address any bacterial imbalance and create a treatment plan that is tailored to your needs. What can you eat on a low- histamine Paleo diet? You may be feeling overwhelmed by the list of foods to avoid – I don! It can be especially challenging to eat low- histamine foods on a Paleo diet. For example, a person may do fine eating berries and citrus fruits, but they may have horrible reactions to wine or sauerkraut. It contains over 6. Paleo- approved recipes, and allows you to exclude many high histamine foods from your meal plan, including fermented dairy, eggs, tomatoes, eggplant, fruit, certain spices, vinegar, alcohol, and seafood. Of course, you. Some of these issues can be addressed by excluding fruit and pork from the meal plan, which isn. Even with a histamine intolerance, you can still enjoy many delicious Paleo recipes: Lamb Roast with Fennel and Root Vegetables, Beef Brisket with Mushrooms, Sourdough Buckwheat Pancakes, and even Chicken Pot Pie, just to name a few. There are few other online resources for low- histamine meal plans, and most are not Paleo compliant. The Low Histamine Chef has a . Just remember, individual results will vary! Do you follow a low histamine Paleo diet? Have you seen a difference in your health as a result? Share your story in the comments below. Like what you’ve read? Sign up for FREE updates delivered to your inbox. I hate spam too. Your email is safe with me. Are You Suffering From Histamine Intolerance? Suffering From Histamine Intolerance? As a clinician, it is imperative that I understand all different types of unique health problems and metabolic challenges. On a biochemical level what may be a superfood for one individual may be poison to another. Histamine intolerance is an area where this is the case. People who are unable to effectively metabolize histamines must restrict their consumption of many foods that I typically recommend on a regular basis. If you have a histamine intolerance consuming histamine rich foods can lead to chronic health issues such as allergies, asthma, sinus problems, eczema, chronic pain, menstrual problems and much more (1). The Unique Nature of a Histamine Intolerance. I always wondered about what was happening with individuals who told me they were “allergic to the sun.” Interesting research is indicating this is a histamine response as UV light can trigger histamine release (2). Other research is indicating that those susceptible may have problems with high- intensity exercise, especially done in a warm environment (3). Individuals with periods of high estrogen may have higher than normal histamine responses and high stress increases histamine levels and decreases the bodies ability to metabolize the histamine (4, 5). What is Histamine? Histamine is an in important neurotransmitter and immune messenger molecule. It is involved in processes involving hydrochloric acid secretion for digestion, triaging water reserves to key areas of the body and the inflammatory response. Histamine receptors are located all over the body and have many important functions including: Histamine H1 receptors: Smooth muscle and endothelial cells affecting skin; blood vessels (Benadryl and Claritin block activity of these receptors)Histamine H2 receptors: Cells in the intestines control acid secretion, abdominal pain, and nausea; heart rate. Histamine H3 receptors: Central nervous system controlling nerves, sleep, appetite and behavior. Histamine H4 receptors: Thymus, small intestine, spleen, colon, bone marrow and white blood cells; inflammatory response. One of the major effects of histamine is causing the blood vessels to swell and dilate. When the body senses that it is threatened it will secrete higher amounts of histamine. This allows the white blood cells to quickly move through the blood stream and find the potential threat or infection. This is an important component to a healthy immune response. When Does Histamine Become a Problem? Histamine only becomes a problem when we have metabolic disturbances that do not allow us to effectively metabolize histamine properly. When histamine is formed it is broken down by specific enzymes. In the central nervous system it is metabolized by hitamine N- methyltransferase (HMT), while in the digestive tract it is broken down by diamine oxidase (DAO). The experts state that DAO is the major enzyme involved in histamine metabolism (6). The enzyme converts the histamine into imidazole acetaldehyde which does not trigger any sort of reaction in the body. DAO is responsible for ensuring a steady histamine level required for the balance of numerous chemical reactions taking place in the body. Altered DAO Enzyme Production: Some individuals have altered DAO production due to a number of different factors including (7): Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) – some gut microbes produce high amounts of histamines as a byproduct of their metabolism. Copper, Vit C & B6 Deficiency: Copper and Vit C are crucial components of the DAO enzyme and B6 is a key cofactor that enables DAO to degrade histamine. Leaky Gut Syndrome: Intestinal permeability creates major inflammatory stress in the body which can contribute to poor DAO function. Genetic Polymorphisms in DAO enzyme – this can be seen on the 2. SNP’s. A homozygous DAO would make someone more susceptible to developing a histamine intolerance. Use of Certain Medications: Non- steroidal anti- inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen, aspirin)Antidepressants (Cymbalta, Effexor, Prozac, Zoloft)Immune modulators (Humira, Enbrel, Plaquenil)Antiarrhythmics (propanolol, metaprolol, Cardizem, Norvasc)Antihistamines (Allegra, Zyrtec, Benadryl)Histamine (H2) blockers (Tagamet, Pepcid, Zantac)According to expert Dr. Amy Myers MD, “histamine blockers, a class of acid- reducing drugs, seem like they would help prevent histamine intolerance, these medications can actually deplete DAO levels in your body” (8). According to Chris Kresser L. AC, “Histamine is different than typical food sensitivities or allergens in that it is a cumulative problem” (9). So we begin to have symptoms when we either take in too many histamine molecules or we reduce the DAO enzyme to the point where the histamines overload the system. These symptoms will last until the body metabolizes the histamines and removes them from the system. Who Has Histamine Intolerance: According to available research, histamine intolerance manifests in approximately 3% of the population (9). In up to 2. 0% of these cases the symptoms occur mostly when histamine containing foods are used in combination with DAO inhibitors such as alcohol. Approximately 8. 0% of individuals with histamine intolerance are women and most of them are over 4. The three biggest factors involved with histamine intolerance include leaky gut syndrome or related disorders such as Crohn’s disease, Irritable bowel, celiac, gluten sensitivity, etc (1. The second factor is a genetic polymorphism with the DAO enzyme. Heavy alcohol and/or medication usage is another strong risk factor. Diagnosing Histamine Intolerance: This is a challenging condition to diagnose for a number of reasons. The first is that there are so many popular foods, many of which are considered health foods that are high in histamines. Also, some individuals have a unique gut flora that is producing high histamine levels. Most doctors are not familiar with histamine intolerance and never consider this as a contributing factor in the individual’s health challenges. In fact, many physicians including myself, typically recommend a diet high in histamine containing foods. This includes fermented foods which have incredible health benefits for those with adequate histamine metabolism. Research has shown that people react quite differently to elevated histamine making it that much harder to pinpoint (1. As a clinician, I have learned that when individuals react very poorly to fermented foods it is a sign of histamine intolerance. Most people respond very well to small amounts and gradually increasing levels of fermented foods. Individuals with histamine intolerances often break out with hives, eczema, rashes, puffy eyes, headaches, etc. Common Symptoms of Histamine Intolerance. Headaches/Migraines. Difficulty falling asleep, easily arousal. Hypertension. Vertigo or Dizziness. Arrhythmia, or accelerated heart rate. Difficulty regulating body temperature. Anxiety. Nausea, Vomiting. Abdominal cramps. Flushing. Nasal Congestion, Sneezing, Difficulty Breathing. Abnormal Menstrual Cycle. Hives. Fatigue. Tissue swelling. Histamines travel throughout the bloodstream and therefore can effect the gut, lungs, skin, brain and entire cardiovascular system. This is why there are such a wide array of health problems associated with it and it is quite challenging to pinpoint and diagnose if you are not aware of the condition (1. Testing For Histamine Intolerance: The 2. DAO enzyme production. When an individual has a homozygous mutation they will most likely struggle with histamine metabolism. This may not occur until after a stressful season of their life when their gut barrier breaks down and their adrenal glands are unable to keep up with the demands placed upon them. This creates a vicious cycle of chronic inflammation and inflammatory stress that depletes the body of vital reserves and exposes the genetic weaknesses of the individual. There are lab tests that can be done that analyze the ratio of histamine/DAO enzymes. A high histamine/DAO ratio indicates that one is ingesting too much histamine and is not producing enough DAO to effectively metabolize it. Without getting the blood test you could do a histamine challenge by consuming a number of different fermented foods and high histamine foods and see if this aggravates your symptoms. If so, try a low- histamine diet for a week and if you notice significant improvements you most likely have histamine intolerance. To improve your tolerance to histamine, it is critical to heal the gut and address the dysbiotic issues that are at the root of the problem. I would recommend working with a qualified health practitioner to assess and create a specific plan to address the bacterial imbalance. Foods High in Histamines (1. Some foods naturally have more histamine content while others accumulate histamines while they age. Fermented and dried foods typically have the highest levels of histamines. A low histamine diet must be focused around getting foods at their peak level of freshness. Here is a list of high histamine foods: Fermented alcoholic beverages, especially wine, champagne and beer. Fermented foods: sauerkraut, vinegar, soy sauce, kefir, yogurt, kombucha, etc. Vinegar- containing foods: pickles, mayonnaise, olives. Cured meats: bacon, salami, pepperoni, luncheon meats and hot dogs. Soured foods: sour cream, sour milk, buttermilk, soured bread, etc. Dried fruit: apricots, prunes, dates, figs, raisins. Most citrus fruits. Aged cheese including goat cheese. Nuts: walnuts, cashews, and peanuts. Vegetables: avocados, eggplant, spinach, and tomatoes. Smoked fish and certain species of fish: mackerel, mahi- mahi, tuna, anchovies, sardines. Processed foods of all types – Preservatives are high in histamines. Histamine- Releasing Foods (1. These foods do not necessarily contain histamine but they block the action of DOA and therefore they potentiate the effects of elevated histamines. Alcohol. Bananas. Chocolate. Cow’s Milk. Nuts. Papaya. Pineapple. Specific Carbohydrate Diet SCD for Ulcerative Colitismaking one of my meals in the morning for breakfast, and having fun too! Diet, food, drink, snacks. Peg. And here’s another email from a mom of a UC’er- Adam and Family,Thank you for your website and your positive attitude. If it weren’t for you I don’t know how long it would have taken to find out about SCD (diet) for UC! My daughter has been on SCD since last year (just after she was diagnosed) and she is doing great, a fantastic girl, she is involved in school and sports. With Lialda and SCD she has the life everyone should have, no flares! Sincerest Gratitude,Karen. SCD has actually been around for several decades, but to most people it’s previously unknown. Not a single doctor ever told me about treating my UC with diet. Hass spent thousands of hours figuring out what works well and what does not in terms of foods. I’ll try to explain it to you in simple terms. And, that bad bacteria we create from certain foods we eat that isn’t fully digested(certain breads, wheat products, certain sugars for example, corn). So, when we eliminate those “bad” foods that cause “bad bacteria growth” our immune systems don’t have to keep killing off invaders and attacking. That’s the idea. It’s Pretty Simple. Below is a list of some Good and Bad Foods: (there is a long list of different meals/recipes in my 1. Cookbook (which has been ordered by UC’ers and concerned family members worldwide) with easy to use instructions and ingredient lists)Good Foods: Chicken (baked, broiled, even off the BBQ if that’s all you have)Chicken soup (without noodles)Hamburger meat, along with most other meats (baked, broiled, off the grill)Fish. Eggs (many people can tolerate eggs very well, some people cannot, so don’t freak out if that’s you)Vegetables (a common misunderstanding is that vegetables are bad for people with UC.
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