… when you go to the ER, you might just end up getting admitted to the hospital, and if that happens, you are going to wish you had a few key items with you.
Author: jillbbrook
Long COVID is not ‘just anxiety’
(Just like POTS, MCAS, EDS, IBS, SIBO, gastroparesis, autoimmunity, etc. are not either). I was recently asked by a patient whether I believed that post-COVID syndrome is ‘just anxiety or depression’. She was having difficulty getting anyone to take her complaints seriously. I feel terrible for anyone who has been trained to expect that kind… Continue reading Long COVID is not ‘just anxiety’
Use DailyMed to identify excipients
I recently had one of those months where I couldn’t figure out why I was itching at night. It drove me crazy. I cut back on edible histamines. I cut back on histamine liberators. I cut back on DAO inhibitors. I ate pea sprouts for the natural DAO. I checked my environment for any new… Continue reading Use DailyMed to identify excipients
People with IBD have more microplastic in their poop
None of us are trying to consume microplastic, but it happens. Researchers have estimated that we consume about 1 credit card’s worth of plastic per week. And here is yet another study about how plastics might be associated with big problems for our health. This time they looked at quantities of microplastics in feces and… Continue reading People with IBD have more microplastic in their poop
Dose-dependent mast cell degranulation from AGEs in food
An inflammatory compound called ”advanced glycation endproducts” (also known as AGEs) is created whenever high protein/fat foods are cooked using very high and dry heat. Some examples of foods high in AGEs are grilled or broiled meat, BBQ ribs, fried eggs and —bummer of all bummers—roasted nuts or seeds. I’ve written before about AGEs causing… Continue reading Dose-dependent mast cell degranulation from AGEs in food
Luteolin for post-COVID brain fog?
Luteolin is a naturally-occurring flavonoid from colorful plants, and is known to be a natural mast cell stabilizer. A new study out by Dr. Theo Theoharides and team suggests it may help brain fog in patients with long COVID. His luteolin supplement is available from Algonot.com and his article is here.
Cooking method affects histamines
According to a 2017 study on how cooking method affects histamine content of select foods, grilling and frying increased histamines whereas boiling did not. I wish they’d measured the effects of steaming, sautéing and a few other cooking methods, but we know from research on AGE’s (inflammatory compounds called advanced glycation endproducts) that cooking methods… Continue reading Cooking method affects histamines
Power of fruit and veggies on mental health
Academic journal articles aren’t known for being inspiring, but I came across a paragraph that made me say “Whoa!” It does such a beautiful job of summarizing the findings on how fruit and vegetable intake (FVI) can affect mental health in so many ways. See if you find this paragraph as powerful as I did. (Note:… Continue reading Power of fruit and veggies on mental health
Quercetin and Luteolin as Endocrine Disruptors
Patients with MCAS often take the supplements quercetin and/or luteolin, which have been shown to help stabilize mast cells. Quercetin and luteolin are flavonoids, natural compounds found in many different plant foods. I have often used these supplements, favoring the brand Algonot, because it was formulated by the great mast cell researcher Dr. Theo Theoharides.… Continue reading Quercetin and Luteolin as Endocrine Disruptors
How psychological stress affects mast cells
If you have mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), then you probably already know—all too well—how psychological stress affects mast cells. But if you want proof, details, and a ton of other fantastic information from one of the world’s top mast cell researchers, check out this new article by Dr. Theo Theoharides: Impact of psychological stress… Continue reading How psychological stress affects mast cells
Nutrition for POTS, MCAS, dysautonomia, autoimmunity and related conditions 