The Wild

If you have allergies or food sensitivities that are not well explained you might want to look into the topic of histamine sensitivity.

My Story

For most of my life I have dealt with allergies. Growing up in a small rural community in the 80’s allergies were mostly unheard of. Over time some good doctors did finally get me on an elimination diet that helped me survive the early years. At five I had my tonsils removed, which also seems to have helped. There was a period of grace in my teens and twenties, but later in life my sensitivities began to return.

I have always known on a basic level that what I eat impacts how I feel. I tried many different diets over the years in an attempt to define a set of rules related to what I can and cannot eat. I would experience periods where my symptoms would disappear – but most these were short lived.

I also began to notice that other my allergies could be triggered by an array of things, not only food or common seasonal allergens. The first aha moment took place when I realized the connection between environment and my allergies. What I noted specifically is that winter in and of itself seems to be a trigger for me.

It could be the combination of cold dry air, spending too much time indoors, or just the stress that extreme weather and lack of sunlight puts on ones system. I thought that most of my problems were related to diet, but what I began to notice is that even when fasting (consuming only water) for multiple days, I could still experience allergic reactions.

Then a friend suggested to me that I look into the histamine diet. Having tried almost every other diet out there, I decided to check it out. What I found was a list of high histamine foods that almost exactly matched up with my own list of foods that I knew to be problematic.

For a long time processed foods of any kind have been on my naughty list, but to this I also added several foods that I both enjoy, and suspected were causing me issues. Tomatoes, avocado, citrus and bananas were the ones I was most unhappy to find on the high histamine list. As someone who once followed the 80/10/10 diet to heal and restore my health I was also quite shocked – though not completely surprised. While the low fat raw vegan diet did help me reverse several serious conditions, I do remember my allergies being a problem at times.

HIT

Having some concept that histamine was the big problem, I then did a little research on the topic. This led me to a condition called histamine intolerance (HIT). As I read through the description, causes and symptoms the pieces began to fall into place. So much of what I was reading matched my experience – the only problem – most of the medical community does not recognize it as a real condition.

Over the years I have seen progress held back on many fronts by those who cannot or will not adapt their thinking to the new realities we face in a chemical laden, ultra processed world. I cannot say with scientific certainty that HIT is real, but I can tell you that it explains my own lifelong struggle.

The very simple way that I understand it is this. Histamine can be produced in the body (endogenous) or can come from external sources (exogenous). Examples of exogenous sources are foods that contain high levels of histamine. Endogenous (internal) sources are more complex. Mast cells release histamine as a function of our immune system – normally a beneficial response. However, in some cases the mast cells activate too often and ultimately produce excessive amounts of histamine.

Additionally certain gut bacteria also produce histamine

Despite the skepticism of the medical institution I read on. What I learned is that a number of non-food triggers exist. As I looked through them I asked myself if any of these could account for my inexplicable tendency to have symptoms

1. Temperature changes: exposure to hot or cold air
2. Intense cardiovascular exercise
3. Environmental allergins: pollen, dust mites, pet dander, mold spores etc.
4. Medications
5. Chemical exposure
6. Psychological stress
7. Hormonal fluctuations

Looking trough the list I can say with certainty that many of these do line up with my personal experience, both now and historically.

While there are many things I cannot control in our modern urban world, there are those that I can. For example, I know that I should live in a place that has relatively stable weather, instead of extremes of hot and cold. I can choose not to wear chemically formulated scents, even if I cannot dictate how others choose to live. Most importantly for me, I can choose to eat a diet that is composed of fresh whole foods (with a few exceptions).

If I view my body as a bucket, I can think of it like this. My bucket can only hold so much histamine before it overflows. When it spills over, then I start to have symptoms. It starts with nasal congestion, then headaches, digestive issues, skin problems, and in serious conditions low blood pressure and difficulty breathing.

So, what I need to do is minimize my exposure to internal and external factors. In the summer I tend to have less problems, but during our cold winter I need to really be careful as the weather and poor indoor air is already creating a significant histamine load in my body. As a result I can only eat items from the low histamine food lists. I also find it necessary to fast – sometimes for 2-3 days consecutively.

Like everyone I try to reduce my stress load, and find things that bring me happiness and peace.

Take care and stay warm!