Author: healing

  • These probiotic strains help fight allergies (rather than causing them)

    These probiotic strains help fight allergies (rather than causing them)

    Baby bacteria lowers histamine levels
    Baby bacteria lowers histamine levels

    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?

    Not so simple.

    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…

    The BAD

    Lactobacillus casei was shown to produce histamine and tyramine, while Lactobacillus Bulgaricus increased histamine alone.

    The NEUTRAL

    Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus Lactis, Lactococcus Lactis, and Lactobacillus plant arum did not have any effect on biogenic amines like histamine and tyramine.

    And now for…The GOOD

    One of the perks of being the member of a highly educated online community who are incredibly proactive in their own healthcare, is that they often help fill in the missing links. Today I was reminded of studies I found last year which talked about the histamine-lowering effects of two strains of probiotic bacteria, Bifidobacterium infants, Bifidobacterium longum, commonly found in infant intestines. The studies also noted that the longum species had significant IgE mediation action. This means it could prove helpful to those with allergies. Read the full study here.

    Does this mean you 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.

    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.

  • The Histamine Survival Series – Restaurants

    ‘Tis the season to head to warmer climes and enjoy a little dining…but eating out is no picnic when you have histamine intolerance/histaminosis/mast cell activation/mastocytosis. And yet this has never stopped me from trying (and succeeding).

     My top tip for surviving restaurants is PREPARE!

    1. I have a couple of restaurants who have my allergies/preferences in the system or know me by now. That’s where I take my clients so I don’t have to get into it with them! I’ve never had anyone be rude or dismissive. Restaurants nowadays take these things very seriously because they don’t want a lawsuit on their hands. I’m also always super nice and leave a big tip so they remember me.

    2. If I have no control over where I’m going, I’ll peruse the menu online and call ahead and make my order. If I can’t find anything on the menu, I’ll just explain that I have a number of allergies, that I need to come in for a business meeting, and I ask if they would be so kind as to prepare me an omelette (even if it’s not on the menu). They ALWAYS oblige.

    3. ALWAYS order dressing/sauce on the side. This is where most restaurants slip up.

    4. Tell them outright, you MUST have the freshest food on the menu, so ask for their help in choosing it. I’m always very tactful on this one. Restaurants never admit their food was not cooked from scratch daily and yet (having worked with a number of restaurants over the years) I know this is not the case. Very few restaurants in the world are from scratch, daily.You could copy and paste this text into a word doc, then add your foods, (don’t forget nuts!), and either laminate (my choice) or print it off and keep in your wallet. I suggest multiple copies as these will inevitably be lost along the way…

    5. I have the text below printed on a two sided card to be presented upon arrival.

    MY RESTAURANT CARD

    Greetings,

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  • BREAKING NEWS: chlorinated tap water ingredient responsible for rise in allergies

    A study published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology reports that dichlorophenol, a chemical used tap water chlorination, is associated with an increased risk of food allergies. But fear not, scientists claim that we’re much more likely to have been absorbing it from pesticides on our fruit and vegetables, or in the cosmetics we’ve been dousing ourselves in. Phew, dodged a bullet there.

    “Excessive use of dichlorophenols may contribute to the increasing incidence of food allergies in westernized societies.”

    Results of the study, which measured dichlorophenol levels in the urine of over 2000 Americans, was reported on by the Daily Mail in the UK and the Huffington Post in the US.

    The odd part is that I can’t even say that the study was conducted today, yesterday, or even this decade.
    Upon checking the original study I found that the survey dates all the way back to 2005! I would love to know why a study that could have stopped thousands (at least) of people from being exposed to said ingredient (dichlorophenol), which is also found in shampoo, Dial deodorant, Colgate toothpaste, Old Spice aftershave, Neutrogena body wash, Clearasil, Revlon lipsticks, and even so called natural brands like Ahava and Avene, was not released/reported on sooner? (Click here for the full triclosan product list). I know journals have a backlog, but almost seven years? That’s the average age of my friends’ children. Kids who have spent their entire lifetime being exposed to this chemical.

    Most alarmingly (to me!) triclosan is found in my (former) favourite NARS Kalahari eyeshadow.

    Wondering if your shampoo/lipstick or bath product is likely to increase allergies? Check out the excellent product safety databases of the Environmental Working Group and the Good Guide. There are dozens of ingredients that rate just as high as triclosan and they’re found in pretty much everything. This is why I stick to ingredients whose name I recognise, with brands I have personally researched and know to be using only raw, natural products.

    CLICK HERE TO LEARN HOW I WORKED OUT MY TRIGGERS AND HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN PERSONALISED HISTAMINE-BALANCED DIET. 

  • The Low Histamine Diet Foods FAQ

    WHICH FOODS ARE HIGH HISTAMINE?

    That depends on which list you follow. Histamine in foods varies depending on: the country grown in, whether pesticides were used, climate, transportation, ripeness when picked, how long on the supermarket shelf, bacterial contamination. In particular the level varies in flesh. The reason for which is that bacteria release histamine (and other amines) as the flesh decomposes. The freezing and thawing and re-freezing in particular that occurs in the typical farm to supermarket cycle leads to high histamine levels in food. For fish: how long since it was fished, how it was handled, if it was frozen and then thawed at any point, if it’s contaminated etc. Beef is generally hung for at least two weeks to tenderize the meat. This accounts for the high levels of histamine in the flesh. Some methods of slaughter, including halal (Muslim), do not involve long hanging times, and as such may be fresher.

    The Spanish DAO Society has this list.

    I have a list I was given by my practitioner (now retired). For legal reasons I am not allowed to share it, but all my recipe books are based on this list.

    And finally – your reaction to a food may vary from day to day depending on how high your histamine is that day. Some days just adding a smidge of histamine into an almost overflowing bucket can tip you over the edge.

    BAKING POWDER/SODA

  • 10 histamine (non food) triggers (and how I deal with them)

    10 histamine (non food) triggers (and how I deal with them)

    As you may know, histamine disorders (roll call: histamine intolerance, histaminosis, chronic allergies, mast cell activation and mastocytosis) have more than one trigger. And by that I’m not counting individual foods, just a whole mess of stuff that can cause histamine to be released into the blood stream. I’m successfully managing a number of them – so it’s time to share! I’ll be using The Mastocytosis Society Canada’s non-immunologial trigger list as reference (check out the full list at the end of the post). There’s a bunch of surprises on it!

    2017 UPDATE: Here’s how I used diet and lifestyle changes to overcome these triggers.

    HEAT

    No air conditioning at the Masai Mara duty free shop in Kenya (or on our three day safari with Masai warriors!)

    I’m not doing too great on this one. I travel, a lot. And for some reason I do it almost exclusively to incredibly hot climates. This last year alone I spent almost three months in Africa/North Africa. I don’t mean indoors in the AC – I’m talking old school villages with no internet connection, camping with Masai warriors and draping myself (passing out) across my man on the most beautiful islands known to man. Oh, I forgot the two hour camel rides under the scorching sun across treacherous terrain high on a mountainside in search of the ultimate beach. It was pretty funny, I spent my first hour there comparing symptoms with the bedouin woman who offered us dinner and grass (her words not mine!), in our first five minute there. Seems her entire family may suffer from a histamine disorder.

    My hottest tips for dealing with the heat is to have AC or a cool body of water to immerse yourself into at the end of the day. I literally feel all my swelling and inflammation go down after 10 minutes. The key is to keep calm and also make sure you have access to a car with AC – wish I could follow my own advice on that one. I spent a month trapped in microwaves (taxis) in Morocco in July this year. Ouch. I have a histamine/inflammation detection unit in my mouth – well I had a tooth extracted when a dentist convinced me it was causing my symptoms – duh.  I’ve been too freaked out to get an implant (antibiotics, injections, anesthetic, oh MY) so nowadays when my gum swells to the point that I no longer feel the gap, I know I’m in big trouble. That happened, a lot in the taxis.

    PRESSURE/VIBRATION

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  • Ayurvedic remedy helps fight flab, fix your thyroid and lower histamine levels!

    I’m taking a number of steps to help my body recover from any inadvertent histamine hiccups (ahem, cupcake incidents) I may subject it to. One of them is the food-coaching course I’m taking with my nutritional hero Dr. Fuhrman, and an intensive immersion into herbalism, which I’m sure to expand upon in coming years. I’m currently devouring the modern herbalism bible I’ve seen the Whole Foods naturopathic gurus toting when in deep consult with customers. I naturally started in the immune system chapter where I came across yet another ayurvedic miracle herb.

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  • Playing histamine detective is easy – here’s how I do it.

    Playing histamine detective is easy – here’s how I do it.

    Update: nowadays I wish I hadn’t tried so hard to play histamine detective. In the end I believe it became counter productive, causing my amygdala to become hypersensitised and give me a fear of food. Read all about that here.

    My decade (plus) as a journalist for CNN and the BBC definitely prepared me to deal with a pesky nuisance like my histamine disorder (be it histamine intolerance or whatever). When faced with a seemingly insurmountable problem – I just take a step back and figure out how the hell to make it work. There is no “can’t” in my vocabulary. Be it chartering private helicopters to airlift equipment, bribing ship captains to let us stow away, or finagleling team visas to Libya on two hours notice (in the Gaddafi years!) – I’ve done it all. So there’s no way I’m letting something like food (or illness) rule my life. I’ve outlined my approach to  histamine/inflammation detoxing in my ebook the Anti-Detox – usually employing it before a big client presentation (this histamine chef thing is a side project for me) or when having to fly out to hot climates like Kenya, Morocco, and Egypt, all this last year.

    Heat, as you may know, causes mast cells to degranulate, releasing their precious histamine cargo right into your bloodstream. There’s nothing like quite like turning beet red and blowing up into the Michelin man the minute you step off a plane to make you appreciate a good low histamine detox before traveling.

    Now I’m going to cover what I believe to be one of the key secrets of successful low histamine living. It sounds so very basic that you may initially laugh: you need to know what food or cosmetic is causing which reaction. Simple right? But I can’t tell you how many emails I receive asking for diet analysis. I don’t mind doing it, but it must be so frustrating living a life where every little thing could be causing distress and there’s no way to figure out what’s what. I’m greatly indebted to Dr Fuhrman’s teachings on this one, as I figured out what was wrong with me initially after going on a three-day water fast. For crystal clear clarity there’s nothing quite like starting with as clean a slate as possible. Nowadays, I don’t do water fasts as any kind of stress can cause mast cells to release histamine – and I‘ve learned the hard way that kicking your body into survival mode definitely isn’t relaxing.  The next best thing is the overnight semi fast (sleep!)…

    The Test

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  • Non toxic beauty: this natural hair dye prevents allergies!

    Non toxic beauty: this natural hair dye prevents allergies!

    Beautiful Brunette Girl. Healthy Long Hair

    UPDATE: I’m no longer reactive to shampoo or hair dye. But I’ve stopped dyeing my hair anyway. It’s just too toxic. I use 100 percent pure shampoo and conditioner. Please remember, we can be allergic to anything, even antihistamines and natural hair dye with antihistamine properties.

    CLICK HERE TO CREATE YOUR OWN PERSONALISED HEALING HISTAMINE PLAN. 

    Dealing with my hair nowadays reminds me of the first time I washed a baby. I was literally shaking with fear, convinced my sudsy fingers would plunder the baby’s unformed skull (soft spot), leaving me a tub of bubbly brain goo to contend with. Ok, so I’m not that freaked out by my hair routine (though I totally still am by babies!) but it’s certainly no fun. Now that I know shampoo, as well as food, makes me shake like I’m playing the carioca on my teeth, I work real hard not to get it on my skin.

    I’m so, so sensitive, to point of hilarity, or incredulity. I literally can’t touch most things – a Yasmina 2.0 feature that I share with a number of lovely ladies in my Facebook mastocytosis support group. Why the shakes? Who knows – could just be an extreme incarnation of my histamine disorder, multiple chemical sensitivity, mastocytosis, whatever, take your pick, all I know is it’s a pain in my bottom.

    My last experience with hair dye, though painstakingly painted only onto the ends and gingerly washed out as though the future of our planet depended on it not making contact with my skin, was a bit of a disaster. After suiting up like a charity shop outfitted deep see diver – complete with elbow length washing up gloves – I managed to step in a big fat shiny glob of it on the floor. Despite it being “natural” dye – I still paid for my vanity. It’s now time to re-do the ends but I’m not going down that route for my roots. If I ever go back on my determination to gracefully transition to silver fox, you can bet I’m going to go for the natural dye (commonly added to henna) I just found out is not only an antihistamine, it’s a potent anti-anaphylactic when applied to the skin. How about THAT?!

    Here it is, the pinnacle of my low histamine beauty research:

    Japanese Indigo (Polygonum Tontorum) natural hair dye prevents anaphylactic shock in rats!

    Inhibition of mast cell-dependent anaphylactic reactions by the pigment of Polygonum tinctorium (Chung-Dae) in rats. Read the full study here.

    PtP totally inhibited compound 48/80-induced anaphylactic shock with doses of 10(2) and 10(3) mg/ kg. When PtP was pretreated at concentrations ranging from 10(-2) to 10(3) mg/kg, the serum histamine levels induced by compound 48/80 were reduced in a dose-dependent manner…PtP inhibited dose dependently histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells (RPMCs) induced by compound 48/80 and anti-DNP IgE….These results indicate that PtP may possess strong antianaphylactic activity and suggest that differences in bioavailability may cause differential activity following different administration routes.

    It sure brought a smile to my face when I read that it works best when administered orally, or right onto the skin (or head?). That and the fact that indigo black is my natural colour. The henna mixture I’m using nowadays is 1 part henna, 4 parts indigo. I also add in 1 part amla (also a natural antihistamine!) to kill henna’s fiery red.

    Please remember, anything can give us sensitive peeps a reaction. ALWAYS check with your doctor, test a little on your hand, and have a phone close by.

    Anyone out there a henna fan? Do you tolerate it?

    You’ll find more recipes like this in my books Anti-Recipes and The Anti-Cookbook

  • On the Go cookbook sneak peek!

    I’m waiting for tax papers in the US to go through before I can sell the books on Amazon. So in the meantime I’ve been trying to figure out the best way to let folks take a peek inside the book. So here it is…

    And here’s the blurb to go with it!

    Do you spend hours roaming the supermarket in search of a quick meal? Are you bored with eating the same five foods over and over? Would you like to whip up nutritious, low histamine recipes in 20 minutes (or less)? Then make sure you’re signed up to my  newsletter for an exclusive 10% discount on the 60+ page Low Histamine ‘On the Go’ Cookbook!

    The Low Histamine ‘On the Go’ Cookbook takes you on a whirlwind tour of Vietnam, Lebanon, Italy and India, via the good ol’ US of A. Eating healthy’s NEVER tasted so good, or this easy.

     

    WHO AM I?

    YASMINA YKELENSTAM – THE LOW HISTAMINE CHEF

    The fridge and fields are my medicine cabinet. I’ve managed to withdraw from all pharmaceuticals including: anti-histamines, anti-anxiety meds, antidepressants, migraine, nausea, and dizziness meds. I’m now the happiest and healthiest I’ve ever been. I’ve learned to harness the positives that high histamine bestows (appetite suppression, higher metabolism, energy) and make them work for me!

    Who the hell am I to give dietary advice? My cookbooks reflect the incredible amount of research into histamine and other biogenic amines in food that I’ve obsessively collected over the last two years since my histamine intolerance diagnosis. As a former journalist with over 10 years research and international news production experience for 60 Minutes, CNN and the BBC, I know how important the facts are. Not only do I back up each claim on my site with numerous studies, I’ve even used myself as a guinea pig, taking myself from washed up medical mystery to successful 21st century businesswoman.

    I’ve also kindly been given permission by Dirk Budka, the practitioner who diagnosed me (now retired), to use his low histamine food list for my low histamine recipes. Other than that, I’ve cross referenced lists on the net, using the ingredients most agree on, as well as taking into account the histamine in foods list recognised by the Spanish Diamine Oxidase Society.

    But, here’s a promise: if you can’t tolerate a recipe or ingredient, please just contact me and I’ll replace it, but rest assured, all recipes have gluten and gluten free options!

     
  • Suffering from make up allergies or reactions? Try wearing nudes…

    Suffering from make up allergies or reactions? Try wearing nudes…

    Suffer from make up allergies/reactions? Ever noticed nudes bother you less? Me too! An interview with Ilia Beauty founder Sasha Plavsic at the fabulous Being Content in London revealed why.

    Ilia’s Neon Angel has my vote as one of the top all-time greats of the natural beauty worldI asked Sasha if she thought make up allergies were the driving force behind the sudden global interest in natural beauty. I mean, in a world where the Gisele Bundchen’s of the modeling world are ditching the mainstream and flocking to natural brands like RMS, surely something’s gone awry?

     

    Sasha reckoned it was more likely that women are just better informed nowadays and have begun to question why they’d use dirty brands (my words not Sasha’s!) over natural ones when they can now get the same texture, staying power and on trend shades hitting the catwalk each season.

    This season’s Ilia line was created to be more of a fashionista’s indulgence than your average Birkenstock clad granola muncher’s. Interestingly Sasha tells me that the organic angle isn’t their main selling point (their line is up to 85% organic). They’re now competing with the titans of the cosmetics industry based on their gorgeous colour palette. It’s obviously working – they’ll be setting up shop in Barney’s in New York City – certainly not something I expected to hear! It makes me very hopeful that we’ll soon see other brands breaking free of their hippy shackles.

    Check out their stunning Voila lipstick below. Nothing like a neon-ish coral to bring out the beach bunny in me.

    Ilia Beauty’s Voila coral lipstick. 

    Unfortunately a dab of this shade confirmed what I already knew – there was no way I could wear it without getting a very bad headache. Standard for me with my weirdo histamine medical condition. Sasha was kind enough to enlighten me: nude lipsticks contain far less pigment than any other shades. Red colours may affect some people simply because of the sheer quantity of pigment required.

    I’m guessing it’s also because we’re really not meant to be painting on layer after layer of beetle blood onto our lips every day. Though Sasha pointed out that some companies also use red food dye instead.

    How do dirty make up and cosmetics drive up histamine levels? Some studies point to up to 60% of what we put on our body being absorbed into our bloodstream. I doubt our bodies would react very well if we ate the cosmetics, so why put them on the skin? I did ask Dirk (Budka) a few times about why my histaminosis/histamine intolerance flares up when I wear most make up. In my case it’s a combination of high histamine/potential make up allergies and a bad case of hypersensitivity disorder. I’ve said it before, if you’re not improving on a low histamine diet (following diagnosis and following the low histamine list) then you should really examine what you’re putting on your skin. It took me years to accept that cosmetics were doing me in. You can read more about that in my upcoming Low Histamine Beauty Survival Guide.

    Thing is I can’t honestly say I won’t run back to Being Content on Monday (or order online) to pick up a tube of Ilia’s Voila. It’s just too stunning not to. Headache be dammned, I’ve done much worse in the name of beauty! Or…I could just whip out my brand new tube of Ilia’s ‘Humble Me’ – a tasteful nude with my name all over it. So sue me, I love a sexy nude lip.

    You can pick up a tube of Ilia in your shade at Being Content on Bulstrode Street in London or from their online store. You’ll probably bump into me there…and don’t forget to sign up to my newsletter for a 10% discount on the upcoming Low Histamine Beauty Survival Guide.

     

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