The Histamine and Blood Sugar Connection

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WPsIyl3By0[/embedyt]

Do you ever feel tired after eating or experience a sugar drop and sudden hunger a few hours after a meal? You are not alone. I commonly see this in my patients with histamine intolerance and mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS). 

It’s often overlooked yet there is a strong connection between histamine and your blood sugar. Research has shown that blood sugar imbalances can increase your histamine levels, while histamine intolerance and MCAS can contribute to insulin resistance and diabetes. Stabilizing your blood sugar is an absolutely critical aspect of improving histamine intolerance and MCAS symptoms. 

In this article, I will discuss the connection between histamine and blood sugar. You will understand what blood sugar is and how it’s related to diabetes, prediabetes, and insulin resistance. You will understand everything about histamine, histamine intolerance, mast cells, and MCAS. I will explain the connection between your blood sugar, histamine intolerance, and mast cells. I will offer some natural strategies for histamine intolerance and blood sugar imbalances. 

What Is Blood Sugar

Blood sugar or blood glucose is the main sugar (glucose) found in your blood. Blood glucose comes from the food you eat and caloric-drinks you consume. Your blood’s job is to carry this blood sugar around your body to your cell as the main source of energy. It does this with the help of a hormone called insulin that helps the sugar to move into your cells (1). Keeping your blood sugar at a healthy level is critical. Too high or too low blood sugar levels can present a problem. 

Diabetes is a condition characterized by too high blood sugar levels. If you have type 1 diabetes, your body is unable to make insulin to deal with your blood sugar. In type 2 diabetes, your body is either not making enough insulin or doesn’t use it well. If you have prediabetes, it means that your blood sugar levels are too high but not high enough to have a diabetes diagnosis. If you have insulin resistance, it means that your body is unable to use insulin effectively. Insulin resistance is the precursor of diabetes. Insulin resistance and prediabetes are serious risk factors for developing diabetes (2)

Hypoglycemia, on the other hand, is a condition caused by low blood sugar. It’s characterized by hunger, shakiness, anxiety, sweating, pale skin, irregular heartbeat, tiredness, dizziness, and crankiness. Blood sugar drops and experiencing hypoglycemic episodes are common among people with diabetes. However, people without diabetes may experience it as well. You may experience reactive hypoglycemia a few hours after eating a meal or fasting hypoglycemia as a result of a medication or health condition. Even if you don’t have hypoglycemia, diabetes, or prediabetes, you may experience blood sugar changes that are problems due to your diet, lifestyle, and medications you take (3). These blood sugar changes may also affect your histamine levels.

What Is Histamine Intolerance and MCAS

Histamine is a chemical that is responsible for a variety of functions in your body. It helps to get rid of allergens as part of your immune response. It communicates with your brain and triggers stomach acid release to aid digestion. In a healthy body, your body releases enzymes (diamine oxidase or DAO enzymes) to break down any histamine build-up, however, if you have too much histamine due to dietary, lifestyle, environmental, and other factors, your body won’t be able to keep up and remove all the histamine. Histamine intolerance means that you have too much histamine which affects your entire body, including your gut, brain, lungs, cardiovascular system, and hormonal health. Histamine intolerance can cause a variety of symptoms and health issues hormonal issues, headaches, skin problems, digestive issues, sleep disturbances, anxiety, fast heart rate, seasonal allergies, and more (4)

When we talk about histamine and histamine intolerance, we must also take a moment to understand mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS). Your mast cells are white blood cells found in tissues throughout your body, including your skin, digestive tracts, urinary tract, respiratory tract, reproductive organs, and surrounding nerve. They are sometimes found in your blood as well due to certain infections and diseases that they may attempt to repair once the health danger is gone. Your mast cells play an important role in your immune system. They store inflammatory mediators, including histamine inside granules. When you experience an allergic reaction, your mast cells will cause an allergic response that will trigger the release of histamine and other chemicals.

MCAS is a complex health issue that may develop due to a variety of triggers, including mold, chemicals, toxins, heavy metals, allergens, medications, infections, viruses, food, and alcohol. MCAS affects a variety of systems across your body and can lead to a range of symptoms, including rashes, hives, itching, heart palpitations, low blood pressure, headaches, anxiety, fatigue, digestion issues, dizziness, weakness, and weight changes. Many of these symptoms overlap with histamine intolerance (5, 6, 7, 8).

The Histamine and Blood Sugar Connection

As you might have noticed, certain symptoms of histamine intolerance, including rapid heart rate, anxiety, fatigue, and sleep issues overlap. Histamine and blood sugar are closely connected. Blood sugar fluctuations can affect your entire body and they certainly affect your histamine levels. Histamine intolerance and MCAS may also contribute to the development of prediabetes and diabetes.

Histamine and DiabetesDiabetes is a metabolic disease. It is characterized by increased blood sugar caused by insulin resistance, the destruction of pancreatic beta cells, or the mixture of the two. Your diet, lifestyle, and various health factors can increase your risk of diabetes or directly impact diabetes. Histamine intolerance is one of these factors that may contribute to diabetes.

Research studies from the past four decades have shown the connection between histamine, blood sugar, and diabetes (9). A 1989 study published in Metabolism has found elevated histamine in those with diabetes (10). A 1990 study published in Metabolism and Cell Profeliation has found lower levels of histamine-degrading DAO enzymes in diabetic rats (11)

According to a 2010 study published in the American Journal of Pathology, histamine receptors (H1 and H2) may influence the regulation of blood sugar and lipid metabolism (12). A 2011 study published in Endocrinology has found that manipulating the H3 histamine receptor reduces blood sugar levels in diabetic mice (13). Furthermore, a 2012 study published in the ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters and a 2018 study published in Pharmacological Research both found that targeting and inhibiting the H4 histamine receptor may be helpful for the treatment of diabetes and diabetic neuropathy (14, 15). Histamine intolerance may also increase the permeability of your blood vessels that can influence the symptoms and progression of diabetes. Clearly, the role of histamine intolerance should not be overlooked in the treatment of diabetes and vice-versa.

Mast Cell Activation and Diabetes

It is not only histamine intolerance, but mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) can also contribute to diabetes and its symptoms. Mast cells are implicated in metabolic diseases, inflammation, and immune system issues. According to a 2016 study published in the Polish Journal of Pathology, mast cells should be taken into consideration during diabetes treatment (16).

According to a 2010 study published in the British Journal of Pharmacology, advanced glycation end products (AGEs) accumulated in people with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and neurodegenerative disease, can activate mast cells and lead to histamine release (17). On the other hand, a 2012 study published in HHS Public Access has found that mast-cell stabilizer medications and antihistamines may be beneficial for reducing complications in those with diabetes (18).

It’s clear that there is a connection between diabetes, histamine, and mast cells. But what if you don’t have diabetes, but struggling with blood sugar fluctuations, insulin resistance, as well as, histamine intolerance or MCAS? Balancing your blood sugar is still a key step to your recovery and well-being.

Histamine Intolerance and Insulin Resistance

While there is a lot of research on the connection between histamine, mast cells, and blood glucose in those with diabetes, there isn’t any research on the connection in those without diabetes. A lot of people experience low, high, or unstable blood sugar, insulin resistance, or prediabetes without having full-blown diabetes. 

In my practice, I see a lot of patients who experience blood sugar fluctuation before showing symptoms of insulin resistance or prediabetes. I also see a lot of patients with histamine intolerance and blood sugar fluctuations. A lot of people with histamine intolerance have low blood sugar and need to eat many small meals throughout the day. I also noticed that balancing your blood sugar can help to reduce or relieve symptoms of histamine intolerance.

Frequent blood sugar fluctuations can put enormous stress on your body, which can trigger histamine release and contribute to histamine intolerance and consequent symptoms. The good news is that with appropriate dietary strategies, lifestyle changes, and supplementation, you can balance your blood sugar and free yourself from symptoms of histamine intolerance. 

Natural Solutions for Blood Sugar Imbalance and Histamine Intolerance

If you are dealing with blood sugar imbalance, histamine intolerance, or MCAS, there are a few natural strategies you can try. Here is what I recommend:

Measure Your Blood Sugar

I recommend that you try using a glucometer to test the stability of your blood sugar. This is an easy and inexpensive method to measure your blood sugar to support your treatment plan and see your progress. Based on your results, you can adjust your diet and lifestyle to support healthy blood sugar levels. If you are uncertain how to do this, a functional medicine doctor, like myself, can help you with a personalized nutrition plan to support your health.

Try Blood Sugar Regulating Herbs

While your diet and lifestyle are critical for stabilizing blood sugar levels, there are a variety of herbs that can help to support your blood sugar levels naturally. Some herbs I recommend include aloe vera, Nopales cactus, bitter melon, milk thistle, fenugreek, and ginger (19, 20, 21, 22, 23).

Be Smart with Sugar

If you have blood sugar issues or any health issues (or simply want to avoid health issues!), removing refined sugar and sugary processed foods is critical. You may notice though that The 4-Phase Histamine Reset Plan is not a no-sugar plan and I allow fruits and many scratchy vegetables, such as carrots or beets. If you have blood sugar issues or you find that these higher glycemic index fruits and vegetables are causing blood sugar imbalances and symptoms, you may want to reduce or remove higher glycemic index foods and choose low glycemic index fruits, such as berries and vegetables, such as cucumber or celery instead. For sweeteners, use stevia or monk fruit, which are natural and healthy options that do not disrupt your blood sugar levels.

Follow an Anti-Inflammatory and Low-Histamine Diet

Following an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant-rich, and nutrient-dense diet is important for your health. Reducing histamine may help to decrease histamine-related issues.

Remove inflammatory foods, including refined sugar, refined oils, canned and processed meat, artificial ingredients, junk food, and highly processed foods. Avoid high-histamine foods, such as fermented food (e.g., sauerkraut, kimchi, fermented vegetables, kombucha, etc.), aged food (e.g., aged cheese, processed meat, canned fish, etc.), over-ripe fruits and vegetables, leftovers, and foods that are naturally high in histamine (e.g., avocadoes, eggplant, spinach, dried fruits, etc.). Avoid foods that may trigger histamine releases, such as tomatoes, most citrus, bananas, most nuts, and dairy. Avoid foods that may block the DAO enzyme, including black tea, green tea, alcohol, and energy drinks. 

Eat a nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory, and low-histamine diet rich in greens, vegetables, herbs, spices, fruits, healthy fats, and organic meat. Low-histamine foods include most fresh leafy greens and vegetables, non-citrus fruits, such as apples, pear, papaya, and grapes, fresh grass-fed meat, pasture-raised poultry and eggs, and wild-caught fish, olives, extra-virgin olive oil, ghee, coconut oil, leafy herbs, and herbal tea. My book, The 4-Phase Histamine Reset Plan includes an extensive list of foods that you can eat and should avoid on a low-histamine diet.

If you are new to a low-histamine diet, remember to have fun experimenting with new foods and recipes. I promise low-histamine meals can be delicious. I recommend all the low-histamine recipes in The 4-Phase Histamine Reset Plan and my new recipe book, Fifty One Low Histamine Air Fryer Recipes. They are all simple, easy to make, low-histamine, gluten-free, Paleo-friendly, and super healthy. Not to mention how delicious they are — your family will love them too.

Reduce Your Histamine Bucket

If you are dealing with symptoms of histamine intolerance, reducing high-histamine foods is not enough. High stress, poor sleep, not moving your body, and high toxin exposure may add to your histamine load. Improving these areas of your lifestyle may help to reduce your histamine bucket and lower the risk of histamine-related issues.

Remove Toxins

Toxin overload can increase inflammation, histamine intolerance, and related symptoms. It’s critical that you lower your daily exposure to environmental toxins. Choose purified water over tap water. Use a high-quality air filtration system for better indoor air. Choose natural, organic, and homemade cleaning, personal hygiene, and beauty products instead of conventional brands loaded with chemicals. Choose glass, bamboo, wood, organic cotton, silicon, and other natural alternatives instead of plastic. Avoid BPA plastic completely. Choose organic food whenever possible and avoid overly processed packaged foods. If you must buy non-organic produce, follow the Dirty Dozen, Clean 15 list, and always wash and peel non-organic vegetables and fruits.

Reduce Your Stress Levels 

Chronic stress may increase mast cell activation and histamine intolerance and histamine-related symptoms. To decrease your stress levels, I recommend practicing breathwork, meditation, positive affirmation, journaling, yoga, grounding, and time in nature for stress and anxiety reduction. Taking an Epsom salt bath is another great way to relax your muscles, calm your mind, and detoxify your body. 

Get Enough Sleep Sleep

Inadequate and poor sleep may also increase stress. It may also trigger histamine and histamine-related issues. Improving your sleep is absolutely essential for your health. Your goal should be to sleep at least 7 to 9 hours a night. Lower your stress levels throughout the day but especially in the evening time to support sleep. Take a bath, read a good book, listen to some music, journal, try coloring, and spend time with your family. Avoid sugar, alcohol, and heavy food in the evening. Sleep on a supportive mattress with comfortable and supportive pillows and blankets, and quality, organic cotton sheets.

Move Your Body

A lack of movement may also increase the risk of histamine intolerance and related symptoms. Moving your body is a great way to reduce stress, improve detoxification, and improve your overall health. Move your body throughout the day. Stretch regularly. Take a stroll in the nearby park. Find creative ways to incorporate movement, such as an impromptu dance session, learning a new TikTok dance, playing with your kids or pets, taking the stairs, trying a treadmill desk, or practicing chair yoga. Exercise at least 20 to 30 minutes five days a week and move your body regularly. I recommend getting 10 to 15K steps in a day if you can. Add resistance and strength training to your routine. 

Take HistoRelief

To support your body and reduce symptoms of histamine intolerance or MCAS, I recommend HistoRelief. This mast stabilizing supplement is a synergistic blend of nutrients including Tinofend®, quercetin, nettle leaf, vitamin C, and bicarbonate salts, that provides natural support to balance your immune response, inflammation reduction, and histamine release.

Support Your Gut

Your gut health affects your entire body. Gut flora imbalance can trigger both histamine intolerance and related symptoms. Gut microbiome inbalance may also increase blood sugar imbalances. Supporting your gut health is critical for your recovery. Along with a gut-friendly, low-histamine, anti-inflammatory diet, I recommend that you take a high-quality probiotics supplement, to support your gut microbiome balance.

Final Thoughts

There is a strong connection between histamine and your blood sugar. Blood sugar imbalance can increase your histamine levels, while histamine intolerance and MCAS can contribute to insulin resistance and diabetes. Stabilizing your blood sugar is essential for improving histamine intolerance and MCAS symptoms. Follow my tips for histamine intolerance, MCAS, and blood sugar imbalance to reduce your symptoms, increase your energy, and improve your health and well-being.

If you are dealing with symptoms of histamine intolerance and interstitial cystitis, I invite you to schedule a consultation with us. We can help identify the root cause of your condition and recommend a personalized treatment plan to repair your body and regain your health and well-being. Schedule your consultation here. I also recommend that you check out my Histamine Online Program.

Sources:
1. Blood sugar. MedlinePlus. Link Here
2. Diabetes. MedlinePlus. Link Here
3. Hypoglycemia. WebMd. Link Here
4.Maintz L, Novak N, Histamine and histamine intolerance, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Volume 85, Issue 5, May 2007, Pages 1185–1196. Link Here
5. Afrin LB, Self S, Menk J, Lazarchick J. Characterization of Mast Cell Activation Syndrome. Am J Med Sci. 2017;353(3):207-215. Link Here
6. Frieri M, Patel R, Celestin J. Mast cell activation syndrome: a review. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2013;13(1):27-32. Link Here
7. Akin C, Valent P, Metcalfe DD. Mast cell activation syndrome: Proposed diagnostic criteria. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2010 Dec;126(6):1099-104.e4. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2010.08.035. Epub 2010 Oct 28. PMID: 21035176
8. Petra AI, Panagiotidou S, Stewart JM, Conti P, Theoharides TC. Spectrum of mast cell activation disorders. Expert Rev Clin Immunol. 2014;10(6):729-739. Link Here
9. Pini A, Obara I, Battell E, Chazot PL, Rosa AC. Histamine in diabetes: Is it time to reconsider? Pharmacol Res. 2016 Sep;111:316-324. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2016.06.021. Epub 2016 Jun 22. PMID: 27343700
10. Gill DS, Barradas MA, Fonseca VA, Dandona P. Plasma histamine concentrations are elevated in patients with diabetes mellitus and peripheral vascular disease. Metabolism. 1989 Mar;38(3):243-7. doi: 10.1016/0026-0495(89)90082-6. PMID: 2918844
11. Fogel, W.A., Chmielecki, C., Grałek, M. et al. Histamine metabolism in diabetic rats. Agents and Actions 30, 243–246 (1990). Link Here
12. Wang KY, Tanimoto A, Yamada S, Guo X, Ding Y, Watanabe T, Watanabe T, Kohno K, Hirano K, Tsukada H, Sasaguri Y. Histamine regulation in glucose and lipid metabolism via histamine receptors: model for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in mice. Am J Pathol. 2010 Aug;177(2):713-23. doi: 10.2353/ajpath.2010.091198. Epub 2010 Jun 21. PMID: 20566747
13. Henry MB, Zheng S, Duan C, Patel B, Vassileva G, Sondey C, Lachowicz J, Hwa JJ. Antidiabetic properties of the histamine H3 receptor protean agonist proxyfan. Endocrinology. 2011 Mar;152(3):828-35. doi: 10.1210/en.2010-0757. Epub 2011 Jan 14. PMID: 21239440
43. Ashwin U. Rao, Ning Shao, Robert G. Aslanian, Tin-Yau Chan, Sylvia J. Degrado, Li Wang, Brian McKittrick, Mary Senior, Robert E. West, Shirley M. Williams, Ren-Long Wu, Joyce Hwa, Bhuneshwari Patel, Shuqin Zheng, Christopher Sondey, and Anandan Palani. Discovery of a Potent Thiadiazole Class of Histamine H3 Receptor Antagonist for the Treatment of Diabetes. ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters 2012 3 (3), 198-202. Link Here
15. Pini A. Histamine H4 receptor antagonism prevents the progression of diabetic nephropathy in male DBA2/J mice. Pharmacological Research. Volume 128, February 2018, Pages 18-28. Link Here
16. Kempuraj D, Caraffa A, Ronconi G, Lessiani G, Conti P. Are mast cells important in diabetes? Pol J Pathol. 2016;67(3):199-206. doi: 10.5114/pjp.2016.63770. PMID: 28155967
17. Sick E, Brehin S, André P, Coupin G, Landry Y, Takeda K, Gies JP. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) activate mast cells. Br J Pharmacol. 2010 Sep;161(2):442-55. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2010.00905.x. PMID: 20735427
18. Wang J, Shi GP. Mast cell stabilization: novel medication for obesity and diabetes. Diabetes Metab Res Rev. 2011 Nov;27(8):919-24. doi: 10.1002/dmrr.1272. PMID: 22069285
19. Mourad A. Beneficial effects of Aloe vera in treatment of diabetes: Comparative in vivo and in vitro studies. Bulletin of Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Volume 51, Issue 1, June 2013, Pages 7-11. Link Here
20. Ghorbani A. Best herbs for managing diabetes: a review of clinical studies. Braz. J. Pharm. Sci. vol.49 no.3 São Paulo July/Sept. 2013. Link Here
21. Voroneanu L, Nistor I, Dumea R, Apetrii M, Covic A. Silymarin in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. J Diabetes Res. 2016;2016:5147468. doi: 10.1155/2016/5147468. Epub 2016 Jun 1. PMID: 27340676
22. Ranade M, Mudgalkar N. A simple dietary addition of fenugreek seed leads to the reduction in blood glucose levels: A parallel group, randomized single-blind trial. Ayu. 2017 Jan-Jun;38(1-2):24-27. doi: 10.4103/ayu.AYU_209_15. PMID: 29861588
23. Daily JW. Efficacy of ginger for treating Type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Journal of Ethnic Foods. Volume 2, Issue 1, March 2015, Pages 36-43. Link Here

 


Oxalates, Salicylates, and Histamine Intolerance: What's the Connection?

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTL9wbWWW18[/embedyt]

So you’ve cleaned up your diet, removed refined sugar, gluten, refined oils, processed foods, and junk food? You’ve even given up many high histamine foods. Yet, you are still experiencing symptoms, such as fatigue, joint and muscle pain, digestive issues, itching, skin problems, anxiety, depression, and so on. Oxalates and salicylates may be the culprit. They can both trigger histamine intolerance and lead to an array of unwanted symptoms. Let’s talk about oxalates and salicylates and what you can do about them.

In this article, you will learn everything you need to know about histamine, oxalates, and salicylates. You will learn about the symptoms of histamine, oxalate, and salicylates intolerance. You will get familiar with the list of high-histamine, high-oxalate, and high-salicylate foods. You will understand the connection between histamine, oxalate, and salicylate intolerance and your gut health. Finally, I will share my top recommendations to improve your health naturally.

What Is Histamine Intolerance

You are probably familiar with histamine from anti-histamine medications for allergies. Because of this anti-histamine context, many people think of histamine as a bad thing. Despite its bad rap, histamine is actually very important.

Histamine is a chemical responsible for a multitude of functions in your body, including getting rid of allergens as a part of your immune response, communicating with your brain, and triggering stomach acid release to aid digestion. While histamine is essential for your health, too much histamine can create a lot of problems. Histamine intolerance means that you have too much histamine which can lead to various health issues.

As a natural part of your immune response, your body releases enzymes to break down histamine build-up. Under normal circumstances, this shouldn’t present an issue. However, if you have too much histamine due to dietary, lifestyle, environmental, or certain health factors, your body won’t be able to keep up and won’t be able to break down the excess histamine properly. Histamine intolerance affects your entire body, including your gut, brain, lungs, cardiovascular system, and hormonal health. Histamine intolerance can manifest in a variety of ways, including hormonal issues, headaches, skin problems, digestive issues, sleep disturbances, bladder problems, anxiety, fast heart rate, seasonal allergies, and more (1)

Symptoms of Histamine Intolerance

Histamine intolerance may present itself in a variety of ways. Symptoms of histamine intolerance can often mimic other health issues making it easy to misdiagnose or miss.

Symptoms of histamine intolerance include:

  • Diarrhea
  • Migraines and headaches
  • Eczema, psoriasis, and other skin issues
  • Flushing
  • Hives
  • Crawling sensations on your skin or scalp
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Low blood pressure
  • High blood pressure
  • Tachycardia or racing heart
  • Fatigue
  • Asthma attacks
  • Abnormal menstrual cycle and menstrual issues
  • Vertigo
  • Anxiety

Sources of Histamine

If you are dealing with histamine intolerance, the most important part of your recovery process is to avoid high-histamine foods.

High-histamine foods include:

  • Avocados
  • Dried fruits
  • Strawberries
  • Tomatoes
  • Bananas
  • Eggplant
  • Spinach
  • Cashews
  • Walnuts
  • Vinegar
  • Certain spices (eg. cloves, curry powder, nutmeg, paprika, cayenne, seasoning packets)
  • Beans
  • Alcohol
  • Peanuts
  • Soy
  • Dairy
  • Gluten
  • Fermented foods
  • Canned and cured meats
  • Hard cheese 
  • Grains 

Beyond Histamine

Natural treatment of histamine intolerance involves carefully following an anti-histamine diet and avoiding high-histamine foods. But what if it’s not enough and you are still experiencing symptoms? It may mean that you are also dealing with oxalate and/or salicylate sensitivity or intolerance. High-oxalate and high-salicylate foods can trigger similar symptoms and can trigger histamine intolerance in your body. Let’s learn more about oxalates and salicylates and what to do about them.

What Are Oxalates

Oxalates are naturally occurring molecules that are found in plants and humans. Because oxalates help to get plants to dispose of extra calcium, many plant foods are high in oxalates. For some people, this can cause a problem. Oxalates foods travel through your digestive tract, bind with calcium, magnesium, potassium, and other extra build-ups of minerals in your intestines then leave your body through stool or urine. 

Too much oxalate can lead to oxalate intolerance and consequent health problems. One of the most common issues that too much oxalate can lead to is kidney stones. However, it can lead to an array of other issues. In a healthy body, Oxalobacter formigenes and Lactobacillus are there to serve as oxalate-degrading bacteria. But if you have a compromised gut flora due to a low-nutrient diet, nutrient deficiencies, antibiotic-use, gene mutations, liver or kidney problems, or chronic stress, your body will have a difficult time eliminating oxalates properly. If you are eating too many high-oxalate foods, it can lead to a build-up of oxalates followed by a list of symptoms and health consequences (2 3, 4, 5, 6, 7).

Symptoms of Excess Oxalates

Excess oxalates and your body’s inability to handle it can result in poor mineral absorption, inflammation, a compromised immune system, oxidative stress, poor mitochondrial function, cellular and tissue damage, and histamine release. This can result in an array of symptoms and health issues (8).

Symptoms of excess oxalates may include:

  • Chronic pain
  • Joint pain and arthritis
  • Muscle pain and burning
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Interstitial cystitis
  • Vulvodynia 
  • Oxalate arthropathy
  • Kidney stones
  • Urinary pain and bladder/urethral irritation
  • Headaches and migraines
  • Itchy skin, rashes, and skin issues
  • Allergies 
  • Candida
  • Digestive issues
  • Insomnia and sleep troubles
  • Bone loss and teeth weakening
  • Mineral deficiencies

Sources of Oxalates

There are two kinds of oxalates your body may encounter: endogenous and exogenous. Endogenous oxalates come from within. Your body’s capability to create oxalates depends on your genetics and nutritional deficiencies. Deficiencies in vitamin B1 and B6 can increase oxalate production making it very important that you reduce your risk of vitamin B deficiencies. 

Exogenous oxalates come from food that you eat and from your gut microbes. If you are experiencing symptoms of oxalate intolerance, it is important that you remove high-oxalate foods from your diet. Oxalates are found in fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, and grains, but not all of them are equally high in them (8)

High-oxalate foods include:

  • Berries
  • Kiwis
  • Figs
  • Purple grapes
  • Potatoes
  • Rhubarb
  • Okra
  • Beets
  • Spinach
  • Leeks
  • Swiss chards
  • Celery
  • Plantains
  • Sweet potatoes
  • Olives
  • Peanuts
  • Cashews
  • Almonds
  • Soy products
  • Wheat germ
  • Quinoa
  • Bran flakes
  • Buckwheat
  • Cacao
  • Cocoa
  • Chocolate
  • Tea

What Are Salicylates

Salicylates are a group of chemicals. They are derived from salicylic acid. In natural forms, they are found in plant foods. They can also be found in cosmetic products, aspirin, toothpaste, medications, and food preservatives, usually in synthetic forms. They act as natural pesticides defending plants. In their natural forms, they are very important as they help to protect your body from fungus, insects, and other harmful elements.

High-salicylate foods and products don’t cause a problem for everyone, but in some, they can lead to salicylate intolerance and consequent symptoms and health issues. In a healthy body, your liver helps to detoxify excess salicylates, however, sluggish liver function may increase your risk of salicylate intolerance. Salicylates work similarly to oxalates. If your body reaches a high salicylate load and your body is unable to break all the excess salicylates down. Excess salicylates can also lead to an overproduction of leukotrienes. Leukotrienes are inflammatory mediators that can increase your risk of a variety of health issues, including asthma and inflammatory bowel disease. This can also lead to the inhibition of cyclooxygenase production. Cyclooxygenase is an enzyme that regulates leukotrienes production. This vicious cycle caused by salicylates can lead to an array of symptoms (9, 10, 11).

Symptoms of Excess Salicylates

Excess salicylates work very similarly in your body as excess oxalates. They can lead to inflammation, a compromised immune system, oxidative stress, poor mitochondrial function, cellular and tissue damage, and histamine release (more on that soon!). This can result in a list of symptoms and health issues (8).

Symptoms of excess salicylates may include:

  • Sinus infections
  • Stuffy nose
  • Inflammation
  • Asthma
  • Allergies
  • Gas
  • Abdominal pain
  • Diarrhea
  • Hives and skin issues
  • Tissue swelling
  • Colitis
  • Gallbladder problems
  • Breast pain
  • Yeast infections
  • Blood sugar issues
  • Racing pulse and heart palpitations
  • Ulcers
  • Chronic sweating
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle and joint pain
  • Headaches and migraines
  • Dizziness
  • Depression and anxiety
  • Insomnia and poor sleep

Sources of Salicylates

Salicylates are found in plant foods, however, not all plant foods are high in salicylates. Some high-salicylate foods are also high in oxalates and/or histamine (8).

High-salicylate foods include:

  • Tomatoes
  • Peppers
  • Chilli
  • Winter squash
  • Broccoli
  • Eggplant
  • Sweet potatoes
  • Cucumber
  • Corn
  • Spinach
  • Dark leafy greens
  • Seaweed
  • Most herbs and spices
  • Avocadoes
  • Apples
  • Melon
  • Cherries
  • Grapefruits
  • Watermelon
  • Most other fruits
  • Food preservatives

Other than fruits, many commercial cosmetics and body products, including skin exfoliators, facewash, acne products, perfumes, and toothpaste contain salicylic acid, which is high in salicylates. If you have salicylate intolerance, it is important that you pay attention to these products as well. Since commercial cosmetics are high in toxins and promote histamine intolerance, even if salicylates are less of an issue for your body, I recommend that you remove all conventional body and beauty products, and replace them with organic, natural, and home-made alternatives.

Moreover, certain medications, including aspirin and over-the-counter drugs for digestion like Pepto-Bismol are high in salicylates. I recommend that you rely on safer natural support strategies to reduce your symptoms. Working with a functional medicine practitioner, like myself, can help you navigate this arena, uncover the root causes of your symptoms, and help safe and natural options to support your health and well-being. 

Oxalate, Salicylate, and Histamine Intolerance

As you may notice, many symptoms of histamine intolerance overlap with symptoms of oxalate and/or salicylate intolerance. Certain high-histamine foods, such as spinach, are also high in oxalates and salicylates, but not all high-histamine, high-oxalate, and high-salicylate foods overlap. While many people notice improvements in their histamine intolerance symptoms after removing high-histamine foods, those with oxalate and salicylate intolerance also have to pay attention to high-oxalate and high-salicylate foods. But what is the connection between histamine, oxalates, and salicylates? It’s your gut! Let’s talk about it.

Gut health is critical for your overall health and well-being. It also plays a critical role in histamine intolerance. Leaky gut syndrome, gut infections, and nutrient deficiencies are some of the major causes of histamine intolerance. Moreover, histamine intolerance often manifests with gut health symptoms.

If you have a healthy gut, it will resist the absorption of oxalates and salicylates. However, if you are dealing with leaky gut syndrome and gut microbiome imbalance, it will be difficult. While a healthy gut microbiome has plenty of Oxalobacter formigenes to take care of excess oxalates, antibiotic use, a poor diet, and poor lifestyle choices can disrupt the healthy balance of your gut microbiome causing gut dysbiosis. If your body doesn’t have enough Oxalobacter formigenes, but has too many bad gut microbes, it won’t be able to get rid of excess oxalates.

Poor gut health may also result in poor digestion and inadequate bile flow. Bile is essential for fat absorption. In a healthy gut, oxalates bind with calcium forming calcium oxalate and eventually get released through bowel movements. However, due to poor bile formation and too much fat, calcium will bind to fat instead and your body will end up absorbing too many oxalates. Once oxalates are absorbed, there are two options. They either need to be removed with the help of your kidneys or your body needs to store them. The problem is that oxalates can bind to certain minerals, including magnesium, iron, copper, potassium, and calcium, and influence your metabolism, mitochondrial function, and inflammation levels.

Furthermore, yeast and mold can also create oxalates. An overgrowth of yeast and mold can lead to high oxalate as well. Mold and yeast can, however, also trigger histamine intolerance and mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS). It can also increase inflammation in the body, lead to poor gut health, and cause leaky gut syndrome. Inflammation and gut issues can further feed your body’s inability to take care of access histamines, oxalates, and salicylates.

Salicylate intolerance develops a very similar way to oxalate intolerance. Poor gut health may decrease your body’s ability to take care of excess salicylates. Poor liver function may inhibit the removal of salicylate buildup. Salicylate buildup, however, can trigger histamine inflammation, triggering further gut health issues, leaky gut syndrome, and histamine intolerance. 

Leaky gut syndrome and gut health issues can lead to histamine intolerance, oxalate intolerance, and salicylate intolerance. On the other hand, histamine, oxalate, and salicylate buildup all lead to further inflammation, gut health issues, and leaky gut. As you can see, this can cause a never-ending vicious cycle, and it is important that you address all three issues to improve your health (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11).

Solutions for Oxalate, Salicylate, and Histamine Intolerance

If you have histamine intolerance, dealing with symptoms of oxalate and salicylate build-up, and want to improve your health naturally, I have some simple natural solutions for you. This is what I recommend to my patients with histamine intolerance, oxalate intolerance, and salicylate intolerance.

Follow a Low-Histamine Diet

To improve histamine intolerance, I recommend that you eat an anti-inflammatory, nutrient-dense, and low-histamine diet. I recommend that you eliminate histamine foods for one to three months, then slowly re-introduce them one by one following The 4-Phase Histamine Reset Plan. Along with dietary changes, it’s important that you eliminate toxic personal care and cleaning products as well and instead use organic, natural, or homemade products.

The 4-Phase Histamine Reset Plan is a simple yet refined system, so it is critical that you understand and follow each step properly. To understand each step and guide your recovery, I recommend that you read my book, The 4-Phase Histamine Reset Plan: Getting to the Root of Migraines, Eczema, Vertigo, Allergies and More where I explain everything about histamine intolerance and each phase of the plan in detail and share delicious low-histamine recipes to nourish your body and support your health. Pick up a copy, today to learn more about the plan and my recommendations.

Follow a Low-Oxalate Diet

If you suspect that oxalates may be one of the culprits behind your symptoms, removing high-oxalate foods is very important. However, it is critical that you decrease your oxalate intake gradually. Removing all high-oxalate foods and lowering your intake too suddenly can lead to something called ‘dumping’, which means that oxalates are exciting your body too quickly. ‘Dumping’ can lead to increased symptoms. Lower your high-oxalate food intake slowly until you eliminate them. Once you’ve removed high-oxalate foods from your diet, stay on a low-oxalate plan for 2 to 3 weeks. Pay attention to your symptoms and see if you notice any reduction of symptoms or notice your symptoms disappearing. 

After this eliminating phase, you may try to reintroduce high-oxalate foods into your diet, similar to the reintroduction phase in my The 4-Phase Histamine Reset Plan. If you notice that your symptoms have reduced or disappeared during the elimination phase but are returning during reintroduction, it means that oxalates are a problem for you, and you need to remove high-oxalate foods.

Follow a Low-Salicylate Diet

If you suspect that salicylates may be one of the causes of your symptoms, removing high-oxalate foods is very important. Unlike oxalates, salicylates don’t cause ‘dumping’ and you can remove high-salicylate foods right away. Stay on a low-salicylate meal plan for 2 to 3 weeks and watch your symptoms. If salicylates are a problem for you, you should notice your symptoms decrease or disappear. 

After this eliminating phase, you may try to reintroduce high-salicylate foods into your diet, similar to the reintroduction phase in my The 4-Phase Histamine Reset Plan. If you notice that your symptoms have reduced or disappeared during the elimination phase but are returning during reintroduction, it means that salicylates are a problem for you, and you need to remove high-oxalate foods. Along with these dietary changes, it’s important that you eliminate toxic personal care products with salicylic acid as well and instead use organic, natural, or homemade products.

Support Your Liver 

Your liver is critical for supporting the elimination of excess histamine, oxalates, and salicylates. This is why I recommend Optimal Reset Liver Love. This supplement is a powerful blend of botanical and mushroom extracts and N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine (NAC), a derivative of the amino acid cysteine. It supports healthy liver function, allows optimal estrogen detoxification, and supports your hormonal health naturally.

Support Your Gut

Since histamine intolerance, oxalate intolerance, and salicylate intolerance are all connected to your gut health, microbiome imbalance, and leaky gut syndrome, supporting your gut is essential for your recovery and well-being. Along with a gut-friendly, low-histamine, anti-inflammatory diet, I recommend that you take a high-quality probiotics supplement, to support your gut microbiome balance.

Reduce Histamine Intolerance

To improve histamine intolerance, I also recommend HistoRelief, a synergistic blend of nutrients that provides natural support to balance your immune response. This supplement includes Tinofend®, a patented and clinically researched extract derived from the plant Tinospora cordifolia, which is used for its powerful ability to support immune regulation and immune response. It also features quercetin, nettle leaf, vitamin C, and bicarbonate salts. Quercetin is a fantastic bioflavonoid with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that naturally inhibits histamine release. 

Final Thoughts

Histamine intolerance, oxalate intolerance, and salicylate intolerance have several common symptoms. They are also connected as they may all be all triggered by an unhealthy gut and lead to one another. To regain your health, it is important that you are addressing all three issues at the same time. Follow my tips to repair your body, improve your health, and reclaim your life.

If you are dealing with symptoms of histamine intolerance, oxalate intolerance, or salicylate intolerance, I invite you to schedule a consultation with us. We can help to identify the root cause of your condition and recommend a personalized treatment plan to repair your body and regain your health and well-being. Schedule your consultation here.

 

 

Sources:
1. Maintz L, Novak N, Histamine and histamine intolerance, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Volume 85, Issue 5, May 2007, Pages 1185–1196. Link Here
2. Your health education. Low oxalate diet. UPMC. Link Here
3. Barr-Beare E, Saxena V, Hilt EE, Thomas-White K, Schober M, et al. (2015) The Interaction between Enterobacteriaceae and Calcium Oxalate Deposits. PLOS ONE 10(10): e0139575. Link Here
4. Brzica H, Breljak D, Burckhardt BC, Burckhardt G, Sabolic I. Oxalate: from the environment to kidney stones. Arh Hig Rada Toksikol. 2013;64:609–30. Link Here
5. Chai W, Liebman M, Kynast-Gales S, Massey L. Oxalate absorption and endogenous oxalate synthesis from ascorbate in calcium oxalate stone formers and non-stone formers. Am J Kidney Dis. 2004;44:1060–9. Link Here
6. Massey LK, Roman-Smith H, Sutton RA. Effect of dietary oxalate and calcium on urinary oxalate and risk of formation of calcium oxalate kidney stones. J Am Diet Assoc. 1993 Aug;93(8):901-6. Link Here
7. Embi A, Scherlag BJ, Embi PJ, Menes M, Po SS. Targeted cellular ionic calcium chelation by oxalates: Implications for the treatment of tumor cells. Cancer Cell Int. 2012 Dec 8;12(1):51. doi: 10.1186/1475-2867-12-51. PMID: 23216811
8. The Oxalates and Salyclicates Food List. Link Here 
9. Duthie GG, Wood AD. Natural salicylates: foods, functions and disease prevention. Food Funct. 2011 Sep;2(9):515-20. Link Here
10. Sharma JN, Mohammed LA. The role of leukotrienes in the pathophysiology of inflammatory disorders: is there a case for revisiting leukotrienes as therapeutic targets? Inflammopharmacology. 2006 Mar;14(1-2):10-6.  Link Here
11. Szczeklik A, Sanak M, Nizankowska-Mogilnicka E, Kiełbasa B. Aspirin intolerance and the cyclooxygenase-leukotriene pathways. Curr Opin Pulm Med. 2004 Jan;10(1):51-6.  Link Here

 


Top 7 Herbs for Immune Support

Your immune system is your friend and protector. You have to support it so it can support your body and protect you from illness. The cold and flu season is approaching and we are in the midst of a pandemic. A healthy immune system is more important than ever. The good news is that supporting your immune system naturally is simple. There are several powerful herbs that can help.

In this article, you will learn about the importance of a healthy immune system. You will understand what factors can compromise your immune health and how to support your immune system through dietary and lifestyle strategies. I will share my top 7 herbs for immune support and better health and introduce my new immune-support supplement.

Importance of a Healthy Immune System

Your immune system is your friend and personal security guard that wants to protect you from illnesses and infections. It is absolutely essential for your health and well-being - and frankly, your survival. 

Your immune system is a complex network of cells and tissues. They have one goal in mind: to protect you. They are on a constant lookout for invaders, such as viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi, or other harm. Your immune system is always ready to safeguard you through an immune response. When cold and flu season hits or you encounter any other pathogens, your immune system’s job to defend you, reduce your risk of infection, illness, or disease, and support your recovery if you get sick.

It is no wonder that your immune system’s health is absolutely critical for your overall health. A compromised immune system becomes sluggish and slow to respond. It simply cannot protect you properly, which leaves you vulnerable to infections, illness, and disease. It is important that you understand what factor can compromise your immune system and how to protect it (1, 2, 3, 4).

Things That Can Compromise Your Immune System

There are a variety of dietary, lifestyle, and environmental factors that can compromise and hurt your immune system, including (5, 6, 7):

  • Poor diet 
  • Poor sleep 
  • Dehydration
  • Sedentary lifestyle
  • Chronic stress
  • Environmental toxins

Lifestyle Strategies for Immune Support

There are a variety of lifestyle strategies that you can employ to support your immune system, including:

  • Remove immune-compromising foods, such as refined sugar, refined carbs, refined oils, processed foods, artificial ingredients, deep-fried foods.
  • Eat plenty of immune-supporting foods, such as greens, vegetables, fruits, herbs, spices, healthy fats, and clean animal protein. 
  • Drink at least 10 glasses of purified water a day.
  • Get 7 to 9 hours of quality sleep a night.
  • Exercise and move your body regularly.
  • Spend time in nature and get plenty of sunshine.
  • Reduce your stress levels.
  • Improve your indoor air-quality through air-filtration and removing any mold.
  • Remove chemical-filled conventional products and choosing organic, natural, and home-made alternatives.
  • Remove or reduce the use of plastic and opt for glass, bamboo, wood, stainless steel, ceramics, or cloth products instead.
  • Add immune-supporting herbs and superfoods to your life. (Read on to learn more!)

7 Best Herbs for Immune Support

Eating a healthy diet, practicing healthy lifestyle strategies is incredibly important for your immune system. There are also a variety of herbs and superfoods that you can supplement with for maximum immune support. Here is what I recommend to boost your immune system:

Echinacea

Echinacea is a purple coneflower that has been used as an herbal remedy during cold and flu season. It is high in antioxidants and is known for its anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties. 

A 2007 meta-analysis of 14 studies on echinacea has found that using echinacea may lower your risk of getting a cold by over 50 percent. Another meta-analysis from 2015 has found that echinacea may also reduce the re-occurrence and complications of viral respiratory infections. To experience the benefits of echinacea and support your immune system during cold and flu season, I recommend drinking echinacea tea regularly. You may try supplementing with echinacea-containing immune supplements for extra benefits (8, 9).

Astragalus Extract

Astragalus, also known as huáng qí or milkvetch, is an herb that has been used in Chinese medicine as an herbal remedy. While there are over 2,000 types of astragalus, only two species are used in supplements for their health benefits. It is used for immune support, upper respiratory infections, allergic rhinitis (hay fever), asthma, chronic fatigue syndrome, heart health, and chronic kidney disease. 

Astragalus helps your immune system to protect you from harmful pathogens. Research has shown that it may boost white blood cell production and reduce the risk of illness. Various studies have demonstrated its potential ability to fight viral and bacterial infections. It may also help to reduce symptoms of season allergies, such as the runny nose and sinus congestion. It may also help to reduce symptoms of seasonal allergies, including runny nose and sinus congestion. It is available as a supplement (10, 11, 12,, 13, 14, 15).

Andrographis

Andrographis, also called the Indian echinacea, are a powerful herb used in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine for its medicinal properties. The active compound of andrographis is called andrographolides are responsible for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiviral properties. It has been used for infections, sinus infections, parasites, allergies, skin issues, and a list of other ailments. 

According to 2014 research, Andrographis can be safely used for its anti-inflammatory, anti-infective, and antioxidant benefits. According to a 2017 meta-analysis, it may be effective for relieving upper-respiratory-tract symptoms. It is available in capsule and tincture format and as part of certain immune supplements (16, 17).

Green Tea Extract

Green tea is a delicious tea traditionally used in China and Japan but is enjoyed all around the world. It is well-known for its powerful antioxidant properties. According to a 2009 review, green tea has powerful antimicrobial properties that may inhibit the growth of viruses and bacteria and protect your body from infections and illness. Not to mention that sipping on a hot cup of green tea can be very soothing in cold and flu season. The only problem with green tea is caffeine for some.

While for many people, drinking green tea is not a problem. For those with histamine intolerance, the caffeine content of green tea can be an issue. This is where green tea extract comes in. Green tea is known to decrease the DAO enzyme that breaks down histamine. However, green tea extract removes caffeine from green tea making it safe for those with histamine intolerance and mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS). According to a 2014 study on mast cell stabilizing and anti-anaphylactic activities of green tea extract, green tea extract can work like ketotifen, a mast cell stabilizing drug and it may be beneficial for the treatment of allergic rhinitis and asthma. Green tea extract may help to lower your histamine levels and reduce symptoms of MCAS. 

If you have histamine intolerance or MCAS, I recommend that you stay away from green tea in a liquid tea form. However, I highly recommend green tea extract as a safe and histamine intolerance-friendly immune-support. Make sure to buy high-quality supplements using safe extraction practices, such as the Swiss Water Process, as cheaper supplements may use chemicals during extraction leaving a chemical residue (18, 19, 20, 21, 22). 

Arabinogalactan

Arabinogalactan is a fiber found in plants, specifically in higher concentrations in North-American larch trees. Arabinogalactan helps to activate your immune cells and supports your healthy immune function. It also helps to promote healthy bacteria for your digestive system, which is highly beneficial for your immune function.

Arabinogalactan has been used for a variety of infections, including the common cold, the seasonal flu, and the H1N1 (swine) flu. A 2016 review of mechanistic and clinical trials have found that it may be a promising support agent for your immune system and a beneficial supplement for the common cold. It is available in supplement forms (23, 24).

Medicinal Mushroom Extract

Medicinal mushrooms have been used for thousands of years in Eastern medicine, however, they only became popular in the recent decades in the West. Though each mushroom has its own unique healing properties, they all offer some benefits for your immune system. My favorite medicinal mushrooms for immune support include cordyceps, shitake, maitake, and reishi mushrooms.

Cordyceps is also called the caterpillar mushrooms. According to a 2011 research paper, it has been used for colds and the flu, and various other ailments. Shitake mushrooms are often used in stews and soups. A 2015 study has found that they offer antiviral and anticancer properties. Maitake is a popular Japanese mushroom. According to a 2003 study, it offers immune-enhancing benefits by activating your natural killer (NK) cells. Reishi is one of the most popular medicinal mushrooms often found in superfood powders and mushroom tea mixes. According to a 2009 study, it offers anti-inflammatory and immune-supporting benefits. All these medicinal mushrooms can be found in extract forms as part of supplements, superfood powders, and tea mixes (25, 26, 27, 28, 29).

Beta-Glucan

Beta-glucan is a natural polysaccharide. They are found in the cells of fungi, bacteria, yeast, algae, lichen, oats, and barley. It is a natural immuno-modulator that helps to create changes in your immune system to make it more efficient. It can activate every immune cell in your body to achieve a complete, effective, and appropriate immune response to protect your self. It basically puts your immune cells on ‘high alert’ so they are ready to fight invaders.

According to a 2007 study, beta-glucans can be highly beneficial for your immune system. According to a 2011 study, beta-glucans have the ability to fight infections caused by viruses, bacteria, and pathogenic microorganisms. Beta-glucans are available form (30, 31).

Try Ultimate Immune Support

Do you want to support your immune health with these immune support herbs? I am happy to announce that I now have my own supplement to offer you maximum immune support.

Ultimate Immune Support is a powerful herbal formula specifically designed to support healthy immune system function during cold and flu season and protect during stressful or vulnerable times. This immune-enhancing herbal formula supports your normal natural killer (NK) cell activity and helps to balance your cytokines, which are regulatory proteins released by your immune cells to support a healthy immune system response. 

This formula is powered by my favorite immune-supporting herbs and superfoods, including echinacea, astragalus extract, Andrographis, green tea extract, arabinogalactan, cordyceps mushrooms, shitake mushroom, maitake mushrooms, reishi mushrooms, and beta-glucan. Ultimate Immune Support contains optimal and consistent amounts of active ingredients of these herbs and superfoods. It is also suitable and beneficial for those with histamine intolerance or MCAS. I recommend taking four capsules a day with meals for maximum support or as recommended by your healthcare practitioner. I always recommend starting slow and titrating up as tolerated whenever starting a new supplement.

Final Thoughts

Your immune health is more important than ever. If you are not taking care of it, your immune system will be sluggish and can’t protect you. If you take care of it, your immune system will love you back and protect you from illness and infections. Follow my tips and try my favorite immune-supporting herbs to protect your immune system this season.

If you want to learn how to protect your immune system, dealing with unexplained chronic symptoms, or experiencing symptoms of thyroid dysfunction, histamine intolerance, or other chronic conditions, I invite you to schedule a consultation with me. I can help to identify the root cause of your condition and recommend a personalized treatment plan to repair your body and regain your health and well-being. Schedule your consultation here.

Sources:
1. The immune system. Johns Hopkins Medicine. Link Here
2. How does the immune system work. NCBI. Link Here
3. Understanding the immune system: How it works. Science Education. Link Here
4. Overview of the immune system. National Insitute of Allergy and Infectious Disease. Link Here
5. University of Utah Health Sciences. (2009, August 18). Does Sugar Feed Cancer? ScienceDaily
6. Mullington JM, Simpson NS, Meier-Ewert HK, Haack M. Sleep Loss and Inflammation. Best practice & research Clinical endocrinology & metabolism. 2010;24(5):775-784
7. Kjaer A, Knigge U, Rouleau A, Garbarg M, Warberg J.Dehydration-induced release of vasopressin involves activation of hypothalamic histaminergic neurons. Endocrinology. 1994 Aug;135(2):675-81. PMID: 8033816
8. Shah, S. A., Sander, S., White, C. M., Rinaldi, M., & Coleman, C. I. (2007). Evaluation of echinacea for the prevention and treatment of the common colds: a meta-analysis. Lancet Infectious Diseases. PMID: 17597571
9. Schapowal, A., Klein, P., & Johnston, S. L. (2015). Echinacea Reduces the Risk of Recurrent Respiratory Tract Infections and Complications: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Advances in Therapy. PMID: 25784510
10. Astragalus. NIH. Link HEre
11. Block KI, Mead MN. Immune system effects of echinacea, ginseng, and astragalus: a review. Integr Cancer Ther. 2003;2(3):247-267. Link Here
12. Gao XH, Xu XX, Pan R, et al. Saponin fraction from Astragalus membranaceus roots protects mice against polymicrobial sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture by inhibiting inflammation and upregulating protein C pathway. J Nat Med. 2009;63(4):421-429. Link Here
13. Astragalus membranaceus. Monograph. Altern Med Rev. 2003;8(1):72-77. Link Here
McCulloch M, Broffman M, Gao J, Colford JM Jr. Chinese herbal medicine and interferon in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B: a meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials. Am J Public Health. 2002;92(10):1619-1628. Link Here
14. Tang LL, Sheng JF, Xu CH, Liu KZ. Clinical and experimental effectiveness of Astragali compound in the treatment of chronic viral hepatitis B. J Int Med Res. 2009;37(3):662-667. Link Here
15. Matkovic Z, Zivkovic V, Korica M, Plavec D, Pecanic S, Tudoric N. Efficacy and safety of Astragalus membranaceus in the treatment of patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis. Phytother Res. 2010;24(2):175-181. Link Here
16. Okhuarobo A, Falodun JE, Erharuyi O, Imieje V, Falodun A, Langer P. Harnessing the medicinal properties of Andrographis paniculata for diseases and beyond: a review of its phytochemistry and pharmacology. Asian Pac J Trop Dis. 2014 Jun;4(3):213–22. doi: 17.1016/S2222-1808(14)60509-0. PMCID: PMC4032030
Hu XY. Andrographis paniculata (Chuān Xīn Lián) for symptomatic relief of acute respiratory tract infections in adults and children: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Plos One. Link Here
18. Taylor PW, Hamilton-Miller JM, Stapleton PD. Antimicrobial properties of green tea catechins. Food Sci Technol Bull. 2005;2:71-81. doi: 10.1616/1476-2137.14184. PMID: 19844590
19. Maeda-Yamamoto M. Human clinical studies of tea polyphenols in allergy or life style-related diseases. Curr Pharm Des. 2013;19(34):6148-6155. Link Here
20. Balaji G. Mast cell stabilizing and anti-anaphylactic activity of aqueous extract of green tea (Camellia sinensis). International Journal of Veterinary Science and Medicine. Volume 2, Issue 1, June 2014, Pages 89-94. Link Here
21.Benefuki Japanese green tea naturally heals MCAD. Link Here
22. What about coffee, black tea…? Histamine Pirate. Link Here
23. Larch arabinogalactan. WebMD. Link Here
24. Dion C, Chappuis E, Ripoll C. Does larch arabinogalactan enhance immune function? A review of mechanistic and clinical trials. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2016 Apr 12;13:28. doi: 10.1186/s12986-016-0086-x. PMID: 27073407
25. Panda AK, Swain KC. Traditional uses and medicinal potential of Cordyceps sinensis of Sikkim. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2011 Jan;2(1):9-13. doi: 10.4103/0975-9476.78183. PMID: 21731381
26. Dudhgaonkar S, Thyagarajan A, Sliva D. Suppression of the inflammatory response by triterpenes isolated from the mushroom Ganoderma lucidum. Int Immunopharmacol. 2009;9(11):1272-1280. Link Here
27. Dai X, Stanilka JM, Rowe CA, et al. Consuming Lentinula edodes (Shiitake) Mushrooms Daily Improves Human Immunity: A Randomized Dietary Intervention in Healthy Young Adults. J Am Coll Nutr. 2015;34(6):478-487. Link Here
28. Kodama N, Komuta K, Nanba H. Effect of Maitake (Grifola frondosa) D-Fraction on the activation of NK cells in cancer patients. J Med Food. 2003;6(4):371-377. Link Here
29. Guggenheim AG, Wright KM, Zwickey HL. Immune Modulation From Five Major Mushrooms: Application to Integrative Oncology. Integr Med (Encinitas). 2014 Feb;13(1):32-44. PMID: 26770080
30. Akramiene D, Kondrotas A, Didziapetriene J, Kevelaitis E. Effects of beta-glucans on the immune system. Medicina (Kaunas). 2007;43(8):597-606. Link Here
31. Kim HS, Hong JT, Kim Y, Han SB. Stimulatory Effect of β-glucans on Immune Cells. Immune Netw. 2011 Aug;11(4):191-5. doi: 10.4110/in.2011.11.4.191. Epub 2011 Aug 31. PMID: 22039366

 


Dr. Becky Campbell

Content on this website is not considered medical advice. Please see a physician before making any medical or lifestyle changes.

TERMS & CONDITIONS     |     PRIVACY POLICY     |     DISCLAIMER     I     CONTACT