Hi All,
Long time reader, first time poster (and I apologize, it’s a long one!). I’ve been reading Dr. Peat’s work for a little over a year now and have incorporated some of his recommendations (namely limiting PUFA (I was already limiting grains and such from being on a Paleo style diet)), but have been unable to incorporate a lot of his other recommendations due to other health issues (namely strong histamine intolerance and digestive disturbances). My health has started spirally farther downward recently (developed Multiple Chemical Sensitivity a few months ago as well as many new food sensitivities) so am looking more into Ray Peat’s recommendations however am having trouble incorporating pretty much any of his recommended carbs into my diet (which is the main reason I hadn’t started it before). I’ve been on a paleo style diet for the past 3 years, but recently (December) noticed I had an intolerance to potatoes (major brain fog, sinus pressure and depression). I eliminated those and switched over to more fruit, noticing an initial significant improvement, however many fruits are limited due to histamine intolerance. I began eating lots of apples (close to 20 lbs a week) to make sure I was getting enough carbs and things (especially stomach concerns) got a lot worse. I now somewhat understand why (perhaps pectin? I was pealing them to limit that to some degree), but either way, I am having trouble incorporating pretty much any carbs into my diet other than plain table sugar. One thing to note is I began eating a lot of apples (10+ lbs a week, which increased to about 20 lbs a week) a couple months before the Multiple Chemical Sensitivity began, so I’m not sure if maybe we are looking at an endotoxin issue that is just going to take time to clear out, or if it’s just a coincidence (the histamine intolerance though has been going on for about 3 years which began after a bad case of primary Epstein Barr Virus). For the past 3 years I have been eating a lot of foods that could/would have been feeding gut bacteria. Here’s what I have recently tried out carb wise:
Masa Harina – Histamine reaction
White Rice – Histamine reaction and muscle/joint pain
Potatoes – Brain fog, sinus pressure, depression
Apple Juice (clear) – gas, anxiety, muscle weakness (I know Mittir mentioned he had to try out multiple brands to find a good one… I just tried out 1 today and although at first I didn’t notice a reaction, it’s definitely not treating me well now. I will be trying out different brands over the coming days)
Grapes/Grape Juice – histamine reaction
Oranges/Orange Juice – MAJOR histamine reaction
Milk – gas, fatigue, depression
Milk (lactose free) – fatigue, depression (no gas)
Cheese (although not really a carb) – gas, major depression (& histamine reaction if it is an aged cheese)
I also tried out the raw carrot salad and got stomach pain/cramps a couple hours after eating it and had heartburn later in the day and the following day (which is unusual for me). Been looking into bamboo shoots, but haven’t tried them yet. I have had 3 stool tests (which of course their validity can be questioned), but all have come up clean so I have been unable to get antibiotics prescribed (not to mention that since I already react to just about everything, I would be afraid to take them). I tried enteric coated peppermint oil before but had a MAJOR histamine reaction to the point of nearly going to the ER.
So, there’s where I stand. Basically I have an allergic type reaction to any semi high histamine foods, and have stomach issues with most every other “safe” carb source. I started a low-FODMAP diet a couple weeks ago hoping that would help, but a low-FODMAP, low-histamine diet, along with my other sensitivities, leaves very few carb sources which I think is making everything worse. I have basically been eating table sugar as my primary (almost only) carb source for the past couple weeks (currently at about 10 tbsp), but know that’s not ideal. I am very skinny (5’6, 100 lbs), definitely feel like I’m running on adrenaline (very cold hands, anxiety, insomnia, etc.), can fall asleep ok, but generally can’t sleep more than 5-6 hours (I used to be able to, but after cutting out carb sources (due to sensitivities), I always wake up super early and my mind begins racing).
My current diet is as follows (I know it’s definitely not ideal, but there are only so many things I can currently eat):
BR – 1/3 lb chicken breast + 3 tbsp sugar + 1 tbsp olive oil
LU – ¼ lb ground beef + 2 egg yolks + 1 tbsp beef tallow + ½ tbsp coconut oil + 2.5 tbsp sugar + a couple veggies (currently lettuce, zucchini & radish)
DI – Same as lunch but without the egg yolks
Before bed – 2 tbsp sugar
I am taking some supplements (namely calcium, magnesium, potassium, glycine (can’t tolerate gelatin) and some others) and will be getting some beef liver this weekend to try out (some histamine intolerance sites list this as high histamine, but I figure it’s worth a shot). I have a follow up appointment with an allergist later this month (after getting some lab tests done) in which I'm going to ask for cyproheptadine.
Weekends are fairly similar except I replace the ground beef from lunch and dinner with oxtail soup. I’ve tried adding chicken feet soup to my week day lunches/dinners, but always get stomach pain.
If anyone could happen to provide a little insight or suggestions it would be greatly appreciated. The anxiety/depression/insomnia has been getting much worse lately; I’m guessing due to lack of carbs/calories. On a lot of the reactions I get, I sometimes wonder what’s better… limiting those foods to not experience the reaction, or just dealing with the symptoms so I can get the nutrition my body so desperately needs (masa harina seems to cause the least symptoms of the items mentioned above).
Thank you so much to anyone that has any suggestions!!
Long time reader, first time poster (and I apologize, it’s a long one!). I’ve been reading Dr. Peat’s work for a little over a year now and have incorporated some of his recommendations (namely limiting PUFA (I was already limiting grains and such from being on a Paleo style diet)), but have been unable to incorporate a lot of his other recommendations due to other health issues (namely strong histamine intolerance and digestive disturbances). My health has started spirally farther downward recently (developed Multiple Chemical Sensitivity a few months ago as well as many new food sensitivities) so am looking more into Ray Peat’s recommendations however am having trouble incorporating pretty much any of his recommended carbs into my diet (which is the main reason I hadn’t started it before). I’ve been on a paleo style diet for the past 3 years, but recently (December) noticed I had an intolerance to potatoes (major brain fog, sinus pressure and depression). I eliminated those and switched over to more fruit, noticing an initial significant improvement, however many fruits are limited due to histamine intolerance. I began eating lots of apples (close to 20 lbs a week) to make sure I was getting enough carbs and things (especially stomach concerns) got a lot worse. I now somewhat understand why (perhaps pectin? I was pealing them to limit that to some degree), but either way, I am having trouble incorporating pretty much any carbs into my diet other than plain table sugar. One thing to note is I began eating a lot of apples (10+ lbs a week, which increased to about 20 lbs a week) a couple months before the Multiple Chemical Sensitivity began, so I’m not sure if maybe we are looking at an endotoxin issue that is just going to take time to clear out, or if it’s just a coincidence (the histamine intolerance though has been going on for about 3 years which began after a bad case of primary Epstein Barr Virus). For the past 3 years I have been eating a lot of foods that could/would have been feeding gut bacteria. Here’s what I have recently tried out carb wise:
Masa Harina – Histamine reaction
White Rice – Histamine reaction and muscle/joint pain
Potatoes – Brain fog, sinus pressure, depression
Apple Juice (clear) – gas, anxiety, muscle weakness (I know Mittir mentioned he had to try out multiple brands to find a good one… I just tried out 1 today and although at first I didn’t notice a reaction, it’s definitely not treating me well now. I will be trying out different brands over the coming days)
Grapes/Grape Juice – histamine reaction
Oranges/Orange Juice – MAJOR histamine reaction
Milk – gas, fatigue, depression
Milk (lactose free) – fatigue, depression (no gas)
Cheese (although not really a carb) – gas, major depression (& histamine reaction if it is an aged cheese)
I also tried out the raw carrot salad and got stomach pain/cramps a couple hours after eating it and had heartburn later in the day and the following day (which is unusual for me). Been looking into bamboo shoots, but haven’t tried them yet. I have had 3 stool tests (which of course their validity can be questioned), but all have come up clean so I have been unable to get antibiotics prescribed (not to mention that since I already react to just about everything, I would be afraid to take them). I tried enteric coated peppermint oil before but had a MAJOR histamine reaction to the point of nearly going to the ER.
So, there’s where I stand. Basically I have an allergic type reaction to any semi high histamine foods, and have stomach issues with most every other “safe” carb source. I started a low-FODMAP diet a couple weeks ago hoping that would help, but a low-FODMAP, low-histamine diet, along with my other sensitivities, leaves very few carb sources which I think is making everything worse. I have basically been eating table sugar as my primary (almost only) carb source for the past couple weeks (currently at about 10 tbsp), but know that’s not ideal. I am very skinny (5’6, 100 lbs), definitely feel like I’m running on adrenaline (very cold hands, anxiety, insomnia, etc.), can fall asleep ok, but generally can’t sleep more than 5-6 hours (I used to be able to, but after cutting out carb sources (due to sensitivities), I always wake up super early and my mind begins racing).
My current diet is as follows (I know it’s definitely not ideal, but there are only so many things I can currently eat):
BR – 1/3 lb chicken breast + 3 tbsp sugar + 1 tbsp olive oil
LU – ¼ lb ground beef + 2 egg yolks + 1 tbsp beef tallow + ½ tbsp coconut oil + 2.5 tbsp sugar + a couple veggies (currently lettuce, zucchini & radish)
DI – Same as lunch but without the egg yolks
Before bed – 2 tbsp sugar
I am taking some supplements (namely calcium, magnesium, potassium, glycine (can’t tolerate gelatin) and some others) and will be getting some beef liver this weekend to try out (some histamine intolerance sites list this as high histamine, but I figure it’s worth a shot). I have a follow up appointment with an allergist later this month (after getting some lab tests done) in which I'm going to ask for cyproheptadine.
Weekends are fairly similar except I replace the ground beef from lunch and dinner with oxtail soup. I’ve tried adding chicken feet soup to my week day lunches/dinners, but always get stomach pain.
If anyone could happen to provide a little insight or suggestions it would be greatly appreciated. The anxiety/depression/insomnia has been getting much worse lately; I’m guessing due to lack of carbs/calories. On a lot of the reactions I get, I sometimes wonder what’s better… limiting those foods to not experience the reaction, or just dealing with the symptoms so I can get the nutrition my body so desperately needs (masa harina seems to cause the least symptoms of the items mentioned above).
Thank you so much to anyone that has any suggestions!!