Can’t live without your weekly cupcake but not sure how to make a low histamine version? Jonesing for low histamine ice cream sandwich? Pulling out your hair trying to work out a low histamine cake batter for the kids? Yup, I’ve got that covered too. It’s all in here, along with low histamine frosting, low histamine ice cream and more!
I love dessert. It’s that simple.
Taking away one of life’s greatest pleasures just wasn’t an option for me. So I had to figure out how to make my cake and eat it too. Trick was how to do it without suffering the dreaded histamine hangover that would leave me hugging my pillow (or the loo) for days.
I used to think, well, if I’m going to cheat it should be with something spectacular, so let’s just whip out the Ben & Jerry’s! But the days of misery nursing a bloated stomach, depression, anxiety and inability to focus on my work, just ended up not being worth it. So, cue the low histamine dessert book, for those who’d like to indulge, responsibly.
The easy to shop for and follow recipes are gluten free, can be lactose free (or not), refined sugar and now nut free too! And don’t worry, there are substitutions galore.
I’m not sure how many people out there are looking for a low histamine dessert book that’s gluten free, dairy/lactose free, refined sugar free and now nut free to boot! But if you are, you’re in the right place!
IBS getting on your nerves? If the studies I’m reading are anything to go by, step one appears to be calming those nerves! I’ve spent a great deal of time reporting on the role of stress on mast cell activation, histamine release, allergies and general inflammation. Stress can cause mast cells to release histamine, thereby causing/worsening allergic symptoms, that’s according to National Institutes of Health funded mast cell expert Dr Theoharides. Stress can also cause an increase in symptoms for those with mast cell related conditions such as autism, cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome, interstitial cystitis, migraine headaches, psoriasis and multiple sclerosis.
The good news is that in my experience, a low histamine, anti-inflammatory diet can help. (Check out my books for more on that.) It doesn’t hurt to throw in a good dose of daily meditation while you’re at it.
Other than that, the potentially great news is that the L. paracasei probiotic can reverse the gut permeability (leaky gut anyone?) and internal hypersensitivity. Sounds good right? There’s more.
Seems that stress can also cause bacteria to cling to the gastrointestinal tract, but this bacteria was prevented from sticking to the mesenteric lymph nodes (in this study) by a mixture of L. rhamnosus and Lactobacillus helveticus
More brilliant news…
CLICK HERE TO LEARN HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN CUTOMISED HISTAMINE BALANCE DIET AND HEALING PLAN.
The probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus (and a few others) down-regulate the IgE and Histamine 4 receptor while also up-regulating anti-inflammatory agents like (IL)-8. In English (to quote a group friend): the probiotic turns down the dial on two important allergy/mast cell cell/histamine receptors, while enhancing the activity of anti-inflammatory agents.
Seeking Health‘s Probiota Bifido supplement contains some of the beneficial probiotics in my post on histamine lowering probiotics. They’re offering free shipping on orders over $50 to the states.
While fermented foods are usually way off the menu for those of us with allergies, histamine intolerance, mast cell activation or mastocytosis, probiotics are necessary for healing the gut and preventing any further allergies from developing . You’ll find a list of histamine healthy probiotics here – and you’ll find most of the beneficial ones in this supplement below. I just recently discovered this brand in the US – thanks to my readers! Click on the image on the right for free shipping if you live in the states. If you’re in the UK I suggest checking out Optibac Probiotics.
Natren Pro
Bifidobacterium infantis super strain. I haven’t tried this one myself – it’s derived from goat milk.
ORIGINAL POST
I’ve been exploring the catch-22 of probiotic supplementation for some time now. The dilemma? Probiotics are necessary for proper intestinal function – the histamine lowering enzymes diamine oxidase and monoamine oxidase live there, so fixing up our poop tube seems like a good idea right?
Gut health is so important to our condition that I continue running periodic searches on probiotics. What I’ve found so far is that I’m looking for a a probiotic supplement containing Bifidobacterium infants and Bifidobacterium longum. Today I found that Lactobacillus reuteri is something I definitely want in there. Rather excitingly to me, this new study proves something I’ve been talking about for ages – that not all histamine is bad for us. Lactobacillus reuteri causes histidine to convert to histamine, but this particular histamine raises cAMP (this is good!), and kills inflammation! This study finally backs up the assertion that not all histamine is bad and as such should not be entirely eliminated from the diet.
This all goes hand in hand with what I’ve been saying for years: the focus should be on health as a whole, rather than lowering or avoiding histamine. We need to support the immune system, lower inflammation and heal the gut.
Can cure your histamine intolerance/histaminosis/mastocytosis with a histamine-lowering probiotic? Doubtful. Could it be helpful? Possibly. Why the cautious optimism? Because I have experienced a variety of reactions to supplements over the years. But if you’re going to try probitic supplementation, this might be a good place to start.
Probiotic supplements are fermented (a no go for histamine intolerance/histamine related disorders) and some strains actually raise histamine and tyramine in the body. The good news is that strains commonly found in babies can actually lower histamine, helping us fight allergies and lower our overall histamine burden.
Lactobacillus casei (TISTR 389) andLactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus (TISTR 895) were found to produce BA (biogenic amines). The highest levels of histamine (1820.9 ± 3.5 mg L−1) and tyramine (5486.99 ± 47.6 mg L−1) formation were observed for the TISTR 389 strain, while TISTR 895 produced only histamine (459.1 ± 0.63 mg L−1) in the decarboxylase broth. Biogenic amine potential was not observed for the Lactobacillus acidophilus,Lactobacillus lactis subsp. lactis, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis, and Lactobacillus plantarum strains studied. This study confirmed that BA formation is strain dependent and not related to the species. Read the full study here.
English translation…
So I’m looking for a probiotic supplement with inflammation lowering…
(read the article below to understand the logic)
Bifidobacterium infants
Bifidobacterium longum
Bifidiobacterium breve
Lactobacillus reuteri (raises histamine in the short term but elevates anti inflammatory cAMP levels)
Saccharomyces-Boulardii: I found a number of studies on its effectiveness in treating gastroenteritis, which some researchers have linked to high histamine/mast cell issues.
Histamine neutral strains…
Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus Lactis, Lactococcus Lactis, and Lactobacillus plantarum which do not have any effect on biogenic amines like histamine and tyramine.
But not…
Lactobacillus casei (produces histamine and tyramine)
For now I’ve decided to avoid Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus Bulgaricus, until I find studies showing that their histamine raising qualities are in fact something we want, because it raises cAMP levels/fights inflammation.
I would not recommend starting this, or any supplement, without consulting your doctor. If you do try, please go slowly. If you prefer to go the nutritional route, a diet low in histamine is a good place to start – check out my post on pre-bioitic foods here.
If you’ve found this information useful I’d appreciate your support (at no extra cost to you!) – please check out my online store for your health foods, supplements, kitchen items and beauty product purchases. Affiliate sales through my online store go towards maintaining the website, funding travel to interviews and purchasing all the lovely foods for my free online recipes. You’ll find these items in the “FABULOUS THINGS” drop down menu on my homepage – there’s now a UK and US store.
The main constituent of nigella sativa seeds has been shown to be more effective than a commonly prescribed corticosteroid nasal spray at alleviating lung inflammation [1].
The annoying thing about all these studies is that, unlike pharmaceuticals, the medical studies for natural constituents, is usually on animals. Now, ok, if it’s good enough for mr mouse/rat/pig, it’s generally ok for us, it’s still annoying to see over and over.
Here’s another good one one: nigella sativa and its active constituent thymoquinone were shown to protect the stomach from alcohol induced injury – meaning it’s likely to be an H2 blocker (like zantac/ranitidine) [2].
Interestingly, the same study found that nigealla sativa, as a whole seed, was more powerful than just its active constituent alone.
This interested me greatly as Dr Fuhrman’s teachings (I’m studying nutrition with him) always hammer in the idea that the plant/food as a whole is more beneficial than an isolated element. That the synergistic attributes of the plant are important.
Wondering how to work nigella sativa’s antihistamine properties into your repertoire? I LOVE them with Mexican food, especially black bean dishes, and also pretty much in anything Indian.
Please remember we are all different and that we can still be allergic to an antihistamine food.
The Anti-cookbook and all liquid Anti-Detox Book, don’t treat any conditions, but feature a plethora of the high nutrient antihistamine and anti-inflammatory ingredients that have been instrumental in helping me feed myself on a limited diet. The Anti-cookbook features a six page list of antihistamine and anti-inflammatory foods and comes in regular and Paleo.
The Low Oxalate Cookbook features antihistamine and anti-inflammatory rich recipes.
I reported a while back that yoga lowers inflammation in the body (see below), specifically C-reactive protein. Now here’s another reason to channel your inner yogi: pranayama lowers histamine levels.
I found a number of studies showing that yoga breathing (pranayama) considerably decreases histamine induced asthma symptoms (compared to placebo groups). The yogic breathing groups were able to cut back on their steroid inhalers [1] and also required a higher dose of histamine to induce an attack [2].
While you’re here…check out the other reason to try yoga!
Adding anti-inflammatory foods to your fight against histamine-induced inflammation? Why stop at food? The Huffington Post also talks about yoga’s role in reducing inflammation.
“The researchers found that the caregivers who participated in the yoga practice experienced a change in the response of 68 genes, leading to the decrease in inflammation. Inflammation has been linked with health problems like heart disease, depression, rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes, Scientific American reported [3].”
Here’s another study that I posted a while back:
Importantly, even though novices and experts did not differ on key dimensions, including age, abdominal adiposity, and cardiorespiratory fitness, novices’ serum interleukin (IL)-6 levels were 41% higher than those of experts across sessions, and the odds of a novice having detectable C-reactive protein (CRP) were 4.75 times as high as that of an expert. Differences in stress responses between experts and novices provided one plausible mechanism for their divergent serum IL-6 data; experts produced less lipopolysaccharide-stimulated IL-6 in response to the stressor than novices, and IL-6 promotes CRP production. The ability to minimize inflammatory responses to stressful encounters influences the burden that stressors place on an individual. If yoga dampens or limits stress-related changes, then regular practice could have substantial health benefits [4].What this means for people dealing with mast cell/histamine disorders
Interleukins are one of the many inflammatory molecules released during mast cell degranulation. Histamine is another. So you can get histamine and other inflammation released from mast cells (and basophils and a few others) in addition to histamine we get from foods. My research and conversations with specialists tells me that I need a supply of dietary histamine in order to help the body function (histamine is needed for wakefulness, as a neurotransmitter and much more). So I still eat higher nutrient higher histamine foods, while practicing meditation (also shown to switch off a number of the genes involved in mast cell disorders) and yoga daily, to balance things out.
CRP is something we want low, no matter whether we have a mast cell disorder or not…
I try to do at least seven hours of yoga weekly – vinyasa flow and anusara are the styles I practise. You don’t have to do this many hours at all. I just love to exercise now that I finally can again!
You’ll find some excellent pranayama videos online.
Please don’t forget antihistamine, pain killing foods can still hurt us, so please always check with your doctor before adding new foods to your diet.
The question I’m asked most often is simply: “what’s your secret?”
I’d be in deep doodoo without my high nutrient low histamine diet for sure, but a positive attitude is by far what gets me through the day. Take my trip to Kenya. I’m now without a kitchen. This was (stupidly) my first trip without my magic bullet travel blender. I was traveling to a house with a kitchen I could use, so I didn’t see the point. Last year this would have sent me into a despair spiral for at least a few days. Then I would have felt totally justified in pigging out on high histamine foods, which would have led to an even longer period of despair as I struggled to quash my symptoms for the rest of the trip. What did I do yesterday?
I took it on the chin, jumped into a tuctuc and bought myself a little juicer and some veggies. I whipped out the yoga mat, the knife and cutting board I treated myself to, and made glorious green juice. Lots of it. Today I woke up peckish. Had a handful of almonds and sunflower seeds and then decided I was going to go whole hog. I’m now on a high raw kick for the next few days. Easy! Luckily I did bring my beloved spiraliser. Check out this raw “pasta” I made on the terrace outside my room. I scraped the detritus into a plastic bag that I handed off to be thrown out, stored the remaining veggies in the room fridge and rinsed off the implements in the bathroom sink. Easy!
At first people here thought I was mad. Upon explaining that I’m doing it because of a medical condition, they’re now totally interested and supportive. I’ve received a number of compliments on my dedication and perseverance.
More on positivity….I’ve mentioned numerous times, that not focusing on my symptoms, distraction, and other classics I learned when misdiagnosed with anxiety disorder, work well. When I experience a bad reaction I simply stop what I’m doing, go somewhere quiet and meditate. If it’s not so severe, I just get out of my head. I observe the reaction, I honour its right to be, and then let it go. Mindfulness meditation.
Yesterday, like manna from heaven, a study to specifically back up the statements I make:
In this study, two groups were subjected to electrical stimulation and histamine application. One group was told to expect itching and pain, while the others weren’t. Those who expected it reported more itching and pain. More than that, the itch results were far more pronounced than the pain result. In round two, after histamine and electrical treatment, the placebo group who were not told to expect pain or itch, reported far less itching, but still reported pain! (Read the full study)
How about that? Expecting to itch, anticipating it, auto suggestion (in our case) is far more powerful than expecting pain. In online groups and forums I repeat, time and time again the importance of expecting a positive outcome, or simply not attaching too much importance to histamine/mast cell degranulation triggers exposure. I’m not saying ignoring reactions is a good thing – that would be dangerous. But, a little positivity goes a long way. Since lowering my overall histamine level, I no longer have anaphylactic reactions. I’m therefore fairly certain most of the time, especially with foods I eat fairly often, that most reactions will pass if I do not fuel the fire.
Here’s a great book I’m reading at the moment. It’s all about building positive neural connections. It really works! I’m also using the meditation cds by the same author.
Suffering from breast lumps? Histamine plays an important role in Fibrocystic Breast Disease.
One of my many health scares, before my histaminosis/histamine intolerance diagnosis, was breast cancer, finally ruled out by lumpectomy. I had another cancer scare a few years later – doctors insisted on another lumpectomy, which I refused. It took me another seven years of persistent cancer fears to find the answer in a number of studies. One of the tell tale signs (that my docs should have paid attention to) was that the lumps were small, there were quite a few of them and they would completely disappear at times.
“Two mechanisms are proposed which could lead to mast cell degranulation in breast tissue. First, low progesterone levels lead to decreased intracellular cAMP levels in mast cells which enhance mast cell degranulation. Second, low progesterone levels lead to increased solubilization of breast collagen during tissue turnover. Susceptible individuals may undergo an allergic reaction to soluble collagen resulting in further mast cell degranulation. The degranulation products histamine and heparin may stimulate increased stromal proliferation and vascularization respectively. We provide evidence for the occurrence of histamine release by demonstrating an increased incidence of allergic symptoms in white women with fibrocystic breast changes.” Read the full study here.
I find it a little amusing that one of my most accurate histamine level barometers is my chest. Though I’m sure to lose your respect at this point (I promise to work hard to regain it), I must quote Lindsay Lohan’s masterpiece, ‘Mean Girls’:
Karen: Well… I’m kinda psychic. I have a fifth sense. Cady: What do you mean? Karen: It’s like I have ESPN or something. My breasts can always tell when it’s going to rain. Cady: Really? That’s amazing. Karen: Well… they can tell when it’s raining.
As soon as I feel those little lumps I know I’ve seriously fallen off the wagon and it’s high time I clamber back on up.
This doesn’t give you a get out clause from monthly self exams. I know it’s boring, so why not ask your better half to do it for you?
Karen: There’s a 30 percent chance it’s already raining.
Today we got down to business here in Kenya. Meetings, strategy, and all that good stuff. Despite being pressed for time, lunch still had to be nutritious, so I whipped up this quick antihistamine and anti inflammatory salad. Some have issues with green beans, so I omitted them from the recipe.
The Skinny
In studies, fennel exhibits “inhibitory effects against acute and subacute inflammatory diseases and type IV allergic reactions and showed a central analgesic effect.” Read the study here.
Russian studies (the only ones I could access for free on the net) show that tarragon shows “highlight potential anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, and anti hyperglycemic effects”. Read the full study here.
3 tablespoons olive oil 1 1/2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh tarragon 2-4 teaspoons fresh lemon juice 4 tablespoons apple juice (fresh) 3 celery stalks, thinly sliced 2 small fennel bulbs, thinly sliced 1 apple, julienned
Directions: Whisk first the olive oil, tarragon, and apple juice.
Add the lemon, or you could also use 2 tbsp lemon juice plus 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, which is the lowest histamine of vinegars. I personally don’t.
Add the celery, thinly sliced fennel and apple; toss in the dressing Season to taste with salt and pepper.
If you’re looking for a more “authentic” coleslaw, whip up a serving of home made mayo.
You’ll find other low histamine and antihistamine recipes in the On the Go cookbook (as well as the home made mayo recipe).
It took exactly 38 hours to travel from London to Malindi, Kenya, and I’d be lying if I said it didn’t take its toll on me. I slept a total of two hours, after having stayed up writing all night before leaving (no sleep).
It took a major toll on my last time I traveled here too. The difference is that last December it took me over a week to get over it, but if I’m honest with myself, I never actually recovered. I spent three weeks in total in Kenya, on the vacation of a lifetime. My man, my best friends and I were transported on private planes to go on safari with Masai warriors, on boat trips to the most beautiful islands in western Africa, and to sumptuously catered parties hosted at glamorous villas. But I was too sick to enjoy any of it.
I had arrived in Kenya already sickly, having paid far too little attention to diet for far too long. I continued to dope up with an increasing number of antihistamines, convinced this was the only treatment available to me. The malaise I felt was, at times, the only indication that anything was wrong with me. Unfortunately every few days the bladder pain, anxiety, depression and severe intestinal distress would render movement impossible. I spent half our safari time in bed, complaining to anyone within earshot, while amusing myself with food.
While friends eagerly jumped into the ocean and enjoyed champagne at every opportunity, I spent last year’s trip bundled up against the imaginary cold, brandishing a bottle of still water and crying in the loo when there was nothing I could find to eat, bitterly asking myself why I had bothered to come. I was angry at myself for being sick, but I was furious at others for having the fun I couldn’t.
Today, just a year later, I not only managed to get myself onto a boat for a beautiful day at sea, I ate a hearty meal, swam for hours and crisped myself into a fetching shade of lobster. I have a full week of work ahead of me, as well as a number of trips across the country.
What’s changed? Kenya last year was the watershed moment when I swore I would change my life. With the encouragement and support of my man, I finally quit the antihistamines and benzodiazepines I now know were sabotaging my “recovery”. Once off antihistamines I understood my limits and the necessity of eating a low histamine diet rich in antihistamine and anti inflammatory foods, but most importantly, it dawned on me that elimination was most definitely not the way forward. Chronically cutting nutrition from my diet and eating the same few “safe” foods over and over was starving my body of the very nutrients needed to function (somewhat) normally. This whole last year has been spent applying the skills I used to travel the globe as a CNN/BBC television news producer, to surviving and thriving with my histamine disorder. My diet now incorporates dozens of foods, herbs and teas I have thoroughly researched and have found to be potent H1 and H2 receptor antagonists (antihistamines) and anti inflammatories.
So how am I surviving (and enjoying) this trip?
Malindi airport – 36 hours later
I’ve made my peace. I understand that the very act of digestion causes histamine release. I no longer fret because I react to every single food I ingest – I KNOW I will, and just move on with my meal and my day. Because this too shall pass. I do not use the fact that I react to everything as an excuse to go and pig out on high histamine foods because ” I react to absolutely everything I eat.” I’m now a low histamine adult rather than the sulky preteen I once was.
I prepared for my trip. Read all about how to travel with a histamine condition here.
Before our arrival, I continued my daily meditation and visualisation excercises and reaffirmed my determination to enjoy life beyond the dinner plate.
I hit the ground running. The first thing I did upon arriving at my client’s villa was brief the kitchen on my food situation. I handed over the foods I had brought, along with copies of the DAO Support and On the Go cookbooks. Having done my research on local foods, I highlighted the recipes I knew would work and left it up to them which order to serve them. While I know that not everyone has the luxury of having a staff at their service when they travel, neither do I usually. If I was not staying at my client’s house, I would be at a rented apartment with a kitchen, where I would be preparing my own meals. 80% of the travel issue resolved.
I’ve adapted. I’m ok with eating very little till I can find something safe. Yesterday, breakfast was not something I could have, so I waited till lunch (having made sure I could eat it!). I enjoyed a light lunch of red cabbage with a little olive oil and lemon, asparagus filched from the large vinegared salad which I rinsed in a little bottled water, and a flatbread rye salad “sandwhich” (cucumber and lettuce).
low histamine lunch in kenya
In the old days I would have muttered angrily to myself, bemoaning my fate. Despite being a healthy eater most of my life, and being an advocate of Dr Fuhrman’s Eat to Live nutritarian lifestyle (life beyond the dinner table), I was unable to apply it to my own life since finding out about my histamine condition.Why? My theory is because I no longer felt in control of my body. I was angry at it for betraying my trust and the years of love I had lavished on it. But the joke’s on me. I am in control of my body, to a certain extent anyway, and I plan to live every moment left to me, to its fullest. And that means being even better to myself than ever.
This is one of my older posts. I no longer travel with any foods, except for the plane (there’s just no way I’m touching that mess!) and I don’t need to do most of the stuff on my checklist, but it’s useful for people just starting out.
2015 UPDATE:
I no longer really travel with my own food, unless I’m going for more than a few weeks. The list of stuff I take with me has changed, in keeping with my new thinking on eating a high nutrient antihistamine and anti-inflammatory diet. You’ll find tons of info on that in my newer posts.
The most important update I have is on how to prepare for potential medical emergencies…read all the way down for more.
Hey Mtv generation – remember how NASA (used to) count off the shuttle blast? My trip to Kenya is T minus seven DAYS and counting. Those crazy science type geeks had the luxury of only needing to count to 10 before catapulting their tin cans into orbit, whereas I’m dealing with, like, a histamine type thingy.
Ok, I said what now??
It’s at this point in the pre-departure frenzy that I realise it’s time for a little perspective.
When I subtract the numerical value of possibly getting sick abroad/potential stress/intense preparation from the BENEFITS of travel (lovey time with significant other, kodak moments indelibly inked into psyche, client payout, adventure!), the pros still far outweigh the cons.
Good thing too otherwise the ants in my pants would hang up their spurs in disgust.
Since that’s not going to happen any time soon, I thought I’d share my obsessive ex-CNN/BBC international news producer inspired travel tips with you.
ACCOMMODATION
Cooking low histamine meals for myself takes most of the stress out of travel, so I always try to book an apartment rather than a hotel. Airbnb.com has hooked me up with beautiful, cost effective, apartments or rooms in houses (when on business trips). I always check to make sure the kitchen is available for my histamine food needs, and has the bare minimum equipment-wise.
LOCAL TRANSPORT
What’s the likelihood I’m going to jack up my histamine level rushing around town in microwaves (taxis) in the middle of summer? Yeah, high. Most of the not so developed world lacks AC in taxis. But one day I just said, enough! Given that I do a lot of travel to countries where the exchange rate is very much in my favour, I try to score the number of a good driver with a decent car. You’d be surprised at how little it costs to rent a nice sedan with driver in places like Egypt. Well, not that you’d want to go there right now (someday soon I hope), but you catch my drift. If the no AC situation is completely unavoidable, I try to plan long trips at night, I bring one of those little battery operated fans that squirt water in your face, load up a camelbak with ice cold water, and do a little meditation (and swearing) when we hit traffic.
T MINUS 14 DAYS (and counting…)
I usually keep a small notebook on hand with all my info. Into this goes my…
RESEARCH
Which foods are available at my destination?
Are there organic supermarkets? If so, find their location.
What’s the local transport situation like? Do I need a driver?
What’s the local word for organic supermarket? I use google translate or buy a phrase book.
Which herbs are available in the country?
Where are the best hospitals in the areas I’m traveling to? It’s easy to dig up this info by hitting the ex-pat online forums. People are usually more than happy to advise you and there’s often lists with ratings.
EATING OUT PREP
I usually eat (at least) a little at home. I’m so over “having” to sample the menu everywhere we go and then spending the rest of the evening driving myself crazy playing an ineffective round of histamine detective. Why is it a waste of time? Kitchens are often not as clean as needed for those of us with histamine intolerance/allergies/mastocytosis etc. Bacteria = histamine. ‘Nuff said.
What are the local words for: MSG, chemicals, food flavours, freshest, just steamed please? You’d think it wasn’t an issue, but asking something as simple as “is this food free from chemicals” or “was this cooked today” can turn into a complete nightmare/screaming match where MSG (and others) are an integral part of food culture, and insinuating that food isn’t fresh is as safe as ripping off a lady’s hijab in a crowded mosque durning Friday prayers, in downtown Kabul.
You know that little card I take to restaurants? I get that printed in the local lingo. You need to be 100% sure of the translation – I usually cross reference with google translate or another native speaker.
Very important, because the idea of food allergies is not taken seriously in most countries outside the west (or even in Europe!): I usually add – “I will die if you feed me these”. You really need to give them worst case scenario. If they kick up a fuss just smile, apologise that your partner desperately wants to eat there (citing whichever guidebook) and promise to leave a huge tip. A little charm goes a really long way.
T MINUS 1 WEEK (and counting…)
THE SURVIVAL’LIST
EQUIPMENT
Magic Bullet blender
Nut milk bag
Vacuum packed herbs (if not found locally)
Zucchini corer (I love me some stuffed zukes!)
FOODS
Olive oil Japanese rice crackers
Dried mango/banana/apples
Coconut oil
Light organic olive oil for frying (if not found locally)
Thai rice noodles
Sweet potato flour (if not found fresh)
Chickpea flour
Brown rice flour
Rice pasta
Quick cook gluten free oats (if staying in hotel), pin head oats otherwise
Fresh fruits (if not much found locally)
Raw blue agave syrup (‘cause I’m a realist. I will break down and want something sweet at some point!)
Now this is a lot of grains for me. I usually take a ton just in case, and then end up giving them away to locals when I leave. They’re really just an emergency back up.
BATH AND BEAUTY
Yoga mat (for yoga and for folding up and standing on in the shower to prevent drain backwash)
Waterproof shoes, with a heel of some sort to wear in the shower
Africa and the Middle East aren’t known for great drains. The chemical laden backwash alone, not to mention your partner’s shower offerings (Get your mind out of the gutter! I mean shampoo) can turn a trip miserable faster than the repressed masses can overthrow a government (covered a few of those in my time…).
BOOKS/AUDIO
Meditation, chanting, healing visualisations.
I’ll post part two as my departure date approaches. T-Minus 6 days, and counting…don’t forget to check out my post on mast cell degranulation/histamine release triggers.
VACCINATIONS
It is of course super duper important to follow all medical advice regarding vaccinations. Should you have any concerns, I would change travel plans to a country not requiring the vaccines. You may also want to check out my post on vaccinations here.
PREPARING FOR MEDICAL CARE OR EMERGENCIES
This is the advice I give people about to travel, in addition to following all your doctor’s and embassy’s:
Identify the nearest local hospital of decent size, have a driver you have hired who you can get to come find you on a moment’s notice. This is dicey in many second or third world countries where people don’t prioritise answering their phone or understand what constitutes an emergency. My personal choice would be to rent a car and then make sure to drive to the hospital a few times to know where it is (do not bother calling an ambulance in most Arab or African countries – mostly due to traffic). Go in to the hospital, ask to speak to a department head and see if your meds are available there. Then I would find a local fluent English speaking doctor somewhere in town near you. Get your doctor back home to call him with your specific protocol should something happen – I would especially be sure to give him the safe anaesthesia list you can find on most mastocytosis society websites, or that your doctor has. Pay this local doctor a sum to be on call for you – get his mobile number, make sure he answers 24/7 and call him a few times at weird hours to make sure. Then, if you need to be admitted somewhere, call him immediately, then your doctor in your country. Have the local guy meet you at the hospital, while on phone with your guy. Local doc will then pass on information.
It’s complicated but effective and it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Happy travels!
It’s finally here! Man Food – a high nutrient antihistamine and anti-inflammatory ingredient filled book geared towards guys, women who love to work out, yoga like they mean it, or just load up on healing nutrients. Features my personal shopping list of antihistamine and anti-inflammatory foods.
The Anti-cookbook and all liquid Anti-Detox Book, don’t treat any conditions, but feature a plethora of the high nutrient antihistamine and anti-inflammatory ingredients that have been instrumental in helping me feed myself on a limited diet. The Anti-cookbook features a six page list of antihistamine and anti-inflammatory foods and comes in regular and Paleo.
The Low Oxalate Cookbook features antihistamine and anti-inflammatory rich recipes.
Don’t miss the Low Histamine Beauty Survival Guide for non-toxic beauty tips, the skinny on histamine releasing (mast cell degranulating) beauty ingredients, antihistamine and anti-inflammatory beauty alternatives and the top brands natural brands I’ve found.
Ever wonder why your allergies, histamine intolerance or mast cell condition are worse around the beginning of your cycle? Most of us put down the uptick in our symptoms to plain old PMS (or at least are told that’s what it is). I definitely noticed it. And I was right – it seems we have another important mast cell degranulation/histamine release trigger to add to the list…
According to this study: “Mast cells commonly degranulate around the onset of menstruation, releasing tryptase, chymase and several other molecules.”
For those of you not yet familiar with why I keep talking about mast cell degranulation – there’s already plenty of histamine in our bodies naturally. Histamine is released through mast cell degranulation (and sometimes basophils). So without even adding the histamine that we eat or drink, there’s plenty to go around. That’s because histamine is needed to run most of our bodily functions.
So why the incessant focus on potential histamine triggers?
