Mental Health

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’

Gut health, POTS nutrition

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

MCAS

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

Cooking, histamines, MCAS

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

Food as Medicine, Mental Health, Wellness

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

Uncategorized

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

MCAS, Mental Health

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