Histamine, Hormones, Gut Function, Oh My!

[cairncra]

I have been following a Ray Peat based diet (via Kate Deering's, How To Heal Your Metabolism) for around 6 weeks.

I have histamine intolerance (HIT) so although many of these new dietary recommendations are higher histamine foods (cheese, tropical fruits, OJ, coffee) I thought that perhaps healing my metabolism (which has classic signs of running low) would bring benefits in the long term, is spite of short term discomforts. Was I wrong?

My chronic constipation is worse and my thinning hair is thinning at a more alarming rate. Parts of my body are positively bald. My bloating has got worse too.

I've just ordered some Estroban (thank you Haidut) in the hopes of resolving the constipation, since it may be caused by high prolactin.

My metabolism occasionally feels better--warmer hands and feet, slightly higher pulse. The higher histamine foods (which I try not to overdo) can cause my histamine bucket to overflow, which probably stresses my body somewhat?

At least on this diet I don't feel hungry all the time, though I still can't seem to put weight on. I'm 157cm/5'2" and weigh 45kg/100lbs.

I have my first appointment with a new doctor at the end of February and plan to have my thyroid tested and also my prolactin levels.

Any other suggestions please?

 

[supernature]

post 118874
....
I have histamine intolerance (HIT) so although many of these new dietary recommendations are higher histamine foods (cheese, tropical fruits, OJ, coffee) I thought that perhaps healing my metabolism (which has classic signs of running low) would bring benefits in the long term, is spite of short term discomforts. Was I wrong?
....
My metabolism occasionally feels better--warmer hands and feet, slightly higher pulse. The higher histamine foods (which I try not to overdo) can cause my histamine bucket to overflow, which probably stresses my body somewhat?

Hi cairncra,
You are saying particular foods are affecting your histamine scores since you've start Peating, I'm wondering what was your histamine value before starting Peat and what is now?, do you have moments of drainage or boost in energy levels?

 

[milk_lover]

Have you looked at balancing amino acids? Histamine comes from histidine which is inflammatory amino acid and may get elevated when serotonin is elevated. Reducing serotonin may help alleviate histamine issues. For example, the amino acid theanine, found naturally in tea, does lower serotonin and also can be used as anti-histamine. Lysine is helpful with this regard too. When I eat seafood, I make sure I supplement 2x500mg of lysine immediately after the meal, and I get less histamine issues. But I think histamine intolerance can be greatly reduced with improved metabolism.

 

[cairncra]

Hello Supernature,

Many of the foods Peat recommends appear on some lists as high histamine (lists vary confusingly). So for example, cherries, watermelons, cheese all appear as high histamine. My body responds accordingly. I have been hoping my histamine processing ability might improve as my metabolic rate improves. For sure I don't have the reactions I did pre-peat, but that could just be because I'm actually eating more protein (eggs, milk) than before.

My body has trouble processing excess histamine (and, possibly, other biogenic amines), so when my levels get too high my body responds with a diverse range of symptoms. Since Peating, the symptoms have ranged between classic allergy symptoms (wheezing, sneezing), chills, nausea, kidney aches, fibromyalgia, joint pain, sinus headache, depression, insomnia, tremor. Also, as mentioned in my post, my chronic constipation and bloating has increased.

Typically, when histamine/amines are higher, I have a lot of energy and little appetite.

 

[cairncra]

Hi milk_lover,

I've not looked at the amino acid approach. I will check it out. Thank you!

I do know that tea has a bad effect on me because it is fermented--big no no for people with HIT.

 

[milk_lover]

post 118981 I do know that tea has a bad effect on me because it is fermented--big no no for people with HIT.

Also it can be estrogenic which will make HIT even worse. You could take a supplement, but it is kinda expensive if you ask me.

 

[cairncra]

I just ordered a supplement from haidut's website, which should address the oestrogen. Though I don't know for certain oestrogen is the issue. I have lived with this for more than 8 years, so I'm open to giving it a go.

 

[milk_lover]

post 118983 I just ordered a supplement from haidut's website, which should address the oestrogen. Though I don't know for certain oestrogen is the issue. I have lived with this for more than 8 years, so I'm open to giving it a go.

We have a lot of women and men who know more than me here; hopefully you'll get the appropriate help. I remember haidut mentioned prolactin test to be a very useful tool to predict serotonin and estrogen. So that might be a good start along with thyroid test. Good luck in your endeavors!

BTW, regarding the constipation, do you supplement magnesium? maybe it will prove helpful.

 

[cairncra]

I have tried the magnesium with limited success.

Thank you for responding and for your kind wishes.

 

[milk_lover]

post 118994 I have tried the magnesium with limited success.

Thank you for responding and for your kind wishes.

 

[haidut]

post 118975 theanine

I second the theanine. Since nitric oxide also tends to be high in constipation, methylene blue, zinc, and magnesium are things that may lower it. Finally, eating gelatin will increase gastric acid production and improve digestion, which should reduce bloating and constipation. It may take a week or two for the full effects of the gelatin to manifest themselves.

 

[cairncra]

Thanks, Haidut. Can you recommend a brand of theanine, please?

I have the Great Lakes, hydrolysate-does that count as gelatin? I notice it seems to make my histamine issues worse, but perhaps in combo with the other vitamins etc I may be able to tolerate it. I will try.

Thank you all, so much!

 

[haidut]

post 119011 Thanks, Haidut. Can you recommend a brand of theanine, please?

I have the Great Lakes, hydrolysate-does that count as gelatin? I notice it seems to make my histamine issues worse, but perhaps in combo with the other vitamins etc I may be able to tolerate it. I will try.

Thank you all, so much!

The great lakes gelatin is fine, I personally use the generic Knox gelatin available in every grocery store and have no problems with it. Initially, gelatin gave me allergic symptoms too but as digestion improved and stomach acid rebounded the bloating and phlegm buildup disappeared. Theanine taken with gelatin should reduce those allergy symptoms. You can buy powder from Amazon. A well-known vendor is purebulk.com and I have used capsules from GNC and nutrabio.com and have good results with both.

 

[cairncra]

Thanks very much.

I'm so grateful for this forum of group wisdom. I've seen umpteen doctors, gastro and allergy specialists and no one ever mentioned any of these things.

 

[Márk K]

Thanks very much.

I'm so grateful for this forum of group wisdom. I've seen umpteen doctors, gastro and allergy specialists and no one ever mentioned any of these things.

Hi cairncra,
Did you manage to resolve your gut issues? (I also suffer from chronic consipation, mild bloating and probably histamine sensitivity)

 

[TubZy]

I had this same issue when I first started gelatin if you read back through my old posts, just take it with caffeine or T3 or some metabolic booster and it fixed it. Not only did it fix the bloating issue, but it also eliminated the headache I got when I also took gelatin byitself. I thought it was the brand I was using but still got the same issue from multiple brands.

 

[Márk K]

eliminated the headache

Thx, this is useful, indeed occasional headaches are also part of the picture, could you recommend a metabolic booster besides those two? (I could never drink coffee, never took hormones either) coke, B1, B6?

 

[Sonybaloney]

ANy improvement with the bloating? I haven't thought of it as being a histamine reaction. I"ll have to make a note of what I ate when I get the big bloat. Today it seemed to be papaya. I usually have it with breakfast, so thus protein and fat with it in the form of eggs, butter, etc. But I ate some this afternoon by itself and boy have I hurt ever since.

 

[ddjd]

I've just ordered some Estroban (thank you Haidut) in the hopes of resolving the constipation, since it may be caused by high prolactin.

Things like Androsterone, metergoline are very effective at reducing estrogen and prolactin

 

[ddjd]

ANy improvement with the bloating? I haven't thought of it as being a histamine reaction

It's cortisol. Try gonadin.