You may have noticed that microbes have been a key focus of my blog lately. The microbiota is a rapidly growing field of research, and disruption of the microbiota, or “dysbiosis,” has been implicated in many chronic diseases (1). The ability to manipulate the microbiota using dietary and lifestyle interventions makes it a prime target for a functional approach to disease treatment.
Recently, I have written on the dangers of antibiotic use in children and also discussed the relationship between gut microbes and the thyroid. Here, I tackle the connection of gut, lung, and airway microbes to allergic diseases.
The Hygiene Hypothesis
As the microbiota has gained more attention in the media, you may have heard the term “hygiene hypothesis.” Originally proposed in the late 1980s to explain the decreased prevalence of chronic hay fever in larger families (2), the modern hygiene hypothesis has evolved to suggest that our insistence on cleanliness and lack of exposure to environmental microbes in the developed world deprives our bodies of immune stimulation, disrupting normal immune development and thus increasing the risk for allergic disease.
Several epidemiological studies have provided support for the hygiene hypothesis. People who own indoor pets have been shown to have lower incidence of allergic disease (3). Children who grow up on farms (4,5) or those that consume raw, unpasteurized milk (6) are also less likely to have allergies. On the other hand, early-life environmental influences that are known to disrupt the microbiota increase the risk for allergic disease. Antibiotic use (7), cesarean birth (8), and formula feeding (9) are all associated with increased susceptibility to asthma and allergies later in life.
Taken together, these studies suggest that exposure to a diverse array of microbes early in life effectively “trains” our immune system, teaching it which substances in the environment are harmful (pathogenic microbes) and which are harmless (friendly microbes, dietary proteins, and many environmental allergens). We’ll see next that the mucosal environment in the gut and lungs is crucial to this “education” of the immune system.
Food Allergies: All Roads Lead Back to the Gut
Food allergy has become an epidemic in our modern world. Whereas a food allergy was considered an anomaly just a few decades ago, today one in 13 children in the United States suffers from a life-threatening anaphylactic food allergy (12). And this figure does not include those with celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, lactose intolerance, or any other type of food intolerance. As the major site of dietary absorption and the home to 80 percent of your body’s immune cells, it makes sense that the gut is a key player in the pathology of food allergies.
Your gut is lined with millions of epithelial cells that are responsible for maintaining a barrier between your gut contents (the intestinal lumen) and your bloodstream. In a healthy gut, small nutrients are absorbed, but large dietary proteins are unable to cross this barrier and enter the bloodstream. However, when the intestinal barrier becomes compromised (i.e., “leaky gut” syndrome), these large dietary proteins are able to enter the blood, stimulate an immune response, and produce symptoms characteristic of various allergic diseases (13).
So how does this relate to microbes? Studies in mice have shown that disrupting the gut microbiome with antibiotics or a low-fiber diet is capable of causing this increased barrier permeability. On the other hand, certain strains of bacteria in the genus Clostridia are able to protect against intestinal permeability to food allergens (14). Researchers are looking into developing probiotics containing these strains as a potential treatment for food allergies.
Allergies of the Airway: Leaky Lungs?
The incidence of allergic airway diseases has also risen dramatically in recent decades, with allergic asthma and allergic rhinitis now affecting around 20.3 million Americans and 50 million Americans, respectively (15,16). Many more people suffer from less severe allergies of the airway and sinuses. For quite a while, it was thought that the lungs were completely sterile (17). Only recently, with the development of culture-independent techniques, has a distinct community of microbes in the lungs been identified.
Interestingly, the epithelium of the gut is structurally very similar to the lung endothelium, and inflammation tends to happen in both areas in people with allergic airway diseases. While not many studies have assessed lung permeability, it seems plausible that the mechanisms that lead to leaky gut may also cause “leaky lungs.” Like in the gut, microbial communities likely have a major impact on the integrity of the lung tissue.
Unlike the gut, however, reduced diversity seems to be associated with better health. Asthmatics have been shown to have a greater diversity of microbes in their lungs compared to healthy individuals (18). They have increased levels of Proteobacteria and reduced levels of Bacteroides species compared to healthy controls (19). Though characterization of the bacteria, viruses, and archaea that make up the “lung microbiota” is still in its infancy, it represents an important frontier in the field of allergic airway diseases.
The Histamine Connection
While we all need a certain amount of histamine for proper physiological function, some people have a condition called histamine intolerance, in which they produce excess histamine and/or have a deficiency in diamine oxidase, the enzyme that breaks it down.
Many microbes that reside in the human gut are capable of producing histamine. These microbes produce an enzyme called histidine decarboxylase, which converts the histidine present in various proteins into histamine. The more of these microbes you have, and the more histidine you consume, the higher the amount of histamine that can be produced in your gut. Histamine can be then be absorbed by epithelial cells and traffic to various sites of the body, exacerbating allergic symptoms (21).
Histidine decarboxylase-producing bacteria are also present in the guts of animals like fish. When a fish dies, its gut bacteria start to breakdown the histidine in its tissue proteins and produce histamine. This is why many people with histamine intolerance can only tolerate fish that is immediately processed and frozen.
Some have speculated that individuals with SIBO may have an overgrowth of histamine-producing bacteria, such as Lactobacilli, in their small intestine. Although Lactobacilli are an important genus of beneficial bacteria in the gut, they are also major producers of histamine and can cause problems when overrepresented in the small intestine. Restoring a healthy balance of gut flora is the best long-term solution to resolving a histamine issue.
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7 Steps You Can Take to Improve Allergy Symptoms
So does this mean that I can throw away my EpiPen or inhaler? Not exactly. Severe allergic reactions are not something to mess with, and most people with anaphylaxis will always have some degree of sensitivity. However, there are several things you can do to reduce the severity of allergy symptoms and improve your overall quality of life.
- Take probiotics or eat fermented foods
Fermented foods and probiotics can help bring the microbiota and your immune system back into balance. If you are sensitive to histamine, try histamine-degrading strains such as Bifidobacteria infantis and Lactobacillus plantarum. - Eat plenty of fermentable fiber
Complex fibers like plantains, cassava, or sweet potatoes are fermented by gut bacteria, resulting in the formation of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) like butyrate, acetate, and propionate that regulate the immune system. Butyrate has been shown to reduce intestinal permeability to dietary antigens in a mouse model of food allergy and induce regulatory T cells, which suppress immune responses. In mice, propionate has been shown to reduce allergic airway disease (22). - Get tested for sensitivities and avoid inflammatory foods
Continuing to eat foods you are sensitive to can cause low-grade inflammation and impair gut healing. Look into getting a Cyrex panel to identify sensitivities. For more information, check out my podcast episode on allergy testing. Consider keeping some activated charcoal on hand for those times that you accidentally eat something you are sensitive to. Many people find that it can provide quick and safe relief for food allergies. - Try a low-histamine diet
A low-histamine diet can often reduce the severity of allergy symptoms. Foods high in histamine include fermented foods, aged cheese, citrus fruits, fish, shellfish, avocados, spinach, cocoa, and leftover meat, to name a few. Consider taking quercetin (a natural antihistamine) or diamine oxidase (the enzyme responsible for breakdown of histamine) in supplement form, and use antihistamine herbs like thyme and holy basil in cooking. Check out my article on histamine intolerance for more information. - Get tested/treated for SIBO or intestinal pathogens
SIBO and parasites are both common, but often overlooked, causes of allergies. SIBO is also a common cause of histamine intolerance. - Try local raw honey for seasonal allergies
Raw honey contains both beneficial bacteria and trace amounts of pollen picked up by the bees from local plants. Consuming raw honey produced in your area can help to “educate” your immune system to tolerate these local pollens. A randomized controlled pilot trial published in 2011 showed that allergic patients who consumed birch pollen honey had 60 percent reduced allergy symptoms and twice as many asymptomatic days during birch pollen season (23). - Take further steps to heal your gut
Many people find that just switching to a nutrient-dense diet can significantly improve allergy symptoms.
Better supplementation. Fewer supplements.
Close the nutrient gap to feel and perform your best.
A daily stack of supplements designed to meet your most critical needs.
I have taken probiotics on and off for a number of years – honestly without much noticeable difference until about 2 1/2 years ago when a friend introduced me to the one I’m taking now. Combining that with many of the foods noted in your article along with some other supplements that support balance in the body and gut health I have seen MANY of my seasonal and food allergies go away completely. For example, 3+ years ago – even with taking an over-the-counter daily allergy medicine, I would still wind up in my doctor’s office every Spring and every Fall for a steroid injection and sometimes a course of oral steroids as well. Little did I know at the time how that was working against gut balance.
After 4 months of being on my current protocol, I no longer needed daily allergy medicine and haven’t had a steroid injection in almost 3 years. In addition, foods that used to send me running for antihistamines I can now eat with no noticeable reaction at all. It’s changed my life. I haven’t had a cold or flu in over 2 years and each year that I continue focusing on supporting my gut, I see that I’m getting more and more healthy. My doctor is amazed every year at the improvement at my annual physical. Keep spreading the good word.
Very interesting, thanks for sharing your experience! May I ask which probiotic you used and what dosage you took? Thanks!
Very good! Which probiotics helped you?
This question is for Randall Winkler: Which probiotic did you use that has been so helpful?
Immune: Hyperbiotics is a good probiotic with histamine degrading bacteria (including plantarum and infantis), minerals, echinacea, and brewers yeast. To the contrary of what this article states, brewers yeast has been shown to reduce seasonal allergy symptoms. Hope this helps.
There’s also research to support the fact that exposure to pathogenic bacteria increases risk of allergies and asthma, especially if that exposure happens in the womb or during the birth process (vertical transmission). I read a study recently that found that of a cohort of children with severe asthma, something like 60-70% of their sputum samples tested positive for Chlamydia (both C Trachomatis and C Pneumoniae).
The proposed mechanism is that the body mounts an immune response to the bad bugs (Chlamydia, staph, or whatever) and other harmless allergens that happen to be ingested at the same time are mistakenly identified as invaders. It makes sense to me that allergies are not a “mistake”, but a response to something that is genuinely harmful. (Does the body really make mistakes??)
The other compelling piece is that pathogenic bacteria pave the way for other pathogenic bacteria, which eventually will crowd out the good flora. So it makes perfect sense that allergic people would have higher levels of staph and other bad guys, and fewer “good” species. It could be that they were exposed to something nasty at some point, maybe something we’re not even able to test for yet, and have never truly recovered from it.
Chris, let me know if you’re interested in reading some of this research and I’ll dig up the links. It’s truly fascinating—and a bit scary, since allergies and asthma are just the tip of the iceberg. Cancer, heart disease, diabetes, PCOS, you name it.. are all associated with Chlamydia and other pathogens.
An extensive review of clinical trials was presented in the North American Journal of Medical Science in 2013. The review focused on the treatment of allergic rhinitis with a wide range of lactobacillus and bifidobacterium probiotic strains.
Researchers have concluded that each of the examined strains has the power to offer a specific immunity modulating effect that reduces the severity of reaction to allergens.
I have been told I have allergic fungal sinusitis. I have had 5 surgeries, and the problem is worse! I know it is a gut related allergy. I have had this problem for 7 years, and been on antibiotics to kill bacterial ifections that are constant. Foods seem to eniciate the problem. Can you help me?
When I removed carbs and sugar from my diet all my (lifelong) allergies went away. I have objective proof….I had been visiting my allergist every 3 months for a check up (and medicine). Every time I visited I had to blow into a machine that measured lung inflammation. I had been seeing this allergist for over 3 years and every single time I blew into the machine he would tell me that I had bad inflammation in my lungs (allergies). I also had bad sinus allergies as well. Around the same time I was diagnosed with diverticulitis (inflammation of the intestines) and gave up sugar to decrease the inflammation. But carbs turn into sugar so I also had to give up carbs as well.
Low and behold, all my allergies disappeared!!!! On my next visit to the allergist I blew into the machine and was told that my lungs were free from any inflammation. My sinus allergies had also disappeared and my diverticulitis is GONE!!!
Sugar, in the human body, causes inflammation. The human body converts carbohydrates into sugar. Inflammation aggravates and exacerbates allergy symptoms. I guess I’m still allergic to the same things but I get no reaction (inflammation). I haven’t been back to the allergist for over a year and will probably never have to go back.
So before to try any medications or remedies I would try living without sugar and carbs for a month to see what happens. If you do a little research you”l find (like I did) that sugar is a major cause of inflammation in humans. But since we have the ability to convert carbs into sugar you have to also give up carbs.
I’m finding that a few carbs are acceptable but no more than 30-40 per day.
You wrote:
“I have been told I have allergic fungal sinusitis. I have had 5 surgeries, and the problem is worse! I know it is a gut related allergy. I have had this problem for 7 years, and been on antibiotics to kill bacterial infections that are constant. Foods seem to eniciate the problem. Can you help me?”
I’d be willing to bet that fungus LOVES sugar???? Just like Cancer cells LOVE sugar!!!!!
Good Luck,
Treblig
I developed strong, respiratory allergies as a child. I was breastfed, had an indoor cat and lived on a farm, drinking raw milk. So personally, I don’t believe that a sterile environment is necessarily a good hypothesis as to why folks suffer from allergies, both considering my situation or when thinking of the high rates of asthma in inner city youth.
Interestingly, when I was treated for Lyme disease etal, and took antibiotics for 22 months, I was prescribed rotating types of antibiotics and was also on a probiotic called Floragen. A surprising thing happened, my allergies went away! I was allergy free for nearly two years after I stopped the antibiotics. Now, slowly over months, the allergies have returned. I am now back to taking antihistamines daily and suffer from burning lungs and nasal / sinus symptoms.
I suspect that the antibiotics killed out the bacteria causing the allergic reactions, and good bacteria from the floragen replaced the bad. Contrary to everything I had heard about the dangers of taking antibiotics long term, I felt better than I had in years.
I have yet to read anything about a bacterial connection to allergies in medical papers online, but because of my experience, I now strongly suspect that bacteria in my body has a direct connection to my allergic reactions. I look forward to more research in this region of study, to help all of us who suffer from allergies.
Trying googling Dr Hahn and antibiotics. Many people have found the same as you…
Just saw your comment after I posted mine.. but I wanted to say, YES! Check out Dr. Attila Toth’s research – his work links pathogenic bacteria to asthma and all kinds of other terrible health outcomes.
Wheezy, your story is fascinating! I was breastfed and spent my childhood barefoot and outside, yet I have worse allergies than anyone I know.
I’ve never heard of the allergy/antibiotic connection. So interesting!
Thanks for sharing. I hope both of us can find a permanent solution to our misery.
I’m from New Jersey I struggle with blepharitis & allergies been relentless in
My journey for healing …. I also am trying
To find a functional Doctor in the New Jersey or Philadelphia area.
Thanks so much .
Have you checked out the Earthclinic Forum Toni, some natural treatments there that might help:
http://www.earthclinic.com/cures/blepharitis.html
I have a 15 year old son that was diagnosed with Oral Allergy Syndrome and cannot (and has not) eaten raw fruits or raw vegetables since he was 4 years old. He can eat cooked fruits and vegetable and can eat peanuts but avoids all other tree nuts. Does anyone have any experience with this and can a probiotic treatment or cleanse help him? If so, I would appreciate any reference in the Philadelphia area for a doctor to consult with.
This is amazing information. Accurate and well organized for the average human to understand. Goes right along with all of Dr. Mark Hymens research findings. Keep it up!
Hi Chris, you write that the epithelium of the gut is structurally similar to the endothelium, and that inflammation tends to happen in both areas in people with “allergic airway diseases.”
I find this a very interesting point and have some anecdotal evidence for this. Do you have a reference for this correlation between lung and gut inflammation?
Many thanks for this interesting post!
I know I’m butting in here but I have real world evidence of the relationship you’re asking about…but it is more than just lung and gut. I say it’s all internal organs that have mucosa!! I have had allergies since I was 11/12 years old, I’ve also had asthma and lung inflammation most of my life.
It wasn’t until I developed diverticulosis that I was able to figure it all out. Diver is an inflammation in the gut that causes bleeding, pain and many times worse. I eventually found that many things that I eat and drink aggravate the Diver giving me much pain and discomfort. When stopped eating carbs and sugar all my Diver symptoms went away. But as it turns out…the next time I went to my allergist, I found that my lung inflammation had also gone away. My nasal allergies had also disappeared. All these internal organs have a mucosal layer!! I haven’t been back to my allergist in well over a year because I no longer have allergies, I also no longer have asthma or the inflammation that comes with it.
As far as proof….each time (bi-annually) I visited my allergist he would make me blow (forcefully) into a machine that measures lung inflammation. After I had been on my no sugar, no carb diet for 6 weeks when I visited my allergist and found that the lung inflammation had gone away. None of the inhalers that I had been given had made my lung inflammation lessen nor had any of them make it go away.
My only dilemma is this….I don’t know if the gut inflammation, lung inflammation or sinus inflammation disappeared because of the Ketones released naturally by my body OR if the inflammation went away because I stopped eating carbs and sugar. Sugar causes inflammation in humans and the body turns carbs into sugar. Ketones are released by the body to be used as fuel in the absence of carbs and sugar. Ketones are also found in Blueberries and other foods. Ketones have been found to fight inflammation in the body.
So, there it is!! The machine that my allergist uses proved that my lung inflammation had gone away after 50 years of allergies and asthma. My allergies have disappeared. I no longer take allergy pills (daily), NO inhalers for me and most important…my diverticulitis is nonexistent!!! I’m just sorry that it took me decades to figure it out.
My appologies for butting in and I hope this helps….
treblig
I have had a similar experience with asthma and allergies and diet. Whenever we travel, and there isn’t healthy options, I won’t feel well. I don’t have diverticulosis, but my mom does. I do have Celiac disease. I have wondered about lung micro biota for years.
If you’re eating blueberries, you’re eating carbs. Sigh…
Well where do I start!! My husband has hayfever and Allergic rhinitis. He is chronic — MSG – peanuts — etc. We can’t eat out much as gravey’s, condiments and anything unnatural will send him into full blown rhinitis inflammation – live a severe cold. We have worked out what some of his trigger are but now looking at getting a leaky gut test. He also has Meniere’s Disease and has had this since 2003. We manage this through low salt diet, caffeine free, stress management low alcohol consumption. We are hoping that the leaky gut test will give us some answers – any suggestions??
AIP Diet!!
Andrea, I’ve had allergies/hay fever since I was 12 years old (I’m 64 year old now). It gets really bad quite often. I’ve also had asthma all my life. I also have diverticulitis. After a routine blood test my fasting blood sugar was 102 my Doctor told me not to worry about it. I worried about diabetes so I stopped eating sugar, sugar substitutes, and carbs in any form. As everyone knows carbs and sugar raise you’re blood sugar level. Sugar causes inflammation which is the thing that keeps the sinuses/lungs inflamed. Now remember, sugar/carbs is in fruits, vegetables and the great majority of foods sold at the super market.
After many weeks of research I started a no sugar/ no carb diet. I ate only meats (chicken, beef, sausage, tuna, eggs, etc). I also substituted EVOO for all the fats/oil that the human body needs. I take a long list of vitamins and minerals to compensate for the lack of vegetable and fruits.
After about 3 weeks all my allergies disappeared, my lung inflammation went away and (most importantly) my diverticulitis completely vanished.
I had no idea that the things I was eating were causing all my problems. I had no idea it would fix my diverticulitis. My gastroenterologist told me to eat plenty of fiber but most fiber foods contain carbs/sugar. That didn’t help me at all, it actually made it worse!!!. Now I take Citrucel for fiber and I’m allergy free….NO MORE nasal sprays twice a day, No MORE inhaler, No MORE abdominal pain.
My allergist had given me an allergy test (skin test and blood test). They gave me a long list of things to avoid (peanuts, Oak trees, etc, etc). So yes, I have allergies but without the “inflammation” the allergies can’t get “a hold” on the mucus membranes (lungs/sinuses/intestines)
I’m not saying that this diet is for everyone but I will NEVER get off this diet as long as I live so I can enjoy life without all the pain, bleeding, sneezing, wheezing!!
GOOD LUCK!!
Treblig
Thank you for posting! I have asthma too and going low carb and no sugar cured my asthma also.
Andrea have you considered mould toxicity or Staph infection? Staph can affect anywhere in the body but it lives in the Sinus passages. Tea tree oil on a cotton bud may initially cause it to flare but when continued, helps to kill it off. If looking at Moulds, cut coffee and alcohol as both contain high micotoxins and start on Chlorophyll and 1/8 teaspoon Borax 5 days a week.
Thank you – I will check those avenues out. My husband has Seasonal Allergies also. I have booked him in for an Intestinal Permeability test. He reacts to stoned fruit, most crumbed things unless I make my own home made. We are currently changing from wheat to Spelt flour and hoping to move to buckwheat flour as it is not a grain as we believe. The reaction my husband has is up to sneezing 500 times a day, watery eyes, inflammation so bad in his nose that he can’t breath through is and can’t smell anything — we go through boxes and boxes of tissues on a daily basis. I have a suspicion that it is his gut health as he was on alot of antibiotics as a child. His inflammation seems to be getting worse every year — we had him go through a desensitization program a few years ago for his seasonal allergies but after 2 years we gave up. Also one other thing I did not mention — he has Meniere’s Disease and has had since 2003. We have managed that through low sodium diet and a mood stabilizer called Pristiq desvenlafaxine. This has helped remarkably and he has not had an attack for nearly 2 years. We run out own business which can be quite stressful at time.
I too believe that many of these allergy symptoms go back to the gut and intestinal permeability. My partner suffers from allergies so badly he can go into anaphylactic shock from a perfume or around cats. These allergic reactions are known as Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. He was recently diagnosed with H.Pylori and I believe he has intestinal permeability but he did the Tea Tree Oil up the nose once a day for months and all his sinuses cleared up and his allergies got better. He thought he didn’t need the Oil anymore and stopped it only to have everything return. There is a symbiotic relationship between Staph/Mould/Candida/and the gut bacteria.
Wow 500 sneezes a day. That must be horrible for him. Have you tried going completely gluten free? What about fermented vegetables and drinks? The Medical Medium, Anthony William says that Menieres Disease is due to inflammation of the Vagus Nerve by Epstein Barr Virus. He recommends drinking a cup of Thyme Tea daily to reduce viral load.
Thank you — We are heading towards gluten free. I’m trying to ease into it as feeling a little overwhelmed atm. I eat/eat kombucha, Kefir, saurkraut and blue cheese as it has helped me alot gut wise as I have digestive issues but are far much better now. I am wanting my husband to get onto this but his taste buds need some training. He has his doctors appointment tomorrow for referral re Intestinal Permeability and also a Complete Digestive Stool Analysis. I think if we do this first that will give me the grounds to start at – well I hope.
I will definately look at the suggestions you have made and keep you posted as to our results.
thank you for your prompt response to my letters.
Hi Chris,
Love your work, thank you. I know you have talked about Cyrex labs being the best, because of the methods they use when testing for allergies. Do you know of a good one in Canada that meets the same stringent requirements please?
Thanks,
Karen
Very helpful! I’ve also been looking at this other article to see if I can tweak my probiotic consumption to be heavier on the histamine breakdown side of the : equationhttp://www.seekinghealth.com/blog/probiotics-histamine-production/ and wound up buying two to supplement my prescript-assist brand…adding bifido breve to the two strains Chris has listed here. We’ll see how it goes! I’ve gotten a lot of mileage out of the bromelain/quercetin supplements. Way less mucous, but sometimes bothers my tum a bit. Will be good to balance out the bacteria a bit, I think.
Update: Quercetin did a number on my progesterone levels (research confirms this effect), and I’ve stopped using it a month ago, though I think it helped with allergies for awhile. I’m experimenting with colostrum (lactoferrin) …there’s a study indicating it’s helpful for mast cell activation disorders. That plus the Fast Tract diet for addressing SIBO. Also have tried histidine…paradoxical treatment for excess histamine…and it sure seems to work, though I’m afraid to use it long term.
Hi Chris, I want to know if eating eggs is bad for those with histamine intolerance or is it only the white of the egg that causes the allergies , and eating only the yolk of the egg alright for them?
I have read that raw egg whites are to be avoided by those with histamine intolerance but cooked eggs, white and yolk is fine.
Hi Chris, I put my daughter on Herpanacine for her son after reading some feedback on one of your skin articles recently. Her hayfever has vanished this year! I’m assuming it’s related or possibly she has grown out of it?
I eat a low histamine diet and avoid dairy in the spring and fall when my seasonal allergies are the worst. This seems to help me and I also take a Histaminum Hydrochloricum 30 c homeopathic remedy and Antronex a natural antihistamine from Standard Process. And I also use some massage to unblock my sinuses. I have avoided Gluten and Nightshade foods for years but I don’t think those foods are at all related to my allergies. I am sure gut flora has an impact on all health. Hope this helps someone the way it has helped me.
Very interesting! This would definitely be something worth considering now that my allergies are at their worst. Me and pollen aren’t on good terms right now!
I will be going in for my periodic colonoscopy and was wondering whether this will be bad for the gut flora or an opportunity to start over at ground zero.
Prior to the exam it’s no food just a laxative and water in huge amounts to flush out the intestines.
So what is the state of the gut after going through this preparatory procedure? Has all bacteria of all types been transported out?
If this were so, it would be a chance to build up the system from scratch and I was wondering what would be the best way to do this.
thanks for the good information. i am in the early stages of autoimmune paleo diet to fix leaky gut and get relief an allergies/nasal polyps/asthma-like condition. however, some of what i read in this article conflicts with what i’ve read about the autoimmune system. for example, TH1 and TH2 dominance in white blood cells is an important consideration because, if you’re TH2 dominant, quercetin will produce an allergic reaction.
Super interesting write up. Many of my nutrition clients are blown away when we discuss the allergy and gut connection. This was a great blog to help me understand more behind it.
Vit c, vit e, selenium and zinc.my magic4.havent had a down day from even the nastiest cold bugs in 7 yrs. Any plain c works, zinc take zinc glycinate u only need one 22 mg,any e works (but I prefer multispectrum with all 8 components – all 4 tocopherols and all 4 tocotrienols).any selenium amino chelate works but i also prefer to use the 3 forms of selenium which will also Ward off cancer cells in their three phases as an added benefitm