Best Tips to Address Histamine Intolerance When You Have SIBO

When you have SIBO, but you also suspect histamine intolerance you might be wondering where you should start. In todays article, we are going to address some of the best tips to addressing histamine intolerance when you also have SIBO.

Tip #1 Treat SIBO and Other Underlying Gut Problems

The First tip and one that should not be overlooked is treat the underlying issues of SIBO.  You may think that the Low FODMAP diet is the answer for this but you couldnt be further from the truth. The low FODMAP diet does not correct the underlying gut problem. If you have SIBO, the Low FODMAP may starve out some the bacteria, which results in less gas production and even a reduction in symptoms. But, the cause of the SIBO and the imbalances that caused the symptoms in the first place are still present. This can be very misleading for the person with SIBO who goes on a low FODMAP diet, and their symptoms improve. A reduction in symptoms does not mean you have eradicated or fixed the overgrowth. This is so important to understand.

One thing I spoke about in past article was how SIBO can cause inflammation in the intestines. Since your intestines are where most of the DAO enzyme is produced, when the intestines are damage or inflamed, your body may produce less DAO. Less DAO allows your histamine bucket to fill up and overflow.

When you start to deal with histamine intolerance, the first step should be to treat SIBO-Leaky Gut-Dysbiosis connection.  This is one way in which you can minimize the amount of excess histamine filling up your histamine/MCAS bucket.

How do you know when SIBO is gone? Testing. I can’t emphasize enough the importance of testing and more importantly retesting. Once you have cleared the SIBO now it’s time to focus on healing the gut and improving the gut environment. This means improving SIgA levels, balancing the flora of the microbiome, optimizing Digestion, etc

One mistake I see so many people making when it comes to treating SIBO is the amount of energy they spend on killing the overgrowth of bacteria with antibiotics and antimicrobials. What they forget, which is the most important step to treating SIBO, is the Repair phase.

If You Don’t Focus And Put As Much Energy Into The Repair Of Your Gut- Your SIBO And Histamine Will Continue To Relapse And Create a Vicious Cycle. 

As a general rule of thumb, the repair phase should include things like reintroducing FODMAPS and resistant starches. The repair should also include a focus on balancing out SIgA levels, increasing levels of short chain fatty acids, decreasing inflammation and again optimizing enzymatic function.

This is also the time for introducing prebiotics, probiotics and and other strategies that can help with the oral tolerance. The reason so many people struggle with food sensitivities and chemical sensitivities is due to a breakdown in oral tolerance.

Tip #2 Reducing Inflammation and Use a Binding agent for Gut Toxins

The body is constantly encountering foreign substances and creates a healthy response and memory for those encounters. One way the body establishes memory is through the production of immunoglobulins, also known as antibodies. These allow the immune system to act quickly and efficiently in the event of a repeat encounter. While the body naturally produces immunoglobulins, it can be beneficial to supplement with immunoglobulins for mucosal immune support within the GI tract. By supporting the body with supplemental immunoglobulins, the burden of and overload of unwanted microbes and toxins can be bound and eliminated prior to immune activation. This can be incredibly important when balancing a healthy immune response when SIBO is present.

These supplemental immunoglobulins can help reduce inflammation. When inflammation is reduced, the release of histamine is reduced. A few things I use when dealing with inflammation include

Taking SBI protect or Immuno G PRP. Both of these help support health SIgA levels.  Learn more about great ways to improve SIgA levels.

SBI protect is a dairy free source of immunoglobulin G (IgG) that as available as a supplement which binds microbes and toxins in the gut lumen.

Another way of binding up toxins is by using natural compounds like Zeolite Clay, Activated Charcoal, Aloe Vera, MMST Silica, Apple Pectin, Humic / Fulvic Acid to detox the gut.

I like G.I. Detox because very often people with SIBO also are dealing with SIFO, you usualy see these two go hand in hand. SIFO stands for Small Intestinal Fungal Overgrowth. Fungus and mold as well as bacteria release toxins and these toxic metabolites can drive more inflammation in the body, if they are not expelled.

Binding agents like G.I. Detox is especially crucial when you’re in the process of healing your gut. As I just mentioned, Gut-killing protocols can stir up the toxins in your system, causing a die-off (or Herxheimer) reaction. By taking a binder like G.I. Detox, you help escort the offenders out of your body quickly, helping you feel better, faster.

Tip #3 Stay Stress-free

Stress will fill up your histamine/MCAS bucket faster than you can imagine. From a physiological perspective, stress causes a surge in Cortisol and a surge in adrenaline. These hormones make up the flight or fight mechanism you may have heard about. Unfortunately, neither of these are good for gut health and neither of these are good for the person with histamine/MCAS.

This is why working to identify the source of your stress as well as taking steps to manage it effectively are important practices to adopt.  Minimize the stress and you will effectively being minimize whats in your histamine/MCAS bucket.

While each of us endures different kinds of stress there are some well accepted methods for reducing stress and histamine release from a therapeutic standpoint. For one, we know that stress will deplete magnesium levels in the body and this can lead to anxiety, racing thoughts, restlessness, irritability, and changes in mood.

Multiple studies show that magnesium reduces ACTH levels in the brain and reduces cortisol levels out in the body. It has been widely studied, that in the western population upwards of 68% of people are magnesium deficient.

This can lead to high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes and so many other problems. Magnesium supplementation has also been shown to calm down the release of cortisol and this is why magnesium is so important for those who experience stress and anxiety.

Another effective approach to reducing stress from a therapeutic point of view is supplementation with B6. But not all B6 is created equal. There are many kinds of B6, but the best kind of B6 for someone with histamine intolerance/ MCAS is the active form, pyridoxal 5’-phosphate. The activated form of B6 allows the body to use it more efficiently. B6 is important for the person with Histamine intolerance/ MCAS because Vitamin B6 is required for the production of DAO. DAO again breaks down histamine.

Tip #3 DAO Enzyme Intake and Stabilization of Mast Cells

One of the suspected causes of histamine intolerance is DAO deficiency. When your DAO levels are too low, it’s difficult for your body to efficiently breakdown and

excrete excess dietary histamine. As a result, histamine levels rise, leading to various physical symptoms. With the help of Diamine oxidase, you can ease uncomfortable symptoms, such as nasal congestion, itchy skin, headaches, and sneezing.

Women who have histamine issues that originate from Estrogen Dominance, can consume HistDAO enzymes around the ovulation time of their cycle to minimize the symptoms.

Mast cells should also be stabilized so that histamine release can be reduced. Spices such as ginger and turmeric can also help with Mast Cell Stability.

Clinical Application of HistDAO

1. Supports histamine intolerance*
2. Degrades in a healthy manner the histamine derived from consumed foods*
3. Supports the enhancement of the existence of diamine oxidase within the Digestive Tract *

This video explains the link between hormonal imbalances and Histamine Intolerance.

 

Tip #4- Stabilizing Mast Cells 

Mast cell stabilizers prevent the release of mast cell mediators such as histamine through stabilization of the mast cell membrane. These agents are most effective when used prior to antigen exposure. Using an all-natural mast cell stabilizer is one of the safest and most effective ways to reduce internal histamine levels aside from proper diet. Mast cell stabilizers work by blocking a calcium channel that is essential for mast cell degranulation. When mast cells degranulate, they release histamine.

Mast cell stabilizers are able to reduce both biological stress and histamine release internally. This method is great if you’re looking to widen your variety of foods that are “safe” for you to consume without a reaction.

With my clients, I personally use Natural D-Hist, which is made from natural ingredients and has been described by my clients as a “wonder-drug” and “miracle in a bottle” for it’s ability to reduce symptoms and increase food choice.

Natural D-Hist is a targeted blend of flavonoids, antioxidants, proteolytic enzymes and botanicals designed to provide comprehensive support for seasonal challenges caused by common environmental allergens.

Natural D-Hist includes quercetin, a powerful flavonoid, to support healthy histamine levels. Bromelain enhances the absorption of quercetin and supports mucosal tissue health.

Stinging nettles leaf balance hyper-immune response and N-acetyl cysteine clear the airways by promoting normal viscosity of mucus. This powerful combination actively promotes healthy nasal and sinus passages for individuals with elevated histamine and respiratory irritation.

I also recommend increasing foods that have been shown to stabilize Mast Cells.

Histamine Support Pack

Tip #5 Avoid High-Histamine Food….. But Only For A Short Period of Time.

Avoiding High histamine foods is a great place to start. It is always a good idea to avoid food that cause release of more histamine in the body, however, it is never a good idea to do for too long 4-8 weeks tops.

For the same reasons a low FODMAP diet fails many people, so too, does the low histamine diet. Remember think bucket- the more things filling up you bucket the more frequent and more severe your symptoms will be.

I have found that low FODMAP/ Low histamine diets while helpful in the beginning, if done for too long cause weight loss, nutritional deficiencies, more gut imbalances, and an overall unhealthy relationship with food. This is a recipe for failure. These diets do not address the root cause of your gut/histamine problem.

Things To Remember About Today’s Article.

You’re likely to have high histamine levels as a patient who has confirmed SIBO. This may lead to you actively avoiding foods high in histamine. With this said,  important to understand that food is not the root cause but often fans the fire. As mentioned earlier it is the loss of oral tolerance that aggravate the symptoms.

Food is not the enemy! If you are looking to get rid of histamine issues, it is best that you work with a Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner who understand the BIG picture and can tailor treatment to whats filling your histamine/MCAS bucket. No detail is too small when you are dealing with a chronic problem like this.

Other Suggested Articles

1. Probiotics- Could They May Be Triggering Your SIBO
2. Probiotics Are Suppose to Help SIBO, Why Am I feeling Worse.  
3. Soil Based Probiotics- Why These Might Be the Key to Helping Your SIBO 
4. Avoiding High Histamine Foods 
5. Histamine Starter Guide 
6. Heal Your Gut my balancing your SIgA levels
7. DAO Enzyme Support
8. Histamine Support Pack